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Heads Up on USPS International Shipping


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I was just at the Post Office shipping out a record to the UK, and the clerk told me that on June 23rd, the Post Office is reclassifying weight limits for First Class shipments.  It used to be that anything over 4 lbs had to be shipped Priority, which was a big bump in shipping cost (although is registered/insured, which is nice).  Come June 23rd, anything over 1 lb will now be forced into Priority class instead of First Class (this is most records, even 1xLP, with mailer weight included).  I'm not sure if they will alter the Priority rates or not to ease the pain.  The record I shipped was 1.3 lbs (cost $24 First Class) and the clerk told me that if it went Priority, same weight, it would have cost over $50 with the current Priority rates.

This is gonna sting for international record shipments. 

 

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Was just digging on the USPS site and found this, which seems to confirm this at the bottom:  anything over 16 oz is - "1 pound Priority Mail Retail Zone 4 postage plus 0.83".

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/June 2019 - Notice123.pdf

Edit: I'm not certain that confirms it, since it wasn't listed as "international".  First-Class Package International Service still lists up to 64oz. as an option.  Just be warned that it might happen.

Edited by thievedrelic
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I think you’re only partially correct. Based on what I can find on the USPS site (and even the PDF you linked to) it’s true the letter rate will have a 16oz maximum but for packages there’s still rates up to 64oz.

 

I even used the online calculator to enter a package with a scheduled shipping date of June 25th and it let me generate a first class label for a 2lb package shipping to Europe.

 

I could be totally wrong, please correct me if I am...

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30 minutes ago, thievedrelic said:

Was just digging on the USPS site and found this, which seems to confirm this at the bottom:  anything over 16 oz is - "1 pound Priority Mail Retail Zone 4 postage plus 0.83".

https://pe.usps.com/resources/PriceChange/June 2019 - Notice123.pdf

Edit: I'm not certain that confirms it, since it wasn't listed as "international".  First-Class Package International Service still lists up to 64oz. as an option.  Just be warned that it might happen.

Looks like only for envelopes.

Page 49 of that document still shows first class packages 9 oz - 2 lbs will be ~$24

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It should be noted that, even if the posted policies have got you covered, individual post offices will sometimes try and pull some wild stuff in person. I had a branch that refused to scan my pre-paid labels at their desk and said it was USPS policy to only accept packages in the drop off bin, with no scan, which my other local office confirmed as false. I've also read about locations that will try to charge you for their extra care service if you write 'fragile' on the package and who have claimed music doesn't qualify for media mail. The OP's branch telling people that ALL International First Class services are capped at 16oz and Priority is necessary, knowingly or by accident, is pretty par for the course.

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16 hours ago, Roandy55 said:

If we leave the EU it may be interesting to see if the UK will still need to pay customs tariffs on US imports. Shipping is still expensive but it may possibly offset some of the pain of any further increases.

I doubt when the UK leaves the EU, they will have time to change all laws on time, chances are pretty big most laws will be kept in place to make the transition easier.

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27 minutes ago, nico said:

I doubt when the UK leaves the EU, they will have time to change all laws on time, chances are pretty big most laws will be kept in place to make the transition easier.

Possibly true. The US have indicated they are very keen to offer a deal, but working out the details could still take a while assuming we even do leave this year. I'm personally pro remain but it could at least make purchasing items from the US something close to being affordable again.

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17 hours ago, Roandy55 said:

If we leave the EU it may be interesting to see if the UK will still need to pay customs tariffs on US imports. Shipping is still expensive but it may possibly offset some of the pain of any further increases.

Non-EU countries still need to pay import VAT from US (or any other foreign country for that matter). If/when UK leaves, the only thing different will be that you'll have to pay  VAT when importing from all EU countries as well. Unless UK decides to up the tax exemption threshold value, I think it's around 18 GBP now?  Australia notoriously had a $1000 threshold for importing "low value" goods, but recently changed it to much less. Other than UK miraculously working out a tax free trade with the US, you're likely to pay more tax on your international purchases, not less*.

 

*oversimplification, for brevity

Edited by slinch
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