Please read the thread in the M bag section of the forum - because of the huge increase in rates, a lot of the M bag arrangements are going to stop in May. It doesn't seem like it's going to be viable after that, as it would have to be $2-3 dollars in with each book - and for the majority of paperbacks, you aren't going to save anything.

Just wanted to give everyone the heads up about this in case they'd not seen the thread :kiss:

M bag rates increase thread

good job, gizzie :kissL

That's a shame. Mbags were always a good way to get books to so many overseas!

I know :sigh: it really sucks. And now you'll have to spend all your money sending books like I do! Seriously though, it's a real shame, cos I know it's going to put people off participating :(

Actually, since they've also eliminated surface mail, $2-3 a book would still be a savings of about $2-3 a book to England & Australia. I haven't checked specific rates for other countries yet, but based on a paperback weighing 8 oz. $2.13 for media mail, and $3 for the M-bag, you'd still save $2 if it went in an M-bag. You'd save more for heavier books.

It's pants :angry: :cry: and I hope it doesn't mean people won't be able to swap internationally :erm:

I know - I hope it won't put people off participating in case they have to send overseas (not that it ever sopppe the Europeans :lol: )

I guess I don't have to save my US $1 bills anymore :giggle:

It will still be cheaper than any mail here :rolleyes:

I think the problem is, Pepper, that sometimes people don't put in the $ and that's not a huge deal but if people don't put in $3 that will quickly mount up - and then we quickly come back to the same problem - either the poor person organising the M bag has to foot the bill or the recipient in Europe or Australia does, which is really unfair as we also have to pay our own shipping costs - and they are generally quite high as the majority of books (at least the ones I send) are going to USA.

I don't know if anyone else has an opinion on this. I guess if anyone is willing to carry on doing M bags with the new higher rates, we could give it a go. Rosie has WAY too much on her plate to carry on with mine.... and I can't really afford to pay extra out to have my next one shipped if it doesn't add up :erm:

I agree it would be even more important to make sure that everyone contributed their portion of the money.

I think that M-bags will still be doable, we'll just have to take the time to figure out how to make sure that everyone pays their fair share.

It might be as simple as if the book doesn't have money inside, taping the package back up, writing "Refused - Return to Sender" on the cover, and sticking it back outside. The USPS will return it to the sender (at the sender's expense) and the organizer can send them a PM explaining why they're getting it back.

That might be a bit harsh, but I can guarantee that after I got one book back, paid double postage for it to go nowhere and then paid international rates for it to go to it's recipient, I wouldn't forget that $3 again.

Of course, I'm sure there are other ways as well. And it's going to be tricky figuring it out. I just hate to see everyone giving up on M-bags because of the rate increase.

I think people will get a sticker shock for a little bit, but then after a while, when people are used to paying air for a single book or two, the M Bag will still be a good deal. I am sure in time the M Bags will resume.
though for now, i am definitely sending off my bags before May!

Let's see what happens. I mean, to a certain extent it's up to you guys cos someone in the US has to do the work. We in the UK don't have the option of sending M bags :(

For now, this will also be my last mbag from Rosie :( It's a pitty really, but what Giz said, is the truth. Most of the times for my previous mbags, hardly half the people put in the $1 (you know who you are who did :hug: ), so I can't see now that those who didn't put $1, will put $3 :huh: And there's noway I'm gonna be able to pay that kind of bill from my pockets, when I'm spending already to send my books to the US :( Oh well, hopefully there will be a solution soon to this nightmare :thinking:

Also, zzz has decided that the one I'll be sending at the end of April will be his last for the time being

Anyone have any good ideas about this?

Hmmmm maybe I could persuade my boyf it'd be cheaper for me to come and COLLECT the books? :lol:

:shrug:

Great idea!!! :D

Ooh, yes! Me too. I'd just have to travel over with nothing in my luggage so I wouldn't be over the weight limit coming back. :yahoo:

That'd be several thousand dollars worth of books tho' :yikes: ... Hmm! :thinking: Maybe not, then. Bummer!:(