Sending cards and letters by mail

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 561, 8 November 1994, Page 7

Sending cards and letters by mail

You can save yourself money by checking the size of your envelopes. That's because overseas mail is charged on size and weight, as well as which of five zones in the world you are mailing to. Envelope sizes are: Medium - up to 120mm x 235mm; Large - up to 230mm x 325mm; Extra Large - up to 260mm x 385mm. A medium letter sent by AirPost International to Britain would cost you $ 1 .80, Large $3.00 and Extra Large $6.00. So, you can make some worthwhile savings by choosing carefully. Don't forget to address your mail fully and correctly - and add your return address at the top left hand corner, leaving room for the service sticker which shows which service you choose. Each year, thousands of articles end up at New Zealand Post Customer Service Centres because they are undeliverable for some reason and there is no address to return them to. Don't send cash through the mail, New Zealand Post

advises. Get a bank draft, send a personal cheque, or use International Money Transfer. For extra safety, you can use the RegisteredPost International service to send your cheque or bank draft (but not cash). Your letter will be handled and signed for separately at each step of its journey. Play it safe - pack your parcel well Unless you're sending anything soft and unbreakable, you should use a rigid box to protect your goods fromknocks andjolts while being transported. As well, you should protect your goods from shifting about inside the box by packing it with shredded paper, corrugated cardboard or sheets of plastic bubble wrap. Your Post Shop can ad-

vise you on how to wrap specific items. 'There are packaging guidelines in 'The Postal Users Guide' which you can refer to in any Post Shop.