A customer collects a parcel at the Central Sorting Office in Kingston. - Contributed

Among the enquiries we receive are questions about how to go about mailing a parcel, whether locally or overseas. It is really an easy, hassle-free process, so go on; get the gifts together and mail them to relatives and friends, or send business-related articles to business associates.

Customers are asked to present their parcel to the customer service representative (CSRep) along with an accepted form of identification. We use any of the following types of ID:

Also note that you will need to show your taxpayer registration number (TRN) if you present a voter's ID or a passport.

The CSRep examines your parcel to ensure that the parcel:

The declaration form should be completed if the item is being sent overseas. It is a requirement that each customer states what the package's contents are to protect him/her should there be any problem with delivery. After these checks, the cost is determined based on the combination of the destination and the weight, and the customer pays for stamps to cover postage. The customer is then asked to affix the postage stamps; after which, the parcel is taken by the CSRep for mail processing.

Please note that customers must ensure that all packaging matches the requirements of the contents. So, if the item being sent is fragile, it must be placed in an appropriately sturdy type of box, then it must be carefully protected by stuffing spaces with newspaper, or even better, 'bubble wrap' or 'shipping peanuts'. This prevents movement within the carton, as well as shields and insulates contents from external impact. The CSRep will not accept mail that is inappropriately packaged, such as a pair of eyeglasses placed in an envelope. That's a sure recipe for disaster!

Many customers ask why we do not sell packaging materials, as is the case in countries such as the United Kingdom. That is an option to be further explored, but at this time customers must source and prepare packaging for their parcels.

I need some information about international parcels. I wish to send a 10kg parcel to New Jersey in the U.S.A. I also wish to send some household items to India which weigh about 32kg.

In this case, as you are sending the parcel from Jamaica to another country, parcels are allowed up to a maximum weight of 10 kilograms. If you plan to send items such as furniture which cannot be dismantled and then sent in parts, or items that weigh more than the 10kg limit, you will need to send that through a shipping/freight-handling company. These are listed in the telephone directory. Note that the 10kg limit does not apply in each country, so if persons are planning to send parcels to Jamaica, then it is best if they check the post office in that country to determine the maximum limits.

Regarding the parcel to U.S.A.:

This is OK, given the maximum allowed weight of 10 kilograms (10kg) from Jamaica to the U.S.A.

On the matter of the 32kg package to India:

Based on the fact that Jamaica's maximum allowed outbound parcel weight is 10kg, you will need to send three 10kg parcels plus one 2kg parcel if the items can be divided into different packages.