Well, Cheryl, that can be a tall order. Because of your email I did some
research on www.usps.gov and learned some very interesting things.
If you want to mail something outside of the USA click on this link of Index
of Countries and Localities http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/Immctry.html . The
countries are listed here, just click one and learn all about their individual
restrictions. Most countries won't let you mail human bodies or weapons,
medicine, goods made in prisons. Italy had really weird restrictions on
clothing, bells, photo albums, toys, food, etc. See
http://pe.usps.com/text/Imm/immicl/immiclhk_012.html if you have nothing else
better to do tonight.
Half way down the page you will find the cost of mailing an economy m-bag and
the minimum/maximum weights. What I found interesting is that I had to have a
minimum weight of 12 lbs for my m-bag to Australia, but the website said
"weight not over 11 lbs" is $17.60. And the postal clerk only charged me $14
for 13 lbs. (June, 2006)
They also give the rates for the global priority envelopes here:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc2_016.html#G5uT21198edwa (good to know, since
one paperback book cost me $8.50 by surface to England, er Great Britian a few
years ago)
I find that I have to educate the clerk when I go to ship m-bags. And I also
have to drive to the main post office to mail them.
When a package (sometimes envelopes) leave this country, we have to fill out
a customs form. They (other country) want to know what is in the package. The
recipient won't get the package if it is not attached. I always state "gift"
"used book" and value 25 cents. Clerks are programmed to expect a value.
Media mail rates are calculated by the weight of the envelope/package. One
pound or less is $1.59. Sometimes I have the clerk give me the media mail rate
and the 1st class rate to see which one is cheaper. Thin books are cheaper to
send 1st class. Don't write Media mail on the envelope. Let the clerk stamp it.
One time I paid media mail rate and the clerk didn't stamp the envelope and
threw it on the conveyor belt. Yippee! Also, media mail is subject to
inspection. They will open it up to see if it really is "just a book". This
means..... no bookmarks, no post-it notes, nadda. Except, I think they allow a
slip of paper with the recipient's address in case the envelope tears open. I
used to tape up my mailings in front of the clerk until they learned that I
really do just send books in media mailings. Now they see me in line and ask
"another book? You want media mail, right?" Here is the chart for media mail:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/dmm300/ratesandfees.htm#wp3804548
And just one more thing........the usps.gov site sucks! Do you know it took
me about an hour to type this email, searching for all this info. They make you
search forever! I bookmarked all these links for future reference.
I hope this helps you Cheryl and anyone else who needed it. Don't let it put
you off from sending books. It brings me joy.
Karen/Sissyrun
Cheryl Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
(If I've missed an article that's already posted, please help me
find it. :)
I've shipped internationally from the USA at least three times now
and gotten lost at usps.com each time, and gotten different advice
from the postal clerks each time, too. I know each country has
different regulations, but still there must be a way that those of
you who ship int'l can package & ship relatively affordably and
efficiently.
For example, I just sent one paperback to Singapore. Because
apparently Singapore cooperates somehow with int'l mailing, I was
able to ship it in a special Global Priority (small) Envelope for
$5.25, which to me seemed reasonable. Exploring usps.com gave me a
higher rate for surface mail packaged in brown paper (which is how I
package books for media mail within the US). I did have to, accd.
to the clerk, fill out a customs form. I'm not sure if that was
accurate advice though because how is a gift of a used
paperback 'dutiable?'
Shipping to Greece was not fun at all. And every few weeks there
are questions in this forum about M-bags. Surely somebody from the
US has enough experience they can write an article with advice,
and/or a flow-chart how to get info. from usps.com, or what
questions to ask the clerk at the post office, or mistakes to
avoid.... ? Please?
LLR
Cheryl
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