Mailing a 100-page letter to Japan

[J44xm]

I will soon be mailing a business letter of about 100 pages to Japan from the U.S. Is there a specific method I should use to send this? I'm not sure if I should use International Mail or FedEx or whatever other reasonable options that are available to me. It just MUST get there, see. Suggestions?

Also, should I avoid metal objects, like a binder clip or a couple of paper clips, for reasons of possible problems in security or whatnot? (No idea on this, clearly.)

Thanks!

[GaijinPunch]

I think there are international flat-rate envelopes (for about $9) that have tracking on them. www.usps.com would be a great place to start looking.

[nice gaijin]

damn, 100 pages? I'd e-mail a PDF file! the flat-rate envelopes GaijinPunch mentioned should work fine if you need to send a hard copy. If it needs to get there quickly I'm not so trusting of USPS.

[Mike Cash]

damn, 100 pages? I'd e-mail a PDF file! the flat-rate envelopes GaijinPunch mentioned should work fine if you need to send a hard copy. If it needs to get there quickly I'm not so trusting of USPS.

Global Express from USPS will have it here in 4 to 6 days. I receive packages via that service on a monthly basis and have found it to be very timely and reliable.

I just took delivery of a package sent via UPS/Kuroneko, by way of comparison, which received such rough handling that the contents were severely damaged. I'm now entering into the hassle of filing a claim against UPS.

[J44xm]

Thank you for all the advice! I think USPS will probably be my best option. (Believe you me, I wish I could e-mail it as a PDF. But this needs to be a physical delivery.)

[J44xm]

Oh, one more question! Will there be any problem if I write the address in English? As I (somewhat) understand, letters in Japan can be addressed in English or Japanese without any problem. But I'm not sure that the US post office will know what to do with a letter address in Japanese. Thanks. I just need to be sure.

[Sensuikan San]

.... If it needs to get there quickly I'm not so trusting of USPS.

.......I'm now entering into the hassle of filing a claim against UPS.

I don't trust UPS either! Fedex or Purolator are both better bets in my opinion.

A short few years ago I got into a scrap with UPS that lasted for months! I had shipped paintings to an exhibition in the U.S. which were then returned to me in Canada. On their own admission (eventually) the UPS clerks in Georgia admitted that they had "filled in the forms wrongly".

I received a bill for customs import duties on my own paintings for the best part of $600!

I was passed through the 'revolving door' in two countries so much ... I got dizzy!

I won't go through that one again!

ジョン

[Akakubisan]

You can address in either English or Japanese. As long as you write Japan (as the country to be delivered to) in English the USPS will send it to Japan. Then the Japan postal service will deliver, and they can use either English (which would be romanji) or Japanese.

[J44xm]

Thank you very much!

[Mike Cash]

I've mailed dozens and dozens of Japanese-addressed packages to Japan via the USPS. As the earlier post indicated, just make sure you write "JAPAN" next to the address. Your local postal worker may give you a funny look or protest, but just tell them to toss it in the bin with the rest of the stuff and not worry about it, it's done all the time.

[yukon]

From someone who receives packages regularly from the US(from letters to packages), don't ship this 100 pages document by usps priority mail(1 week delivery but no tracking, no guarantee). Your next choice is usps registered mail. Whatever the weight of the document, normal airmail + 7.5 $ to make it registered. Generally 10-15 days. Then there's speed post(EMS), 3-7 days and 100 $ insured for free. Tracking available. If the 100 pages weigh less than 1 pound(4x0 grams), then cost is around 20.50-22.50 $.

If you're not in a hurry, send it by registered post and relaaax. It'll get there.

[J44xm]

Thanks for the notice. I sent it out Registered Mail at the end of October. I expect to get my receipt for it soon.