Paying online from U.S. for postage of SAE

[legalbeagle10]

Hello from the U.S.

I'm mailing documents to London from the United States in a rigid document/photo mailer. I need to include a stamped addressed envelope (SAE) with the documents. Obviously, I can't use U.S. stamps for the international standard delivery from the UK back to me in the U.S. So I tried purchasing royal mail postage online from the Royal Mail Website. Unfortunately, after purchasing the postage online and printing the postage label for International Standard Delivery, I was informed by the royal mail website that the parcel must be mailed the next business day after purchase of postage. However, my original shipment won't be in the UK for several days, and then I don't know when the addressee will mail back the documents to me in the SAE. So obviously, it won't be mailed back to me within one day of my purchase of postage online.

Does anyone know what I can do to obtain the right postage online from the UK to the U.S. I should mention that the addressee in London won't pay for postage nor will he make a special trip to the post office to buy postage even if I included the funds with my mailer. I'm just hoping he will sign the proper custom form.

Thank you for your thoughts.
Best Wishes,
Robert

[legalbeagle10]

Also, if I decide to purchase stamps instead, is there any special restrictions regarding stamps and international delivery to the US that I should be aware of? Or can I just stick a 5 pound stamp on the SAE with custom form, and all the recipient has to do is seal it up and put it in with the rest of his mail. I ask because in the U.S. if you mail a package over 13 ounces and are using stamps, you have to take the package to the post office. You can't just stick it in the mail box for pickup unless it has a tracking number (counter terrorism regulation).

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If you could get a £5 stamp that would probably be the best solution. The sender then can just pop it into one of the roadside collection boxes we have We don't have collections from home kerbside boxes like you do.

As to how you get the stamp I have no ideas and as for online postage sorry but I don't think Royal Mail have anything that would be suitable for purchase on-line.

[legalbeagle10]

Thanks, T.B.T. for your response. I'm curious about the online postage deadline. Any idea what the reason is for the next day deadline for online postage? We don't have a deadline like that in the States.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Thanks, T.B.T. for your response. I'm curious about the online postage deadline. Any idea what the reason is for the next day deadline for online postage? We don't have a deadline like that in the States.

Its a fairly new innovation for RM, IIRC its only about 2 or 3 years that you have been able to do it. I think its to stop abuse of the system as when it started there were a few flaws and people fraudulently use the same purchase multiple times.

The firm is 450 years old, sometimes it struggles with innovations.