USA Delivery Update: How I’m Keeping Your Map Orders Moving in the US and Europe

Oktober 30, 2025 Mike Bell

Published: 27 August 2025

TL;DR: Royal Mail has temporarily paused parcel acceptance to the USA while it transitions to new US customs rules. To keep things smooth, I’m producing Mike Bell Maps prints locally in your destination country - in the United States and across Europe - so your order ships domestically with no border delays. You can still order as usual on mikebellmaps.com.

What’s happening?

Royal Mail to temporarily pause to the USA: The UK Post Office has flagged a temporary suspension of Royal Mail and Parcelforce services to the United States. At the same time, carriers adapt to new US import rules. They specifically note that you can use Evri or DPD international services in the meantime, where available.
Why the change? The US is removing the long‑standing duty‑free “de minimis” treatment for low-value imports and introducing new customs requirements. Royal Mail is moving to a new PDDP (Postal Delivery Duties Paid) approach to meet these requirements, with a short changeover window this week. Royal Mail says existing USA services are being withdrawn from Tuesday 26 August, with new PDDP services expected from Thursday 28 August, ahead of rules taking effect Friday 29 August 2025.
Wider context: Several European postal operators have also paused some US‑bound parcels while systems are updated for the new rules.

How I’m keeping your orders moving (and delivery free)

To avoid any disruption (and extra costs for you), I’ve switched US and European orders to local production:

Printed in the destination country:
US orders are printed at partner labs in the USA. EU orders are printed within the EU, typically in your own country or the nearest hub. That means domestic shipping, no international hand‑offs, and no unexpected customs delays.
Free delivery stays free:
Because your map is produced and shipped locally, I can keep offering low-cost delivery, even while traditional cross‑border postal routes are in flux.
Same gallery quality:
I use a small network of trusted print partners who match my calibrated papers and inks. Your map will look exactly as intended.
Faster, lower‑carbon logistics:
Local fulfilment shortens the journey from press to door and reduces transport emissions - good for timelines and the planet.

Bottom line: Order as usual at mikebellmaps.com - your map will be made near you and sent with tracked domestic delivery.

What this means if you’re ordering from…

United States

Orders are printed and shipped domestically in the US.
No international customs handling on your end.
Delivery times are in line with standard US domestic services.

European Union / EEA / UK

EU orders print within the EU (often in-country) and ship domestically or intra-EU.
UK orders are unaffected for UK delivery.

If you need to post something to the USA yourself

Check the Post Office status first: The Post Office’s page shows the current position and clearly states Royal Mail/Parcelforce USA services are temporarily suspended, with Evri and DPD as alternatives (where available).
Royal Mail’s USA update page: Royal Mail explains the new PDDP service, the removal of duty-free treatment for low-value goods, and the timing of the changeover, which is scheduled for this week. Gifts under $100 remain duty‑free; letters/cards are unaffected.
Alternative couriers:
- Evri has published guidance on the new US tariffs and how they collect duties; their international services may still be able to carry items to the US during the Royal Mail pause.
- DPD international services are available through thousands of Post Office branches following their expanded partnership earlier this year.

FAQs

Q: Will my US/EU map cost more because of these new tariffs?
A: No. Your map is printed and shipped locally in the destination country, so there’s no new import duty to worry about.

Q: Are letters and greeting cards affected?
A: No - Royal Mail says personal correspondence (no goods) is not subject to the new duties.

Q: When will Royal Mail resume US parcel services?
A: Royal Mail indicates a short transition while they switch to their new PDDP service, with availability targeted from 28 August 2025 and the new US requirements effective 29 August 2025. If you’re sending something yourself, check their pages for the latest.

Thanks for your support

I know changes like this can be unclear. By producing maps closer to you, I can keep standards high, and orders moving, whatever the international rules are doing in the background.

If you have any questions about a specific destination or a tight deadline, please don't hesitate to contact me via the contact page. And if you’re mailing your own items to the US, start with the Post Office update and Royal Mail’s USA page for the most current guidance.

Sources & official updates

Post Office: international services status and alternatives (Evri/DPD). PostOffice
Royal Mail: USA service changeover dates, PDDP, and removal of low‑value duty‑free. Royal Mail
AP News: European postal suspensions amid the US de minimis change. AP News

Zurück zu Mike Bell Maps - Various Posts

ABOUT MIKE BELL - TUBE MAP DESIGNER

Mike Bell Maps is my growing collection of tube map art prints that reimagine music, movies, and history through the visual language of underground maps.

Each detailed design presents albums in order, film plots, and complex creative histories as clear, engaging tube-style timelines created for fans who value depth and research in their favourite subjects.

RESEARCH-LED DESIGN

Every artwork is built on original research and careful verification. Albums become stations. Musicians, characters, and ideas form connecting lines. This approach turns detailed information into visual storytelling, creating art prints that bring clarity and meaning to subjects people already care about.

George Harrison unique art print gift for fans: Mike Bell transit map style of albums and musicians.

MY STORY

My background is rooted in live sound and large-scale show design, working across music and cultural events for many years. That experience shaped how I understand collaboration, creative evolution, and structure. During lockdown, I applied that knowledge to mapping music and films, developing underground maps that balance accuracy, design, and narrative.

THE ARTWORK

Each print is produced to archival standards and designed to last. These are not novelty posters. They are considered art prints created for people who value music history, film structure, and informed design. They make thoughtful gifts for fans who want something personal, researched, and meaningful.

The Shining film plot lines and character tube map art print, showing every scene as a station and every character as a tube line.

Mike Bell Maps is where research-led tube maps become art prints, and where stories worth knowing are mapped clearly, carefully, and beautifully.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What are Mike Bell’s tube map art prints?

A: My prints utilise an advanced visual language based on the logic of underground maps to organise complex histories. By moving beyond basic cartography, I transform albums into "stations" and musicians or themes into "connecting lines." This allows fans to explore hundreds of data points - from session musician credits to chronological collaborations - within a single, intuitive visual system.

Q: How do these maps differ from standard music or tube posters?

A: The primary difference is information density and quality. While standard posters are often low-resolution decorative pieces on thin paper (135-170gsm), my prints are research-led discographies printed on archival-grade, 305gsm+ heavyweight giclée paper. They are designed to be "read" like a book, rewarding deep curiosity with discoveries not found in mass-produced merchandise.

Q: How is the accuracy of the research verified?

A: Accuracy is the core of my design process. Every map is synthesised from primary sources, including official liner notes, session archives, musician interviews, and verified fan databases. By incorporating musician inputs and fact-checking against trusted archives, I ensure that each map is a historically accurate record of the subject’s career.

Q: What subjects are available in the collection?

A: The collection spans a wide range of cultural histories, including music discographies, film plots, politics, and Formula One. Each map focuses on a single narrative, presenting the whole "story" of a subject - such as the evolution of a band or the timeline of a sport- in a clear, high-density visual format.

Q: Are these prints produced sustainably?

A: Yes. I prioritise a carbon-neutral workflow by producing prints locally to the buyer to reduce the shipping footprint. I use sustainable wood frames and archival materials designed for 100+ years of colour stability, ensuring the art is a lasting investment rather than disposable décor.

Q: Why do these maps make the best gifts for music and film fans?

A: Unlike generic posters, these are bespoke cultural maps that celebrate a fan's deep knowledge. Because they are research-led and visually unique (featuring narratives not seen elsewhere), they offer a sophisticated, gallery-quality alternative for those who value the "deep dive" into their favourite artist or film.