UK postage/stamp question

[snakepaws]

I'm in the US. I have a package weighing 3.9oz (roughly 110g) total, looking for reply from a UK (London) celebrity. If I used the Royal Mail site correctly to calculate, that should be about £3.71 in postage for reply (please correct me if I'm wrong). I know very little about international shipping. All my fanmail packages have been around this size/weight - 8x10, letter, SASE (photomailer). I'd rather order UK stamps rather than IRCs, as the cost of IRCs adds up quickly.

1) Did I calculate my shipping correctly?
2) Could I order a sheet of stamps, 10 x £2.00 (with intent of 5 uses)? Or am I going about this wrong?
http://shop.royalmail.com/stamp-sheets/ ... 122,cat156
3) Can I even order stamps on the Royal Mail site shipped to the US? I know USPS site won't ship internationally. I can try and find stamps... I just mainly need #1 & #2 answered before I continue.

I don't want to order the wrong thing and be out $32, so any clarification would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[RYAN-J]

That sounds about right, The exchange rate from the UK to the USA is higher. It only cost me $1.05 to send a small request to the UK, but it costs around $3.00 to send it back.

I haven't used IRC's in years, but instead just send regular US cash and a SAE. Many of the UK celebrities make their way over to the US sooner or later for film premeires to to shoot on-location, so they can simply bring the cash with them to spend when their in the states.

I've chatted with several celebrities and they told me, they don't mind it all if fans send them a SAE and Cash to help cover the cost of return postage.

I usually go to the bank and get the newest bills they have, nice and crisp, and don't send old, worn out bills.

For money conversion, this website right here is the most accuate one I know of to determine price differences.

http://www.xe.com/

Hope that helps!!

RYAN-J

[snakepaws]

[Double post, site timed out ... sorry]

[snakepaws]

Thanks for the input - I honestly never even thought, (duh) they'd be back in the States at some point. Much appreciated.

I think what's making my letters so expensive is the weight (and I'm pretty sure it's the bulky photomailer). I'm partial to 8x10s - just something about the size makes it feel more appealing to me. When I shipped my letter for return out, it cost me just under $5 to send my 10x13 envelope to Sweden. I am assuming you're sending a smaller, more regular-sized envelope? I only used the photomailer, because an envelope that size would likely be bent/folded as opposed to a more traditional-sized envelope. Matter of fact, I would love to know what you're sending, because I would love to get my costs lowered ($3 for return sounds much more appealing to me than $8!). Domestic isn't so bad for the larger photos, but it just so happens that I have a lot of international (especially UK) celebrities in mind.

Thanks for the reply!

[RYAN-J]

You're welcome! I trypically send 4x6's and 5x7's for photo sizes I typically don't put any cardboard protectors in the envelopes, as I've never had problem with my mail getting bent on the way back. that also reduces the weight too. Celebrities have no problems with signing smaller photos, unless you prefer to collect the large style photos.

Hope that helps!

RYAN-J

[kimmylee]

Just so you know in the future, currently the UK only charges Airmail items by weight, size doesn't matter

[snakepaws]

Thanks for the heads up!

I've decided to go the route of 5x7s (and 4x6s if I must send a second photo) in 5.25x7.25 SAE with stamps or money for postage, all put into a 5.5x8.75 envelope with letter. Not worried about postage TO the celebrities, as I'll handle that at the post office. My SAE is 70# paper though, so I need to get that weighed with photos so I know how much postage to put on it/send. I'm thinking 0.45+0.20 (for domestic) if it goes over a single 0.45 Forever stamp. I just don't see it breaking the 2oz mark (hopefully).

Is it only this exciting because I'm just getting started, or is it always like this? Haha.