The Lowdown on Mailing Internationally
One of my most awesome blogging friends pointed out that my giveaway isn't open to anyone outside of the U.S. I feel so bad about that...and if I do one for just my bloggy friends, I will for sure open it internationally. But I thought it was important to explain why.
With my first book, I did international giveaways. Why not? Having news of your book spread across the globe is huge.
Of course, mailing a book internationally can be expensive. I'm sure that's why many people don't do it, but that's not my reason. I'll pay $10 or more for my friends to be able to enter.
For Americans, the issue with international shipping can be summed up in one picture. It's this:
So you're standing in line at the post office, waiting your turn. There's a line like that ^^^ behind you. You step up to the counter and hand the clerk the form you spent five minutes filling out:
Your form is 100 percent ready, so you should be able to just step up to the counter, wait for your item to be weighed, and pay your money, right?
This is how it really works. You step up there, hand over everything, and they weigh. Then they start typing. They have to type everything on that form. Your address, the recipient's address... And guess how they type? Yep, you've got it.
And then they mess up and have to start over. A guy once had to start over on my item three times. Meanwhile, the line behind you is all:
You seriously can hear grunts and sighs. Sometimes you'll even hear a, "REALLY?" Americans don't wait. This is us:
If the post office wants a boost in income, how about investing in a scanner that can capture the information on the form? That would keep people like me from equating international shipping to this experience:
Oh, that's right, that would mean moving into the 21st century. I'm pretty sure their software looks something like this:
Meanwhile, if anyone knows of a reasonably affordable way to ship internationally without feeling like you're being punished for some past-life transgression, let me know!
If you live in the U.S., be sure to enter my Goodreads giveaway for an advance copy of Piper Morgan Joins the Circus. Enter below!
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Piper Morgan Joins the Circus by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends June 29, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
With my first book, I did international giveaways. Why not? Having news of your book spread across the globe is huge.
Of course, mailing a book internationally can be expensive. I'm sure that's why many people don't do it, but that's not my reason. I'll pay $10 or more for my friends to be able to enter.
For Americans, the issue with international shipping can be summed up in one picture. It's this:
So you're standing in line at the post office, waiting your turn. There's a line like that ^^^ behind you. You step up to the counter and hand the clerk the form you spent five minutes filling out:
Your form is 100 percent ready, so you should be able to just step up to the counter, wait for your item to be weighed, and pay your money, right?
This is how it really works. You step up there, hand over everything, and they weigh. Then they start typing. They have to type everything on that form. Your address, the recipient's address... And guess how they type? Yep, you've got it.
And then they mess up and have to start over. A guy once had to start over on my item three times. Meanwhile, the line behind you is all:
You seriously can hear grunts and sighs. Sometimes you'll even hear a, "REALLY?" Americans don't wait. This is us:
If the post office wants a boost in income, how about investing in a scanner that can capture the information on the form? That would keep people like me from equating international shipping to this experience:
Oh, that's right, that would mean moving into the 21st century. I'm pretty sure their software looks something like this:
Meanwhile, if anyone knows of a reasonably affordable way to ship internationally without feeling like you're being punished for some past-life transgression, let me know!
If you live in the U.S., be sure to enter my Goodreads giveaway for an advance copy of Piper Morgan Joins the Circus. Enter below!
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Piper Morgan Joins the Circus by Stephanie Faris Giveaway ends June 29, 2016. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway
No comments have been added yet.
