• Two- to three-days: Global Express Guaranteed. Customers needing guaranteed day-certain delivery, generally within two-to three-days, and having a need to track an item should take advantage of Global Express Guaranteed. It's delivered to more than 200 countries with rates for documents starting at $24.00 for one-half pound, with package rates starting at $36.00 for one pound. Check with your post office for delivery times. Check with your local post office for delivery times.
  
  
• Three- to Five-Days: Global Express. Looking to balance speed with price without having a need for a guaranteed delivery date? Then Global Express Mail™ is the answer. Designed for delivery within three- to five-days to more than 190 countries, depending on distance, Global Express Mail also has on-line tracking to more than 60 countries with prices starting at $15.50 for one pound.
  
  
• Four- to Six-Days: Global Priority. For the look and feel of Global Express at a lower cost, Global Priority Mail is designed to be delivered within four- to six-days to 51 major countries. The service is available in two attractive sized envelopes. Small envelope prices start at $4.00 with large envelopes priced at $7.00. Customers can also use their own packaging by adding the Global Priority Mail sticker. This service, restricted to items up to four pounds, receives priority handling.
  
  
• Four- to Seven-Days: Global Airmail. Looking to mail a standard letter or package? Then choose Global Airmail Service. This service goes to virtually every country in the world and is designed to be delivered within four- to-seven days for letters, and up to ten-days for parcels. Items travel by air and are delivered as First-Class type mail. Special services that can be purchased include a return receipt for Letter-post items, and insurance for Parcel Post items. Each item must be marked Airmail/Par Avion. Prices start at 60-cents for a one ounce letter and $13.00 for a one pound parcel.
  
  
• Four- to Six-Weeks: Global Economy. And finally, for customers where cost is the issue rather than delivery time, Global Economy Service is most economical. To most of the world that means transport by boat from the U.S. to the destination country. Once in the destinating country, the item is moved by truck, rail or other mode of surface transportation to the recipient. This service is designed to be delivered within four to six weeks. There is a one-pound minimum weight rate for letters starting at $2.70, and a five-pound minimum weight rate for packages starting at $15.25.
  
  

¹ PAL: A special service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space available basis. PAL is available for Parcel Post not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

² SAM: Parcels paid at Parcel Post postage rates are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space available basis. The maximum weight and size limits are 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined.

* If mailing after these dates, the Postal Service recommends using Global Express Mail to greatly increase the chances for delivering letters, cards and parcels before Christmas. While Global Express Mail does not offer a guarantee, using Global Express Guaranteed assures day-certain delivery to get it there before Christmas. Check with your post office for details.

• Parcel Post Insurance: Airmail and economy (surface) parcel post packages that are sent to many, but not all, destination countries can be insured against loss, damage, or rifling. Although the amount of indemnity protection varies by destination country, the maximum amount of insurance coverage that is available to any overseas location is $5,000.

• Put foreign postal codes, if known, in front of the city or town name and on the same line.
• Place the city or town name and the province or state name on the next line after the street address information.
• Write the name of the foreign country in capital letters on the last line of the address.

• Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents.
• Leave space for cushioning inside the carton.
• Cushion package contents with shredded or rolled newspaper, bubble wrap, or Styrofoam peanuts. Plain air-popped popcorn is also good for cushioning; it's inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Pack tightly to avoid shifting.
• Always use tape that is designed for shipping, such as pressure-sensitive tape, nylon-reinforced craft paper tape, or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape.
• Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape.
• Put the delivery and return addresses on one side only of the package.
• Suggestion: Place a return address label inside the package.
• Stuff glass and fragile hollow items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage due to shock. When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
• Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box.
• Take packages that weigh at least 1 pound into the post office for mailing.
• Obtain Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes, envelopes, and tubes for free from your post office.
• Purchase packaging products, including tape, envelopes, padded bags, corrugated boxes, mailing tubes, and cushioning material, from your post office. Some locations offer decorative boxes and expander packs that are suitable for mailing gifts.