How much postage do you need to send a card from MN, USA to South Korea?

February 17, 2010 7:39 AM

I'm asking this for a friend of mine. How many stamps would she need to send a card from Minnesota, USA to South Korea?

My friend wants to send a birthday card to her daughter in South Korea but can't figure out how much postage to put on it (or how much it'll cost).

Also, she's sent cards before with very little postage on them. What probably happened to those cards? Did they get to her daughter? Will they someday be returned?

I look forward to your responses. You're the best! :)

Dawn

posted by MrningLight to writing & language (13 answers total)

It's 98 cents to send a card to South Korea, so.... 3 regular US first-class stamps?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2010

It costs 98c to send a postcard (or small card) from the US to a location outside North America - http://ircalc.usps.gov/

She should really check at the post office though to make sure (in case the card is slightly heavier or whatever). :)
posted by plep at 7:42 AM on February 17, 2010

Would suggest putting the stamps (or stickers) with the prices on rather than the 'Forever' stamps. You can buy them from machines in post offices also.
posted by plep at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2010

If she's going to be out and about, the easiest way to get this done with exact change is to go to the Post Office and get it sent that way. She'll be able to buy exactly the postage she needs.
posted by valkyryn at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2010

This sort of thing is just what the USPS site is for...

Based on this being a letter (as opposed to a postcard without an envelope):

First-Class Mail® International Letter:
Max. length 11 1/2", height 6 1/8" or thickness 1/4"

I put in 1oz for the weight.

$1.18

So three $0.44 stamps more than covers it.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2010

Also, she's sent cards before with very little postage on them. What probably happened to those cards? Did they get to her daughter? Will they someday be returned?

They'll probably never be returned. Family members of mine would do this with Christmas cards, thinking that France wasn't that far from Oregon, so regular US postage would do... *sigh* My family is a story in itself. They either never reached me, or reached me several months later. None of the ones that were lost were ever returned to sender.

Others have answered your card postage question — additionally, if you ever want to send other things internationally, the USPS has some nice International Priority Mail flat rate envelopes and boxes. They are REALLY fast (Oregon to France in 3-4 days!) and, depending on the weight you're sending, can be cheaper than regular air mail.
posted by fraula at 8:42 AM on February 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oops. That International Priority Mail link is wrong, sorry; it's domestic priority mail (within the US). Here is the proper USPS Priority Mail International information.
posted by fraula at 8:46 AM on February 17, 2010

Using specific-value stamps rather than Forever stamps isn't just a good idea; last I checked it's required for international mailing.
posted by tantivy at 9:53 AM on February 17, 2010

I always use forever stamps for international mailing and as far as I know my stuff always gets there. A stamp is only a way of indicating that money has been paid to the post office (it's almost a receipt), so as long as you use stamps that show that enough money has been paid (using each Forever stamp to represent a payment of 44c) it makes sense that it would work.
posted by y6t5r4e3w2q1 at 10:56 AM on February 17, 2010

Here it is:

"Customers can use Forever Stamps for international mail, but since all international prices are higher than domestic prices, customers will need to attach additional postage. The value of the Forever Stamp is the domestic First-Class Mail letter price in effect on the day of use."

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/forever_stamp_facts.htm
posted by y6t5r4e3w2q1 at 10:58 AM on February 17, 2010

This is why the post office has brick-and-mortar locations. You walk in, stand in line, and hand the item to a postal worker who can instantly figure the correct postage, apply the stamps, and accept your money. Done.
posted by exphysicist345 at 5:08 PM on February 17, 2010

Also, she's sent cards before with very little postage on them. What probably happened to those cards? Did they get to her daughter? Will they someday be returned?

At work, we frequently send mail to customers that are overseas. Sometimes we get the mail returned. Sometimes it is returned within a month. Sometimes we'll get returns six months after sending.
posted by schnee at 7:39 AM on February 18, 2010

Hmm, I have no idea where I got my misinformation. Thanks, y6t5r4e3w2q1!
posted by tantivy at 11:53 AM on February 18, 2010