Sending a book to be autographed

[RainbowSerpent]

Hello guys,

I was wondering if you could give me any tips on how to best mail a book
to be autographed by an author. I estimated the weight at around 550 grams (1.2 pound).
I suppose it's recommended to ensure the package?

Can you recommend how many international return coupons I would need to include with the package?

[kimmylee]

Need the countries involved- where is the author and where are you?

Any international mail that weight is going to be expensive needing lots of IRC's.

[RainbowSerpent]

Europe to USA. As far as I can see on my national postal site, it would be 12 euros to SEND it. Which isn't TOO much. A IRC here cost 2 euros. So would I need to include 6? I suppose I would also need to include a self adressed box thingy? Because I'm not sure if I can fit the book in a box, in a bigger box... If that makes sense.

[kimmylee]

The price to USA in Euros has nothing to do with the number of IRC's that you need to include. You will pay the cost of postage to the US at your Post Office. Now you need to figure out how much it will cost from US to Europe and include enough IRC's.

You need the price from www.usps.com to calculate the return postage cost.

I believe I am correct in saying that each IRC is worth $1.10 in the US so that should help you figure it out.

I think for a package of that weight it is going to be very, very expensive to you buying IRC's.
Once you have the price it may be easier for you to send concealed cash in US$, which can be bought through a bank, travel agent etc.

You would also need some form of SASE yes. Maybe someone else who mails books will be able to help on that one.

[C1RQU1T]

That is going to cost you quite some money you might be looking at $30 just to get it signed :/

[RainbowSerpent]

I have no clue what options to pick on the usps site, though. We have a completely different metric system,
and different options packaging wise, so I wouldn't know what they'd want it to be put in. Seeing as I don't have
the USPS flat rate packages, it'd need to be my own box, but the "package" option is only available from 9", which
will be too big, I think. Plus the site says a package like that will cost about 80$ which is ridiculous.

I was thinking around 30$ in total, more likely, yes, which would be okay for me.

[C1RQU1T]

Why not just send the book and instead of sending irc send some money in with the book and they could buy a box and send it back to you ? do you think maybe this is a good idea ? or you could risk it and sending it with no return postage :/ but then again you don't want to lose the book :/

[kimmylee]

Conversion charts for weights and lengths are readily available online to help you figure it out.

I did warn you an item that heavy sent internationally is going to be very expensive.

I find the usps calculator confusing compared to the UK's postal system, but after a bit of practice I usually get there. I think for your item "package" is correct because "large envelope" cannot be more than under 1 inch thick which is way lower than the width of a typical book.

I did a test price, using the calculator USA to UK 1.2lb package and it came up at $18.60 for First Class Mail International.
That is standard airmail and the option for that is right at the bottom and you have to click on it to see the price -I think they like to do that so you're tricked into buying a more visible expensive option!

This is what I did:
Link to usps calculatrp

Destination: UK & Ireland
Shape: Package*
Weight: 1lb 2 oz
Click Continue
Scroll down
First Class International Options >>Click to View these Mailing Options>>
Price is shown.

*If any dimension is over 12" (30.5cm) then large package must be selected. However that is too big for First Class International and Priority Mail International has to be used which is more expensive.