Whatever happened to the surface mail option?

Hoogah

Hoogah

Well-known member
It’s a long way to Downunder from Upover, I know, but I’m still staggered when it cost three times the original cost to mail my Judging Standards! Once upon a time you could opt to wait patiently and use surface mail. I would have been happy to wait 6 weeks or so, but it seems that USPS Priority Mail is the default choice when mailing out, and you must agree to pay whatever it works out to be if you wish to complete the order.
By the way, the USD98.53 total converts to AUD130.53. Ouch!
 

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The same over here ; they don't use the option "surface mail" anymore for overseas deliveries. So, apperantly no more mail by boat !
 
Took me a full 2 days to find a shipper for hubs and drums to get the price down from $1200.

It would have been cheaper to get a return ticket and pick them up as luggage. Just have to get thru the body scanner, finger printing ...
 
And if they got in the 2000's they would have electronic copies like other clubs.

The Mustang club has all back issues online and you have the option to read online/ download the magazine.
 
Cindy lives in San Francisco, 230 Miles away. She gets my mail in 2 DAYS, I get her mail in 4 DAYS?????---"Maybe" she has "SNAIL-TRUCKS"????
Bill Ponyexpress
 
Fortunately we still have Parcel Post to and from Alaska, possibly even Boat Mail.

I sent a package from Fairbanks to Florida, mailed February 14, finally made it to Seattle, Washington today, March 2, supposed to arrive at its destination March 5.

We are very grateful to still have USPS Parcel Post available to us in Alaska, otherwise shipping certain items would be cost prohibitive.

Darryl in Fairbanks

Update, USPS has renamed Parcel Post to "Retail Ground package"
 
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I've never used it personally, but I use to have some clients in Australia and New Zealand that used freight consolidators. I would ship the packages to an address in California for domestic rates. The consolidator would hold on to it and combine it with other parcels going to the same general area. They would then negotiate for the cheap, unsold space in a partially filled cargo container going in the right direction.

It was not terribly fast, but it was fairly inexpensive. I got the impression that this was a fairly common solution down your way.

Ken
 
I asked about Parcel Post at the local postoffice. The clerk told me that it is now called Standard mail and it is available for parcels going a long distance, usually over 600 miles. It takes longer as the parcels usually travel by surface and not by air..
 
KGBnut said:
I've never used it personally, but I use to have some clients in Australia and New Zealand that used freight consolidators. I would ship the packages to an address in California for domestic rates. The consolidator would hold on to it and combine it with other parcels going to the same general area. They would then negotiate for the cheap, unsold space in a partially filled cargo container going in the right direction.

It was not terribly fast, but it was fairly inexpensive. I got the impression that this was a fairly common solution down your way.

Ken
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I spent a couple of days contacting businesses that ship cars and parts. None of them would ship parts any more, only whole cars, after the $A slipped below the $US.
I eventually found a general shipper that was very good. As far as I know they ship their own containers.

Their are plenty of businesses that will consolidate eBay stuff, but they use couriers mainly which goes by air. Too expensive for heavy items.
 
Methinks that USPS mail that used to go "out of country" by parcel post or surface mail was cancelled after 9-11 for security reasons.
 
KGBnut said:
I've never used it personally, but I use to have some clients in Australia and New Zealand that used freight consolidators. I would ship the packages to an address in California for domestic rates. The consolidator would hold on to it and combine it with other parcels going to the same general area. They would then negotiate for the cheap, unsold space in a partially filled cargo container going in the right direction.

It was not terribly fast, but it was fairly inexpensive. I got the impression that this was a fairly common solution down your way.

Ken
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I use such an arrangement but it isn't quick - usually about 10 or 12 weeks so I have to plan ahead. There is also a company doing this but their depot is in Indiana - might be more convenient.

noboD said:
A friend in Ohio sent a package to Australia, took over two months. It was in Austria twice.
Click to expand...

That is not uncommon. Methinks post office staff need a geography lesson.
 
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