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International mail rates USA -> China?

 

Did you look at First Class Mail International? I think the limit is 4
pounds max. There is no tracking and you have to take it to the post
office to mail, no option to print out postage label on computer or over
web. I use this for most small packages, mostly tubes and other small
vintage electronic items.
Tim L.
 

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 3:45 PM, <laingt@...> wrote:
Did you look at First Class Mail International? I think the limit is 4
pounds max. There is no tracking and you have to take it to the post
office to mail, no option to print out postage label on computer or over
web. I use this for most small packages, mostly tubes and other small
vintage electronic items.
I beliveve that all packages requiring a customs form currently have
to be handed to a clerk at a post office.

So, it doesn't matter much that you can't print a prepaid label (you
can print the customs form ahead of time).
Artekmedia
 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Ahh more misinformation

On 1/25/2013 6:17 PM, David DiGiacomo wrote:
?

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 3:45 PM, laingt@...> wrote:
> Did you look at First Class Mail International? I think the limit is 4
> pounds max. There is no tracking and you have to take it to the post
> office to mail, no option to print out postage label on computer or over
> web. I use this for most small packages, mostly tubes and other small
> vintage electronic items.

I beliveve that all packages requiring a customs form currently have
to be handed to a clerk at a post office.

Only items weighing more than 13oz must be handed to a clerk. An international? 1st class parcel can be picked up at mailbox with the custom form already attached? as long as it is not over 13 oz. The 13 oz limit applies for domestic as well as international but only for stamped mail. I average about 50pcs a week internationally this way


So, it doesn't matter much that you can't print a prepaid label (you
can print the customs form ahead of time).

The 13 oz weight limit applies only for "stamped" mail. preprinted electronic labels are not subject to the 13 oz limit. So priority boxes with prepaid labels can be picked up at your mailbox as long as they dont exceed the weight requirement for the box

Dave
ArtekManuals


-- 
Dave Henderson
Manuals@...

PO Box 175
Welch,MN 55089
651-269-4265

 

--- In TekScopes@..., Artekmedia wrote:

Ahh more misinformation

On 1/25/2013 6:17 PM, David DiGiacomo wrote:

On Fri, Jan 25, 2013 at 3:45 PM, laingt@...
wrote:
Did you look at First Class Mail International? I think the limit is 4
pounds max. There is no tracking and you have to take it to the post
office to mail, no option to print out postage label on computer or over
web. I use this for most small packages, mostly tubes and other small
vintage electronic items.
I beliveve that all packages requiring a customs form currently have
to be handed to a clerk at a post office.
Only items weighing more than 13oz must be handed to a clerk. An
international 1st class parcel can be picked up at mailbox with the
custom form already attached as long as it is not over 13 oz. The 13 oz
limit applies for domestic as well as international but only for stamped
mail. I average about 50pcs a week internationally this way


So, it doesn't matter much that you can't print a prepaid label (you
can print the customs form ahead of time).
The 13 oz weight limit applies only for "stamped" mail. preprinted
electronic labels are not subject to the 13 oz limit. So priority boxes
with prepaid labels can be picked up at your mailbox as long as they
dont exceed the weight requirement for the box

Dave
ArtekManuals

--
Dave Henderson
Manuals@...
www.Artekmanuals.com
PO Box 175
Welch,MN 55089
651-269-4265
A spot on, very comprehensive answer Dave! I'll add that First Class International Parcels can be sent registered if you are concerned about tracking. Hand-to-hand custody with tracking all the way. Registered mail is available for parcels sent to most countries. The International Mail Manual (search USPS.com for IMM) spells it all out.

Cheers,

Taylor
 

I beliveve that all packages requiring a customs form currently have
to be handed to a clerk at a post office.

Only items weighing more than 13oz must be handed to a clerk. An international 1st class parcel can be picked up at mailbox with the custom form already attached as long as it is not over 13 oz. The 13 oz limit applies for domestic as well as international but only for stamped mail. I average about 50pcs a week internationally this way
My mail carrier recently started refusing to take any international
mailpieces with customs forms, citing a directive he had received.
Sorry if that's misinformation.

Is it possible that your one man post office is just lenient?
John Griessen
 

On 01/25/2013 11:38 PM, David DiGiacomo wrote:
My mail carrier recently started refusing to take any international
mailpieces with customs forms, citing a directive he had received.
Sorry if that's misinformation.

The paypal generated label with customs form included worked for
shipping to Norway a few days ago in Austin TX.
 

