Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to UK

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Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by Rew » Thu Jul 11, 2013 1:50 pm

Thanks for the replies, both of you!

@Kimmy: I used the link someone in another thread provided to the personal stamps (they were Doctor Who-themed), but I still couldn't get past the part where you enter your information because it asked me to provide a UK postal code and UK phone number, neither of which I have, being in the US. Looking at other threads, it looks like other people had similar problems, then contacted Royal Mail, and apparently never heard back.

I think I've settled on the sending cash option though (see below). How much does it cost to send a letter/card to the US from the UK? I want to make sure I include a proper amount!

@Lucky13:
luckyas13canbe wrote:I've answered a bit to you in bold below, let me know if I can help in any other way. Welcome to FM
Thanks for the welcome! :)
easy enough to fold in half, that's what is done by most.
Good, that's what I was hoping.
There's loads of threads about this but it boils down to a few options...
Get a hold of UK stamps... not easy in short time, but can be done via eBay
Use local currency, if you're in the states or europe, then that can work, but no guarantee
Get a UK fiver from currency exchange and use that
EBay would take longer than I like and be rather expensive. I'm in South Carolina, so no currency exchanges around here (that I'm aware of); I think the nearest would be in Charlotte or Atlanta.

However, like I said to Kimmy above, just dropping in a few American dollars might be my best option (I'm a bit uncomfortable with it, but I'll just have to hope no postal worker opens the envelope and pockets it!).

If I go the dollar route, how much should I drop in? Would $2 or $3 suffice? Or $5?
Length is one of those things... if it's a minor celeb then you never know it might work better, but if they get lots of mail then the chances of it being read are slim. Have you checked for other potential feedback on here or on other sites? I'd say that's too long if I am honest, and you would be better to trim it down more than a bit. There's also no point in getting worked up etc... if it's read it's read, if not, then not. YOu could get an awesome personal response, a standard signed item from a PA or nothing... either way, it's not something to get upset about.
The celeb I'm writing is pretty obscure, so the only results I get back when I search for her are just a couple posts here and there about how they got a picture + autograph at a con or something.

As for the psychological investment, I guess I'll go ahead and confess this is my "celebrity crush" (I don't mention that in the letter of course--I just stick to her career/performances). I've been following her career for over two years and have finally psyched myself up enough to actually make contact. So the thought of her not reading at all would be very upsetting indeed! If it were almost any other celeb, however, I wouldn't care nearly so much.

I'm not counting on an actual response, though. I know someone else who wrote to her and hasn't heard back, so I'm fine with that. I want merely to encourage and brighten her day, and if I happen to get some sort of reply in return, that's just an added bonus. :)

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by kimmylee » Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:01 am

You should be able to order from Royal Mail's shop and have them sent abroad, it may be you were on the Business shop instead of the personal one here.

In the help it lists delivery charges for all over the word so fingers crossed it will work!

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by luckyas13canbe » Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:08 pm

I've answered a bit to you in bold below, let me know if I can help in any other way. Welcome to FM
Rew wrote:Hey gang! I am writing my very first fan letter, from the US and to a UK celeb. I've read through this thread but still have some questions. (I also figured it'd be better to bump this old thread than to create a new one.)

I've got my letter mostly written now. I don't have any photos or merch or anything--I'm just including an index card if they want to sign it or put a little note. And I'm guessing the two envelopes I use (one for my letter and the other the SAE) need to be different sizes, the SAE smaller to fit inside the original envelope? Or should I use the same size and just fold the SAE inside the original? What sizes should I use on both? Also, should I include my return address on both envelopes?

easy enough to fold in half, that's what is done by most.

But it's postage that's causing me the greatest pain. I want the SAE to be stamped, but I was crushed to learn today that IRCs were discontinued by the USPS earlier this year. What the heck do I do?? You can't order from the Royal Mail website unless you're British (i.e. have a UK address, phone number, etc.). It doesn't look like there's anyone selling on this forum either; I made sure to check the selling/trading section. (I asked one user who said they're not doing it anymore, and another I haven't heard back from yet.) And even though I'm not really expecting a response, I don't want to lower my chances to 0% by not including any postage on the SAE at all. :( Worse, I've been trying really hard to get this letter sent off no later than the end of this week or weekend! Any help?

There's loads of threads about this but it boils down to a few options...
Get a hold of UK stamps... not easy in short time, but can be done via eBay
Use local currency, if you're in the states or europe, then that can work, but no guarantee
Get a UK fiver from currency exchange and use that


My second concern is with the length of my letter. I'm already almost done writing it, but I only just read on this forum that length is a big no-no. Er, well... my letter is looking like at least three handwritten pages so far! xD However, this is a rather minor celebrity, so while I'm sure she gets her fair share of fan mail, I don't think it's as constant as the big names. So is the length still in danger of being too much? (I spent a lot of time talking about some of the celeb's more obscure works, so hopefully it will still be meaningful.) This celeb seems like a private person--they're not on Twitter or any social media--so I don't know if I should expect any sort of reply. But if the celeb never so much as reads it, I would be beside myself! (Well, not that I would ever know, but I don't want to write anything I know the other person would never read or just toss into the bin.) So I hope three or four pages for someone who doesn't get as much attention as other actors won't be too much?

