Why is EMS out of states so expensive?

[theultimatebrucelee]

Took a trip to USPS today to send out a 1.5 inch thick package to Japan that's barely over 1 lb, and they were gonna charge me around $62.5 before insurance. Guess the lengthy side was around 16 inches so not sure if that's considered oversize or something, but I was wondering, is that a normal price? I remember shipping for a much larger and heavier package with EMS a few years past was only around this much.

Anyone know a better method to use to ship across the pacific?

[kathpatty]

Wow ! I would be left looking like your avatar.....
Never mailed there...sorry, no help

[Rekka Alexiel]

EMS is the most expensive but also the best way to ship. It's expensive whether you're sending it to or from the States, but I think it seems more expensive when shipping from the States?? I recently shipped 5 books from my store and the shipping was more expensive than the actual cost of the books. It was insane.

There are cheaper--and therefore slower and more risky--forms of shipping. Here's a sample pricing of a 1lbs package being sent from Yokohama to Michigan:

EMS 1,500 yen 4 days

International e-Packet 1,235 yen San Francisco - 8 days
Chicago - 5 days
New York - 7 days
Los Angeles - 6 days

Air Mail
Small Package 960 yen San Francisco - 8 days
Small Package (registered mail) 1,370 yen Chicago - 5 days
International Parcel Post 2,500 yen New York - 7 days
Los Angeles - 6 days

Economy Air Mail (SAL)
Small Package 580 yen San Francisco - around 2 weeks
Small Package (registered mail) 990 yen Chicago - around 2 weeks
International Parcel Post 2,700 yen New York - around 2 weeks
Los Angeles - around 2 weeks

Freight
Small Package 430 yen Main Land - around 2 months
International Parcel Post 1,800 yen

[theultimatebrucelee]

Well then, it looks like its a lot more expensive to ship to Japan than from Japan, or so it looks that way by Rekka's post. Oversize(any dimension more than 12in) also contributes to the cost, even though the package was hardly thicker than their express envelop. But the express flat rate envelop(12.5 X 9.5 in) is still $46.5 and that's smaller than my package.

The EMS package I've received from Japan last month was 16.5/11.5/7in, at least 3 lbs, and I got billed 26$......$72 from US to Japan with up to $100 insurance free, according to USPS.com, how crazy is this?

[Rekka Alexiel]

I wonder if SIZE is also a factor, not only the WEIGHT. I have a feeling that maybe SIZE has little to do with the price here in Japan (I could be wrong). So, does the price change for larger items even though the weight is the same in the US? Sorry, I am American, but gosh, I haven't lived in the States for over 10 years now...

[theultimatebrucelee]

I'm not sure if the size is a big factor here, I think the normal size for USPS is considered to be under 12in on any/all dimension. Any one dimension beyond this calls for upcharge. But, looking at their price estimates, a 3 lb, 16.5/11.5/7in package(oversize in one dimension) seem to be roughly the same price as normal size package ot this weight.

The default starting shipping price is probably the key here, and likely way more than Japan. A standard size package sent out in Express that weights 1 lb is $58 from US to Japan, 5 lb is $77, and 10 lb package is $98.

[Rekka Alexiel]

Oh, my. Yeah, that is insane.

[zerospace]

EMS from the States has almost always been a lot more than to the states from elsewhere. I've never entirely understood why. About 7 years ago or so, USPS had a service called Global Priority Mail that was a step below EMS but was much much cheaper than even the Priority International that they have now. (GPM rates started around $10-$12 or so, while PI is almost never less than $30 unless its to Canada).

When they did away with GPM and changed the name over to Priority (and at the same time allowed Priority free boxes to also be used for international), the rates just about doubled. It's only gotten worse from there >_<. The only good thing I can say is that First Class International stuff (airmail) now has electronic delivery confirmation to many countries, which makes it a viable alternative especially for lower cost items -- at least with delivery confirmation, you aren't completely in the dark about whether or not a package actually got to its destination.

[theultimatebrucelee]

EMS from the States has almost always been a lot more than to the states from elsewhere.

That's interesting. Used to use this service once awhile to ship out fragile items, and much more often received this service from Japan. Been using it for some years now but...never realized this case all this time lol