USPS International Postage Info

[thehornets]

Not sure if anyone caught this, but I missed it as I have not sent any international requests yet this year. Quite an important change that came into effect on 27th January 2013.

It used to be that an A4 board backed envelope or A4 envelope with a stiffener, plus an 8x10 or 8.5x11.5 photo would weigh around 2.5 to 3 ounces and cost circa $4 US Dollars as an airmail international rate.

As of January 27th they removed the option for large letters to be sent as rigid items, and now any large letter that is rigid is classed as a packet and instead of costing about $4 will now cost $9.45 for a mere 2.5 ounces!

It has a huge bearing on quite a few outstanding requests I have, and I may as well write them off.

Smaller rigid envelopes are not impacted, it is just the larger size envelopes.

I am in the process of writing some USA requests, so I will now have to use normal envelopes with a lightweight bit of card as flimsy protection. I do not like this, as board backed envelopes make quite a difference to protection, but I have no choice as I cannot afford these new rates.

[Anonymous]

thanks for that Nigel, just been doing a few requests to the states myself, think i'll stick to smaller pics as $9.45 is a joke either that or like you mention use less thicker cardboard

[obree]

Thanks for the info Nigel I haven't sent any requests to the USA but if I do I'll be snding smaller cards .

[rcsmg1]

Can't believe that price increase for a bit of cardboard!

[film4watcher]

Thanks for the info, Nigel. I've noticed how much the price of postage has risen when I've ordered stuff from America. It's getting silly.

[wheel-lose]

thanks for the info,,i never use cardboard stiffrners with my requests,and only send out 6x4 size,,so should be ok

[bluemesa356]

I'll verify that for you on Monday, April 1, and NO, I'm not pulling your chain on this one! It's a bit of a shock to me as well. I'll send complete information on this to the group sometime Monday morning. Will advise...............

patcross sends

[bluemesa356]

As an extra tidbit of information........does anyone know what the Royal Mail will do about this? I usually send postage funding with any TTM letter or parcel, so that will probably affect me, too. Postal rate increases frustrate us all. GRRRRRRR...........

[bluemesa356]

It's official........$9.45 USD (6.22 GBP) for a single outbound 8.5 by 11 inch flat parcel (SSAE, backing, cover letter, and document/photo to be signed) to anywhere in the UK, more for Europe/Asia. Now, for UK-bound letters (SSAE, photo/card, postage funds, note or letter), the price is now $1.10 USD, 0.72 GBP. This information is current, as of April 1, 2013. As Charlie Brown would say, "Good grief!"  

[loobyloo6]

Thanks for the confirmation Pat.

[thehornets]

Thanks Pat.

[rallison470]

Thanks for the info. This will really effect my TTM's as I send alot to the US. I hope that you don't now need a customs form on the back (as a large envelope is now under parcel prices). This will really mess things up.

[serenamorgan]

I got an A4 envelope back today with three 10x8s and a heavy card stiffner with $4.60 postage on it

all a bit strange

[thehornets]

I am really quite pleased to see this Greg, and hope some of my older requests still make it back.

[sport_legends_uk]

This was my postage from the US in march. It was a hardback c4 envelope with 3 10x8's and another piece of board in there.

[thehornets]

It is early days since the change, and I am sure some will get through. I imagine it will vary from post office to post office, and by postal employee.