OT: eBay no longer offers International Parcel Post

[deebro041]

Don't the buyers pay for the shipping anyways?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by deebro041

Don't the buyers pay for the shipping anyways?

Buyers are much less likely to buy something once the Shipping cost becomes more then the actual item.

[buymycards]

Howard, there is a simple way to send a single card overseas. I always use a rigid photo mailer. I buy a size that is 6" high and 8" long. This qualifies as a non-machinable letter. Even after the price increase I can send 1 card in this photo mailer in the US for 86 cents (66 for a 2 ounce letter plus a 20 cent non machinable surcharge). Don't go over 6 1/8" inches high or the mailer will not qualify for the letter rate.

A single card to Canada is $1.30. Other countries are either $2.25 or $2.10 depending on the country. At this point you don't need a customs form but that may change in the future. I just buy stamps and put them on the photo mailer. You still need to take them to the Post Office because you can't put international mail in the blue collection boxes.

If your PO gives you any crap tell them to look in the Domestic Mail Manual under 101.1.1. You can buy cheap photo mailers by the case from ULine.com.

Good luck! Rick

[buymycards]

Also, the reason behind these higher rates is because the cost of transporting these items is escalating. The airlines charge the Postal Service by weight and size according to the number of cubic inches of the parcel.

The reason that you have to take international items to the Post Office is because the Border Protection Service has instituted new regulations that really tighten up the security of overseas mail. There are new regulations for the customs forms that ended up costing the Postal Service a lot of time and money. There are also tighter restrictions for items that are being sent overseas, such as a prohibition on lithium batteries, and a prohibition on perfume or any other items that could possibly be flammable. In addition, the Postal Service is phasing in a tracking service for international parcels that will be included in the base price. Canada will be the first country phased in, the other countries will follow.

There - that is probably more than anyone really wanted to know about international parcel delivery.

Rick

[Buythatcard]

Rick,

Thanks for the suggestions.