posted on January 23, 2001 04:08:26 PM
I don't see anything called "Global airmail letter-post."
The only $4 rate I can find is the Global Priority Mail small flat-rate envelope. That envelope is 6 inches by 10 inches, so your book ain't gonna fit.
There's a $7 rate for GPM large flat-rate envelope. That one is 9.5 by 12.5 inches, the same size, I think, as the domestic flat rate Priority Mail envelope. Your book might fit (depending on thickness), but you probably won't have room for any bubble wrap or protective material. You have to use the official GPM envelope to qualify.
There is a GPM rate if you use your own packaging -- rate would be $11.00 for 2 pounds.
Using regular letter-post rates (for which cdnbooks has given you the correct dimensions), the rates for 32 ounces (2 lbs.) will be $5.60 economy (surface) or $6.35 air mail.
posted on January 23, 2001 04:57:14 PM
Hi, keziak -
I think your book will go fine at "Global Airmail Letter Post". I have just quoted a German buyer the rates for Global Economy Letter Post, as well as Global Airmail Letter Post, so he can choose the one he wants.
I think it is confusing that they call it LETTER post.
I always print out the rate for my international packages from the USPS rate calculator, and take that with me to the Post Office. It gives you some back-up if they quote something higher.
posted on January 23, 2001 06:10:28 PM
"Global Airmail Letter Post" and "Global Economy Letter Post" are nothing more than the new names for what use to be called "Small Packet"
posted on January 23, 2001 06:27:03 PM
Interesting Note from past experience at the local post office with the new rates.
My 2 books bound for Canada weighed in at 2 lbs 1 oz. One local postal person quoted $15.45...so I passed; I then took it to another post office with the same response--though I had printed out the rates for Letter post which state that the pkg can be of any shape and weighs less than 4 lbs etc. I was informed that that was if I was mailing a bunch of letters that weighed less than 4 lbs in a box.
Well, I complained and then she offered "book rate" for $8.80 which I later found out was the L-label for bulk items to foreigh destinations starting at 11 lbs but items weighing less can go for the same $8.80 rate which I accepted and left. <p>
Most postal folks here do not accept the letter post quote except for "letters".<p>
posted on January 23, 2001 06:37:00 PM
Becarefull When Checking with the USPS online calculator for International rates Twice now I used it to get International rates both times it gave me rate $3 to $5 more then I was actually charged to ship packages.
just yesterday I checked on shipping of a small envelope of 6oz got a rate of $3.20 to ship it when I got the payment from the buyer went to ship the Item at the PO the postage was $1 .
another ITem of 13OZ online I was gave a rate of 11.20 charge actually at the PO $6.45
posted on January 23, 2001 07:51:29 PM
The USPS clerks are woefully ignorant at the best of times of the new US rates, let alone non-USA. Small Packet (which encompassed all packages under 4 lbs, including Printed Matter (books)), has now been renamed GLOBAL PRIORITY LETTER POST.
For an explanation of the new categories go to [http://pe.usps.gov/] for the Postal Explorer. Click on International Rates and Fees. Click on "Categories of International Mail" and scroll through the PDF file.
They state:
"Letter-post" is a generic term that encompasses all of the classes of international mail that were formerly categorized as LC (Letters and Cards) and AO (Other Articles). This includes letters and letter packages, postcards and postal cards, aerogrammes, PRINTED MATTER (books), and small packets (PACKAGES). Letter-post items have the following characteristics:
a. They have different shapes, sizes, and contents.
b. They weigh 4 pounds or less.
c. They are subject to the provisions of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Convention.
Letter-post items can be sent as either airmail or economy (surface) mail. They may contain any mailable matter that is not prohibited by the destination country, and at the sender’s option, they may be prepared in the form of a “self-mailer”
(i.e., without being enclosed in an envelope or wrapper). Such items must have all their open sides secured with tape, tabs, or wafer seals to prevent them from opening during postal handling. Special services such as registry, recorded delivery, return receipt, and restricted delivery may be added on a country-specific basis. Tables 4a and 4b contain the postage rates for airmail and economy (surface) letter-post items.
If you go to the international rate calculator at [http://ircalc.usps.gov/] and click on PACKAGE you will then enter the country and weight of the item. A table will display showing ALL the available postage options. These are the CORRECT rates, but the post office will more than likely try to tell you otherwise....
posted on January 23, 2001 09:22:50 PM
Thanks engelskdansk - I'm going to print this out and take it to my PO tomorrow.
I have two Canadian buyers of books where the postage is over $15.00 according to what I thought was the correct selection for books on the website.
Both of my buyers were startled, as was I, at this high rate of postage.
I use a small town PO, and I want to find out FOR SURE what they're going to charge me before I show up with the boxes.
I'm sure my buyers would love a rebate.
posted on January 24, 2001 05:08:18 AM
In reference to dman3's post - my experience has been pretty much the opposite; as engleskdansk points out, the rates from the rate calculator at the USPS site are the correct ones. When I have prepared my package, weighed it, and gotten the calculation from the USPS site, I print out the results. Several times they have come up with something higher at the Post Office, but when I show them the results I have, they re-figure, ask a supervisor, etc., and IN EVERY INSTANCE they have finally agreed that the rates I have are correct.
But you have to be prepared to stand your ground - many of the clerks ARE woefully ignorant, and they don't have a clue about how ignorant they are, and they don't want to know.
The fact that texaseagle was told that the Letter Post rate was for a bunch of letters in a box is a perfect (and ludicrous) example. A couple of months ago, a clerk told me that "Small Packet" was for a box about the size of a small, approximately 4 inch x 4 inch, jewelry box. This was not a new clerk! You have to wonder just how many people she has overcharged because they took her word for it.
posted on January 24, 2001 06:30:26 AM
Thanks for the info folks. This explains why I went into shock when I got a quote of $7.00 US to mail a paperback book from the USA to Canada. I, unfortunately, had to advise the seller that I was not going to complete the deal. $7.00 US works out to over $10.00 Canadian (that's just the postage). I can buy the book brand new at Smith's for $9.99 Canadian.
I should have checked with the seller first, but it was at Yahoo. You cannot communicate directly with sellers over there.
posted on January 24, 2001 08:08:46 AM
Does anyone know where the rates are to M-Bag? The only thing my PO office has regarding M-bag is a huge book that they obviously can't zerox for me and I can't find anything on their website. I don't want to run to the PO everytime I want a quote.
posted on January 24, 2001 09:13:25 AM
marlenedz: I had a nice long chat about this with a clerk at our P.O. yesterday, on the phone. I could give her the country and weight of the item and she ran it through the computer.
Turns out my Russian customer wants to bid on MORE of my current auctions, so he may have multiple purchases. I guess the price stays the same up to 11 lbs, so I'm cool with that.
