[Phantom Phan1200]

Last Monday USPS raised their rates, but I thought not much of it.
I figured maybe a buck or two here & there, man was I wrong.
For example on of my Canadaian customers normal small shipment jumped from $6 to $16.
A shipment that would have only been $10 to California via priority mail now costs $28!!!!

I have no idea what USPS is thinking.
There are no longer any discount international services such as air letter post or surface mail.
Most people would use USPS because it was easy fast & cheap when compared to UPS, FedEx or DHL!
This will effect business & the way alot of small business handels international shipping.

[IKONOS]

Originally Posted by Phantom Phan1200

This will effect business & the way alot of small business handels international shipping.

Agreed. It will affect the consumer as well - especially when they're asked to pay double of what they're used to paying for shipping charges. This could most definitely translate into fewer sales overseas.

It's funny, I was just in my local PO this past Saturday picking up a package and happened to overhear the gentleman in front of me discussing the new international shipping rate changes. The clerk specified that now the only way to ship overseas is either by Global Express Mail or Air. No longer does it seem Parcel Post (by ship) is an option from the USPS, which severely reduces our options for an economical shipping charge.

In browsing the USPS website, it looks like they have contracted some overseas shipping duties with FedEx, in the form of a service called Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) - $28.50USD and up!

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Phantom Phan1200

Last Monday USPS raised their rates, but I thought not much of it.
I figured maybe a buck or two here & there, man was I wrong.
For example on of my Canadaian customers normal small shipment jumped from $6 to $16.
A shipment that would have only been $10 to California via priority mail now costs $28!!!!

I have no idea what USPS is thinking.
There are no longer any discount international services such as air letter post or surface mail.
Most people would use USPS because it was easy fast & cheap when compared to UPS, FedEx or DHL!
This will effect business & the way alot of small business handels international shipping.

I believe this last USPS rate increase will inspire UPS, FedEx, etc., to hike their rates, too. And I’m afraid that ... given time ... diecast collecting will become very expensive (as if it weren’t already).

Maybe even prohibitive. At the very least (and this is a worst case scenario), many collectors will have to significantly curtail their purchases. And that bodes ill for diecast sellers and vendors.

Makes you wonder how this will affect diecast manufacturers down the line.

I surely hope not, but maybe the good ol' days of fast-and-loose diecast collecting are fast coming to a close.

[flyXwire]

I try to avoid using "Priority Mail" especially shipping to Canada just for this very reason! I recently made alot of package shipments to friends here in the US, but
the new rate hike from the US Post Office just kills it for me and my customers!

[skidmarksdiecast]

What the heck indeed!! I'll no longer be using USPS for shipping. I don't think UPS and FedEx will follow suit, however (wishful thinking, I know). They'll surely be getting a lot more business now and shouldn't have to raise their rates.

[STARMAN 352ND]

My buddy next store is the supervisor at the UPS hub ....As of right now UPS does not see any reason to raise their rates anytime soon.
They are more busier now then they have been due th ethe price hike at USPS.
Truth be spoken some think USPS shot themselfs in the foot with this price hike.
JP

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

My buddy next store is the supervisor at the UPS hub ....As of right now UPS does not see any reason to raise their rates anytime soon.
They are more busier now then they have been due th ethe price hike at USPS.
Truth be spoken some think USPS shot themselfs in the foot with this price hike.
JP

More likely both feet!

[flaps]

If your shipment is under 4 lbs you can still ship for a very good price with USPS and it is Air Service.

Here is a quote for Canada and England and Italy and Germany, not too bad and way less tha FedEx or UPS by far.

By the way 3 lbs covers 2 Corgi Legends or Warbirds P-51 Size Planes, Witty WWII planes or 2 Dragon WWII planes most, or a multitide of other combos, usally qty 2-3 to keep under 4 lbs. not too bad overall still.

And Canada is good up to 4 lbs which in most cases could be 3 smaller WWII planes by most mfg. 4 lbs to Canada 1st Class Mail $15.46, like P-40, P-51, Spitfire and so on by most mfg's.

Canada

First-Class Mail® International

Varies

$11.86

England

First-Class Mail® International

Varies

$23.20

Italy

First-Class Mail® International

Varies

$23.20

Germany

First-Class Mail® International

Varies

$23.20

Flaps

[parsig9]

I just figured 2lb8oz to the UK (about 1 plane) =$20 first class Good God!

2lb only is almost $17. Guess they need the exchange rate now.

The same plane to VA still only comes in at about $6

[Cardinal]

I've just deferred a pre-order I was planning as the overseas shipping for two CW F14 Tomcats was in the region of $50-$60 .

What I can't understand is why some of the well established online retailers don't offer international customers a small discount (of the local postage amount) if they buy over a certain amount (i.e. locals get free shipping, so overseas customers should qualify for a discount to the tune of the amount that local postage would have been).