General Forum

There is another post office in Odessa on the west side. I will see what they say. Most likely be tomorrow since I am working and went out on a job at 8 am I do t expect to make back in time for the lost office today. I will let everyone know what they say

I've not had any issues mailing or receiving other than slightly longer wait times domestically. Mailmen have been unsung heroes as they've worked through COVID-19 and up to now through countrywide protests and associated unrest. 

Yes, there are (and have been) severe financial issues, but no clerk nor postal location can unilaterally make any changes to the system. Now they may interpret the code differently, but anything like that should be addressed with the postal supervisor at the station.

By the way, I quit paying and writing non-machineable on envelopes as they aren't generally being pulled off the sorting machines.

I recently tried to look up shipping to India for a small box on the USPS website and the cheaper shipping rates were just not there and it was going to cost like $120. I went to paypal and chose shipping there and it was only $24. I used that shipping and the package ended up getting returned due to Covid-19 shipping restrictions. Looks like maybe only the more expensive express shipping options are available to some countries? 

Looks like I'm not the only one. I will figure something out even if I have to send 3 or 4 envelopes. I hate having trades in limbo like this at no fault of me or my trader

Wayne don't pay the $70 if that is what they say. I can wait no problem.

$70.00 are you crazy. THERE has to be a better way. I use PayPal, not even close to that, and I've packaged full sets to send. Commish also mentioned, checking out every possible method, the menu can list so many different options, pick the cheapest. I don't believe I've ever had a package challenged or money owed.

I have a feeling you weren't comparing the exact type shipping. Whereas PayPal does give discounted options, it's not that much.

I heard from someone about international shipping to Europe that it all depends on where you're mailing to as sometimes there are middle men involved to complete a delivery. I'm sure that type of issue extends to countries in other continents as well.

Generally speaking I've not had problems delivering cards to Canada, England, Germany, or Australia - NEVER as a package, but always in a large business size envelope - and only on one occasion was there an issue with handling, and more likely my packaging as cards came out of the 9-pocket sleeves on one transaction to Germany.

None cost near as much as what's being thrown around here.

I somehow missed this thread Tuesday night. It was nice to be mentioned in the PM's b/t Ryan and Wayne though. I really wish I could help on this one, but I'm dumbfounded as to the price Wayne was quoted. I shipped over 400 cards to AussieWayne (a different Wayne) last year and the International Priority Mail cost for that was about $65 (it was a PM Bubble Mailer loaded almost to the max weight of 4 lbs). BUT that was to Australia from the US, not Canada from the US.

$70 is a ridiculous price for that shipment of 10% the amount of cards I sent to AUS. A bubble mailer through USPS should NEVER cost that much! If the USPS is trying to force it to Priority Express, that is the reason for the massive jump in price and totally not worth the price. With this pandemic going on, some offices might be using that as an excuse to make more money. Express will not get there any faster during this pandemic. Another thought is if Wayne filled out a Customs form. You have to claim a value for the package with a Customs Form and the price of shipping goes up drastically vs. the value you claim the package to be worth.

If you are just trying to mail the cards as 1st-Class Parcel, split them into 2 different bubble mailers and make sure neither is more than 3/4 of an inch thick and flexible. They HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE! Otherwise, another office can return as "rigid" and/or "not enough postage". By "flexible", I mean that the mailer must bend in a couple of places (like how it would using 9-card pages WITHOUT a cardboard wrap or many pieces of paper wrapped around the page or pages). Bubble mailers automatically do NOT go through the sorting machines b/c they are too thick. They will go on a horizontal conveyor belt to be hand-sorted instead of the vertical belt that bends regular 1st-Class envelopes.

I don't know exactly what all is going on with USPS lately b/c my Mom is kinda out of the loop right now. She's been out of work for over a month now after complications from her treatments for breast cancer. Also, the pandemic has shut down all union meetings since March. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes USPS stuff not getting done right now. And on top of that is the Trump administration's claims that USPS is not profitable now and the US Gov. might not fund it after this month. The entire country is in turmoil and that was before all these protests started. That is complicating things even more. I'll try to chat with Mom about Wayne's issue Thursday afternoon and see if I can add more to this.

BTW, Ryan and Wayne are both excellent people and members. I've dealt with both many times over the years on here and Beckett, not entirely through trades, but I feel like I know both very well.

Wayne, I'd definitely wait it out if you can't get the package mailed for a reasonable price. A reasonable price would be no more than $10-15, but it should still be less than that. Ryan has given you permission to hold out for a better price. I have a similar situation going on that I had to just put on hold until I know more about what's going on with shipping and everything else going on right now. Mine was a sell of about 100 cards to Canada with someone I've already traded with before. But with a sell, I wanted more shipping protection than I do with a trade. With all the stuff going on at home and all the other crap going on nationwide/worldwide, we agreed to just hold off for a while. Neither of us has sent anything. I have his cards pulled and marked for him. Once things calm down, I'll get a better idea of shipping costs and can give him a more accurate price for cards + shipping.

I'll try to find out some more info for you guys later today!

Spaz thank you very much for the insight, yes as you read when this started you were the first person I thought of that would have insight into this. Thank you.

Not all postal clerks are equal or even qualified to perform their job in some instances.

The worlds combined IQ is a constant, but the population keeps growing.....