I’ll be leaving Taiwan in July, and I will need to mail some books that I’ve purchased here, due to the baggage allowance. Can anyone tell me, what’s the most cost effective method of doing this? Should I use Taiwan’s postal service or a parcels company? Thanks.
How many have you got? I’ve walked onto a plane with 20kg of books and heavy/dense items in my hand baggage (they don’t weigh it). I justify that on the basis that I weigh 20kg less than everyone else 
If you don’t have a laptop, buy a cheap laptop bag and fill it with books.
If it’s a lot more, it’s going to be expensive to airfreight (EMS seems to cost about the same as standard parcel post for large items). I believe the sea freight service has been stopped due to some jobsworth at the UK incoming port.
Last resort : I’m going to England on Thursday and could carry a few with me, if someone can take them off me at the other end (Manchester or Exeter area).
finley - u from Exeter?
no … just have family living there …
Why not just sell them here, and rebuy them in the UK? I know it sounds odd, but unless they are rare books, or out of print, there seems almost no reason to ship heavy books around the world. The shipping alone is prohibitively expensive.
Do your math. Sale price here + rebuying them in the UK <?> shipping them.
Kenneth
My mate went home last year and I helped him carry all his books and various crap that he just wouldn’t let go of down to the local post office. He sent home 8 boxes all different weights of course some were all books. He was going home to study so money was a big issue for him so if he sent it by regular post then that was absolutely the cheapest way to send them.
Interesting. How much was the difference? Never thought of just using regular post. 
Sorry when I said regular post I meant using the post office as opposed to something like fedex. I presume he used ems.
regular post is airmail now. no more cheep slow boat. it will be expensive, would be good to get finley to help you out if he is willing.