posted on December 26, 2005 11:16:50 PM new
Just wanted to give all the international shippers a heads up on new policy for 2006 from the USPS.
Quoted from USPS Postal Bulletin number 22169:
"Indemnity coverage is now provided for all ordinary, uninsured internationsl airmail and economy mail parcel post. This new coverage is provided at no additional charge and protects mailers against loss, damage, or rifiling. Coverage is limited to the actual value of the contents or the maximum indemnity based on the weight of the article, whichever is less. The January 2006 edition of PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72, is modified to accommodate this change."
"Mailers may still purchase additional insurance to many countries. When international insured service is purchased, it replaces the indemnity coverage provided on ordinary parcel post."
Veiw it at the USPS website at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2005/html/pb22169/intmail.html#one or go through the links in following order at www.usps.com, click on the "About USPS & News" link at top right, then in first column click on "Forms and Publications", then click on "Postal Bulletin", click on previous bulletins for 2005, sellect postal bulletin number 22169 / issue 12/8/05 in either pdf or html format. It is under international mail section.
So, what's this mean. After reading the entire article it appears that indemnity coverage is now proveded based on weight of package. Coverage is based on the weight of package and starts at 1 pound at $62.84 and goes up $3.03 per pound after that for a maximum of 70 pounds at $271.91.
Also don't forget to get the new revised PS Form 2976-A customs forms as these have now changed. Get a couple at your local post office to hold you over and order your bulk shipment of forms from the USPS website (they are free).
Another note to international shippers. Since the addition of indemnity coverage the scanning requirements for international shippments has now also changed. If you print your postage/customs form combined with Paypal or through the USPS Click and Ship the postal employee must scan or manually enter the form upon acceptance at the post office to allow them tracking for the indemnity coverage and so you and your buyer can track package. This is a nice added feature of the new system. This article is available in the Postal Bulletin number 22167, just follow directions above on how to get there.
At least we are getting some added features with the increase in shipping fee's for 2006.
posted on December 27, 2005 02:50:31 PM new
That sounds like good news.
Do you think tracking will be available for insured international items on the internet, like Global Express Mail?
posted on December 27, 2005 03:30:12 PM new
As for what I know about how their system works I would say yes they should be able to track via internet track/confirm. The last couple of items I shipped overseas via either airmail or economy parcel post were both trackable online and did show when they were delivered. This is one reason they have had to make changes to the PS Form 2976-A since it now has information about the new indemnity and according to the Postal Bulletin they have to scan "ALL" incoming and outgoing international packages.
On another note. The new indemnity coverage tey provide covers you and the buyer up to the amount I listed above. If you need additional insurance you will have to fill out a normal insurance form. I could not get a clear answer from the USPS customer service rep I talked to today on the phone on wether we have to pay for the insurance just above what they cover or if we need additional insurance we will have to pay for all of it. I have to go to the post office tomorrow to do some international shipping and I will ask my local Post Master. From what I read in the additions to the International Mail Manual it looks like (I'll use a example)if you were shipping a package that weighed let's say 1 pound and needed covered for $100.00 you would have to pay for $100 worth of insurance. If the value is $62.84 or less their coverage would cover the package. Basically if additional coverage is needed, the insurance you purchase would replace the coverage they provide (if I am reading their update to IMM manual correctly).
posted on December 28, 2005 09:24:20 AM new
As far as I know most countries should be trackable. The majority of the countries in the world are members of the Universal Postal Union. The few that are not members are limited and of those few the only thing you can mail to them is letter mail, no packages. If in doubt about a country, drop the USPS help center a email or call them and ask.
posted on December 28, 2005 09:34:39 AM new
the reason I asked is that say a country like China or Saudi Arabia,they may scan the packages in big cities like Riyadh or Beijing then route them to smaller towns where the local post offices do not scan incoming mail.
posted on December 28, 2005 01:07:21 PM new
Many countries DO NOT have scaners, but are online and automated. My talk today with my local post master got me this reply. "Many international shipment's coming into the US do not have bar codes but only a ID number. In this case we have to manually enter the ID number. Countries receiving parcels from the US that do not have scanning capabilities will just enter the adjoining ID number under the bar code. With the changes in USPS International shipping regulations we now are forced to log EVERY package coming in, bar code scan or ID number manually entered into system."
