Overwhelmed Newbie, Need Help on Sending Mail from US to UK

[CrimeofPassion]

Well, I've finally decided to take the plunge and try for some autographs. Unfortunately, most of my favorite actors are British, and I live in the US.

I've been sifting through the forum a bit, and I have to say....holy cow, I'm overwhelmed. I sell on eBay a lot, so I've sent packages overseas plenty of times, but this is just a tad confusing to me.

I mean, I've got the basics! Include a photo, a brief letter (and maybe a piece of cardboard or something to keep it from getting bent), and a self-addressed envelope (if anyone has specific recommendations on what type of envelope to buy, throw 'em at me). But the PAID part of that self-addressed envelope - so the celebrity can send it back to you - is what's got me feeling flustered. Apparently international reply coupons are nearly extinct, and while I've done some research on the alternatives I just feel sort of stressed here. I was poking around on http://www.royalmail.com/, but I'm just...lost. Yep, totally lost.

Can anyone help me? I just need to know exactly what to buy (and include in the envelope) when I'm sending a letter to London/the UK in general when I live in the US. I swear, I'm not usually an idiot, but for some reason this whole thing has my brain tied in knots. What do I dooooooooo?

[kimmylee]

Take a breath, it's really easy.

For the envelope to yourself you need UK postage. Some members sell or exchange UK stamps here on the Autograph Exchange/Sale section of the forum.

Or you could send cash, notes not coins, so the smallest for the UK is a £5 note.

Now as for the amount of return postage, it varies and everyone has a different amount of which they are happy to put on. The prices (from April 5th) are £0.88 for a letter up to 10g, £1.28 for a letter up to 20g, and £1.88 for a letter up to 40g.

It's best to use 1st (£0.60) and 2nd (£0.50) class stamps because they hold their current value like Forever Stamps, this protects you against future price rises.

[CrimeofPassion]

Just regular first class UK stamps are fine for international shipping?

Like...just these?

http://shop.royalmail.com/doctor-who-st ... /who00009/

[kimmylee]

Just regular first class UK stamps are fine for international shipping?

Like...just these?

http://shop.royalmail.com/doctor-who-st ... /who00009/

Yes those would be fine

I can't always get to the PO so keep 1st/2nd at home and use enough to cover Airmail postage for stuff to the family in USA.

[evenstar5]

I'm getting overwhelmed, to! I'm in the same boat as you with most of the autographs that I would like are from folks in the UK. I tried to order UK postage today from royalmail and it kept telling me that my phone number was invalid to make the purchase. I'm currently waiting on an e-mail from their customer service group to help me out with that. I've also called 4 post offices in my area and no one even knows what an IRC is! So much for that. It's very frustrating. I'm tempted to just mail the letters and photo off and hope that they send it back if I include the envelope.

[kimmylee]

If you look through a few pages of the Autographs For Exchange/sale section of the forum a couple of members are selling or trading UK stamps

[luckyas13canbe]

I'm getting overwhelmed, to! I'm in the same boat as you with most of the autographs that I would like are from folks in the UK. I tried to order UK postage today from royalmail and it kept telling me that my phone number was invalid to make the purchase. I'm currently waiting on an e-mail from their customer service group to help me out with that. I've also called 4 post offices in my area and no one even knows what an IRC is! So much for that. It's very frustrating. I'm tempted to just mail the letters and photo off and hope that they send it back if I include the envelope.

You'll find Royal Mail don't like posting stamps abroad, but there are plenty of international mailers on eBay who will sell you them at a slightly inflated cost. I would firmly recommend against just sending without and hoping, for a couple of reasons. It's rude, and means you are essentially demanding someone else pays for your postage and, perhaps more pertinent for you as a collector, it significantly increases the chance of your request not getting back to you.

[evenstar5]

I'm getting overwhelmed, to! I'm in the same boat as you with most of the autographs that I would like are from folks in the UK. I tried to order UK postage today from royalmail and it kept telling me that my phone number was invalid to make the purchase. I'm currently waiting on an e-mail from their customer service group to help me out with that. I've also called 4 post offices in my area and no one even knows what an IRC is! So much for that. It's very frustrating. I'm tempted to just mail the letters and photo off and hope that they send it back if I include the envelope.

You'll find Royal Mail don't like posting stamps abroad, but there are plenty of international mailers on eBay who will sell you them at a slightly inflated cost. I would firmly recommend against just sending without and hoping, for a couple of reasons. It's rude, and means you are essentially demanding someone else pays for your postage and, perhaps more pertinent for you as a collector, it significantly increases the chance of your request not getting back to you.

Alright, sounds good! Never thought about it being rude, but it definitely can come off that way. Noted. Ebay here I come! lol.

[luckyas13canbe]

I'm getting overwhelmed, to! I'm in the same boat as you with most of the autographs that I would like are from folks in the UK. I tried to order UK postage today from royalmail and it kept telling me that my phone number was invalid to make the purchase. I'm currently waiting on an e-mail from their customer service group to help me out with that. I've also called 4 post offices in my area and no one even knows what an IRC is! So much for that. It's very frustrating. I'm tempted to just mail the letters and photo off and hope that they send it back if I include the envelope.

You'll find Royal Mail don't like posting stamps abroad, but there are plenty of international mailers on eBay who will sell you them at a slightly inflated cost. I would firmly recommend against just sending without and hoping, for a couple of reasons. It's rude, and means you are essentially demanding someone else pays for your postage and, perhaps more pertinent for you as a collector, it significantly increases the chance of your request not getting back to you.

Alright, sounds good! Never thought about it being rude, but it definitely can come off that way. Noted. Ebay here I come! lol.

It tends to be the smaller books of 12 stamps which are open to international sales, but you can normally buy multiples. Just be patient and look through them, as many won't be international shipping If you have no joy, give me a shout and I'll dig one of the sellers out for you

[CrimeofPassion]

Anyone have the names of some users who sell UK stamps? Not sure if ordering from Royal Mail is going to work...

I did find stamps on eBay, like in this listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-A-to-Z-of- ... 5d331199bd

How many first class stamps do people usually put on their envelope? I'd prefer to be safe rather than sorry and put on more than needed.