It's unbelievable how much misinformation is in this thread.

There's no requirement that packages over 13oz be handed to a clerk, IF you're using Priority or Express (International). You can print out the postage and customs forms on Paypal, stick them to an envelope or box (such as the Priority Flat-Rate boxes), and drop them in a mail bin, without ever seeing a clerk. I've done it many times.

The requirement to see a clerk is for International First Class packages, since there's no way to print postage for those online; because of this, you have to see a clerk to have them metered and pay for postage, and for the clerk to enter the customs information (or verify it, if you filled out the customs form online), and then to stamp it with the post office's stamp. For Priority and Express International, you've already paid for the postage, the customs info is already entered in, and there's even a stamp there. You can just drop it in the box. However, it's not a bad idea to go to the clerk anyway, so they'll do the acceptance scan there and print a receipt for you, verifying that they got it.

Dan

--- In TekScopes@..., Artekmedia wrote:

Only items weighing more than 13oz must be handed to a clerk. An
international 1st class parcel can be picked up at mailbox with the
custom form already attached as long as it is not over 13 oz. The 13 oz
limit applies for domestic as well as international but only for stamped
mail. I average about 50pcs a week internationally this way
 

I ship small packages internationally all the time, from various post offices. I have no idea what you're talking about; if you ship an international package (including first class), you have to have a customs form attached. You're spreading misinformation.

Dan

--- In TekScopes@..., David DiGiacomo wrote:

My mail carrier recently started refusing to take any international
mailpieces with customs forms, citing a directive he had received.
Sorry if that's misinformation.

Is it possible that your one man post office is just lenient?
 

I would think that any country worldwide would require incoming
international mail to have a customs declaration attached.
I have received packages from many different countries and they all had customs forms.
Not attaching a declaration could cause the recipient a lot of trouble.
Jim

On 26 January 2013 15:48, DanielW <daniel@...> wrote:

?

I ship small packages internationally all the time, from various post offices. I have no idea what you're talking about; if you ship an international package (including first class), you have to have a customs form attached. You're spreading misinformation.

Dan



--- In TekScopes@..., David DiGiacomo wrote:
>
> My mail carrier recently started refusing to take any international
> mailpieces with customs forms, citing a directive he had received.
> Sorry if that's misinformation.
>
> Is it possible that your one man post office is just lenient?
>
 

hi,

I also ship all over the world using postage from the
ebay site.

Once in a while their system will not scan the priority
label until it gets delivered.

When I ship priority mail international, they would miss
over 90% of the scans, the shipment leaves Miami postal facility.

I bring all my international priority boxes to the post office now
and ask the clerk for 'package acceptance'. I would get nasty
looks, they take the box and toss it in the big hopper without
scanning it. One worker told me they don't have to do that anymore,
it is automatic. I wanted 'package acceptance' she said not done
anymore.

OK, I told her I want 'Proof of Mailing', I'll pay for it,
rolling eyes, she scans it, and what do you know,
'Package acceptance' $0.00 and I am done.

I wrote a nice letter to my PM, was I asking for the wrong service or if they had new policies, but that was not the case,
they should be scanning if requested.

This gives my buyers a way to verify I did hand the box to USPS.

73 james
Stefan Trethan
 

I'm not sure how this is handled in the US, but I think some of you
may be talking about pickup at your home by the delivery guy and the
confusion may result from this.

I used to send PCBs to Israel. There was this strange rule that
anything shipped to Israel has to be brought in open for inspection by
the clerk. I never found out what specifically they were trying to
keep out of Israel but nobody ever commented on my PCBs.
From this experience I don't think there is any requirement for postal
regulations to make sense.

ST

On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 4:45 PM, DanielW <daniel@...> wrote:
It's unbelievable how much misinformation is in this thread.

There's no requirement that packages over 13oz be handed to a clerk, IF you're using Priority or Express (International). You can print out the postage and customs forms on Paypal, stick them to an envelope or box (such as the Priority Flat-Rate boxes), and drop them in a mail bin, without ever seeing a clerk. I've done it many times.
Jim
 

They just didn't want you sending them chitlins, pork rinds, or pepperoni sausage.
?
Or MREs containing SOS creamed chipped beef.
?
Pareve, baby!
?
73
Jim N6OTQ

From: Stefan Trethan
To: TekScopes@...
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Re: International mail rates USA -> China?