Length is one of those things... if it's a minor celeb then you never know it might work better, but if they get lots of mail then the chances of it being read are slim. Have you checked for other potential feedback on here or on other sites? I'd say that's too long if I am honest, and you would be better to trim it down more than a bit. There's also no point in getting worked up etc... if it's read it's read, if not, then not. YOu could get an awesome personal response, a standard signed item from a PA or nothing... either way, it's not something to get upset about.

Sorry for such a long rambling post, and sorry if I'm retreading old territory. I'm completely new at this and wanted to get all my questions out
in one place--thanks in advance!
Hope that helps.
RM

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by Rew » Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:44 pm

Hey gang! I am writing my very first fan letter, from the US and to a UK celeb. I've read through this thread but still have some questions. (I also figured it'd be better to bump this old thread than to create a new one.)

I've got my letter mostly written now. I don't have any photos or merch or anything--I'm just including an index card if they want to sign it or put a little note. And I'm guessing the two envelopes I use (one for my letter and the other the SAE) need to be different sizes, the SAE smaller to fit inside the original envelope? Or should I use the same size and just fold the SAE inside the original? What sizes should I use on both? Also, should I include my return address on both envelopes?

But it's postage that's causing me the greatest pain. I want the SAE to be stamped, but I was crushed to learn today that IRCs were discontinued by the USPS earlier this year. What the heck do I do?? You can't order from the Royal Mail website unless you're British (i.e. have a UK address, phone number, etc.). It doesn't look like there's anyone selling on this forum either; I made sure to check the selling/trading section. (I asked one user who said they're not doing it anymore, and another I haven't heard back from yet.) And even though I'm not really expecting a response, I don't want to lower my chances to 0% by not including any postage on the SAE at all. :( Worse, I've been trying really hard to get this letter sent off no later than the end of this week or weekend! Any help?

My second concern is with the length of my letter. I'm already almost done writing it, but I only just read on this forum that length is a big no-no. Er, well... my letter is looking like at least three handwritten pages so far! xD However, this is a rather minor celebrity, so while I'm sure she gets her fair share of fan mail, I don't think it's as constant as the big names. So is the length still in danger of being too much? (I spent a lot of time talking about some of the celeb's more obscure works, so hopefully it will still be meaningful.) This celeb seems like a private person--they're not on Twitter or any social media--so I don't know if I should expect any sort of reply. But if the celeb never so much as reads it, I would be beside myself! (Well, not that I would ever know, but I don't want to write anything I know the other person would never read or just toss into the bin.) So I hope three or four pages for someone who doesn't get as much attention as other actors won't be too much?

Sorry for such a long rambling post, and sorry if I'm retreading old territory. I'm completely new at this and wanted to get all my questions out in one place--thanks in advance!

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by luckyas13canbe » Fri May 17, 2013 8:48 pm

Sadly that's true, but if it's marked (and you can just write it on it yourself) then at least if it is damage you have even more scope to claim compensation for the item

RM

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by CrimeofPassion » Fri May 17, 2013 12:22 pm

Well, it was 3.4 ounces, which is roughly 96 grams, and I added a few grams to that just to be safe.

It's a photo/document holder made out of cardboard, so it does weigh more than an envelope. I'm just not sure I trust the postal service not to bend something, and even if it isn't outright bent, it could be damaged. The woman at the post office once told me that they really don't pay much attention to packages marked "fragile" and "do not bend." :roll: I had wanted her to mark a package as fragile, but she said it didn't make much of a difference!

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by luckyas13canbe » Fri May 17, 2013 6:43 am

make sure you double check that, sounds hefty to me, but if you've weighed it...

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by CrimeofPassion » Fri May 17, 2013 1:50 am

Dang, you guys must use lighter envelopes than I do. Considering that my SAE weighs 3.4 ounces, I think I'll need a whole bunch of UK stamps. Royal Mail is telling me it'll cost £4.50. 8 stamps it is, then! :shock:

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by luckyas13canbe » Thu May 09, 2013 11:17 am

Hey,
Sorry just saw this somehow. If you've weighed them out at your end, and have ensured the dimensions are correctly entered on both USPS and Royal Mail price checker, then you should be fine. Remember that some celebs might put an extra photo or stiffening card in so it's sometimes wise to account for that in advance :D

Let us know how you get on :D

RM

Re: Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to

by CrimeofPassion » Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:22 am

I brought one of the envelopes into work today to weigh on our postage meter (they all contain the exact same things, so they should weigh the same). It was 4.4 ounces. The envelope measures 10” x 13”, and because it’s rigid, I believe it has to be sent as a package according to USPS rules. So I think I have to fill out one of those little customs forms for the overseas ones. For the ones I’m sending within the US, the price should be $2.41. To the UK, I think it’s $12.75.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I can use, say, this $10 stamp on the ones I’m sending to the UK (plus a few $1/$2 ones): https://store.usps.com/store/browse/usp ... herPostage

I was hoping to avoid standing in line at the post office to send these, since I work 9-5, the same exact hours they’re open, and on Saturdays their line is out the door – just ridiculous. I wanted to put postage on them myself and drop them off, but I need to be confident I’ve put the correct postage on, particularly for those UK ones.

The slightly smaller SAE by itself weighed 3.4 ounces (I put the photo in when I weighed it). So the ones in the US should cost $2.24 to send back, while the ones in the UK cost £3.50 via airmail, I believe (so 6 UK first-class stamps?).

Let me know if any of this sounds wrong!

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