Great initiative but the postage is terrible for international - $18USD for a $1USD stamp is crazy (worse than Ebay's stupid GSP!). Posting is usually $2-$4.50USD max anywhere else.
Great to hear the APS is working on this, though. I could have bought a bunch of stuff already. HAHA
$18 for international shipping isn't that bad actually. The key is don't just buy a $1. Be sensible. Wait until you're ready to buy multiple stamps. Make it worth it. Or buy your high value items there, where $18 shipping then is proportionate, (Hint: This is WHY we don't sell items und $15...)
George....what's this "provide sales tax number" thing? I don't charge and collect sales tax and , so far, have not have any sales in my home state. Until then, I've done nothing in that regard. Am I alone?
Also, are we going to eventually be forced to move to APS' minimum shipping charge?
John, as long as you remain an independent seller, then APS have no actual control over how you run your business, save for doing it honestly and with integrity that matches their minimum ethics expectations.
John, the “sales tax thing” is, APS dealer membership requires the member to be a full or part-time dealer in the professional sense of the word, i.e. not simply a hobbyist. That means you follow the laws of your state in collecting sales tax (if applicable for your state).
James, due to UPU rules forbidding the mailing of anything with a monetary value greater than zero to be sent as a letter, and the US Postal Service charging such inflated prices for a “package” that is the same size and weight as a letter, the cost to mail even the cheapest stamp is crazy. Here’s the USPS rate charge. Australia is in price group 12; the minimum postage rate is $19.20. APS might get a commercial discounted rate in order to charge only $18.
This is one reason why many dealers have ended their international sales.
Ted - my understanding (always happy to be corrected) is it only applies to 'dutiable' items.The only other situation is if the sender wants to send the item registered, it must be sent as a package and thus those rules apply (and I get this for high value purchases).
I receive hundreds of items from the USA - the only site where postage is an issue is on Ebay (where the seller uses GSP). I have never had an issue on either Hipstamp/Hippostcard. Good thing is that anytime I have asked sellers to send via normal post, they are quite happy to do this - and I don't send any 'nasty' messages.
"...........my understanding (always happy to be corrected) is it only applies to 'dutiable' items.The only other situation is if the sender wants to send the item registered, it must be sent as a package and thus those rules apply (and I get this for high value purchases)."
All depends on whether or not the seller wants to violate the law or not. Anything that is not a DOCUMENT is required to go at parcel rate and be accompanied by a customs form, whether it is dutiable or not., The compliance rate is much lower than the misuse of Media mail which is starting to be monitored more heavily, at least locally. Remember this is a UPU regulation, it did not originate with the USPS,
This issue has been beat to death over the past 2 or 3 years on every stamp forum around - there are probably at least a dozen threads on this forum that address this issue - many contain the appropriate references,
I have twice recieved orders from New Zealand WITH customs slips but at LETTER rate. That's not just what I was charged, letter rate postage was on the envelope. I have recieved the same from Australia and Belgium. So there is some hoo-doo going on, this parcel rate mandate does not apply to everyone, regardless of what we are being told
Phil, every country is different right now. The UPU started with the US because we generated the most complaints from member nations about the small amount we ere reimbursing them to deliver within their country. It is slowly going to change to a more equal distribution but we were the initial target. The new APS store rates reflect the costs that any US based dealer would be charging if they followed the rules and regs. Their failure to do so impacts all of the dealers who choose to follow them. Hard to compete when I have to pay $18 to ship and a scofflaw charges $2. The APS, IPDA and ASDA turn a blind eye to this. I am a member of the APS since 1985 but will not join the ASDA or IPDA (used to belong years ago) until they push for parity just as a matter of principle. I worked for the feds (SBA) for almost 20 years and always believed there should be a level playing field.
James, on the USPS websites online postage calculator, the very first question (after selecting the destination) is, "What's the value of the item being mailed?" along with a note that for letter mail, the value must be zero.
That's all there is to it. Nothing about "dutiable."
While, Henry, you are certainly correct about the origin of the rule being from the UPU, the USPS adds to the tomfoolery by charging more than 13x the rate of a 1 ounce letter for a 1 ounce "package."
Ted - no argument there but I was under the impression that the UPU set (or at least suggested) the rates for reimbursement from the US to other member nations for their border processing and internal delivery. Could be wrong - I'm at that awkward age for memory...... going to go take my meds and a nap ......
"123.631 Letter-post mail (First-Class Mail International, IPA and ISAL items, and FirstClass Package International Service) must be separated based on contents into Documents and Merchandise categories.
Merchandise consists of items other than documents that are considered potentially dutiable, as well as documents that may be subject to customs duties. The mailer must declare a value and place a customs form on each merchandise item.
If any item (merchandise or document) weighs more than 16 ounces, the mailer must place a customs form on it, regardless of the content."
123.632 In Exhibit 123.61, the “Type of Item” column has several references to “documents.” For this purpose, “documents” refers only to any piece of written, drawn, or printed information, excluding objects of merchandise. Documents do not include digital and electronic storage media or devices such as CDs, DVDs, or flash drives."
