As a result of the intensification of migration processes observed in recent years, many of our compatriots today have relatives and friends abroad. Of course, they keep in touch with each other and periodically exchange messages. Therefore, it is very important for them to have reliable channels for sending such goods. Delivery services have received no less relevance due to the growing popularity of online commerce. Items that you purchase from eBay and other marketplaces are usually shipped by public or private postal services and companies. Let's consider how the delivery of goods from / to Germany is carried out.
What can be sent in parcels to and from Germany
It is no secret that a significant part of the goods that are sold today in many countries of the world are produced in China. The Federal Republic of Germany is home to many logistics centers that distribute these goods throughout Europe. It is these centers that deliver Chinese goods to Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries.
The bulk of such cargo is transported to the FRG by sea. Large shipping companies such as Hamburg Sud Liner deliver them to the country's ports in sea containers. Upon arrival, the containers are disbanded, after which the end consumers receive their order.
The international shipment of specific goods is governed by the national laws of the states.
However, it makes no sense to study all the existing rules - it is enough to familiarize yourself with the rules of a particular carrier whose services you are going to use. National rules for cargo transportation will necessarily be reflected in the internal documents of such companies, however, the client is interested not so much in their content as in the services for the delivery of goods that postal and courier companies can offer.
As a rule, each of these companies specializes in the delivery of certain types of cargo, so the ability to deliver the necessary things to Moscow or another city of your interest will depend on the internal rules of a particular company.
For example, postal intermediaries, at their discretion, can limit the weight or volume of the parcel, so the ability to deliver furniture, equipment and even a bicycle to the CIS countries may be limited.
As for the goods prohibited for shipment by the laws of the state, the postal companies simply will not accept them. If the postal service still allows such goods, they will be seized at customs.
Find out more about how German customs works.
We will name the goods and items that are prohibited from shipment by some postal companies. You can be guided by their list as a whole, however, the exact list of prohibitions established by the transport company, which you decide to contact, should still be clarified.
For example, the list of goods prohibited for shipment by "Russian Post" includes:
- printed publications, audio and video products containing extremist materials;
- ammunition and weapons;
- means intended for the secret collection of various information;
- narcotic and psychotropic substances;
- human biological materials;
- animals, plants and their seeds;
- nets and electrical devices for fishing;
- alcoholic beverages and tobacco products;
- items of cultural value;
- perishable goods;
- precious stones that are not part of jewelry.
The German Post establishes its own list of restrictions, in case of violation of which the registration of the parcel will become impossible. So, you cannot forward:
- valuable items, the value of which exceeds the established limit;
- products, the use and possession of which is prohibited by law;
- items requiring special delivery conditions or posing a danger to people;
- animals and human biological materials;
- drugs;
- counterfeiting of various goods that violate intellectual property rights;
- weapons and other dangerous items.
Courier services may expand this list. For example, the German company Jantzen does not accept glass-wrapped goods, auto parts and obscene items. And the company Meest Germany does not undertake to deliver money, documents, jewelry and consignments of goods. It provides services for individuals, leaving the possibility of working with merchants to other transport companies.
Delivery methods
German transport companies offer different ways of delivering goods, depending on the needs of customers and their willingness to wait for receiving the goods from several days to several months.
Germany is a highly developed country, therefore delivery is possible by sea, air, rail and road.
If you need express delivery, then by far the fastest way is by air. However, in most cases, urgency is not so important, therefore, most of the shipments to the CIS countries are carried out by road. This makes it possible to deliver, among other things, groupage cargo, which is subsequently distributed among different recipients, which generally reduces the cost of shipment.
Features of delivery of parcels by "Russian Post"
The maximum weight of parcels to be sent is 50 kg. At the same time, the sum of their dimensions by three indicators (length, height, width) cannot exceed 300 cm. Moreover, the length of one side of the parcel should not be more than 150 cm. For such parcels, only express delivery is provided. The courier will deliver them to the recipient.
Smaller shipments are divided into:
- small packages weighing up to 2 kg, the sum of three dimensions of which does not exceed 90 cm, while the length of one side should not exceed 60 cm;
- parcels weighing up to 20 kg, the sum of three dimensions of which does not exceed 200 cm, and the length of one side is 105 cm.
The addressee will independently receive these items at his post office. As additional services offered:
- the declared value of the item. This is a kind of insurance for goods in the amount of no more than 50 thousand rubles;
- shipping by cash on delivery;
- notification of the addressee and the sender using SMS.
- delivery by air.
Delivery of goods by DHL in Economy mode
There is no state post office in Germany - its functions are mainly performed by DHL. Economy tariff is intended for cargo, delivery of which is not urgent. Customers who use this rate prefer to wait a few days or even weeks, but save on shipping.
There are two types of shipments available:
- packages. The maximum weight of one package is 70 kg, the maximum size of the package is 120 x 80 x 80 cm. The maximum weight of the entire package is 1 ton;
- pallets. The maximum dimensions of one pallet are 120 x 120 x 160 cm. The maximum weight of a pallet is 1 ton. The maximum number of pallets in a parcel is 10.
DHL Premium Shipping
This mode is intended for those shipments for which the delivery time is important. This option of sending is more expensive, but the client knows exactly the time when the package will be delivered to the addressee.
The minimum size of a parcel is 15 x 11 x 1 cm. The maximum size is 120 x 60 x 60 cm, the maximum weight of such a parcel is 31.5 kg.
Tracking postal items
Nowadays, the widespread use of information technology, tracking containers with cargo and even ordinary postal parcels does not cause any particular difficulties. The main thing is to know the cargo number - the so-called track number.There are many sites on the Internet that offer online cargo tracking services, but we will provide links to only two main ones:
- parcels sent by Russian Post can be tracked by the track number here;
- Track DHL parcels here.
If you have used the services of another operator for the shipment of goods, check with their employees where and how you can track your shipment.
Find out more about how to track a package from Germany.
How much will the delivery cost
The shipping cost will depend on the distance between the points of departure and destination, the selected delivery option, weight and volume of the parcel, as well as additional services.
Russian Post on its website indicates that the minimum tariff for sending in the normal mode is 236 rubles, in the accelerated mode - 578, and delivery by courier will cost from 300 rubles. However, this information does not allow us to understand how much it will actually cost to send a particular cargo.
You can find out a more accurate shipping cost using the shipping cost calculators:
- "Post office";
- DHL.
Depending on the company, the calculation will be made in rubles or euros.
Other shipping companies
In addition to Russian Post and DHL, there are many other companies offering services for the transportation of goods and delivery of parcels from Germany to the CIS countries and in the opposite direction:
- Meest;
- Qwintry;
- Alfaparcel;
- Zust;
- Mailboxde;
- Imtexs;
- Rusbid.
This list of companies is far from complete - on the Internet you can find dozens of companies engaged in the delivery of goods from / to Germany.
Finally
Currently, the delivery of goods from Germany to the CIS countries and in the opposite direction is not a significant problem. Depending on the volume of the transported cargo and the required additional services, you can always choose a suitable operator for you.
