Happy daughter in Paris asking for protein bars and a Snuggie -- today%26#39;s the day I try to figure out how to mail such low-value items without spending an arm and a leg! Could find no current info on this forum, so am turning to you experts again for any advice as to USPS vs. private carriers ... thanks!
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You don%26#39;t say how long your daughter will be in Paris.
My Mom sends me %26#39;care%26#39; packages from the USA all the time. After using several different shipping companies, she has settled with using the U.S. Postal Service. It has never let us down. You have a choice as to how they send the package. She normally uses the light weight insulated envelopes for simple things. She has also used the prepaid boxes - you buy the box based on how much weight it holds. You put whatever you like in the box and drop it off at the post.
It normally takes anywhere from one week to two weeks for the packages to arrive.
They have never once been opened by anyone. However, packages shipped with UPS have all been opened and I have received customs bills for anything the French authorities deem chargeable. I don%26#39;t recommend UPS.
Fed/Ex is great, but VERY expensive.
Be sure to include an itemized account of the value/price of all the articles in your pkg. I can%26#39;t remember the cut-off for avoiding customs, but we have always worked with the 50 US dollar number (not to exceed that in each pkg). The Post Office should be able to confirm this for you.
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P.S. There are protein bars sold here in France. I presume she wants a special type, not available here. I don%26#39;t know what a Snuggie is, so can%26#39;t say for that.
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Thanks toutou -- she could be there for four years, so I need a handle on this for sure (there were earlier posts by me a week or so ago when I was getting her settled so I figured some would remember the basic story). A Snuggie is a ridiculous thing they sell on TV that is basically a huge ugly poncho made of fleece that you sit around and be cozy in. It is regularly mocked by comedians on TV. Its so hideous its camp. Ask your mother for one immediately! Only $14.99! Looks like I will be heading to the post office late today....
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Oh my, I%26#39;ll have to look up the Snuggie thing. Sounds funny.
My Mom%26#39;s been using the Post Office for many years now. She sends ALL items through them. She is just careful not to send high value items, in the event the package gets opened and customs decides to charge us for something.
We%26#39;ve had very good luck, even around Xmas time.
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Okay, I%26#39;ve now looked up the Snuggie. Your poor daughter. I see the French air has gotten to her. Whatever you do, don%26#39;t let her take that thing out of the house.
:-) :-) :-)
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You%26#39;ve really got me interested - I%26#39;m for looking it up as soon as I%26#39;ve finished browsing here. Sounds fascinating; not to be taken out of the house, eh?!
Jo
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The most humorous thing is how atrocious the colors are -- I went for the fuschia, but there is also royal blue and emerald geren. The commercials are hilarious, showing a whole family all sacked out in their Snuggies eating popcorn and watching TV. What can I say --- the poor kid is from Miami and the apartment has no central heat.
Toutou -- I%26#39;d love to know what are YOUR favorite care package items to receive...? We are only a week into this so I don%26#39;t yet know what %26quot;comfort items%26quot; are either not available in France or are far more costly there. Any suggestions based on your experience would be greatly appreciated! I miss my daughter and would love to send her some surprises. Merci beaucoup.
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Clearly I am going to have to look for a photo of a Snuggie also on the net.
The other stuff she wants is just because she has not investigated a proper supermarket yet. Ignore that request.
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Kerouac,
www.youtube.com/watch…
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Fleur - I%26#39;ll send you a PM to let you know all the silly goodies my Mom sends (including the ones we ask for).
I%26#39;ve been here for 9 years now and have adjusted to all the nice things we have here, but there are some items I need for baking or just things I miss that she sends.
Luckily, a Snuggie will not be one of them. :-)
No central heating will be tough in winter. Perhaps it is a co-operative system that only comes on at certain times in winter. Can%26#39;t imagine her in a place with absolutely NO heating.
Anyway, I%26#39;m sure you miss her. I hope she is enjoying herself and keeps safe and happy (and warm in her snuggie).
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