posted on July 30, 2001 09:53:39 PM
Is there any difference between international letter mail and parcel mail other than the maximum size of the package? Is there a minimum size for either?
I was checking the cost of sending a small 3 pound package, and I find it odd that postage for an airmail letter package costs more than an airmail parcel package, but a surface letter package costs much less than a surface parcel package. In fact, the airmail parcel package even costs less than
surface parcel!
posted on July 31, 2001 05:45:14 AM
I always check the Packages rates, particularly if it's something that weighs 3 lbs. And since the postage stickers that the PO puts on them generally equal what I'd seen under Packages on the website, I'd assume they use that also for items that are not strictly flat letters.
BTW, sometimes the airmail rate is cheaper than surface and that really doesn't seem to make sense. I noticed this after rates went up at the beginning of the year.
posted on July 31, 2001 08:26:43 AM
The letter parcel rate can apply to a parcel that weighs 4lbs or less and you'll find that rate to be less than the regular parcel airmail rate. I did one last week that was a fairly large parcel weighing 3lbs and could not find any max size perameter beside just the general mailing size perameters for that country. Since I work in the industry I have access to all the books and rules and I verified the info with the appropriate USPS employees. It arrived without incident.
posted on July 31, 2001 09:38:49 AM
I was generating postage (International letter - 3 ounces) for an item last night with endicia and noticed that the post office charnges $1.30 for the item as an air shipment and $3.60 as surface. Is there a reason they can justify to charge nearly triple to take 6 times longer delivering it? I just thought it was interesting.
posted on July 31, 2001 09:59:18 AM
I checked the International Rate Calculator for a 3 oz package to the UK.
Airmail letter post is $2.40. Surface letter post is $3.80.
BUT surface rate is a flat rate for ALL pieces 16 ounces or less. Therefore, the Surface rate will ONLY list higher than Airmail for packages up to 4 ounces in weight.
For example, 16 ounces is STILL $3.80 for Surface, but $8.70 for Airmail.
