Postage - US to UK

[Waverley]

H all

Every now and again I buy a book on ebay in the States, for posting to the UK.    I always check costs with the seller first, and fairly frequently dp not bid because the postal charges quoted are so high.  

I'm currently looking at a book for which I have been quoted $27.50 postage - the seller says as the book weighs over 3lbs, that's the best she can do.   That's maybe fair for an airmail at letter rates, but for a seamail parcel seems excessive.

Can anyone out there who's more familiar with the jargon of the US postal services give me a brief run down of the options for international posting from the USA, or better, a couple of useful keywords for a google search - maybe if I can come up with an economical option, the seller will be prepared to use it.

Thanks in advance

David

[PJ]

The only cost effective way to ship books from the  the US to the UK (and Canada for that matter) is USPS Air (United States Postal  Service).  I believe they have an online calculator. Fedex,  Purolater and UPS are exhorbitant and usually end up with some kind of  duty/customs clearance fee.   The problem of high postage costs  usually starts with sellers who seek to make their "profit" in the "shipping and  handling" fee, often offering their items at low starting bids. Inflated postage  costs are a scam and, like you, I won't purchase anything without first  checking. Notice the very cheap rates (book rate) for internal US postage  which alas do not extend to overseas shipments even to Canada.
 Many US sellers don't like the hassle of posting overseas so  they add an "inconvenience" factor into their shipping and "handling" cost.  This problem is not unique to North American items as the same occurs with  shipments from the UK to Canada. Also be wary of Abe Books sellers who often  charge inflated S & H rates in spite of published postage rates. I  have generally not had good experiences with Abe Books sellers and avoid when I  can. Ebay is still a good bet if you know your book prices which are easy to  check on Bookfinder.com
 

  ----- Original Message ----- .
   From:    Waverley (chat@paddleducks.co.uk)
   To: chat@paddleducks.co.uk (chat@paddleducks.co.uk)
   Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 9:26    AM
   Subject: Postage - US to UK
   

   
H all

Every now and again I buy a book on ebay    in the States, for posting to the UK. I always check costs with the seller    first, and fairly frequently dp not bid because the postal charges quoted are    so high.

I'm currently looking at a book for which I have been quoted    $27.50 postage - the seller says as the book weighs over 3lbs, that's the best    she can do. That's maybe fair for an airmail at letter rates, but for a    seamail parcel seems excessive.

Can anyone out there who's more    familiar with the jargon of the US postal services give me a brief run down of    the options for international posting from the USA, or better, a couple of    useful keywords for a google search - maybe if I can come up with an    economical option, the seller will be prepared to use it.

Thanks in    advance

David



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[towboatjoe]

You can get estimates here.
http://postcalc.usps.gov/

If you don't have a U.S. zip code to get a shipping estimate from, you can use mine at Flatwoods, KY 41139

[Walter Snowdon]

I personaly no longer buy anything from the states due to the prohibitively high postal charges. These seem to be about double that for the same item if it was sent from theUK to the US. I recently got a small package from HONgKONG and the postage was minimal. The other thing that grieves me is that US dealers do not deduct US taxes from items (as they should), knowing full well that we are likely to be hit by a second lot of taxes in the UK!. Regards to all, Walter.

[AlistairD]

 
 

 
I personaly no longer buy anything from the states due    to the prohibitively high postal charges. These seem to be about double that    for the same item if it was sent from theUK to the US. I recently got a small    package from HONgKONG and the postage was minimal. The other thing that    grieves me is that US dealers do not deduct US taxes from items (as they    should), knowing full well that we are likely to be hit by a second lot of    taxes in the UK!. Regards to all, Walter.

   
But Walter, there are no taxes or duty on books in the    UK. I though the original poster was referring to buying a heavy book on    EBay.  
I normally get any US books I buy on EBay sent by    surface mail, and content myself by being patient    for about six weeks will they arrive  
   
Alistair

[Waverley]

Thanks for the replies folks - especially Joe for the very helpful UPSS link.

I did some digging in there - the book is over 3 pounds in weight and all the parcel rates to the UK for that weight,  air and sea,  come in at $25 or more so I don't blame the vendor in this case (and her USA rate was only $3.50 which looks very cheap for such a heavy book).  

However I also found "Economy Mail Letter-post Rates" which allows up to 4 pounds weight (enough for my book at least) at a rather more reasonable $12 for 4 pounds (maximum).   I'm fairly certain another US vendor has used that method for me in the past, so I've contacted the seller to see what she says (maybe she didn't know - maybe she "forgot" - we'll find out).   I'll keep you informed, and remember the option for future reference.

Incidentally, the book is George Hilton's "Night Boat" (advertised as "Night Book") so I would be greatful not to have PD's bidding against me on this one after all the effort.

In general, I've not had too much in the way of problems, but I agree with others it's best to check carefully before bidding or buying from abebooks (I virtually always get a better postal cost from UK abe dealers if I order directly, rather than through the abebooks system).  I've had some "take it or leave it" responses from the US - so I've left it.   If I've been without a book for 50 years, I can wait six weeks for seamail, or six months for another copy to appear on ebay.  


Thanks again for the interest

Regards

David Milne