Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

[gizmoclearance]

today at post office the staff rejected my letter size item and I had to pay $13.70 for a small item only priced at $7. I used to go to the other post office and the staff there had no problem with it and the postage was only $3.5.

he also rejected all my other large letter size item so they cost me  $13.70 each for just regular postage without tracking.

and the staff told me I have to bring the packages to the post office every time so they can check my ID. there is NO OTHER WAY.

this is such an inefficient way to do business. fill out the form every time  and queue at the post office, it's just not worth it.

how do you guys cope with it? i don't think it's possible to ship large volume overseas in this way.

[davewil1964]

I rarely sell overseas, but I haven't had a problem sending large letters.

What was the reason? What were the contents? Given you have to fill out a Customs declaration, I can't see how you can avoid lodging at a PO.

Maybe go back to using the other PO.

[2106greencat]

Can't help re the costs, but why don't you have customs dec's at home, pre filled, then just needing to add the relevant details.

[***super_nova***]

If it was under 2cm then they have no right to reject it, I would have argued with them, and if they would not accept it , I would have gone to another PO, and I would call the customer support number and ask why is staff at this PO overcharging. The charges are clearly set so I cannot understand why do these people think they have a right to over rule them.

My PO does let me send items as large letters, now, but I have had problems in the past. 

[suitcase_of_memories]

Remember some post offices are PRIVATELY owned. There have been instances of PO's overcharging because they own it &  think they can get away with it.

Get yourself the latest Post Charges booklet, issued 22 oct, 2012, you will be able to quickly check requirements i.e. width of large letters can't be any thicker than 2cm, otherwise they become a PARCEL.

[gizmoclearance]

they are just around 2cm. if they give it a pull they will go thru the gauge. the other post office does pull the package but this one doesn't. they reject everything that does not freefall thru the hole.

my point is the only 1mm makes a big difference from $3.5 to $13.70..

and even though I prefill all the forms I still have to queue up at the post office and present ID for every item. say if I ship 50 items overseas everyday I have to take a container to the shop and jam-up the queue for the other customers.

is there any workaround?

[curraone]

if they are under 2 cm and can go as a letter, buy international stamps and post them yourself in a red box.

If you send a large letter to Aunty Mary who lives in u.s. you don't need to go to the post office, and you don't have to fill in a customs form.

[curraone]

Although the weight needs to be considered;

250g to 500g to u.s.a. for a letter is still $14.20.

how much does your item weigh?

[extra-keen]

I believe, but I may be wrong, that if the item is not paper (a letter), regardless of the size, the declaration has to be signed.

However I know from past experience it depends who is behind the counter at the PO.

I stopped selling overseas a year or two ago and my stress levels more than halved. I have concentrated on local sales and that is working fine for me.

[fred_fred_2004]

yes that's right if it's anything but paper the cn22 needs signing and it must be over the counter