International Request Help!

[peterslawford]

I usually send my autograph requests out with my letter and photo inside of a self-addressed envelope, and then I put that envelope inside of a larger bubble envelope. Then I'll just go to the post office and have both stamped, the larger one so it can be sent to the destination, and the smaller one stamped so it can be returned to me. When I usually go to the post office I have no problem getting both the large and small envelope stamped. However, when I headed to the post office today they told me that because my requests were international this time (France, Switzerland, and the UK) they could send the larger envelope to the destination but could not stamp the smaller one so it could be sent back to me. They were fairly unhelpful, so I'm unusure what to do. I want to make the process as easy as possible for the celebrities out of courtesy and because they're a little older too. I have heard the common solution is to just send the amount of money needed for the other person to buy stamps, but do I need to convert the money first, like dollars to euros, or do I just put the proper amount of dollars in? What would the proper amount be if that were the case? Would it be easier to just purchase a book of the respective stamps online (French, Swiss, and British), and put the whole book in with my letter? Any and all help would be appreciated, thank you very much!

[Hartster]

It's hard to understand but from what I can gather, only stamps of the respective countries can be used on those envelopes coming from there (e.g., British stamps on an envelope from Great Britain, no US stamps can be used on envelopes sent from outside the United States.)

Best bet is to buy British stamps online. Depending on the size of the envelope, you may want to include either dollars or Euros. I sent $3 USD to send back a 5x7 photo.

BTW, I don't use bubble envelopes. Still results in photos being bent. What I do use (at least for US requests - I go smaller size for overseas) is a 9x12 envelope as the outer envelope, and an 8x10 envelope with cardboard stiffeners plus a sheet protector for the photo. The 8x10 envelope will (hopefully) prevent the larger envelope from being bent, and obviously on the return journey the 8x10 envelope already has cardboard around the photo.

[peterslawford]

Thanks for the tip! I send my requests in a very firm document mailer envelope (it's a 9x11 I think, I send 8x10 photos) inside of the larger bubble envelope, and all of my autographs have come back pristine so far. The only reason why I use a bubble envelope is because it's the only kind my local store carries that the firm document envelope will fit in.

I posted this same question to another site and someone suggested that I convert the currency (so dollars to euros and pounds) and put the bills in with my letter and photo. The closest place to me that converts currency is a very large airport, but I'm willing to do that if it's the right way to go about it! I tried finding foreign stamps to include, but all I found were vintage single stamps that are meant for collectors.

Do you agree with that person, should I go ahead and send the euros and pounds with my letters instead? I do want to get a few opinions before I drive to the airport just for ~$15 worth of currency.

[Hartster]

Not worth the drive for $15 of currency. Not sure they'll change that small amount (you may want to call and ask before you go.) There are also currency exchanges online where they'll send you Euros or whatever - don't remember which one I used - but I think I got at least $50 USD converted. There's also buying leftover holiday currency on eBay - people have small amounts they can't convert back and want to get rid of it.

[NatashaH]

I'm Canadian and I've sent VV to the States before. On my SASE I put Canadian stamps, and I received the autograph back with no issues.

[peterslawford]

I'm Canadian and I've sent VV to the States before. On my SASE I put Canadian stamps, and I received the autograph back with no issues.

Really? This is news to me. I don't know if Canadian stamps work internationally), but did you put the stamps on yourself or did the post office do that?

[kimmylee]

Im guessing NatashaH got lucky and her SASE didn't get detected and put in the trash.

You must pay the SASE country's postal service to deliver your letter. They only accept their own domestic postage as payment.

Unless like NatashaH you get lucky, it is a huge risk though and 99% unlikely to work.

[peterslawford]

Im guessing NatashaH got lucky and her SASE didn't get detected and put in the trash.

You must pay the SASE country's postal service to deliver your letter. They only accept their own domestic postage as payment.

Unless like NatashaH you get lucky, it is a huge risk though and 99% unlikely to work.

Do you think it would be alright if I put the correct currency instead? Like euros if I'm sending it to France, etc.? My post office doesn't sell international stamps and I can't find any online that aren't for collectors.

[kimmylee]

Correct currency is absolutely fine and a recommended method if you can't get stamps

Places like eBay sell all kinds of current, unused stamps, but it can be hard working out the search term you need to find them.