International Shock

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hi Everyone,

I was shocked when I mailed an exchange to the U.K. today and the cost was $40.50!!!!
I asked the postal clerk if there was a cheaper way to mail the box & she said that was the cheapest way!
Just a very expensive lesson I want to make you all aware of, I had no idea the charge would be anywhere $40+!!!!!!!!!

Maria

 

[amsyw]

I found it out the hard way a few exchanges ago too! It is unfortunate too, because I like sending/receiving internationally. I'm afraid it will put a damper on the international exchanges.

 

[Meriweather]

it is harder and harder to find people willing to send internationally because of this
There used to be a variety of ways to mail and now, no.

You can use the flat rate boxes, but I am not sure what the cost is. I need to check that out. I am sure it is still not cheap.

 

[Meriweather]

Doesn't look like you would have saved much.

Priority Mail® International Flat-Rate Box 6 - 10 Days $38.95 (at PO) $37.00(printed online)

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Doesn't look like you would have saved much.

Priority Mail® International Flat-Rate Box 6 - 10 Days $38.95 (at PO) $37.00(printed online)

Terrible!!! It's sad because sending oversees was really fun, I enjoyed it.

 

[Meriweather]

it used to not be so bad if you kept it under 4 pounds, now
It just always seems to be a lot.
But I know our international friends pay a lot too
I think someone from the UK posted about paying $75 to mail a stocking exchange

 

[mommytotwo]

the high prices are sad to see , and afford.

 

[Gaspode]

Good Gracious!

I sell quite a lot on Ebay and have never had to charge/pay that much to send to my American buyers. I wonder what is going on?

It does cost a fair bit to send from here but nothing like that much....

I'm sorry to hear it cost you so much and hope that people can still send internationally once in a while as I love to exchange with you all

Gaspode

 

[Meriweather]

We had some major reconstructing of the way USPS works.
I know international ground is no longer even available (not that we want exchanges to go that way anyway ), biut I used to send big boxes to Australia twice a year and had to stop doing that

And even internally the parcel post system sucks. I know to go from here to the other side of the state, it now goes to a central facility in Denver !! So it takes a long time. I just do everything priority or first class now.

 

[scotsgal56]

It is the same over here with postage costs to send international. I would absolutely love to send more in my exchanges but am always aware of the cost of posting. Having said that it won't stop me I love doing the exchanges

 

[spookysarah]

I have taken part in a few exchanges and also mail packages to friends. It is expensive to send both ways across the pond. Airmail packages can be a maximum of 2kg and that cost a little over £20. I really appreciate it when I get to take part in an international exchange - they are much more 'exotic' for want of a better word. I have to be selective about what exhanges I do eg I would have loved the jam/jelly but it would have been way too heavy.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

I did that too... I had been doing international then one day went to mail one and it was almost $40.00 so I stopped saying I could do overseas sad because it was fun getting the stuff we never see

 

[Meriweather]

Well, my package to Australia, which I kept very light....1 pound 2 ounces, was $11.50 to mail. Not too bad, but it is sure hard to keep a package that light.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Well, my package to Australia, which I kept very light....1 pound 2 ounces, was $11.50 to mail. Not too bad, but it is sure hard to keep a package that light.

If I do the pin exchange I will still do International other than that I just can't.

 

[Meriweather]

That's how a lot of people feel anymore
Pins are fine...those don't cost much more than to mail them here.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I have a question, what about sending from within the UK to another UK or to another overseas? Is it cheaper, more, the same? It will help with the Disney ONLY exchange.

 

[Nutsy]

I have a question, what about sending from within the UK to another UK or to another overseas? Is it cheaper, more, the same? It will help with the Disney ONLY exchange.

I can answer that one... to send within the UK is cheaper than sending International, same as sending domestic within the US or here in Australia..Domestic is always going to be the cheaper option. However, with me, there are no other Aussie to exchange with, so I have no other choice but to send International and that is why I've had to opt out of a lot of exchanges as I don't have a choice of where I send, it's either going to be to the US or the UK.. The US is cheaper than the UK, but it's still expensive when eveything you send has to go that way.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I feel everyones pain. When I sent a package to the UK over the summer, the postage was close to $30.00CDN to mail it. Mind you it was over 3 lbs, and that explained the cost, but even still OUCH!! I just find that if I know that I'm going to be sending a gift overseas to be very careful about the weight. Right now I'm not doing that many exchanges as I'm trying to save for our trip to DL in early Feb, and that's where the money needs to go right now. But after our trip, will start getting involved with the exchanges again, in fact might pickup some goodies while I'm at the mouse. But I still won't let the cost of postage stop me from getting involved with an exchange, I just will have to watch the weight of the package better. Sometimes I find that the difference between surface and airmail is just a few dollars, so tend to send things airmail overseas if the cost is not much more. Have a great evening!!

Trish

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Wow $40 to mail to the Uk? That is a bit steep.

I thought sending a bundle of clothes to Europe was expensive....

 

[Danauk]

This is why I am just sticking to the pin exchanges now (well and the orniment exchange as I love that one and I can send a light package.) I really missed doing the Disney only and the stocking exchange this year, but the postage is way too much.