I order quite a few items - mostly photographic or astronomy based - from both within Australia and from overseas vendors. I've been doing this for many years. We've all seen a decline in postage services - mostly in delivery times and also with increasing shipping costs.
But then this happens.... Last Tuesday, 10th Oct, I ordered a specific eyepiece case from FLO (First Light Optics) in the UK. I've ordered from them before, so happy to use them again, and as the item was a bit bulky, I was okay with the shipping fee around $50AUD. So ordered on 10th, and yesterday the case was delivered - waiting on my front door step as requested - in a large carton and all securely packaged.
So... 3 days from the UK to my door step in suburban Adelaide! Well, obviously this IS possible, and sadly puts a lot of other carriers and suppliers to shame. The carrier service used by FLO was DHL. DHL do seem to be one of the quickest and more efficient carriers out there.
I often receive packages from the UK quicker than I can get items from Sydney, less than a 3 hour drive.
Sometimes packages from China are very quick too.
Have to agree some time ago I too found that stuff from the US was here in a couple of days, but also have to say I have not really had any bad experiences with Aust Post either, usually pretty efficient, but maybe I just got lucky.
Location: '34 South' Young Hilltops LGA, Australia
Posts: 1,481
Before a major photography trip to see Kati-Thanda (Lake Eyre) in flood in August 2011, I ordered a several pieces of new camera gear, all mail order and ordered late on a Sunday night. Three items ordered from China (camera body, lens, IR shutter release system) and one 300mm lens (in stock) ordered from CR Kennedy in Melbourne. One of the China items arrived on Thursday after just four days, the other, a camera body arrived after 9 days, the following Tuesday. Three weeks later and just two days before departure, the lens from Kennedy's arrived.
I've ordered from a UK based supplier in London. Delivery to my door was 8 days from the other side of the world. I've also ordered from Sydney, and waited two weeks when I could have driven there in less than a day.
