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Kali

(54,990 posts)
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 02:31 PM Mar 2013

does 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.

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does the post office ship international other than (Original Post) Kali Mar 2013 OP
Media is the cheapest rate, I've found. I'm sure they are all being flown now. freshwest Mar 2013 #1
Probably so... 2naSalit Mar 2013 #2
yeah, time is no concern here Kali Mar 2013 #6
I send things parcel post, it's the cheapest for heavy things and it takes a long time. freshwest Mar 2013 #7
but no pp for international Kali Mar 2013 #8
All I could find: freshwest Mar 2013 #11
There used to be an International rate that was like MineralMan Mar 2013 #3
I sure can't find it if it still exists. Kali Mar 2013 #9
After more research, I discovered that MineralMan Mar 2013 #10
I think they stopped shipping by sea years ago. dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #4
$60 for up to 20 lb to Europe muriel_volestrangler Mar 2013 #5
Second class malaise Mar 2013 #12
doesn't seem to exist! Kali Mar 2013 #13

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
1. Media is the cheapest rate, I've found. I'm sure they are all being flown now.
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 02:42 PM
Mar 2013

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

(86,061 posts)
2. Probably so...
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 02:56 PM
Mar 2013

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

(54,990 posts)
6. yeah, time is no concern here
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 12:57 AM
Mar 2013

kind of aggravating there isn't a cheap slow option that I can find easily

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
11. All I could find:
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 06:03 PM
Mar 2013
Current U.S. Parcel Post service

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&quot 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 7–10 days, Priority 10–15 days, and Parcel Post about 24 days.[109]
[edit]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service#International_services

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
3. There used to be an International rate that was like
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 03:12 PM
Mar 2013

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.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
10. After more research, I discovered that
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 04:48 PM
Mar 2013

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)
4. I think they stopped shipping by sea years ago.
Sat Mar 2, 2013, 03:23 PM
Mar 2013

$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.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
13. doesn't seem to exist!
Sun Mar 3, 2013, 09:07 PM
Mar 2013

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

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