I talked to the clerk at the PO about my concerns that shipping a heavy book to Russia will cost a mint. At first she pulled up the same numbers I found on the Post Office web site, but next thing I know, she comes up with a MUCH cheaper rate. It's called "mailbag economy".
I can't find any definition or explanation of that on the web site. Has anyone dealt with this? she thought it might literally end up in a "bag" of some sort at the mail distribution center.
Another odd thing, the computer gave the same amount [$11] to ship it this way, whether it weighed 5,6, or 7 lbs.
I suspect what your clerk pulled up was the M-bag rate. And yes, the box or boxes of books gets put immediately into a mailbag. It is the same rate up to, I believe, 11 pounds. I use this frequently when shipping books in bulk to Europe. Average time between California and Portugal is 70 days--but of course, postage is cheap!
Mailbag economy must be what we used to call M-Bag.
M-Bag shipments are direct sacks of printed matter (which includes books) to one addressee.
You must still box and address the book. Where the postage would normally go, you write POSTAGE PAID - M-BAG. You also have to fill out Tag 158, M-Bag Addressee Tag. You are the one who actually puts the book in a sack. The PO will give you a canvas bag (probably a #3 sack) with a drawstring to put it in. The Tag 158 gets attached to the sack. The postage and customs form are attached to the Tag 158.
The rate for Russia used to be 79 cents per pound for M-Bag, but I don't know the current weight.
Also, there was always (unless its changed) a minimum weight of 11 pounds and a maximum weight of 66 pounds. Does your book weigh at least 11 pounds?
I think in 15 years of being a window clerk, I might have done M-Bags three times, so it's not surprising most clerks would not be familiar with it.
If your clerk isn't sure how to prepare it, tell him or her to look it up in the International Mail Manual under Printed Matter.
posted on January 23, 2001 10:19:51 AM
I just found out that Canada has a M-Bag rate. There was a difference of over $20.00 for 10 kilos to the UK.
M-Bag does not stand for Mail-Bag--it actually stands for 'même destinaire' which means 'same destination'--because everything in the bag is going to the same address and does not have to be sorted by the receiving country.----and the reason it is in French is because the language of international agreements in 1875 was French.
Below is copied from a newsgroup
"M-Bags are a rate for 'printed papers: books, sheet music, newspapers, and periodicals' which was worked out by the oldest and (possibly) the most effective international organization in the world, the Universal Postal Union or UPU which was founded in
1875.
There is a requirement, by international convention, to put a large letter 'M' on the stiff tag label (rigid canvas, strong cardboard, plastic material, or paper glued to wood) that is attached to the bag
through a strong eyelet. "
posted on January 23, 2001 10:46:52 AM
awesome information, thanks! I must have thought she was saying "mailbag" when it was M-bag. The computer gave the rate when I asked for 5 lbs, after which we played around for heavier stuff. From this I assume there is no 11-lb minimum?
I will print out this info in case my local PO clerks need the help... ; - )
posted on January 23, 2001 10:52:44 AM
That was the one new perk on the new postal rates---they took away International Book Rate (BOO)---but they also took away the minimum weight that goes into a M-Bag. You pay for 11 pounds--but you can put in less....prior to that it had to weigh 11 pounds or more
posted on January 23, 2001 10:55:43 AM
Oh, OK. Well, the rate is less than half that of the next cheapest option, so maybe my customer will go for it. Or pay $27 for parcel post. He expected to pay $7 so I am relieved that there is actually an option in that ballpark!
