International standard letter post for items other than letters?

[PurpleFrog]

I was in the Post Office yesterday and forgot to ask... and the Royal Mail website doesn't answer my question (no surprise there!).

I have some thin items e.g. sew on patches, which are currently listed on eBay for UK P&P only that I would like to change to include P&P to the EU and USA. In an envelope they would fall into the size and weight range for International letters, but can I post them as such if they are not letters? I can't see that information anywhere. I know that a UK letter doesn't actually have to be a letter, but Airmail letters did in the past. Has anyone posted thin items abroad since the last round of Royal Mail changes?

Ok - I have dug a bit deeper on Royal Mail's site. On www.royalmail.com/termschanges#letter-services

it says:

Postal Schemes – changes to The Royal Mail Overseas Letter Post Scheme

Certain Royal Mail International services, including Airmail and Surface mail, have their terms and conditions detailed in documents called ‘Schemes’.

These Schemes are published under the Postal Services Act 2000 (as amended by the Postal Services Act 2011) which means that it is not necessary for Royal Mail to hold individual contracts with each customer purchasing these products.

We have consulted on changes to the Scheme called ‘The Royal Mail Overseas Letter Post Scheme 31st March 2013’ which sets out the terms and conditions of our International services. These changes have been made to:

• rebrand our International services so that they are clearer to customers;
• revise the levels of enhanced compensation we provide under our tracked and signature products (currently Airsure® and International Signed For) so that one uniform amount of £250 will be available, irrespective of destination country;
• reflect amendments to international rules which state that member countries should no longer provide Registered services with their slowest International service;
• clarify the circumstances in which online confirmation of delivery is provided with our Registered services; and *align the dimensions of an International letter with that of a UK domestic letter. This means that size (and not content) will be the basis on which International letter items are priced.

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So, that last item implies that small light things can be sent as letters and will therefore have £20 compensation limit like parcels. I hope this helps someone else.