New UPU Regulations 1st January 2019

This has been an ongoing discussion among dealers on the HipStamp forum. The UPU regulation states that international letter mail can contain only correspondence, and no merchandise nor anything of any nominal value (including the most worthless junk stamp). That stuff must be sent by International Package mail, which costs considetably more for even the lightest "package."

This has caused much grief for dealers because 1) they must now charge international customers upwards of $10 shipping fee for one stamp, which 2) is creating irate customers, and 3) is exacerbated by the fact that many dealers are ignoring the rules, breaking the law, and continuing to send int'l orders at letter rates, which 4) undercuts the honest dealers' ability to compete fairly, and 5) creates more issues with customers wondering why the honest dealer is charging so much when this other dealer does not.

Frankly, I believe this is gross overreach on the part of the UPU, and unless this changes, I am all for America pulling out of the UPU.

For US once it becomes a package the customs forms need to be filled out. I don't know if this applies for all counties, but if it does, then the additional bureaucratic headaches would justify upping the price.

"however, we are unable to continue to permit “goods of nominal value” sent by known mailers in First-Class Mail International items because, to be consistent with the UPU requirements, we must eliminate goods of any kind from First-Class Mail International letters and flats."
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/10/24/2017-22749/international-mailing-services-proposed-product-and-price-changes-cpi