Disgusted

[Mark1966]

I thought that the hassle for US based sellers was going to the post office to post international parcels BUT if I'm reading this correctly provided you use one of the computerised tools (Click-N-Ship service, an authorized PC Postage vendor, or the USPS Web Tools system) to print the forms as would seem to be the case on many packages I get from the US you don't have to lodge Priority Mail International or First Class mail at a post office (I didn't check other mail types).

According to those links on the USPS site you can lodge suitable mail, provided postage is paid by a means other than the use of postage stamps:

1. In a private mailbox bearing a return address that matches the address at the point of pick up, when the customer or business is known to reside or do business at that location.
2. Through Pickup on Demand service.
3. Through Package Pickup service.
4. At a Postal Service retail counter.
5. Into a Postal Service lobby drop.
6. In a collection box.
7. At a Contract Postal Unit (CPU).
8. At a USPS Approved Shipper location.

This might help members in the US

[shuasdad]

A lot of the web options seem geared towards business shipping or at least high volume shippers. I'm guessing most of those options require using a postal scale to determine postage. Web postage seemed easy until I looked into it. Several of them have monthly subscription fees that cost more than I would ship in a couple of months.

Going to the Post Office was the easiest part of shipping the couple of packages I've sent. Following the proper packaging guidelines and understanding the proper title of the postal service I wanted were much more difficult than the line. I really just wanted cheapest available with a tracking number. The first time, I tried the approved shipper, but they said tracking wasn't an available option except at really expensive rates. I'd Googled enough to know that didn't seem right and went to a nearby Post Office. I ended up going with Priority shipping because it came with a box. Bought some expensive bubble wrap and hiked back to my car to retrieve a pen to fill out the address. The postage for the package I received in trade was 20% of what I paid and reached the destination quicker.

The feeling of certainty that I was screwing this up was multiplied when I shipped internationally. We really don't want to screw this transaction up. With the already long ship times and the potential mistrust that we're cheating someone, our fear of our failure to get it right is a huge block. We know we don't understand much about mailing anything beyond a basic letter. For instance, larger greeting cards get 3 stamps, just in case. Can't have a birthday card or Mother's Day card returned for insufficient postage, so put 3 stamps on to make sure it arrives. And that's with an address that makes sense to me. There was no way for me to know if I had the right address to Turkey.

I'm comfortable admitting I'm a postal idiot. And that's probably the real issue.

We can pass the higher cost on to the international buyer. I found the Post Office to be fairly quick and the employees helpful, even friendly. But I felt like a complete idiot the whole time, certain that nasty emails were coming my way for screwing up the simple task of mailing a small package.

This may not be true for everyone, and I may grow out of it over time and with more packages shipped, but for now I'm still a Postal idiot holding up the line.