jemsgifts
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posted on May 12, 2007 11:16:54 AM new
Does anyone have any idea how long First Class Mail International is going to take to get where it is going? Timeframes for delivery are posted for each of the other new "simplified" international postal services, but not a word is said as to how long First Class Mail International will take. The only thing I can find is that delivery "varies by destination." So what does that mean? Will it take 4-6 weeks like the current Economy Letter/Parcel Post? Or will it be closer to a week in transit time, like the current Air Letter/Parcel?
I called several of my local Post Offices yesterday to find out the answer to this question. One clerk told me that it is her understanding that everything is going by air now, so she would expect no more 4-6 week delivery times. The Postmistress at the other location did not know the answer, saying that she had some rate sheets and that the computers should be updated by Monday, but she did not see anything about timeframes for First Class Mail International. Today she sent me copies of some of the rate sheets and she put an asterisk where it says "varies by destination" along with a sticky note saying "No timetable given. I imagine very slow."
So here I am spending hours on Turbolister trying to revise all my listings to reflect the new shipping costs. I am putting in First Class Mail International as one option (most of my packages are 1-2 pounds), but having no idea how long it will take (and how satisfied/dissatisfied my first guinea pig customers will be) with the delivery time.
What has anyone else heard regarding a timeframe for delivery via First Class Mail International?
Thanks in advance for any insight!
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merrie
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posted on May 12, 2007 01:10:49 PM new
This is what I have read and / or figured out from research. International First Class replaces Air mail letter post and Economy letter post.So I am guessing that it is going to be air mail and no more surface / ship, etc. The good part about all of these changes is that you can now use domestic priority and express boxes given away by the PO for international shipping. That will make things a lot easier. I also read that all forms of international shipping can now be insured and tracked on-line. Not sure how this will happen, but I got some info in the mail from the PO.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 12, 2007 01:40:49 PM new
It would be hard for our post office to nail down how long does it take?every country,every city and town,once the piece of mail landed in that country,it is up to that country postal system to deliver that piece of mail.
It could start in a big coastal city,then airlifted to a major city or town nearby and then go by train or small plane or donkey?
Under the old system,USPS does not offer global prioity mail to Italy.
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Lets all stop whining !
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agate18
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posted on May 12, 2007 03:50:05 PM new
I receive parcels out of the usa on a fairly regular basis. mostly by what you call first class mail or global prioroty mail. Weight is from 1/2 pound. up to about 8 pounds. it seems to take from 5 to 10 days to Australia.
On odd occasions it will take up to 14 days.
When i have it shipped by economy mail it takes 5 to 8 weeks. But normally about 6 weeks.
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roadsmith
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posted on May 12, 2007 06:17:43 PM new
"you can now use domestic priority and express boxes given away by the PO for international shipping."
Merrie: Really?! I hadn't heard that.
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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hwahwa
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posted on May 12, 2007 07:09:01 PM new
yes,I received a letter from USPS manager,packages services saying this rebranded USPS packaging has received'cradle to cradle certification.
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Lets all stop whining !
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merrie
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posted on May 12, 2007 07:18:07 PM new
Roadsmith, yup, I got a letter from the PO, I guess because I get preprinted priority labels, that says even though the boxes are labeled "Domestic use only," they may now be used for international shipping. Insurance forms are different now, also. Trash those old green forms.
The amazing thing is insurance for $50-100 is less than it was before, it is now $2.05 before it was $2.30.
[ edited by merrie on May 12, 2007 07:23 PM ]
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roadsmith
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posted on May 12, 2007 07:45:45 PM new
Well, how interesting! What about the global priority and flat-rate envelopes and boxes? Can we still use those, too?
_____________________
There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
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sword013
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posted on May 15, 2007 04:18:40 AM new
Old Global Priority Mail packaging can be used until it's gone. This according to an official letter we received. When using the "domestic" Priority Mail boxes, be sure to put on one of the GPM stickers with the bar code. All of the new "Priority Mail International" is now supposed to be trackable, so you need the bar code on there. If you don't have them ask for them at the p.o.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 15, 2007 06:47:21 AM new
The small globla priority mail enevelope is no good,use the big envelope,as you will be charged the big rate.
