Payments and Postage costs

Payments
Exchange Rates
Postage
Contact
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Payments

The bank charges are complex on international transactions. But the aim is to reduce the costs of these charges as far as possible. To keep it simple use international money orders drawn in sterling or ask for exact figures.

Here are the options open:-

cheque drawn on a UK bank,
International Money order drawn on a UK bank in sterling.
Direct transfer to our UK account, in sterling, with sender paying sending and receiving bank's charges.
Cash can be be 'sent' in GBP (£), EUR (€) or USD ($) by insured registered post. This used to be a save option but is no longer covered by Royal Mail insurance and is not safe to or from many countries. If an item is collected then cash is the preferred option.
- GBP is Great Britain Pounds sterling, USD is United States Dollars and EUR is the European Union Euro zone currency.
PayPal payments funded using the 'Add funds' option (open to USA, Canada, Germany and Netherlands from a current account) or from existing credit (i.e. no credit card). This is a different account to the 'business' account for using a credit card see below.
Cheque drawn on a German bank (ask for payee name and address - by arrangement).
Check drawn on a US bank (ask for payee name and address - by special arrangement only).

By arrangement:-

Credit cards using PayPal (ask for payee name and address, payments in Sterling (GB pound) and your credit card is charged in your own currency). PayPal charges fees to the sellers. These are complex: 3.4%+0.20GBP to receive the funds, 0.5% for cross borders. For a seller to retain the 20GBP of an item the charge would have to be 21.02GBP (5.1% charge from PayPal); a 100GBP item becomes 104.27GBP (which is still 4.27%). They also pick the exchange rate, which is more expensive than that seen on EBay. EBay do not allow the seller to bill the buyer for these fees on EBay auctions. Sellers therefore may cover these PayPal fees by other means. The preferred option is to avoid the charges in the first place. However eBay prefer the excess fees and insist that this is the default payment method.
For sellers or buyers outside of the USA there is no protection from fraud using PayPal and PayPal have charged the seller against credit card payments that where assumed cleared 6 months earlier. Although it convenient for many users, particularly those using EBay it is risky for both buyer and seller.

Important:-

New items sold and posted to EU states are subject to VAT @ 15% with some marked exceptions, notably books and under 'other items' as they are private sales of G.B. McMullon and such as items under the second hand goods scheme. If VAT is applied the listing or page should have this included in the details.
Postage is charged at cost (subject to VAT in the EU). Insured postage is recommended - loss or damage is rare but does happen.
Unbelievable as it seems to many Europeans the UK is in the EU. There is no import costs posting from the UK to other EU countries. If you are VAT registered and outside of the UK supply your VAT number and the consignment is shipped without VAT charges.

Exchange Rates

buying EUR 1.4469EUR=1GBP, selling EUR 1.592205EUR=1GBP.
buying USD 1.7623USD=1GBP, selling USD 1.9550USD=1GBP
(1.218USD=1EUR) subject to change

Exchange rates are taken from UK high street prices (that is what I have to pay to buy sterling from foreign notes or to buy foreign notes) but will be close to the estimate quotes of Bloomberg, Thomas Cook, Yahoo and Oanda. To buy currency few sites quote both buying and selling rates, but Oanda gives a quote to buy foreign currency (including GBP) in US$ at http://www.oanda.com/products/fxdelivery/. Also NatWest gives a buying and selling quote from the menu options "Our Account & Service / Travel / Exchange Rates" or using the Currency Converter . The Royal Mail (Post Office) also has a currency converter.

Postage

Here are some sample figures for posting. For other rates please use the Postal Calculator and tables

In July 2003 the Royal Mail acknowledged that 14.5 million letters went astray in the previous year and 1.5 million parcels stolen when left at the doorstep. Insurance is always advisable as the certificate of postage only covers to 27GBP for letters and 20GBP for parcels.

From 21st August 2006 prices are according to dimension as well as weight.

Prices changes often so check with Royal Mail for up to date figures.

TO GBR

Format	Size	Weight	price
Letters	Maximum 240x165mm 5mm thick	0 - 100g	46p
Large Letters	Maximum 353x250mm 25mm thick	0 - 100g	75p
		101 - 250g	109p
		251 - 500g	146p
		501 - 750g	207p
Packets	Any item over 353mm long OR 250mm wide OR over 25mm thick	0 - 100g	158p
		101g - 250g	196p
		251g - 500g	248p
		501g - 750g	305p
		751g - 1000g	371p
		1001 - 1250g	490p
		1251 - 1500g	566p
		1501 - 1750g	642p
		1751 - 2000g	718p
		2001 - 4000g	895p
		each additional 2Kg or part thereof	305p

	Special Delivery	Compensation	Parcel		Standard Parcel Compensation
100g	5.45GBP	postage refund plus compensation for actual loss up to the value of the item, or 100 x 1st class stamps at the first weight step, whichever is the lowest; covered by Certificate of Posting, otherwise use Special Delivery for up to 50GBP, to 1000GBP add 1.08GBP and to 2500GBP add 3.30GBP	<1Kg	4.41GBP	standard compensation cover up to the value of 100 First Class stamps for loss or damage. I Add 1GBP to 100GBP, 2.25GBP to 250GBP, 3.50GBP to 500GBP
100-500g	5.90GBP		<1Kg	4.41GBP
0.5-1Kg	7.00GBP		1-1.5Kg	4.41GBP
1-2Kg	9.05GBP		1.5-2Kg	4.41GBP
			2-4Kg	7.62GBP
			4-6Kg	10.34GBP
			6-8Kg	12.67GBP
2-10Kg	22.70GBP		8-10Kg	13.61GBP
			19-20Kg	15.86GBP

TO Europe USA, Canada and Worldwide

US Mail along with most other countries accepts Swiftair or Airsure services from the UK.
Small Package post by airmail is covered to 27GBP (to most countries) by a free certificate of posting.
International signed for is 3.30GBP and 1.50GBP for insurance cover to 500GBP (became available from 1st November 2002) plus the normal airmail fee by weight
Parcel Force International Standard includes insurance to 150GBP. Add

1.75GBP for 250GBP cover

3.00GBP for 500GBP cover

Europe: includes western and eastern Europe

Zone 1: the Americas, Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent, most of SE Asia inc Hong Kong

Zone 2: rest of the world

	Europe Airmail Small Package	Zone 1 & 2 Airmail Small Package		Standard to USA (check options with Parcel Force web site)
100g	1.49GBP	2.07GBP	International signed for with insurance Airmail small package rate plus 4.80GBP insured to 500GBP		Additional insurance 1.75GBP to 250GBP cover; 3GBP to 500GBP cover.
200g	2.19GBP	3.50GBP
300g	2.16GBP	4.26GBP
500g	3.71GBP	6.48GBP
1Kg	6.46GBP	12.03GBP
1.5Kg	9.21GBP	17.58GBP
2Kg	11.96GBP max. small packet	23.13GBP max. small packet
2.5Kg	add ?p for each 20g to a max. 5Kg Books only	add ?p for each 20g to a max. 5Kg Books only		?GBP
3Kg				?GBP
5Kg				?GBP
10Kg	n/a	n/a		?GBP