General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsdoes the post office ship international other than
first class, express, or priority? I am old, seem to remember some really cheap slow way to ship...on a ship or something. Does that exist anymore? I can't seem to find anything on their website...cheapest fora 10 lb package is like $80! ouch. how do people ship furniture and stuff? I seem to recall getting a pretty heavy rug from Turkey for very little money and it only took a couple weeks to get here. That was only about 10 years ago.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)We used to put 'Air Mail' on envelopes, but then were informed, 'it's all air mail.' Guess the rate is by how long you are willing to let them ship 'less' priorities. I can't even imagine shipping furniture, but I expect that goes on ships with cargo containers and they wait until it's full to get started. That could take months? IDK.
2naSalit
(86,647 posts)but maybe some other shipping entity could be cheaper! Everything that anyone does with regard to exercising their freedom is punished by steep monetary fees these days.
And I remember when "air mail" was a specific designation of classification of mail services. They even used to have special envelops for that.
Kali
(55,014 posts)kind of aggravating there isn't a cheap slow option that I can find easily
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Kali
(55,014 posts)that I can find...
freshwest
(53,661 posts)The USPS, successor to the U.S. Post Office, officially ended International Parcel Post service in May 2007 after some 120 years of existence.
It's been a while since I used it, LOL!
International Parcel Post service was replaced by First-class Mail International service for parcels up to four pounds.
For heavier parcels and/or printed matter, Priority Mail International, Priority Mail International Flat-Rate, Express Mail International, Airmail M-Bags, and Global Express Guaranteed service is available to foreign countries allowing these types of mail delivery.
Did you check the rates on that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_post
I know exactly what you want:
Surface mail, also known as sea mail, is mail that is transported by land and sea (along the surface of the earth), rather than by air, as in airmail. Surface mail is significantly cheaper and slower than airmail, and thus is preferred for large or heavy, non-urgent items it is primarily used for packages, not letters.
On May 14th, 2007, the United States Postal Service eliminated international surface mail as part of its cost-cutting measures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_mail#United_States
This is about the last I can find. I am guessing that is what you are looking for, but maybe not, so I'm putin. Here's the final results I found for you under USPS:
International services
In May 2007, the USPS restructured international service names to correspond with domestic shipping options. Formerly, USPS International services[115] were categorized as Airmail (Letter Post), Economy (Surface) Parcel Post, Airmail Parcel Post, Global Priority, Global Express, and Global Express Guaranteed Mail. The former Airmail (Letter Post) is now First-Class Mail International,[116][117] and includes small packages weighing up to four pounds (1.8 kg). Economy Parcel Post was discontinued for international service, while Airmail Parcel Post was replaced by Priority Mail International. Priority Mail International Flat-Rate packaging in various sizes was introduced, with the same conditions of service previously used for Global Priority. Global Express is now Express Mail International, while Global Express Guaranteed is unchanged. The international mailing classes with a tracking ability are Express, Express Guaranteed, and Priority (except that tracking is not available for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes).[118]
One of the major changes in the new naming and services definitions is that USPS-supplied mailing boxes for Priority and Express mail are now allowed for international use. These services are offered to ship letters and packages to almost every country and territory on the globe. Ironically, the USPS provides much of this service by contracting with a private parcel service, FedEx.[119]
On May 14, 2007, the USPS canceled all outgoing international surface mail (sometimes known as "sea mail" from the United States, citing increased costs and reduced demand due to competition from airmail services such as FedEx and UPS.[120] The decision has been criticized by the Peace Corps and military personnel overseas, as well as independent booksellers and other small businesses who rely on international deliveries.
The USPS provides an M-bag[121] service for international shipment of printed matter;[122] previously surface M-bags existed, but with the 2007 elimination of surface mail, only airmail M-bags remain.[123] The term "M-bag" is not expanded in USPS publications; M-bags are simply defined as "direct sacks of printed matter ... sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address";[122] however, the term is sometimes referred to informally as "media bag", as the bag can also contain "discs, tapes, and cassettes", in addition to books, for which the usual umbrella term is "media"; some also refer to them as "mail bags".
Military mail is billed at domestic rates when being sent from the United States to a military outpost, and is free when sent by deployed military personnel. The overseas logistics are handled by the Military Postal Service Agency in the Department of Defense.[124] Outside of forward areas and active operations, military mail First-Class takes 710 days, Priority 1015 days, and Parcel Post about 24 days.[109]
[edit]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service#International_services
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)Domestic Parcel Post. It seems to have been discontinued, according to the USPS website. Pity. I used to send mineral specimens using that rate. It wouldn't be possible to be in that business now, I think, at least for moderately priced specimens.
Kali
(55,014 posts)still there must be SOMETHING, i would think.
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)the surface mail rate ended in 2007. I closed my mineral specimen business that same year, but not for that reason. However, the end of that rate would have caused me to decline orders outside the US anyhow, and that would have been devastating, since many of my best customers lived outside the US.
Today, postage rates to other countries have gone beyond anything feasible for small businesses.
Sorry. I wish there were an alternative, but I don't think UPS or FedEx are any more economical for small packages shipped internationally.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)$80 to the UK is correct for a cased banjo and about $110 for a cased guitar. You can't gauge anything by what the reverse route costs from Europe to the US - all countries vary. Best just search for alternatives to Europe if you want a lower cost.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,321 posts)'priority mail' medium size box: http://ircalc.usps.com/MailServices.aspx?country=10113&m=13&p=0&o=1&mt=12
$78 if you need the large box: http://ircalc.usps.com/MailServices.aspx?country=10113&m=13&p=0&o=1&mt=11
$60 still seems steep.
malaise
(269,054 posts)I received a package for Christmas 2011 - took two weeks from Miami to Kingston.
Kali
(55,014 posts)there is a media rate, but I can't find a second class for the USPS.
seems like one can't really ship large items out of the country for affordable rates any longer! crazy