French Submit
I’d make the joke that La Poste put the snail into snail mail, however I really discover the French postal service surprisingly fast and dependable. You’ll be able to ship letters or packages, buy books of stamps (you’ll must ask to take a look at the flamboyant ones otherwise you’ll get the generic “Marianne” stamps), and even pre-stamped mailing envelopes and packing containers by weight, measurement and vacation spot (for France, Europe, or “Monde” for worldwide transport). The put up workplace additionally sells commemorative cash from the Paris Mint (Monnaie de Paris), UNICEF vacation playing cards in December, and cell phones (together with cell phone service packages).
Lots of the operations could be carried out on the automated kiosks on the put up workplaces with a bank card, however when unsure do ask the pleasant employees who’re normally fairly useful. Be aware that plenty of the providers could be executed on-line now that will help you keep away from needing to go to the put up workplace in any respect: shopping for and printing out your individual stamps, sending registered letters, calculating and paying for bundle shipments, and even having envelopes, stamps and different packaging delivered to you. Sadly their web site is just in French, so use a dependable auto-translator if wanted.
To discover a put up workplace (normally designated by PTT on maps), search for the yellow La Poste indicators. There’s one in each neighborhood. The Principal Submit Workplace (52 Rue du Louvre, 1st M° Louvre-Rivoli, Tel 01 40 28 20 00) is open Monday-Saturday 8am-midnight and Sunday 10am-midnight. The others are normally open weekdays wherever from 8am to 10am and shut 6pm to 7pm and Saturday mornings till 1pm, however this varies by location so do examine the hours on-line: https://localiser.laposte.fr/paris.
In France the put up workplace can also be a financial institution (La Banque Postale), so be sure you go to the correct window when visiting a bodily put up workplace, particularly if there’s a line. Envoi De Lettres Et Paquets or Toutes Opérations. You too can get primary stamps (timbres) at Tabacs (tobacco retailers or cafés with a pink, diamond-shaped signal).
Selecting Your Stamps
Stamps are known as timbres, and they’re both the generic “Marianne” stamps with the symbolic face of the French Republic, or restricted version and collector’s stamps, poetically generally known as beaux timbres, that would have any variety of themes, from French monuments and regional meals specialties to particular events like Valentine’s Day or the loss of life of Queen Elisabeth II of England. With out specifying, you’ll doubtless get a Marianne stamp, so if you’d like one thing cute do ask to see which beaux timbres they’ve out there on the counter or go on-line for the most important choice.
Postage for letters, paperwork, and small packages lower than 3cm thick (as of 2022):
- From €1.14 for an Ecopli grey stamp for 20g, roughly 4 days for supply inside France
- From €1.16 for a lettre verte (inexperienced stamp) for 20g for 3-day supply inside France (€1.13 if printed at house)
- From €1.49 for a pink lettre prioritaire stamp for 20g for one-day supply inside France (€1.39 if printed at house); e-letters despatched on-line, which La Poste prints and delivers the subsequent day in France are €1.49 for as much as 3 pages.
- From €2.95 for a turquoise lettre service plus stamp for 20g for two-day supply inside France, which could be picked up in your mailbox and SMS notification when delivered.
- From €1.80 for the violet worldwide precedence stamps for 20g (€1.75 if printed at house) together with put up playing cards
These charges all go up progressively in case your letter/bundle weighs 100g, 250g, 500 g, or 2 kilos, so long as it’s not more than 3cm thick; see the newest charges right here.
Tip: If in case you have any outdated stamps that say “Internationale”, they’re legitimate indefinitely in the event that they don’t have the quantity printed on them (and you’ll have saved a bunch of euros for those who bought them earlier than the pandemic after they had been nonetheless €1.40).
The charges for tracked (suivie) and/or registered (recommandée) letters begin at €2.95 for supply inside France (the turquoise Companies Plus stamp) and €4.55 for worldwide supply, with insurance coverage doable for misplaced letters.
Sending Packages at La Poste
Colissimo is the least costly parcel service for La Poste for any packages greater than 3cm thick or weighing greater than 3 kilos (2 kilos for worldwide locations). Inside France, charges are from €4.25 for 250g as much as €33.40 for 30 kilos, together with monitoring and proof of supply with or with out signature, taking about 2 days (not together with Sundays/holidays). Worldwide transport relies on the locations, with a 2-kilo bundle costing €18.80 to the EU/UK or €45.20 to US/Canada. See Colissimo charges right here.
The pre-paid Colissimo packing containers (Prête à Envoyer) are fairly a great deal for those who can stuff sufficient issues inside whereas maintaining inside the weight restrict. You’ll be able to ship as much as 3kg inside France for €10, or inside the EU for €21. For the US/Canada there are packing containers for as much as 7kg for €73. This isn’t the quickest service, with supply “roughly” in 3-8 days (not together with Sundays or holidays). Should you want it to reach the subsequent day, you’re going to pay significantly extra.
Subsequent-Day Worldwide Delivery
Chronopost
Run by La Poste, ship packages or paperwork in a single day from any put up workplace utilizing particular envelopes and packing containers. The shipments could be tracked on-line.
DHL
23 Rue Feydeau, 2nd
M° Bourse
Tel 01 55 35 30 30
Federal Specific
63 Boulevard Haussmann, ninth
M° Havre-Caumartin
Tel 01 40 06 90 16
UPS
107 Rue Réaumur, 2nd
M° Sentier
Tel 08 00 87 78 77
