I went to my local post office earlier to mail some things to the US. One of the envelopes clearly contained a greeting card. The postal worker asked me to confirm her suspicion. When I told her that it is a Christmas card, she explained to me that only documents are allowed to be sent internationally and that cards of any type should be sent as part of a parcel because they are considered to be a product. My wife, who was with me and is American, was about to lose it.

The postal worker said that she will make an exception, but that I’d have to buy regular stamps to mail it, instead of the QR-code label stamps she put on the regular letters I had going to the States. She said that she can’t guarantee that the card will arrive, but figured that it is unlikely to be opened along the way due to the Christmas rush.

WTF?

The FAQ on [deutschepost.de](https://deutschepost.de) states the following (via Google Translate):

*With BRIEF INTERNATIONAL you can send documents up to 2 kg. Documents are written, drawn, printed or digital communications and information, e.g. contracts, personal communications or invoices. The shipments must not contain any goods. For example, the following content also counts as documents: digital media (USB memory, CD and DVD) with notifications and information; Brochures, catalogs and flyers.*

[https://www.deutschepost.de/de/b/briefe-ins-ausland/haeufige-fragen.html#WarenpostInt](https://www.deutschepost.de/de/b/briefe-ins-ausland/haeufige-fragen.html#WarenpostInt)

Was she just being difficult, or can officially really not mail greeting cards of any sort in an envelope outside of Germany?

1 comment

  1. The worker there probably didn’t know better. The rules – which you are quoting correctly – are not really precise.

    https://www.paketda.de/news-dokumente-brief-international.html – read the tests they did there. They suggest not to use a filiale/shop/whatever and post the letter in a mailbox instead, so there is no worker who wants to school you about the rules. This would mean you should calculate and purchase the stamps separately but you can do that online.

    The second link you posted is only for business clients of Deutsche Post. As a private person, you can only use letter or DHL packet.

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