Many US companies don't want to deal with overseas customers thru regular postal service due to inability to track shipments and lengthy reimburstments/insurance cases. Usually it's not even the USPS but service in the other country. So sellers would go for Fedex or UPS which tracks and doesn;t deal with other gov't agencies. But that will also cost you as you mentioned in your case $100 something.

Find a place that can ship thru the United States postal service insured. If merchant is not willing to do it for you, do it thru Ebay. Sellers on ebay (especially one who want to build they feedback) will go out of their way to help ya. I shipped 15 lbs packages to Taiwan for $40 insured.

Matt

You can buy Arc lights from the Uk, along with very reasonable priced knives/tools from
http://outdoorsuppliesuk.com/content.html

I'm sure the cost of shipping from the UK to France (within the EU) would be cheaper. I realise of couse that doesn't help with Dougs kit...
Anyway, hope that helps
Martin

Adventure Medical Kits does not currently distribute to Europe, as far as I know. I am sure some of the retailers who will be selling the PSP will be willing to ship it overseas. The cost you were quoted is absurd. As an example, click here for shipping costs for a 1 lb. package via U.S. Mail to the UK. While a retailer will have to add enough to cover special handling and extra paperwork, and that may still be more total than makes it reasonable, the shipping cost certainly shouldn't exceed the cost of the PSP, provided you are willing to wait a few days or weeks to receive it. I cannot say what customs charges would be, of course.

This is what the company told me in december:

The kit will not be available until the end of January. We are not set up to sell direct but when it is available you can purchase it through Coastline Adventures. 800-413-2050 or www.coastlineadventures.com

Sherrie Buck
Customer Service Representative
Adventure Medical Kits
PO Box 43309
Oakland, CA 94624
800-324-3517
Fax: 510-261-7419
www.adventuremedicalkits.com


The release date has obviously changed since then....

Doug with the heavy duty sewing needle, have you ever considered using a curved one?
Its a lot more versatile than a straight needle. Especially when it comes to repairing heavy clothing or soft equipment.
The needle also doubles as an emergency fishing hook.
Keeps in line with the first priority of survival; Protection!

Thanks for the suggestion. More versatile in some respects, but not in others, IMHO. Lot harder to use if you have to force it though very heavy material, especially with knit gloves on or weak hands due to cold or injury or finesse it through some fine material or use it to pick out a splinter, etc. They make some jobs easier, others more difficult. For the relatively simple things you would typically use one for to make expedient repairs, straight is likely easier for most people. In fact, I dare say most would look at a curved needle and be baffled. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I don't think they really make a viable fish hook and we include four of those in any case. They also cost quite a bit more. I think the straight needle is the best compromise, and everything in a kit this small is a compromise to one degree or another.

Hello Paul.

My name is Andy, I am very interested in survival knives. I collect them and read as much as I can. I hope to some day write a reference book on them. I read your info about the Brewer you carry. Is there anyway you could email me a picture of the built in flare launcher? I am interested in any other survival knife info you would like to share. Thank you

Andy
Tacticalworks@netzero.com

I contacted Outdoors Suppliers UK and they are looking into selling Adventure kit as soon as they get the go ahead for Adventure Medical Supplies. They have told me that the cost to the UK and EU wouldn't be much more than the US price. The gentlemen at Outdoor Suppliers have promised to let me know as soon as the kit becomes available.

You've done very well Stokie,

Please let us know at ETS when they become available through a European distributor.

Anyway a word of advice about importing US-goods into EU-member states: Try not to avoid it!!! Any shipment coming from a US-dealer will be submitted to import duties of 3-5% and the to VAT not just for the value of the goods but VAT will be charged on goods + import duties + shipping cost!!

In other words buy American: yes!! But do it through a EU-dealer.

I've learned the hard way and paid 30%plus charges on some goods <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Eagerly awaiting Doug's kit

Luca

I'm glad I helped. I have only purchased one item from outdoor supplies, and I found them (a husband and wife based firm I think) very helpful, true to their word, and by far the cheapest on the net, or elsewhere, outside the States....so far!
Martin