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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 8:13:23 GMT -5
I hear there's a service with the US postel called the M-Bag, which allows you to send english language printed content abroad at a much much lower cost than the regular options.
Have anyone used that?
I've asked a friend oof mine to check it at his local office, but he's remained unsuccessful so far.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 8:21:10 GMT -5
I hear there's a service with the US postel called the M-Bag, which allows you to send english language printed content abroad at a much much lower cost than the regular options. Have anyone used that? I've asked a friend oof mine to check it at his local office, but he's remained unsuccessful so far. It's fine if you are willing to wait for stuff to arrive via a very slow boat (6 months or more on average) and have them likely water damaged as they are literaly thrown in a non-waterproof bag on a boat with no protection form the elements aside from the bag and the cargo hold. The bags are tossed about like any other cargo so things inside may get dinged, torn, bent or what have you. It's super cheap for a reason. -M |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 8:37:28 GMT -5
Have you actually used it? Are you talking from experience?
(The purpose of this option being to help spread the national culture internationaly, and give proper cheap means to people to do so, it would be counterproductive to make this horribly slow, wouldn't it?)
I'm asking since there's a similar system in France (similar to the point of the limit weight per package being the exact same, 11 pounds), and I had people tell me the exact same nightmare stories, but a mailman told me it was bullshit these days, that they tell you that to discourage you using it, but it actually goes more or less the exact same road, which is plane ("there is no such small package going any other international road but plane" he told me). They would just keep it a little longer at the office, making it the last priority.
So I used it sending three packages (cardboxes sealed in this plastic mail bag that was impossible to tear appart from with a knofe or heavy scisors. One box had indeed collapsed inside the bag, but I think I might have been the cause of that, being that I packed it all on the spot without proper material). But in the end France - Sweden, it got to me within less htan 10 days.
But If it is so with the US M-Bag, I really need to know since I have about 80 pounds of comics waiting for me at a friends in th US, and we're looking at the best/cheapest options, but he has no experience shipping.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 8:51:17 GMT -5
Have you actually used it? Are you talking from experience? (The purpose of this option being to help spread the national culture internationaly, and give proper cheap means to people to do so, it would be counterproductive to make this horribly slow, wouldn't it?) I'm asking since there's a similar system in France (similar to the point of the limit weight per package being the exact same, 11 pounds), and I had people tell me the exact same nightmare stories, but a mailman told me it was bullshit these days, that they tell you that to discourage you using it, but it actually goes more or less the exact same road, which is plane ("there is no such small package going any other international road but plane" he told me). They would just keep it a little longer at the office, making it the last priority. So I used it sending three packages (cardboxes sealed in this plastic mail bag that was impossible to tear appart from with a knofe or heavy scisors. One box had indeed collapsed inside the bag, but I think I might have been the cause of that, being that I packed it all on the spot without proper material). But in the end France - Sweden, it got to me within less htan 10 days. But If it is so with the US M-Bag, I really need to know since I have about 80 pounds of comics waiting for me at a friends in th US, and we're looking at the best/cheapest options, but he has no experience shipping. When I was selling comics and collectibles on ebay over a decade ago I had a potential customer in Europe who wanted me to send over 100+ books/comics via an M-bag so I researched it quite thoroughly. He wanted it sent cheaply and with a money back guarantee nothing would be damaged. The postal worker just laughed when I asked about it and explained how it works. A few may go via cheap airmail, but most are shipped via boat and it's treated like any other packaging container when done so. So no I didn't use it because I chose not to based on the feedback I got form those who offer the service. Now things may have changed since then, but with all the cutbacks and price increaes the US Postal service has done since then, I would deem it unlikely. -M |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 9:11:02 GMT -5
Understood.
Anyone else?
The thing is that this still shouldn't be a downgrade : those bags are waterproof, and it's up to you how you wanna have your box sealed inside.
