[ILL-L] question about international shipping

[Kathy Britt]

FYI...the "First Class Mail International" is the equivalent of Air Mail 
letter--it's only for letters or packages <4 lb..  If you're shipping 
something that weighs >4 lb., then you have to use the "Global Priority."

Kathy

Joe Ellison wrote:
> 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
>
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