SASE from US to UK

[Justin]

I'm sending a few LPs to the UK in a cardboard LP mailer.

Question: what would be the best way to provide stamps for the package coming back to me? I figured I'd put in about $10 USD in the box...or should I go to the currency exchange and get money in Pounds and include that in the box?? Or...I highly doubt it...are there UK postage stamps I can buy here in the US so I may include them in the box? If so where can I get them?

Any suggestions would be most welcome!

[RYAN J.]

Sending $10 USD is what I'd do if I was sending. I've sent money with all my overseas requests and they come back just fine.

RYAN J.

[capmonte]

Sending $10 USD is what I'd do if I was sending. I've sent money with all my overseas requests and they come back just fine.

RYAN J.

See, I'd just order some IRCs from the post office website. I know sending $$ has worked for some folks on here, but it never has for me.

[packrat]

There is a guy selling UK stamps in the for-sale forum on this site. There are also one or two folks who have started some threads for trading US stamps for UK stamps in the same forum. Using the UK stamps on an SASE is probably the best way to go. Better than sending cash or spending a fortune on IRCs.

[Justin]

Thanks guys....very helpful!

I've never heard of an IRC until I looked it up. But as much as I understand it....the IRC represents the minimum postage for an unregistered priority airmail letter. Would such a stamp cover the cost of a cardboard LP mailer? Considering its size and weight? Would it be enough? Can you apply extra funds to the IRC coupon to guarantee it covers the costs?

[capmonte]

Thanks guys....very helpful!

I've never heard of an IRC until I looked it up. But as much as I understand it....the IRC represents the minimum postage for an unregistered priority airmail letter. Would such a stamp cover the cost of a cardboard LP mailer? Considering its size and weight? Would it be enough? Can you apply extra funds to the IRC coupon to guarantee it covers the costs?

What you would do is send multiple IRCs. For a large envelope and 1 or 2 photos, I usually send 3. Not sure how much you would use for your mailer, though.

[kimmylee]

The IRC in the UK has a very low value, just £0.67, so you'd be spending alot on IRC's, would be more economical to send the cash in £.

[packrat]

Three IRCs will cost you $6.30 here in the States ($2.10 each). Compare that to purchasing (or trading for) UK stamps before deciding to go that route. The nice thing is that with a proper SASE, the person on the other side of the pond only has to sign, seal, and deliver. No need for them to stand in line at the post office to cash in the IRCs and affix postage to the SAE. Much more convienent all the way around. But to each his own, I guess.

[Justin]

Three IRCs will cost you $6.30 here in the States ($2.10 each). Compare that to purchasing (or trading for) UK stamps before deciding to go that route. The nice thing is that with a proper SASE, the person on the other side of the pond only has to sign, seal, and deliver. No need for them to stand in line at the post office to cash in the IRCs and affix postage to the SAE. Much more convienent all the way around. But to each his own, I guess.

Great point packrat...in the end I do want to make this as convenient as possible for the signer. I guess I'll have to see about getting UK stamps...this is all new stuff for me!

[Justin]

Thanks to the Where can I buy IRCs, US Stamps? (and other stamps!) thread...I found some links to the Royal Mail site to buy stamps online.

Has anyone ever done this? I would imagine it'd be quicker than trading stamps? Since no one had suggested that I'm wondering if it's been used? I've just done a test and it seems I can print out the stamps right now from the site.... Has this worked successfully for anyone? I see on the site that it says that it needs to be post by 11/12 (tomorrow).

Are the stamps I buy from there only good for 1 day?


Answer to my question:

What happens if I don’t use my postage by the ‘Post by’ date?
The ‘Post by’ date is always the next working day after the day you make your Online Postage purchase. After this, your postage will not be valid.

Well it looks like I can't print out my own stamps considering it will take several weeks not days....