Today, we had two international shipments returned to us, because the US Postal Service, in its infinite wisdom (and presumably in an effort to increase revenues) has decided that not only should the 4-pound limit for international priority mail shipments in flat rate envelopes apply (we’re a-okay with that), but that they also must now be completely flat, which means, effectively, we can no longer ship books in flat-rate envelopes. International media mail, of course, was discontinued long ago; as was the economy (ocean) parcel service. Meaning that the only option we’d have for shipping internationally at this point would be Airmail parcel service, which would cost more than our books cost, which is just not an option.
To make a long story short, we’re forced to discontinue international delivery of our titles. We urge international customers to check out their regional Amazon site or other online retailer: all our titles on Amazon.ca, all our titles on Amazon.co.uk, all our titles on Amazon.de, all our titles on Amazon.fr, and if somebody would assist me with doing the ISBN search on the Japanese Amazon site, I can link to that as well.
The only slightly satisfying part about this whole mess is that in its pettiness, the US Postal Service has just cost itself at least $2000 a year that they were earning from us in international shipments–so much for increasing its revenues.
And because I’m slightly evil: My local post office supervisors are called Christine and Baldeesh. Their phone number is +1-916-227-6521. The generic complaint phone number for the US Postal Service is: 1-800-275-8777. The online complaint form is here. The applicable regulation is on this page–the part where it says you can’t include a bulky item (in this case books) to create a small box shape, even if the items otherwise fit the dimension and weight restrictions. The snailmail address for complaints is: Consumer Advocate, USPS, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-2200, USA.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Chris Owen // Feb 28, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Dude.
DUDE.
Not only you, but I can just imagine what this is going to do for my other publisher and ALL US small print publishers. Not to mention that this has a direct effect on my income, as well. I might just start frothing at the mouth.
2 Manna Francis // Feb 28, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Well, crap.
3 MJ // Mar 2, 2009 at 10:50 am
Even worse, I can’t even fill in that form properly, because it doesn’t recognise foreign zip codes…
Plus I have to type my comments again from scratch because it didn’t remember them after warning me that some fields weren’t filled in properly. (I’ll just used the Consumer Advocate’s address this time.)
Manna, I’m going to get my hands on it somehow!
4 KD // Mar 3, 2009 at 7:35 am
This is unbelievable! The U.S. economy isn’t doing so well, so they make it more difficult for U.S. companies to export their goods (”they” being whoever came up with the rule in question). Do they have to work on being so stupid or does it come naturally?
In any case, Toreth has the right idea: “In fact, you could take every Administration official at Tillotson’s level or higher and sink them in the North Sea and it would only improve Europe. Not to mention violate a slew of intercontinental treaties regarding toxic waste.” (Mindfuck, page 158).
As MJ said, we’ll get it somehow!
5 MJ // Mar 4, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I received this brilliant reply:
Dear XXXXX XXXXX,
Thank you for contacting us about book sellers excepting your money from overseas.
I apologze, We are the seller and the Post Office has nothing to do with whether a book seller or retail seller will except your money for payment. We are the seller.
If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for choosing the United States Postal Service®.
Regards,
Tim R
(I couldn’t resist adding a little PS to my reply: take it from a native Dutch speaker, the verb you were looking for is “to accept”, not “to except”)
6 casperianbooks // Mar 5, 2009 at 8:27 am
@MJ Well, I guess my Dad was on to something when he asked them in his complaint whether this was their contribution to the Illiteracy in America program…
7 MJ // Mar 5, 2009 at 10:05 am
The writing in their latest reply has improved markedly. I made them a nice compliment about it, I believe it was the kind thing to do to encourage them…
However I also explained again that I would NOT be “choosing the United States Postal Service®.” but the Royal Mail, Deutsche Post or Australia Post (for all I care) instead.
8 Alexandra // Mar 8, 2009 at 5:17 am
>_
You must log in to post a comment.