topic Re: Posting low value items to the USA in Postage

Posting low value items to the USA

excellence-audio — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:26:13 GMT

I am having issues with low value items being posted to the USA, I am talking of 10£ value and around 20grams envelopes the size (aproximately) of a CD case.

in the past I would stick the customs label and a Standard Airmail stamp and the receiver would get his item in around 4-7 working days.

now , since the changes in the custom clearance procedures for the USA , I have had several lost or returned items and I am starting to think it is not really worth including the USA for these kind of listings.

I went to the post office and they have no clue of what to do, they stick ONLY a 3.50£ stamp and send it away... which I know it is not right as it has to go through customs so it should have the CN22 label attached.
Some of these got to the receiver, some others got lost in transit.

I tried sending them out with 2 (TWO) CN22 labels (one in the front and one in the back...) and the 3.50£ airmail stamp some got lost, some came back with a sticker indicating the Customs value was missing which make me think someone is taking me for a ride.

High value items are not really an issue, I would just send them using UPS or DHL , but I cannot sell a 10quid item and then charge a 30quid Shipping (plus taxes on arrival).

should I bar the USA as shipping locaton for those low value items?

any advice?

Re: Posting low value items to the USA

style_wise — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:12:41 GMT

I have experience of Royal Mail Airmail to the States. Sending anything except correspondence in a Letter is against Customs, and I'm surprised any of it is getting through that way. So what are your options for your thin 20g items?

Large Letter Standard Airmail is automatically insured for £20, and currently only £4.30 (plus the Royal Mail fee for processing paperwork for now non-existent tariffs which is 50p online and £1.50 over the counter). As you say, sometimes this arrives in a few days. But sometimes it takes many weeks - depending on where it's going and how slow it is to clear Customs. This is only a bit more expensive than Letter, comes with automatic insurance, and is the best option.

There used to be a good Economy LL service, but Royal Mail has made this almost the same price for this weight, which is a shame because for this size often RM would bump it up to Airmail for free.

Your next best option is Tracked which is currently £10.70 (plus fee). This includes automatic £50 insurance and I've never had an item not arrive with it.

CN22 labels are now obsolete. RM print out Customs labels for you with over-the-counter service, which includes an extra barcode which is linked to it in their system. Good luck finding the right solution for you!

Re: Posting low value items to the USA

excellence-audio — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:01:23 GMT

that is very interesting but whenever I went to the post office they never ever printed any Barcodes.
I can not believe this system is so moronic, I will just exclude the USA from the international shipping.

I just sold two items again to the USA, honestly speaking , its is cheaper for me to cancel the sale.

The joke of the day? the only country I had issues with was ROMANIA which I barred form my listings,

Now I put back Romania as allowed and will bar USA.
If I think of places I sent my items too... Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Peru', South Korea , even Madagascar, all far away countries I never had an issue with.
Then I think for the past year every single shipment to the USA was as paiunful as passing kidneystones.