French mail? Help me french arena members!

[Stormness_1]

Hey guys, I'm super dooper excited, because I just booked my tickets to fly to France next year to see my friend, and possibly sneak over to Ponycon (if it's on while I'm in Europe), but my luggage allowance is only 30kg. Especially if I end up going to ponycon, I'm going to have to ship stuff home, because there's no way it's going to come in at less than 30kg after 5 weeks overseas! My hub will be in the south of France, in Le Fleix, and (I believe from what I can find online) French postage is cheaper than Royal Mail, so I'll lug my ponycon stuff back to France to ship it. Now I have a few questions that the website isn't telling me (or that google translate isn't translating ).

Can you use your own packaging? Are there any rules regarding packaging?

Could someone post a pic of a french customs form for me so I can translate it now, to keep on my phone just in case I can't print postage anywhere?

Is online cheaper? I'm sure that's what the site said, but google kept saying "in line" as opposed to "in post office" so I'm guessing that the cheaper price is the online price. Does it include the customs form when you do it online? We can't do international postage online here in Australia, so I've never done it before!

And lastly, are any French pony people on facebook? I'd love to add you in case I have any free time while I'm in France, or if I'm really super confused about anything, then I could message someone in the same timezone who might know the answer. Also I'm learning a bit of French, so translating your facebook posts will definitely help me learn!

Anyway thanks for reading all that, and thanks for any help at all you can give me! I can't wait to visit your beautiful country, even more so in the light of recent events. I find the resilience of people to be such a beautiful thing to behold. Earlier this year I was in Vanuatu, and spoke to the locals about the cyclone that went through there. We (hubby and I) were shown all of the damage, and the strength of the people and their love for their home just blew us away. True beauty shines in the shadows of the struggles we face!

[The Little White Horse]

Hi! 

Woo! Congrats for your tickets! You must be thrilled!

You're completely right, there's no way it's going to be less than 30kg! lol

I'm going to try and help you with your questions.

Can you use your own packaging? Are there any rules regarding packaging?

Yes, you are allowed to use your own packaging. In fact, when sending boxes I always use my own.
There are some rules, for example, when using your own packaging there is a weight limit - It's 30kg per box.

The rules are "stricter" when it comes to using the Post Office's packaging - on their envelopes they have a width and weight limit (3cm and 3kg max) for boxes depending on the size there is a weight limit (a medium sized box is limited to 7kg).

Could someone post a pic of a french customs form for me so I can translate it now, to keep on my phone just in case I can't print postage anywhere?

Picture of customs form here :

visitors can't see pics , please register or login

This one is for envelopes/small objects that fit in bubble envelopes.

visitors can't see pics , please register or login

This one is for boxes.

Is online cheaper?

Online is a bit cheaper, yes.

Does it include the customs form when you do it online?

I have no idea - I've always been scared to use the online option.

And lastly, are any French pony people on facebook?

I don't have Facebook, but if you like we can chat on here via PM and exchange emails. If you have any free time, I'd love for us to organise something to meet up somewhere.

I'm sorry I couldn't answer the questions with more detail, but I'm probably going to the Post Office on Monday so if you want me to ask them anything just let me know. 

Feel free to send me a PM if you have any further questions. 

[Ringlets]

Thanks so much for all of your help Little White Horse     that's really useful info!
and stormness - how awesome! have an amazing time (I'm sure you will! the south of France is really beautiful and Ponycon is fantastic  ..warning... you'll go home absolutely broke though!!! ) 

[The Little White Horse]

Thanks so much for all of your help Little White Horse     that's really useful info!
and stormness - how awesome! have an amazing time (I'm sure you will! the south of France is really beautiful and Ponycon is fantastic  ..warning... you'll go home absolutely broke though!!! )

No problem at all. I'm glad I was able to help. 

Ringlets is right - the South of France really is beautiful. And yeaaah, you'll go home broke.   

I'm hoping to go to the Ponycon too next year.   

[Stormness_1]

Thanks guys, that's SUPER helpful! I'm at work for the next couple of days, for crazy amounts of time, and then I've got my new Sailor Moon dvd's to watch through (yay! they came way early, they weren't supposed to be here til Wednesday!!) but then I'll be back working on the trip, so I'll be sure to send through a PM Little White Horse!

[Miss_Pompon]

To answer about the custom form, no you can't get it on the internet, you have to go to the post office.

Online is 5% cheaper BUT you can't use it for international shipping, right now it's just for domestic shipping.

To Australia, here are some of the prices with a limited insurance (23€/kg)
- 1 kg => 26.30€
- 2 kg => 36.10€
- 5 kg => 53€
- 10 kg => 100€
- 20 kg => 160€

Send me a pm, if you want to have a contact in Paris, I will send you my FB, though I don't use it much

[Stormness_1]

Thanks! That is good to know, I'll take a friend who speaks fluent french with me to the Post office just in case then! I'd love your facebook, I'll send you a PM!