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Lets all stop whining !
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dippolds
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posted on May 15, 2007 03:53:49 PM new
In response to Merrie:
"I also read that all forms of international shipping can now be insured and tracked on-line."
I spent some time on the USPS website and it appears that insurance and delivery confirmation is NOT available at all for USPS International First Class. Apparently the only way is to use USPS International Priority Mail or Express Mail which is quite expensive! Also confusing is that you can offer International First Class and International Priority Mail to most countries if the package is under 4 pounds except for some, like Canada, which the package has to be a minimun of one pound to use International Priority Mail. Very confusing.
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merrie
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posted on May 15, 2007 04:24:08 PM new
Hi dippolds,
I guess I really didn't have that worded correctly. According to my PO guys and blurbs at the USPS site (and believe me, no one seems to have it completely correct) they said that international packages can now be insured and tracked on-line. By that they are now saying that you can do this with certain levels of international shipping. I did not mean to imply that first class shipping or economy could be insured, etc. Just like in the past air mail letter post could not be insured,but air mail parcel post could and that was always more expensive that AMLP. Now,according to my resources, all international shipping can be insured and tracked if shipped at a cerain level. The PO seem to think this is an improvement because apparently in the past shipping to certain areas of the world could not be insured or tracked no matter what form of shipping you chose. I have no real proof that this is true as much of what I have been told at the PO in the past few days has been very confusing and at times contradictory.
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kozersky
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posted on May 15, 2007 06:13:55 PM new
First Class Mail International - no insurance available.
Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope - no insurance available.
Priority Mail International - insurance is available for free.
Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelope - insurance is available for free.
Express Mail International - insurance is available for free.
Global Express Guaranteed - insurance is available for free.
The information is available directly from the USPS web site. Check out the Postal Rate Calculator for International Services.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 15, 2007 07:16:06 PM new
I just shipped INTL PRIOITY using the USPS envelope and insurance is free only up to 100 dollars.
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Lets all stop whining !
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hwahwa
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posted on May 15, 2007 07:18:06 PM new
Remember last year Mikes4by4 told us about insurance if the item is not delivered,by using the customs form??
Is that still valid??
and that we can plug in the customs form number in the tracking field and it is trackable.
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Lets all stop whining !
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LtRay
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posted on May 15, 2007 07:59:06 PM new
International Priority includes an insurance determined by weight. Read it last night in the IMM.
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on May 17, 2007 09:09:17 AM new
Remember last year Mikes4by4 told us about insurance if the item is not delivered,by using the customs form??
Is that still valid??
and that we can plug in the customs form number in the tracking field and it is trackable.
Trackable. Yes.
Insurance. No.
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ltray
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posted on May 17, 2007 12:53:25 PM new
Not necessarily trackable either. If you do not purchase Delivery Confirmation on International shipments it may not show anything on either end.
If I take a package to counter I usually do not purchase DC because I was able to track it with the customs#
That no longer appears to be the case. The ones I shipped last week are only showing acceptance. No port exchange or foreign delivery -(
I normally only have DC on packages I print Paypal postage for. Those packages do not show any tracking at all if picked up by my carrier. My carrier informed me last week that he would no long be scanning any of the home pickup mail.
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hwahwa
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posted on May 17, 2007 01:04:52 PM new
I dont know we can have DC on intl shipment?except EMS.
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Lets all stop whining !
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hwahwa
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posted on May 17, 2007 01:07:01 PM new
Ittray,
Your carrier has been kind to you.
According to USPS 800 customer service,any package not brought into the post office by the sender is not scanned .
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Lets all stop whining !
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ltray
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posted on May 17, 2007 02:19:29 PM new
Yes, I was very lucky until recently. My regular postman retired and the new one is strickly by the book.
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