But I just believe that those stories about stuff being shipped by boat have become legends, that no postal service would bother with that for packages of 11 pounds, I don't see how cost effective it would be to direct those to a boat when all their protocols for such sizes are directed to air transport these days. Or am I missing something?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 9:21:52 GMT -5
Understood. Anyone else? The thing is that this still shouldn't be a downgrade : those bags are waterproof, and it's up to you how you wanna have your box sealed inside. But I just believe that those stories about stuff being shipped by boat have become legends, that no postal service would bother with that for packages of 11 pounds, I don't see how cost effective it would be to direct those to a boat when all their protocols for such sizes are directed to air transport these days. Or am I missing something? They don't want you to use this service. They want you to pay more to get Express or Priority shipping because they make more money. They offer the service, but usually so they can upsell you to something that makes them more money. They're a business and the M-bag is not a profitable service for them. If there's room in a cargo of more revenue producing parcels, they will throw the m-bag in with it to not waste the room/hold down costs, but the m-bag itself is not a priority for them. It ships when they have space, they don't make space for it, and it makes them little to no money so they don't care about it. If you want them to care more, you have to pay them more by using one of their higher priced services. The postal service is not a public service int he US, it is a business and they have to produce a profit or at least avoid losses even when they are hamstrung against their major competitors in FedEx and UPS. The M-bags ship when and where there is a convenient and cost-effective place for them, if it's on a plane already going to its destination and there's space, great it goes faster, if not, it goes on the next boat going there. You aren't paying them to get it there quick and safe, you are paying them to get it there. You want it there quick and safe, pay them more and use a different method. -M |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 9:30:34 GMT -5
That was my understanding as well. But quick is obviously not an issue for me. I just want to know if someone has recent first hand experience with this, or even heard of actual recent reports  |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 9:30:57 GMT -5
But they are contractualy obligated to allow you that service, right?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2017 9:34:14 GMT -5
But they are contractualy obligated to allow you that service, right? If they still offer it, yes, but they add and drop services all the time usually based on cost-effectiveness and volume of use. -M |
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 9:38:26 GMT -5
But they are contractualy obligated to allow you that service, right? If they still offer it, yes, but they add and drop services all the time usually based on cost-effectiveness and volume of use. -M Well it is still showcased online : pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_027.htm |
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Post by Dizzy D on Aug 9, 2017 9:50:51 GMT -5
I've lived in the US during 2003 and bought quite a few comics during that time (it made quite a difference cost-wise). Not wanting to take them back home in my luggage (except for the ones, I really, really liked). I used an M-bag to sent them home. It took about 6 weeks and the box I used to package them (I didn't package them very well, just put them in a box and taped that shut), was torn apart during shipping, so my comics arrived loose in the bag. As i was a poor student at the time and most of the books were 2nd floppies, I didn't mind too much, but if you want to use it, I'd make sure you package them well.
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Post by Arthur Gordon Scratch on Aug 9, 2017 9:57:25 GMT -5
I've lived in the US during 2003 and bought quite a few comics during that time (it made quite a difference cost-wise). Not wanting to take them back home in my luggage (except for the ones, I really, really liked). I used an M-bag to sent them home. It took about 6 weeks and the box I used to package them (I didn't package them very well, just put them in a box and taped that shut), was torn apart during shipping, so my comics arrived loose in the bag. As i was a poor student at the time and most of the books were 2nd floppies, I didn't mind too much, but if you want to use it, I'd make sure you package them well. I'll have to summon my friend's ninja taping skills then. He owns a record label and is quite used to shipping in the US, especially to his distro, so I'll just give him the equation you presented. |
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Post by codystarbuck on Aug 9, 2017 18:27:30 GMT -5
Not familiar with that service; but, just general shipping advice. Anything you want to preserve in shipping long distance needs care in packing. You should have anywhere from 2-4 inches of padding around fragile items, on ALL sides. You also want to use the right size container and ensure there are no voids in it, so it keeps a solid form. That reduces your chances of impact damage. For paper material, placing them inside a waterproof back, before packing in a box is prudent. Also, sandwiching them between sheets of cardboard is a good idea, especially comics. Damage usually comes form movement and impact. The less things can move around inside your package and the more it can absorb impact, the better your chances, even for domestic shipping.
I used to order frequently from Bud Plant Comic Art and they were really good about protecting the books in packing, sandwiching between heavy cardboard and using appropriate mailers. I never had a book arrive damage that wasn't sold as a "shelf-wear" discounted book.
The service sounds similar to media mail, which is available for US domestic book shipments. It cannot be used for material that contains advertising, leaving out magazines, though comics would depend on whether they had outside advertising, I suppose. When I worked for Barnes & Noble, we shipped media mail for the few shipments we had from store to customer (usually rural customers and correctional facilities), where there was only a PO address (we used UPS for street addresses). If the shipment was to include magazines (frequently, to correctional centers), then we'd have to go parcel post or similar method.
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