Checking prices for mailing to US from UK (London).
Would that be www.royalmail.com?
Is there a flat rate box or parcel? What is the least expensive way of mailing 5 lbs or less. Sit is a bit confusing.

Prices are based on weight and size I believe - if you can fit what you are sending in a large envelope it will be cheaper than a box...

If you are talking about shipping things you buy while in England-- Depending on what it is and its weight/value, the merchant can take the VAT off the top and mail it for you. Often the VAT will completely cover the postage and insurance.

janisj , not sure what you are saying. Give an example please.

an example of what?

Do you need definitions?

VAT -- is Value Added Tax. It is included in the price of almost everything you buy in the UK (and Europe) It is sort of like sales tax in the States but is not added to the purchase price. It is included.

For things you buy and <u>take out of the country</u> you can apply for a refund of the VAT. But it takes paperwork and you have to handle it at your departure airport.

so -- loooong story short . . . Say you buy something at Harrods that costs £100 -- approx £20 of that will be VAT. You'd never get the full £20 refunded since there are various processing fees. But maybe £14. So you tell Harrods to ship the item to your home and they will deduct the £20 off the top, and then charge you for postage, insurance and handling. You come out about even and don't have to carry the thing around for two weeks, or worry about breaking/losing it, or have to queue at a post office to mail it.

(You will pay VAT on almost everything, but can only get refunds if you take it out of the country. So not for VAT on Hotel rooms, petrol, meals, car rental, theatre tix, etc etc etc)

Is there a postcard rate or is it the same as letter?

OK --now you are asking about post cards -- I thought you meant a package . . .

anyway, everything you need to know is here http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/c...mediaId=400347

Note the table is in grams -- 100g = approx 3.5 oz.

Postcard UK to US is 76p.

This and the answer to most of your questions can be found on the website you had in your first post and janisj just referenced as well.

janisj, thank you so much. How does someone from France know so much about the UK.

I'm the one in France and I know about 1/10th of what Janis knows about the UK, despite having lived in the UK for 5 years!

That doesn't stop me from having opinions; some would add "unfortunately."

The cheapest way to send a package to the States is Surface Mail small packet rate, which goes up to 2 kg. Surface Mail printed paper rate is similarly discounted and goes up to 5 kg.

There are reduced small packet and printed paper rates for Air Mail as well.

signed, the wife of a bookseller