Clarify UK postage - help?

[kimmylee]

Our prices change (rise) annually in April.

So as soon as the prices change those stamps become not enough postage if you use one. Because they are fixed in value.

Whereas 1st & 2nd are just like US Forever stamps, so with several of those on an envelope should in the majority, if not all, of cases be enough, and save lots of worry! And work out cheaper than using multiple fixed rate stamps.

[lunarkt]

Our prices change (rise) annually in April.

So as soon as the prices change those stamps become not enough postage if you use one. Because they are fixed in value.

Whereas 1st & 2nd are just like US Forever stamps, so with several of those on an envelope should in the majority, if not all, of cases be enough, and save lots of worry! And work out cheaper than using multiple fixed rate stamps.

I never really pay attention to the different type of stamps and how they work. If 1st/2nd class is better, then I'll stick with those, thanks.

I'm going to have to use Large stamps, so how much would a Large 1st class (or Large 2nd class) stamp be per stamp (perhaps after the price rise, if known?). I'm assuming I'll have to put enough of those on to cover the cost for it as there could be a chance I won't get a reply until after April.

[kimmylee]

You can use Large if you want- but the normal 1st/2nd will be fine. Large are also like US Forever stamps.

In the UK domestically the large are for one of our price bands (letter, large letter, small/medium parcel) which are different to international mail (airmail/international standard, or small packet, please note anything thicker than 5mm can only go small packet which is very expensive).

Large stamps will still work on International Mail, up to you which you use.

Current stamp prices can be found on the Royal Mail website or a simple google search. Or look at the in the shop and divide the price by number of stamps= value of one stamp. Lots of easy ways to find out.

Then use the price calculator tool on Royal Mail to get the cost of your SASE and work out how many you need to cover the cost.

Prices for 2015 have not yet been published and will not be until March likely.

[lunarkt]

You can use Large if you want- but the normal 1st/2nd will be fine. Large are also like US Forever stamps.

In the UK domestically the large are for one of our price bands (letter, large letter, small/medium parcel) which are different to international mail (airmail/international standard, or small packet, please note anything thicker than 5mm can only go small packet which is very expensive).

Large stamps will still work on International Mail, up to you which you use.

Current stamp prices can be found on the Royal Mail website or a simple google search. Or look at the in the shop and divide the price by number of stamps= value of one stamp. Lots of easy ways to find out.

Then use the price calculator tool on Royal Mail to get the cost of your SASE and work out how many you need to cover the cost.

Prices for 2015 have not yet been published and will not be until March likely.

The SASE is classified as a small parcel and the reason why I'm choosing Large is because according to the postage, normal covers up to 240mm X 165mm X 5mm, Large covers up to 353mm X 250mm X 25mm and my envelope is about 304.8mm X 228.6mm X ?mm. Unless I'm not understanding "up to" correctly and I can still use normal stamps, even though my envelope is more than what it says it can cover.

[kimmylee]

You are looking at the UK domestic price/size bands I am afraid. These are for mail going within the UK only, not abroad via Airmail.

Your item will go International standard (Airmail) either as a letter or Parcel which has different prices and size limits.

This page has more information

(ignore the parts about printing postage online, this expires after 2 days so no good for SASE's )

You will need to know whether your SASE is under or over 5mm.

For Airmail postage you can use 1st/2nd normal or large stamps as long as the value meets or exceeds the Airmail price.

I know it probably seems really complicated now, if it's any consolation USPS had me absolutely stumped for ages while I tried to get used to a whole new system, now I do US SASE's without thinking twice!

[lunarkt]

You are looking at the UK domestic price/size bands I am afraid. These are for mail going within the UK only, not abroad via Airmail.

Your item will go International standard (Airmail) either as a letter or Parcel which has different prices and size limits.

This page has more information

(ignore the parts about printing postage online, this expires after 2 days so no good for SASE's )

You will need to know whether your SASE is under or over 5mm.

For Airmail postage you can use 1st/2nd normal or large stamps as long as the value meets or exceeds the Airmail price.

I know it probably seems really complicated now, if it's any consolation USPS had me absolutely stumped for ages while I tried to get used to a whole new system, now I do US SASE's without thinking twice!

Wow, that is complicated. (And yeah, I know about the postage online; that was gonna be my first option for a long time until I found out it didn't work for SASEs. Good thing I found out before trying it, or even purchasing it. That's when I finally decided to look amongst here and join.)
Just measured my envelope. I'm going to put cardboard in it, so with it in there, it's about .5mm (I'm looking around to see if I can find a piece of cardboard a little thinner and still stiff, but it's at least under 5mm). According to the site, the LxW dimensions of the envelope (30.5cm x 22.8cm) go slightly over a letter (24cm x 16.5cm), so it's a small parcel.

So, the price I get from the calculator (which I would assume is the "How much will it cost?" on that page, since that's the only calculator I could find on RM) on there - should that give me an idea on how many stamps I should put on? If so, which should I go by, since I see multiple prices and some do not count VAT.

[kimmylee]

Yes, use the price to know how many stamps you need.

The correct price would be for the service you want to use (International Standard) so look at the names and you will find your price.

[lunarkt]

Yes, use the price to know how many stamps you need.

The correct price would be for the service you want to use (International Standard) so look at the names and you will find your price.

Are you saying International Standard as just an example or that I should use that? (just checking, since there's International Economy, however I don't know how they would know if I chose that over Standard)
Also, that doesn't include VAT, so what should I do about that? (Or is VAT something else that shouldn't be worried about? I know what VAT is, just don't understand it well enough)

Agh, I should just move over there.

[kimmylee]

If you look at the previous page I linked to, International Standard is the name of the service you will be using. It was formally called Airmail. International Economy would also be known as Surface Mail, do you recognise these terms from the US postal system?

Don't know where you saw anything about VAT honestly. Only businesses have to pay it on RM postage, not normal customers. As the person doing the SASE, you are not a business, and don't have to pay VAT.

Are you clearer on things now?

[lunarkt]

If you look at the previous page I linked to, International Standard is the name of the service you will be using. It was formally called Airmail. International Economy would also be known as Surface Mail, do you recognise these terms from the US postal system?

Don't know where you saw anything about VAT honestly. Only businesses have to pay it on RM postage, not normal customers. As the person doing the SASE, you are not a business, and don't have to pay VAT.

Are you clearer on things now?

Duh! Of course, stupid me. I'm sorry, it went over my head that that was the service I would want to use. I don't usually pay much attention to the US postal system, so the terms are a little foreign to me. But now I'm understanding it a lot more. I kept wondering about VAT because I kept seeing "VAT" everywhere, but now that I looked back it said the IS and IE prices are exempt from VAT. (But also thanks for clearing that up as well)

Yes, things are a lot clearer for me now. I'm sorry for asking so many questions. I have anxiety so I can get a bit worked up and freak out, especially when confused (also I'm not that intelligent and have a few learning disabilities so sometimes things need to be explained a bit more for me to understand).

So run down (to make sure I got everything):
Can use any 1st/2nd class stamp, whether it be normal or large
Use International Standard price
Find stamp prices on RM site or google (or take price from shop and divide it by how many stamps there are for value of one stamp)
RA not required on SASE ("Airmail" is written in this spot)