Christmas - Anyone tried Royal Mail for Parcels overseas?

[DTCwordfan]

I have just been into the PO to send a 2.25kg box to the USA

Global Line: £36-40 - ye gads, it's outrageous

Any similar experiences/thoughts?

By the way last expedition for parcels to North America is Monday.

[DTCwordfan]

And I believe last year a similar weight box was £26.........inflation!

[Hymie]

I recently sent a package to France via the Post Office – on checking the prices on line, I discovered that the price increases exorbitantly once the weight exceeds 2kg.

To the USA a 1,150g package costs £16.52, whereas a 2,300g package costs £67.35.

[magsmay]

Both my mother and I made up one parcel for my daughter in Canada -the PO said it would be cheaper to mail if we took it back home and divided it into 2 parcels as it was over the 2kilo limit. Still cost more to post than the contents of the package !

[DTCwordfan]

I wish I had - but then I wanted the parcel underway, being so close to the deadline.....I sent another two (one for my sister) around the weight you mention, Hymie, one was £7-80 and the other £5-99....

[Everhelpful]

Hope you marked them "Small Packet" half the price up to 2 Kg.

[zebo]

I've been on a site, Parecel2go I think, for a 10kg box measuring 76 x 50 x 33cm I've been quoted less than £10 to Scotland with UPS, couldn't believe it, hope it works out.

[zebo]

I'm not implying that Scotland is overseas by the way, no ticking haggises in the post please.

[argorstran]

DT , I've just looked at the Royal Mail website and if you send it by surface mail it is £14.61 for 2000 g plus 65p for each 100 g up to 5000 g , so that would be £16.56 for your package . That's a lot less than what you're stating above .
Link :
http://www.royalmail.com/delivery/delivery-options-international/surface-mail/prices

(If you require signature on delivery , etc , it will obviously cost more )

[Prudie]

Trouble with surface mail is if it was for Christmas the last posting date for USA was 16th October!

[bednobs]

dt you should get onto your "top person in the RM" mate

[DTCwordfan]

I have thought about it, bednobs - if they are late, I will - they said 5-7 working days......

[jno]

calendar to Australia, £6.98. Was about £4.98 last year.

[DTCwordfan]

jno, I agree, it's the inflation that is the surprising thing, over 20%

I could have split down but you still have to send two parcels, and that means buying a new box and would have involved petrol for 7 miles, house to the PO, so was it really worth the saving - and I would have had to get my skids on to make last post today.

[bednobs]

my sister is coming over for xmas from the usa - it's going to be cheaper to pay for an extra bag on the flight than send the presents

[Tilly2]

Not quite answering the question but today I went into Superdrug and asked for two books of 12 second class stamps and I was charged £12.00! I was staggered.

[Georgiesmum]

Yes. Thats right Tilly2. Second class stamps are now 50p each, and first class stamps are 60p each.