US postal hikes for international shipping

[editrx]

I've recently received some criticism of the rate change for international shipping of the knitting counting bracelets.

I have no control over the US Post Office. And until these new orders came in, frankly I didn't know they had hiked the rates and changed the categories for Priority shipping. (It's no longer Global Priority -- now it's

Comments

[alleypat]

I just got home from mailing a package to my friend in The Netherlands (from me here in Texas) for $39.95 for Priority mail, which means if I'm lucky, she'll get it right after Christmas LOL. But, had to wait till I got paid to mail it so she'll get a late xmas present. Chin up :) xmas will be over soon.

[editrx]

It's pretty ridiculous, isn't it? And what gets me is the new regulation that you have to go to the PO to hand the package directly to a postal employee for international mail of any kind.

I thought the Bushies were afraid of terrorists from overseas mailing things here -- now they're afraid of terrorists from overseas mailing things from the US to ... overseas?

None of it makes sense. And yet you can mail packages of any size or shape within the US without presenting it to the PO. If it fits in your mailbox, an employee will pick it up. Hell, if you put it on your doorstep and call the PO (or call for a pickup online at the website), they'll pick it up for you. Oh, right. Someone in the US would never terrorize other US citizens. Oh wait. They would. They have.

[glinda_w]

Unabomber, anyone?

Sheesh. And my sympathies.

[greenmother]

Sometimes people are real ee-juts, yanno? And completely self-absorbed to boot.

[editrx]

You have no idea how self-absorbed. Yeesh. I know the customer is always right, but ... some days it isn't worth getting up and reading my email.

USPS

[anonymous]

Just a note - someone is screwing with you Re international mail pickup. I work at an internet bookstore (residential address, 20+ packages shipped a day), and for the last six months all our shipments that we could print postage for had been picked up with no problems. They included media mail, media mail w/delivery confirmation, Priority, First Class, First Class International, Global Priority and mail addressed to AO/FPO (also needs customs forms like international mail). It is possible that the rules for volume shippers are different, of course, but this had been my experience.

Re: USPS

[editrx]

Fascinating. Not two but three locals POs have said numerous times that for international we =must= come and hand it to a postal employee, not put it in our box to be picked up. I wonder .... Oh, I bet I know what it is. We're on a rural route here.

Re: USPS

[anonymous]

Erm... I should have been more precise - It is actual pickup, as in we requested it online and the truck (not the normal postman) comes in and rings the door (although they would pick things up if warned in the pickup request). It can also be the town vs. rural route thing. Or quirks of specific post office - we moved (within greater Boston) from one town to another and the new Post Office had been much more friendly and liberal in smaller things. However both had picked up the international mail (the less liberal one wanted it in a separate box/tap/pile, but that was the only issue).

love mine

[cathibea]

Thanks for the swift arrival of my bracelet and markers. They are shiny for all good values of shiny.
Cath