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[wondershot.livejournal.com]

Not directly language related, but I hope you can still help me:

I'm mailing a package from America to a friend in Russia, but I've heard crazy tales about Russian post offices and I'm concerned that my New Year's gifts might not reach their destination unless I take some special precautions. How would you go about sending a package to Russia? This is my first time doing this.

For instance, I need to write the recipient address in English and Russian, right? And fill out the customs forms of course... I bet this will be so expensive :/

If this has been asked before or some other site talks about this, just point me to a link. Thanks.

Comments

[oryx_and_crake]

I don't think this was discussed before.
About the address: write Russia, Moscow in Englush and then the complete address in Russian.
As to the custom forms, I am not sure but last time I sent something I think they gave me a green slip where I had to list what's inside the package and its price. My advice: see that the total price is not over $50 (I don't remember the exact amount but $50 should be OK), otherwise the addressee will have to pay custom duty. That's probably it.

[crimeanelf.livejournal.com]

Do you speak Russian at all? If you do, community inostranki discussed this problem like last week.

[cassandraclue.livejournal.com]

Also bear in mind that what the USPS will tell you is only how long it takes to get to Russia on their side. Once it gets to Russia, it is anyone's guess how long the package will take to get to your friends. It took six weeks or so for a package from my parents to get to me, with the fastest shipping. Best way to send stuff to Russia is fedex.

[alex-aka-fry.livejournal.com]

You can also send your package by using some delivery company, like DHL.

[aleckii.livejournal.com]

I'll give you an example. 2 years ago I booked a Eurail train pass from the US around the end of December (It was a last minute thing...). They delivered by the pass by DHL, even WITH Christmas and New Year, I received it 3 weeks later, which was mid January, 1 week a half before I flew off to Europe. Yeah, it was THAT close...

[alex-mashin.livejournal.com]

The language you write the address in is not that important. From my experience, English will be understood. Just make sure there's the word "Russia" in English. For the peace of mind write the address in both Russian and English.

There is a risk, however, that the parcel will be received several days before January 1st, 2010.

[myrtilus.livejournal.com]

I'm in Russia, and we occasionally have letters sent to us, order stuff on amazon etc
They usually write the address as follows:

MY NAME
Ul. Krasnopresnenskaya
Dom 6, Korpus 5, Kvartira 10
Moskva (Moscow), Russia 111222
Russian Federation

Ul = street name
dom = house number
korpus = "block"
kvartira = apt number

You can write the address in Russian too, but as our experience shows, english-only is enough. BUT BE SURE TO WRITE THE ZIP CODE IN BIG, BOLD LETTERS

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

Please don't forget to write adress in Russian: in Moscow postmen stil don't understand Latin alphabeth, I've once received a letter to 2nd Pryadilnaya st., though I live on 2nd Parkovaya.

[53miles.livejournal.com]

When I lived in Russia, I had a package from the UK stay at the post office for a MONTH, before they figured out what street the guy meant (he wrote the address in English). From that time on, I asked everyone to write it in Russian.
Usually, I just write the country name in English and the rest of it in Russian.
Good luck!

[wondershot.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your help, everyone. I'm mailing it off tomorrow. Ура!