Large U.S. postage increases on the 17th

First class mail will go up over $0.50 , international by over $5.00.

http://blog.stamps.com/2015/10/22/usps-announces-postage-rate-increase-starts-january-17-2016/

It just gets worse and worse.

 

It cant be as bad as Australian Post rates. I can assure you this.

 

I rest my case.
Edit - Im also really sorry

 

You get abundant, free, poisonous animals

 

USPS definitely isn't doing so hot, so they have to make it up somehow. Stupid people using online bill payment systems!

 

This is such fucking bullshit, the fact that it costs $15 to ship a bloody NES game is already ridiculous. I can't believe they're putting prices up even further.

 

it's not only bullshit, it will be counter-productive bullshit. USPS raises prices, people will use other methods to send items. Eventually the USPS will need a bailout

 

Is UPS any better? What's the cheapest way to ship internationally from the US?

 

I have found that DHL is pretty good Internationally.
I've not used Fed-Ex much personally, but they are worth looking into.

In fact.... Fed-Ex pickups at my local post office daily. I asked the Fed-Ex driver why he was at the USPS and he said.... and I quote.
"Because the USPS uses us for all of their back-end hauling."

So.... if the USPS is outsourcing to Fed-Ex, then perhaps going straight to the source would be cheaper?

I'd not recommend shipping internationally however. Too many risks, and not enough protection for the buyer or the seller, even if Insurance is added to the shipping costs.

I've shipped A LOT in the last 5 years and have never had any claims / issues and I used the USPS exclusively. International shipments were the only ones that cause me concern as once it's outside the postal services system, they are no longer accountable.

Paid $100 to have a flat rate box express shipped (overnighted) Internationally and it took over 3 months to arrive.

 

I was talking about international shipping, I wanted to know the legitimately cheapest option so that I could tell sellers on NintendoAge to ship that to avoid getting ripped off on just a handful of cartridges.

 

I'm in the US, and 100% of the stuff that I receive Internationally comes DHL.
I'd still contend that DHL would be cheaper then UPS or Fed-Ex, but you'd obviously want to look into it.

Do they ship cartridges in a box, or in padded envelopes?
I'd think padded envelope would be cheaper, but might not offer as much protection as if it were in a box.

 

I use FedEx on an almost daily basis and their costs are more than fair domestically in my experience. Internationally, I'm not sure. I know we shipped to Canada once and it was a lot of red tape. I'll look into it.

 

Meanwhile, shipping from China is often free...

 

Now see not all the time.
I have had some people get charged for shipping only due to some regional issues. From China to the US there's no fee on the buyer's end. Sometimes there can be, like if you're in Canada and receive parcels you CAN get a fee to have it delivered (which is not China's fault). Occasionally, deepening on the seller and service there is a fee, but the majority reason for it being free is due to how much China exports and imports.

 

post prices are going up again in Australia soon, letters are $1 ish for a small one

 

Click-N-Ship Features: Available on USPS.com, these features will move to retail pricing once the new rates are implemented in January 2016. Commercial Base pricing for these features will no longer be available.

This is crap too. I thought they gave you a discount so you didnt have tie up one of the people at the desk and you are using your own ink to print the label.

 

Well, now USA will join Canada in spiking up postage prices.