I used to send PCBs to Israel. There was this strange rule that
anything shipped to Israel has to be brought in open for inspection by
the clerk. I never found out what specifically they were trying to
keep out of Israel but nobody ever commented on my PCBs.
From this experience I don't think there is any requirement for postal
regulations to make sense.
 

You need to find another post office. The clerks at some of the big, busy ones don't like it when you "waste" their time getting acceptance scans and a receipt, since you could just drop them in the box. The ones at the small post offices usually aren't like this. The clerks at my current PO (which is a very small one for a town of 15K, usually with two clerks) like having me come to the counter and get scans, and when I asked why there were no automated postage machines like the big POs usually have, they said they didn't like those and preferred for people to come to them for postage instead. I guess it's that small-town mentality (though I live about 15 miles from Manhattan, NYC as the crow flies, so it's not exactly rural here).

Also, different clerks are different. At my last PO before I moved here, which was a very large PO and the main PO for a city of 250k+, there was one clerk who had a nasty attitude, and another clerk who I got along with great. So I actively avoided the nasty clerk and let other people go in front of me if I was next in line to see her.

Dan

--- In TekScopes@..., "james27613" wrote:

hi,

I also ship all over the world using postage from the
ebay site.

Once in a while their system will not scan the priority
label until it gets delivered.

When I ship priority mail international, they would miss
over 90% of the scans, the shipment leaves Miami postal facility.

I bring all my international priority boxes to the post office now
and ask the clerk for 'package acceptance'. I would get nasty
looks, they take the box and toss it in the big hopper without
scanning it. One worker told me they don't have to do that anymore,
it is automatic. I wanted 'package acceptance' she said not done
anymore.

OK, I told her I want 'Proof of Mailing', I'll pay for it,
rolling eyes, she scans it, and what do you know,
'Package acceptance' $0.00 and I am done.

I wrote a nice letter to my PM, was I asking for the wrong service or if they had new policies, but that was not the case,
they should be scanning if requested.

This gives my buyers a way to verify I did hand the box to USPS.

73 james
 

My business (in Israel) is geared to repairing PCB's (as opposed to complete machines) from customers all over the world. PCB's are light, can be properly packaged to survive attempts to damage them, and are cheap to ship.

I have no small number of customers in the USA, and all package and seal the parcel totally before sending, apply the customs form, and take it to the local USPS counter.

None of my customers has ever reported having to comply with some of these strange practices mentioned here. The cheapest and fastest shipment method from the US to Israel, is Priority Mail (not Express Mail, due to severe well-known incompetence issues in this particular Israel Post department). Priority Mail delivery time is anywhere from 7-14 days, whereas the more expensive Express Mail can sometimes take over a month!!!

Israel Post has a policy of NOT opening the incoming parcel for inspection unless the recipient is present, which has completely eliminated the possible problems of theft from packages.

So, I would hazard a guess that your local USPS office is run by a very small person who is intent on putting his personal stamp on his fiefdom, and making his mark in history.

Menahem Yachad
 

This is interesting. With my small business, I've shipped lots of packages around the world; the vast majority of customers choose First Class because it's cheapest (these packages are 2-6 ounces usually), some choose Priority, and a few choose Express Mail. I've never had any trouble with Priority, and with First Class while sometimes slow, I think only one has gotten lost. But Express Mail I've had a lot of trouble with: two of them got lost (to Bulgaria and Spain), and one was very slow, out of only a handful of packages sent this way. Maybe I should just take Express off the options list and replace it with Fedex?

Dan

--- In TekScopes@..., "dehav7" wrote:

None of my customers has ever reported having to comply with some of these strange practices mentioned here. The cheapest and fastest shipment method from the US to Israel, is Priority Mail (not Express Mail, due to severe well-known incompetence issues in this particular Israel Post department). Priority Mail delivery time is anywhere from 7-14 days, whereas the more expensive Express Mail can sometimes take over a month!!!
 

Dan,

I can speak for only Israel Post, because that is what I know.
IsraelPost is an efficient and honest organization. Customer service is first-class. This applies to Priority or First-Class mail only. Theft or loss is basically unheard of, due to extremely stringent security procedures - a fact of life here.

Express Mail is a different story. Express Mail is NOT processed by IsraelPost, but by an independent 3rd-party subcontractor who won the bid - the circumstances behind the win remain highly suspicious. They are unaccountable to anyone, the service is atrocious, and any Israeli who has had to pay their arbitrary commissions on incoming parcels (horror stories of $75+ fees - not customs duties - on a returned smelly sweater forgotten on a previous trip) learns very smartly to forbid any future incoming parcels by this method.

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