International Shipping

General
1

Hi everyone, quick question about international shipping. I’m in the US, and someone in Sweden recently bought a card of mine on ebay (not sure how, all my listings are set “ships to United States” but I guess ebay doesn’t enforce that). But anyway, since we’re in contact now I figured I’d go through with the sale.

The only two shipping options I can find are:

  • shipping in a toploader/bubble mailer as I usually do, which would be $13.50 to ship to Sweden, a higher cost than either of us wants to take on
  • shipping in a plain envelope, but the person at my local post office said this can’t be rigid, which would leave the card almost completely unprotected

Does anyone know if there’s an international option for a plain envelope with a non-machinable surcharge? Or if I use a card saver instead of a toploader, would I be able to classify it as non-rigid?

Thanks in advance!

2

Every time I ship something international I always use the 13.50 option because it comes with tracking. Although it doesn’t track outside the US for some countries, it hasn’t failed me yet. :blush: The rigid thing pretty much depends on your post office and what they determine rigid is. www.elitefourum.com/t/say-goodbye-to-toploaders-forever/16245/1

3

Shipping international to trusted folks (several forum members on a repeat basis), I utilize the GLOBAL forever first class stamp. Costs ~$1.10 to anywhere in the world. Good for anything that the normal 49 cents works on domestically. No tracking, but again it is good on anything under 1/4" and not too rigid. Single card sleeved and toploaded in a plain white envelope works well. Wrap the invoice or team bag it to prevent card sliding out.

edit: added the “global”

4

I just checked the USPS website, and it looks like I can add $0.21 to the standard letter postage to allow for rigid contents, same as how it works for domestic.

Is this a valid option that my post office just forgot to mention? If so I think I’ll go ahead with this method.

5

13usd is not bad the cheapest I can send to Sweden with tracking is 21usd

6

Those two options are fine based on the value of the card.

7

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

8

First class mail international is really cheap, comes with tracking also.

I’ve sent 1oz items in letters to the UK for under $2, they allow up to 14oz.

The option is in paypal.
To Sweden I got quoted $1.15 for 1oz in a letter
For bubble mailer $2.29

it prints the customs label right on there as well and comes with usable tracking.

This is how I mail photo prints overseas, been doing it for years with no issues.

9

Interesting, so it’s possible to ship internationally in a bubble mailer without it being counted as a parcel and jumping up to $13? I didn’t see that option on the USPS website, and the PO didn’t mention it.

I already shipped this one out (as a letter, $1.15 + $0.21 for rigid) but I’ll check out those options in Paypal so I know more next time around. Thanks!

10

Yes, for bubble mailer you chose the Large envelope option, which would run $2.29

it’s the hidden gem of paypal, the workers at the post office/postmaster haven’t said anything when accepting them.

It often surprises me how I can mail something to the UK cheaper than across the street.

Paypal also recently added first class international, before you had to go to the post office for that option, It sucked.

Shipping time is no different than first class parcel, actually it’s often quicker.

11

I sent a battery cover for a camera to a friend in the UK years ago, it was really thin like the thickness of a toploader. Sent it via first class in a letter and it came with tracking. For just $1.15 .

12

What if the USPS notices it? What would happen?

13

I’ve discussed this with @smpratte before, and the First Class Mail International option (for large envelope, anyways) is supposed to be for regular mail. So any letters or stuff like that is what you’d normally send through that option. However, I’ve had a similar experience to yours, in that I use FCMI large envelope option all the time to ship PSA graded cards outside of the US, and have had 0 problems. Honestly, it might be similar to that rigid issue some of the others were taking about in the toploader thread. Whether or not the package will get rejected will vary from one post office to another. They don’t all seem to follow their own rules equally.

1 Like
14

It’s not breaking any rules, so nothing would happen. If you read my earlier post I have given it straight to a post master before and they scanned it and sent it on it’s way…

In the customs label I list exactly what the item is, so not hiding anything.

15

Not to start an argument, but the post master accepting it does not mean you aren’t breaking any rules. Nor does it absolve you of breaking the rules if you are intentionally doing so.

For everyone’s reference, here are the various options and requirements for USPS First Class Mail International.

16

Pokephd is absolutely right here.

My advice would be, do the right thing. If they don’t catch you today, you’ll pay another day.

17

problem with shipping from the US to UK(probs EU ASWELL) Is the insane import tax, I hear parcelforce (usps use them once they hit the uk) charge a hefty fee and wont deliver until you cough up every penny.I recently tried to buy some cards and the global shipping quoted me nearly $50!!! nearly more than the item itself. :slightly_frowning_face:

If buying from the US I always check postage and email them.I wont use the global as id rather be upright with my boxers on

Im sure plenty of people have had great things from it, I however only see insane costs. Popping on the local delivery for that country helps even more to show its worth sending as normal(just my opinion).