General Forum

Good Morning,

I was wondering how members handle "international" trades and/or orders. Shipping to Canada is just plain "crazy", and there are a lot of Canadian members and visa a versa. How do you ship to keep s/h costs down?

Australia is another one, so much $$$ to ship to.

I have found you can ship a handful of cards, in an envelope, relatively cheaply, BUT anything bigger is big bucks.

Where have you shipped cards to and what are the shipping prices like?

Information needed, Thanks, ~BOB~

Shipping International isn't too bad, or "crazy", if you use First Class International Letter (non-machineable) and don't go over 3 ounces or 1/4" thick. Less than 2 oz. is $1.42, less than 3 oz. is $1.89 to Canada. $2.43 and $3.46 to Australia. I ship enough cards to fit in my photo mailers; about a dozen with 4 top-loaders. And the most I paid so far to Canada was $1.89.  I use my digital scale and the USPS Price Calculator to figure out price. The Global stamp is currently $1.20, Butterfly is $.71, and Penguins $.22. 

I must admit, the first time I shipped to Canada I went to the PO counter and the clerk wanted to charge me about $6.  I said no thank you and walked over to the self-service kiosk. Put in the same exact information (answered on-screen questions) as I did at the counter and it cost me $1.42.  Now I just mail from home.  My latest Canadian trade (sandyrusty)...no problems.

Most of my trades have been with Canada.  The shipping is indeed, brutal.  I certainly wasn't prepared for $10 bubble envelope packages.  I do support promoting the sport and hobby internationally, but I guess that I just didn't see Canada as being all that international in terms of shipping rates.  I wish there was some type of workaround, perhaps just a couple of cards at a time in a letter envelope.