BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates

Subject: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have M-bags?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 08:04 PM

I know that books can be shipped from the UK to the US using M-Bag (or media bag)rates. Does anyone know if such a system exists in Ireland?
I'm trying to import some books for resale.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media ra
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 12:14 AM

Yes, Ireland has M-Bags.

http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/PostalRates/International+Bulk+Mail+Service+mbags.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media ra
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 22 Jul 11 - 03:59 PM

THanx much, Jim.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 03:10 AM

OK, so the rate is €15.59 for 5 kilograms. Is there any special process, or can I buy a bunch of books in Ireland and take them to a Post Office and ship them easily for that price?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 08:21 AM

I don't have any experience with the Irish system, but that's the way it works in the US. You don't need any special permits, or need to send more than one bag, if that's what you're wondering.

When I worked at a university in the US, we used to encourage foreign students to use that method if they had a lot of books they wanted to send home.

There was a certain professor who edited a journal that was printed somewhere in Europe—I don't remember which country. For each issue, he received a certain number of copies to distribute himself; they arrived by M-bag. I think it's an international system that's supposed to have uniform rules. Of course, each country will set its own rates.

The USPS web site is likely to have more detailed information than the web sites of other countries. See here. The web site doesn't specifically say that the rules are the same everywhere, but I think that was the intent when the system was set up.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 05:00 PM

JIm-
M-bags are no longer available in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Jul 11 - 05:28 PM

Too bad about the M-bags in the US. A while back, I got a big mail sack of school song books delivered from US to Canada (the bag was taken back by the postman) for a very low price. Not possible for some time, now.

See my thread now running about the elimination of surface mail to Canada by the US. If I can't find the books in Canada, I now order from UK. $10-12 (roughly) to ship a $5 book to Canada from US is too much.

Even DVDs and CDs ship more cheaply from UK than from U.S.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 12:45 AM

Dick Greenhaus: The USPS web site say they ARE available. See the link in my last message. What grounds do you have for saying they aren't? I'd be very surprised if the USPS failed to keep its website up to date.

For example, see this page: National Mail Service Updates whose purpose is to announce temporary interruptions of service. It says prominently "This information is updated daily," and the page bears the date July 22, 2011. Note that it lists M-Bags as one of the services that are temporarily suspended to Libya. That implies, doesn't it, that M-Bags are available everywhere else?

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 04:00 PM

I get "link not found" for both, but USPS.com may be back tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the Irish Mail System have Media rates
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:28 PM

It looks like the whole USPS web site has been reorganized since I posted those links. Try these:

Airmail M-Bags

Mail Service Update dated July 22, 2011