USPS Increases International Mail Price

Despite protests from a number of businesses and organizations, this week, the United States Postal Service (USPS) instituted significant changes to its International Mail products. For booksellers, the changes, which include an estimated average 13 percent price hike, may have a serious effect on overseas book sales.

Phil Bevis of Arundel Books, which includes retail stores in Seattle and Los Angeles, an online store, and two warehouses in Washington State, believes the new International Mail format could cost bookstores like Arundel a whole lot more. "The changes in international mail service announced this week ... represent a drastic cut in service options, and a huge increase in costs to U.S. exporters, and will have a particularly negative effect on the book industry," Bevis said. "As an example, costs for over half the international shipments of our company will more than double, making shipping charges higher than our average sale."

Under the new International Mail structure, which will go into effect May 14, the Postal Service will discontinue its traditional international Surface Mail and replace it with International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) and ISAL "M-bags" that have much higher rates. Simply put, this means that items that used to go by boat will now be sent via air. USPS stated that the average price of ISAL will increase by 13.1 percent. Each mailing under this service would have a 50-pound minimum. In addition, M-bags (direct sacks of printed matter sent to one addressee) can be sent using ISAL surface. The USPS has increased the price for this service by an average of 2.8 percent.

After reviewing objections to the pricing change for International Priority Airmail (IPA) and International Surface Airlift (ISAL), the Postal Service "decided not to modify the published price increases... because these price increases are justified and necessary." However, USPS noted, "We understand the concerns of mailers who use economy services, and customized agreements may be developed that involve different prices and standards from those presented in this rule."

Bevis told BTW via e-mail, "The real problem presents itself with books larger than a hardcover novel that will not fit in a Global Priority envelope." Currently, Arundel can ship these kinds of books overseas for a cost of around $6 to $11. With the changes, "we are looking at [about] $18 to $30-plus."He added that, with the additional shipping cost, he is expecting a meaningful drop in Arundel's international sales. --David Grogan