A warning to U.S.A. residents who ship music rolls --

As of the new postal rate changes of 7 January 2001, the United States
Postal Service (USPS) no longer has the dirt-cheap "Surface Book-Rate"
tariffs to Europe.  Only "Parcel Post" is available, so expect your
postage expenses to triple at best.  What sticker-shock I received when
I was at the PO yesterday!

However, M-Bag tariffs have dropped their 11-pound minimum requirement
(yet you must pay the 11 pound minimum fee regardless).  This still
turns out cheaper than Parcel Post, even for small shipments.  It
sounds silly to put one roll in a huge mail bag, but, whatever.
Beware, M-Bag tariffs are uninsurable, so "you takes your chances"!

On the domestic front, there's now no such thing as "Special Standard"
or "Book Rate" domestic tariffs.  It's all been lumped into a new rate
called "Media Mail" (sounds like a super hero) that closely
approximates the old Special Standard rates -- but, of course, are
higher.  Not surprising, parcel insurance rates have increased.

Visit  http://www.usps.gov/  for details.

Karl Ellison

 [ The new site, http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/front.jsp
 [ is a "dot com" instead of gov (government), another indication that
 [ rates will rise again!  -- Robbie