Someone recently told me that NZ is one of the most expensive places to post to from the US (which sounds crazy - we're not that far away), so I was thinking maybe I should see if anyone would be willing to do a bag for me?
I've read all the threads so think I have the general idea of how it all works.
Any input on pros/cons of M-bags would be welcome.

I wouldn't mind doing an m-bag for you if you want. Of course, I am at the farthest point in the US away from NZ, but I don't think that should matter. If you can find someone on the west coast that might cut down the shipping time though.

The m-bag rates for NZ are:
Weight not over 11 lbs. - $49.50
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound - $4.50
Weight Limit: 66 pounds

The rate for International Priority Mail to NZ is $18.50 for under a pound and $22.70 for under two pounds. Yikes! Is that the cheapest other than an m-bag?

So would people include $5 per pound and $9 for every two pounds? Otherwise people could paypal me just the $4.50.

chambejd wrote: The rate for International Priority Mail to NZ is $18.50 for under a pound and $22.70 for under two pounds. Yikes! Is that the cheapest other than an m-bag?

I think you can still send first class airmail, which is often cheaper than priority -- an 8 oz package costs $7.80; 1 pound $10.10.

So if the m-bag rate is $5/pound and it costs me $2.50 to send to you, I'd save about $2.50 on the total shipping...that's probably enough to be worth doing.

I think rates are going up again in May. I don't know if this changes the m-bag rates...

Thanks chambejd! You've got a spare room?

Do you think it's worth starting one now or waiting until May to see how the prices change?
And if we go ahead now, what happens next? (m-bag virgin here)

chambejd wrote: I wouldn't mind doing an m-bag for you if you want.  Of course, I am at the farthest point in the US away from NZ, but I don't think that should matter.  If you can find someone on the west coast that might cut down the shipping time though. 

The m-bag rates for NZ are:
Weight not over 11 lbs. -  $49.50
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound - $4.50
Weight Limit: 66 pounds

The rate for International Priority Mail to NZ is $18.50 for under a pound and $22.70 for under two pounds.  Yikes!  Is that the cheapest other than an m-bag?

So would people include $5 per pound and $9 for every two pounds?  Otherwise people could paypal me just the $4.50.

It appears that the m-bag prices are not going to change on May 12 when rates change.

Priority mail rates are going up for international -- the flat rate envelope will be $11.95 instead of $11; $23 for one pound; $27.25 for two pounds.

See the complicated new rate tables here: http://www.usps.com/prices/Shipping_Ser ... May_12.htm

Thanks joanna for that info. All the USPS information is so confusing. They really need someone to redo their website to make the information more helpful.

So, I say lets go ahead and do it! I'll post it in the other thread so a mod can add it to the list. I'll pm you with my address that you can give to people. It is also on rabck.com.

FYI, I believe I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I don't know where.... so in case you didn't see it before, I wanted to pass along a little tip.

Other m-bag organizers and myself have found it quite useful to create and maintain a shared list of books expected and/or received for the m-bag. In the past, I've used Backpack, but Zoho (who we use for the Owed Books DB) also has a Planner which allows you to make checkmark-type lists as well. (And it uses the same Zoho ID you're already using for the Owed Books DB.)

By having a list of what you're expecting, you can tell at a glance if there's anything still outstanding that you were waiting to receive, it's easier to post a list here later when you're getting ready to close simply by copying it over, and also the recipient—who might lose track of what they have coming to them—can see at a glance if it's a book waiting in their m-bag.

If you're also planning to accept BookMooch requests on behalf of the user, it's also useful there so they can add titles they've mooched and if they arrive and you're not sure what they're for, you have a list you can check against.