Any stamp is “potentially dutiable.” Also, the last paragraph says, “documents” refers to printed information, excluding objects of merchandise. While postage stamps are printed and contain information, good luck trying to convince postal inspectors that they conform to that requirement. Anyway, even the most worthless postage stamp is an object of merchandise, so doesn’t qualify as a document.
Even, say, an actual letter of correspondence from a famous person, purchased as a collectible, could not be mailed as a letter because it was an object of merchandise.
It appears you did not read far enough. Within the same manual it states this under section 240
240 First-Class Mail International
under subsection 242 it states this
Conditions for Mailing 243.12 November 7, 2022 85 242 Eligibility 242.1 Content Eligibility Subject to applicable weight and size limits, only correspondence and nondutiable documents that are otherwise acceptable and not prohibited by the Postal Service or the country of destination may be mailed at the First- Class Mail International price.
242.2 Merchandise No merchandise, whether dutiable or nondutiable, may be mailed using First- Class Mail International service. Items containing merchandise may be sent by Global Express Guaranteed service, Priority Mail Express International service, Priority Mail International service, or First-Class Package International Service; commercial mailers may also use IPA packages (small packets) and ISAL packages (small packets)
Thanks Michael - I had a look at that too. But it says the say thing. I think Ted captured the essence above. The definition used for documents is so loose, and the application of whether or not an item may/may not be dutiable is too broad, is very open to interpretation. haha
Comments
Great to hear the APS is working on this, though.
The key is don't just buy a $1.
Be sensible. Wait until you're ready to buy multiple stamps. Make it worth it. Or buy your high value items there, where $18 shipping then is proportionate,
(Hint: This is WHY we don't sell items und $15...)
Also, are we going to eventually be forced to move to APS' minimum shipping charge?
Not sure I'm likin this.
Australia is in price group 12; the minimum postage rate is $19.20. APS might get a commercial discounted rate in order to charge only $18.
This is one reason why many dealers have ended their international sales.
I quit selling Internationally for a while, Tired of the "nasty" messages regarding shipping fees. But now I'm back, by popular demand.
I receive hundreds of items from the USA - the only site where postage is an issue is on Ebay (where the seller uses GSP). I have never had an issue on either Hipstamp/Hippostcard. Good thing is that anytime I have asked sellers to send via normal post, they are quite happy to do this - and I don't send any 'nasty' messages.
Funny, though, if you buy through Hippostcard's own store, they don't charge the prices Ted listed above - just normal postage. LOL
All depends on whether or not the seller wants to violate the law or not. Anything that is not a DOCUMENT is required to go at parcel rate and be accompanied by a customs form, whether it is dutiable or not., The compliance rate is much lower than the misuse of Media mail which is starting to be monitored more heavily, at least locally. Remember this is a UPU regulation, it did not originate with the USPS,
This issue has been beat to death over the past 2 or 3 years on every stamp forum around - there are probably at least a dozen threads on this forum that address this issue - many contain the appropriate references,
The new APS store rates reflect the costs that any US based dealer would be charging if they followed the rules and regs. Their failure to do so impacts all of the dealers who choose to follow them. Hard to compete when I have to pay $18 to ship and a scofflaw charges $2. The APS, IPDA and ASDA turn a blind eye to this. I am a member of the APS since 1985 but will not join the ASDA or IPDA (used to belong years ago) until they push for parity just as a matter of principle. I worked for the feds (SBA) for almost 20 years and always believed there should be a level playing field.
That's all there is to it. Nothing about "dutiable."
While, Henry, you are certainly correct about the origin of the rule being from the UPU, the USPS adds to the tomfoolery by charging more than 13x the rate of a 1 ounce letter for a 1 ounce "package."
"123.631 Letter-post mail (First-Class Mail International, IPA and ISAL items, and FirstClass Package International Service) must be separated based on contents into Documents and Merchandise categories.
Merchandise consists of items other than documents that are considered potentially dutiable, as well as documents that may be subject to customs duties. The mailer must declare a value and place a customs form on each merchandise item.
If any item (merchandise or document) weighs more than 16 ounces, the mailer must place a customs form on it, regardless of the content."
123.632 In Exhibit 123.61, the “Type of Item” column has several references to “documents.” For this purpose, “documents” refers only to any piece of written, drawn, or printed information, excluding objects of merchandise. Documents do not include digital and electronic storage media or devices such as CDs, DVDs, or flash drives."
Even, say, an actual letter of correspondence from a famous person, purchased as a collectible, could not be mailed as a letter because it was an object of merchandise.
It appears you did not read far enough. Within the same manual it states this under section 240
240 First-Class Mail International
under subsection 242 it states this
Conditions for Mailing 243.12
November 7, 2022 85
242 Eligibility
242.1 Content Eligibility
Subject to applicable weight and size limits, only correspondence and
nondutiable documents that are otherwise acceptable and not prohibited by
the Postal Service or the country of destination may be mailed at the First-
Class Mail International price.
242.2 Merchandise
No merchandise, whether dutiable or nondutiable, may be mailed using First-
Class Mail International service. Items containing merchandise may be sent
by Global Express Guaranteed service, Priority Mail Express International
service, Priority Mail International service, or First-Class Package
International Service; commercial mailers may also use IPA packages (small
packets) and ISAL packages (small packets)