[Discussion] DHL is insane! Quoted like $900 for a 22lb box from USA to Germany.

[u/RobinsCosplays]

USPS took $192. Still crazy but whatever. I'll have to ship with somebody else next time. I heard Pirate Ship is good.

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[u/An_Bo_Mhara]

Are you sending 22 pounds of snacks???? Like thats insane

[u/RobinsCosplays → u/An_Bo_Mhara]

Box total weight was 22lbs. That's snacks, packaging material, and box itself

[u/An_Bo_Mhara → u/RobinsCosplays]

I mean, unless the box was a solid oak crate, thats an awful lot of snacks.

[u/RobinsCosplays → u/An_Bo_Mhara]

Well it was a $75 budget. That's a lot of snacks

[u/Foxtrot-Uniform-Too → u/RobinsCosplays]

Be prepared that the box you get in return will be alot smaller. 75 dollars of snacks in Germany will probably not be anywhere close to 22lbs.

First time I exchanged, the other person bought their snacks at Wallmart or some big box store that had insane value for money. I received a lot more than I sent them - even though I went 50 percent over budget.

I live in Norway though, a more expensive country than both Germany and the US. And my exchange partner did request some expensive things that made the volume smaller. The person said she was happy with the exchange, but I felt horrible about it. I would have warned her if I knew there would be such a difference between our exchanges.

[u/GlitteringEggCarton → u/Foxtrot-Uniform-Too]

bigger doesn't mean bigger. smaller high quality european beats out bulk size american processed junk any day

[u/thefore]

I do think this is very important to understand when agreeing to an exchange. Its not about how much your agree to in snacks (although this is important), its also understanding the cost of the postage and the weight at which you want to be at to make it 'affordable'. Understanding at what weight you want to be and then looking at products based around that.

[u/sconebore → u/thefore]

I have done a couple of swaps on here now, and many through a Facebook swap group and I always try and do by weight, rather than the value of the snacks for this reason. A 2kg swap (about the the size of a shoe box depending what you send) seems to give a good selection of snacks while still not being too much to post.

[u/astrallizzard → u/sconebore]

It also makes more sense if people come from different economies. The same budget can buy completely different amounts in different places, and the one from a less developed economy will both get less, while paying more compared to their income. 

[u/BlockedOverGuac]

Pirate Ship is the way!  Still expensive but so much better.  

[u/audible_narrator]

It's so hard for those of us in the US. We really get taken to the cleaners on shipping.

[u/Naptown54321]

I've used PirateShip on my last two exchanges and it was significantly less expensive than other services.

[u/wgwalkerii]

I know, right? I'd love to participate more often, but shipping is insane.

[u/Bananas_are_theworst]

UPS will ship for like $70 but be aware that you’ll also have to pay fees upon arrival in Germany. It’s so frustrating.

[u/ruggpea]

Can check happy post and pirate ship and see if either are a bit cheaper.

[u/stopsallover]

Sometimes I think it'd make more sense to buy a plane ticket.

[u/street_parking_mama2]

Yup I was quoted $550 from the US to the UK for 8 lbs! Spent $150 through USPS and DHL wouldn't ship it.

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

That's a lot of snacks, and items you're sending. Yes, dhl is their preferred shipper there as they work with their post office. One of my snack partners works for logistics, and is from Germany. I have tried Pirate Ship and its good. But be aware that You have to sign a power of attorney. Send these documents to Pirate Ship on your behalf via email. As for some translation and help with your snack partner on filling out these forms. Your package will arrive within a week. This happened to me last February 2026. You might save a little bit.