[ILL-L] question about international shipping

[Joe Ellison]

At 03:05 PM 8/1/2007, Kathy Britt wrote:
><snip>There is no more "Air Mail," but it is now called "Global Prioroty" 
>(and then there's "Global Priority Express" which is even more $$$). <snip>
Amy Underwood wrote:
>*Hi Helpful Folk:
>
>I have a (probably dumb) question about international shipping. I send 
>about a half dozen ILLs to Denmark per year. Haven't sent one for several 
>months now. I used to always use a Global Express envelope from the USPS 
>and if the package weighed less than one pound I didn't have to fill out 
>any customs paperwork. The cost was $9+ (definitely under $10). Today, the 
>post office gave me a fee of $25 to ship Global Priority Guaranteed (which 
>our library cannot afford). I've been on www.usps.gov 
><http://www.usps.gov/>, but so far, have not found an answer to my question.

Actually, there is still "air mail", but it's now called First Class 
Mail(R) International (yes, they've registered a trademark on the phrase 
"first class mail"). If you use the rate calculator at 
<http://ircalc.usps.gov/> for a 15oz large envelope (i.e., manila envelope, 
fairly flat jiffy bag, or priority mail envelope) sent to Denmark, you'll 
get rates for First Class Mail International of $10.40, Priority Mail(R) 
Flat Rate  envelope $11.00, Priority Mail(R) International $20.00, etc. If 
your shipment was classed as a package, rather than a large envelope, the 
rates for First Class Mail International and Priority Mail International 
are the same, but the flat rate box would cost $37.00. Registering a First 
Class Mail International envelope or package adds an additional $10.15. The 
Priority level services include registration. Bottom line--it will cost 
between $11.00 and $20.55 to mail that shipment if you want to be able to 
track it. If you have a credit card to pay with, you can create your 
priority mailing label on the post office web site, pay for the postage 
there as well, and save a fraction of the fee (flat rate is $10.45 instead 
of $11.00). We aren't able to do that. We do generally bill back mailing 
fees to the overseas borrower.

The new rules regarding customs forms are at 
<http://www.usps.com/international/customs.htm>. For First Class Mail 
International under 16 oz, no forms are needed, as was previously the case 
with ordinary Air Mail. Forms are required on First Class Mail 
International weighing 16 oz or more. Forms (PS Form 2976) are _always_ 
required on Priority Mail Flat Rate envelopes. Forms (PS Form 2976-A 
inserted into the plastic envelope PS Form 2976-E) are _always_ required on 
Priority Mail International.

The only real suggestion I have is to take a few minutes to play with the 
calculator, using your knowledge of previous shipments, to figure out what 
they will cost now under the various options. That way you can be armed 
with knowledge, and perhaps a bill-back policy, for future shipments.


Joe Ellison
Document Delivery Assistant, Transportation Library (OCLC symbol JCR)
Northwestern University Library, 1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston, IL  60208-2300
phone: (847)491-8600, fax: (847)491-8601
j-ellison at northwestern.edu
ARIEL: 129.105.19.35 or staff019035.library.northwestern.edu
Visit the Transportation Library: 
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/transportation