Greybeard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> USPS DCM Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > But USPS rates still apply. Under
> international
> > postal treaties the country of origin sets the
> > price. The destination country agrees to
> deliver.
> > They can add various fees, taxes, etc., over
> and
> > above that which are charged to the recipient.
>
> Canada and the U.S. used to have a reciprocal deal
> where they didn't charge crazy prices to ship
> cross-border. One of the countries (I've heard
> conflicting reports as to which) broke the deal,
> and now it's insane.
>
> But be glad you don't live there: 85 cents for a
> first-class letter. Which will take a wildly
> variable amount of time, typically several days
> just to go across town. The joke is that it's 35
> cents for postage, and 50 cents for storage!
>
> If you ever live in (almost) any other country,
> you'll never complain about USPS again.
There haven't been individual treaties since the late 1800s. It's done through the UPU.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Postal_Union
As above, the cost of postal is dictated by the originating county and the proceeds from postage remain in-country. The receiving country just agrees to deliver whatever mail it receives from outside. The increase here going to Canada wasn't a result of any treaty change, it was a general across-the-board increase in all international rates by USPS. All close to doubled. Even worse now going outside of North America - $22.30 at commercial rates for a small 1 lb. package to the EU, Asia, Australia, etc., which increases with package size. But UPS, Fedex, DHL are even more ridiculous so not much alternative really.
I like USPS here but sucks that they raised the international price so much. Had a significant effect on my international business when they did. Fortunately or unfortunately, the US doesn't subsidize postage for businesses as do China and some others which is why you can buy some stuff from there and have it shipped for like $2. Worse yet, the USPS has partnership deals where it subsidizes Chinese shippers. :| Still don't get that one.