Buying Gifts For People In Spain

[Meg888]

Hi. I have family in Spain, and this is the 2nd year they've been out there and I'm finding it harder to buy for them. We are quite restricted what we can send out there, so I'm stumped. They are not forward enough to give me ideas, I always get told not to bother - but it's my sister & bro in law, and I always have. There is a shop in Spain that will send UK birthday cards etc. to the UK on behalf of ex-pats, I was just wondering if there was such a place in Spain for us lot at home buying for those out there? Thanks in advance :-)

[Puzzled001]

What sort of things do you want to send ? Amazon,John Lewis ,M&S etc will all send to Spain, If you want to send UK groceries contact British Corner Shop, (BCS) I,ve use these to send items to family in Spain and also whilst in Spain to send items to myself

[Meg888]

Oh I didn't know that, thanks very much Puzzle, it's definitely worth knowing.

[Buenchico]

If you buy from Amazon.es you won't have to pay international shipping charges (as you would when buying from Amazon.co.uk).

Direct link:
http://www.amazon.es/

Translated via Google:
http://tinyurl.com/pb89jn6

[murraymints]

amazon will mail gift codes to recipient..I use this every year

[EDDIE51]

It is no more difficult to send a gift to Spain by post than it is to post it within the UK. What is the problem? In what way are you 'quite restricted'.

[Buenchico]

^^^I was wondering that too, Eddie!

Spain and the UK are both within the EU and EU law requires the free movement of all goods across its internal borders. (Temporary restrictions can but put in place upon specific items, such as during the BSE scare, but generally there are no Spanish import bans on any items from the UK).

The postal services have a few restrictions upon what can be sent by international mail but they're unlikely to apply to the normal type of things that would be sent as Christmas gifts.

[Meg888]

Thanks Buenchico & Murray I will check those out. In terms of restriction we can't send liquids - so perfumes, make up etc. out the question. The other 'restrictions' are, I can't send clothing as if it doesn't fit, it's a bit of a palava, and I can't really send things for the home as theirs is quite a small residence. I'd love to send a hamper but the Brit Corner shop was a bit pricey, still looking though - and thanks for the answers.

[Buenchico]

As long as you pack them carefully enough, there's no restriction or prohibition on sending liquids (such as perfume, etc) as long as they're not in aerosol containers:
http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Royal-Mail-Prohibited-and-Restricted-Items.pdf

[Jennykenny]

See if magazines such as Private Eye or The Week do an overseas delivery service, or subscribe to the Weekly Guardian or Telegraph.??

[EDDIE51]

Ask them what size of clothes they take, simple.
''Theirs is quite a small residence'' what were you thinking of sending a three seater sofa ? Send something that would look right in the same size house here. Cards? just buy one here and send it airmail , costs £1.21 for a normal card & takes 3 or 4 days, I send cards to Italy,France and Cyprus every year never had a problem yet.

[Meg888]

Oh I didn't realise that Buenchico, thanks everyone for the answers. EDDIE51 - clothes sizes vary store to store as everyone knows, so it's quite possible that something wouldn't fit. I'm not after sending cards, it's presents, I just mentioned that there is a place in Spain that my sister uses to send UK cards home - and wondered if that catered for the ex-pats on behalf of the UK.