vintageads4u
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posted on May 11, 2007 04:07:53 PM new
I have read everything I can and still am a little confused. My small town post office is completely unprepared, too.
If anyone can help, I would sure appreciate it:
I use 3 sizes of photomailers (APEC manilla envelope with 2 cardboard inserts). This is rigid. The sizes are 9 x 12 (usually 4 ozs); 10 x 13 (usually 5 or 6 oz) and 12 x 15 (7 or 8 oz). They usually are 1/4" thick and are of uniform thickness.
These cannot be classified as flats because they are rigid. So I think I understand that they can go first class, but NO Delivery Confirmation is available with first class anymore, right?
They would have to go Parcel...which is very expensive.
Thank you for any help!
Beth
VintageAds4U
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queenofcollectibles
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posted on May 11, 2007 05:15:43 PM new
Beth,
I mail similar type packaging. I use Stamps.com so thankfully I rarely have to go into my local post office as they are a bunch of jerks in there including the Postmaster. But since I needed clarification on that rigid thing, I decided to bite the bullet and take in a few of my assorted packages. First, I was the only customer in the place but they said they weren't going to spend time going over all of the postal regulations with me and that I would have to wait to read it all online. I told them it was online and I did read it but that I needed some clarification. They looked in the bin I brought and just said that there is going to be no large envelopes anymore so they would all go parcel. (so one of my mailers would be going from 63 cents to 1.30 - over double. I didn't like their answers and especially their attitude so a few days later I went into the main mail facility for my area a few miles away. The lady that took care of me there was very nice and said even my small rigid could go as a flat.....she checked with someone that had taken the class and they said they would be fine. That completely contradicted what the other post office told me but she said when I wanted the correct answer to come to their office. Well, I'm still uncomfortable sending the rigid envelope as a flat because I read somewhere that if it was sent as the wrong type/too little postage, it would be bumped to priority and delivered with the postage due to the recipient. So next week when I package again, I will take it back in and have them checked again....just to make sure. All I need to add fuel to the new feedback rating system is to have people receive packages with postage due.........this is a nightmare.........
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LtRay
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posted on May 11, 2007 05:50:47 PM new
No DC on first class? Yikes, I missed that one. Unless you meant there would be no DC on First Class letter versus First Class flat or First Class parcel.
I don't usually ship anything that will qualify for letter rate so I did not bother reading much about LR. Priority rates have me confused way too much right now.
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kozersky
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posted on May 11, 2007 06:21:05 PM new
The envelopes which are over 1/4" thick AND rigid would most likely be shipped 1st Class Parcel. They would be eligible for DC. Especially now, where the P.O. employees have so many interpretations of the rules.
I puff all my envelopes to 3/4" and ship in a stiff container as Beth does. I am changing shipping costs to match the 1st Class Parcel rates.
Overpriced shipping? The customer pays. I could always pour the stamps into a #6 envelope, slap a stamp on it, and hope the envelope arrives intact.
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vintageads4u
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posted on May 12, 2007 02:49:34 AM new
Thank you. It is the flat versus parcel.
Due to the rigid inserts, I think it will be a parcel. But Queen, let me know how it goes for you next week, OK?
Currently I have a text box on my Endicia labels that read:
This package qualifies for First
Class Delivery Confirmation pursuant
to DMM 503: Section 9.2.2 C
I do this because so many postal carriers are unaware of the rules for first class DC.
Maybe I will make a similar text box for my packages explaining the mail class chosen.
I have noticed several of the larger sellers in my category have gone to just Priority shipping. That may come in the future for me as well.
Beth
VintageAds4U
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queenofcollectibles
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posted on May 14, 2007 08:39:36 AM new
Ok.......just back from the friendly post office and they were very helpful. I had a photo I was mailing today.....I used a piece of mat board as stiffener.....used a 9 x 12 manila envelope with a clasp but didn't use the clasp, just put the flap over and taped it......even though I thought it was rigid they said it could go as a flat because there was some "give" to it.....no delivery confirmation with flats though so depending on what you're mailing and the value, it might be a better idea to pad the envelope a bit or use a bubble mailer to make it qualify for a parcel and get the DC. Of course that really jacks up the price.
As for the stay-flat mailers that I use for postcards and photos......they are also rigid in my book but P.O. said they also have some give so can go as a letter with the 17 cent surcharge.....so no DC with that either I don't think.......pricing has hit the incredible mark.....I use stamps.com and have had to enter the dimensions of every Priority box including the P.O. issued ones that they said wouldn't be affected by dimensional weight anyway......really slows down the shipping process.....and now eBay has knocked out many of my handling fees on a good amount of my listings so this is going to be a losing proposition all the way around I think....it's going to take a lot of work to get things re-organized and straightened out and much more thought will have to be put into how I'm going to pack the item when I'm writing up the listing.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 14, 2007 08:48:33 AM new
even though I thought it was rigid they said it could go as a flat because there was some "give" to it
I don't mean to worry you, but you're only halfway there once your local post office accepts a package.
I say this because electronic delivery confirmation has been around for years now...and many locals at receiving stations STILL don't get it right even today. They will charge the recipient postage due or return the package to you. You have virtually no recourse with USPS once this is done.
And the rules/rates for eDC and eSC were pretty straightforward. Now it's all a mess.
fLufF
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queenofcollectibles
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:02:37 AM new
I use Stamps.com and there is no option to select (actually with them it's automatic on every package - you can't choose whether you want it or not - they say you will buy - but it's only on parcels - it's not available on letters or flats. You have to ship a parcel to use DC. You can insure a flat or a parcel but not a letter. I agree with you......this whole thing is a mess.
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queenofcollectibles
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:04:09 AM new
I take that back......you can insure a letter....sorry, just looked at S.com again..
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queenofcollectibles
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:08:17 AM new
OK.......bigger mess than I thought......you can get a DC on a flat but only if shipping it via priority or express mail. Shipping will now slow to a crawl as we stand here and try to figure out how we are going to ship, what we need to select, measure the boxes, etc......
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DrArcane
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:12:47 AM new
I did my eBay shipping this morning, and it was a real mess. How big is a "large" envelope? Define "large." No D/C on First Class anymore? Can I ship an item first class if it's more than 1/4" thick?
GACK!!!!
This CNN Story says I'm not alone.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/13/mail.shape.ap/index.html
Size matters, so does shape under new postal rates
POSTED: 11:45 p.m. EDT, May 13, 2007
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- The postal rate increase that kicks in Monday is shaping up to be a big headache for many businesses.
Many companies say they are confused and frustrated as they try to adjust to the new rules, and some say mailings could be severely curtailed due to higher postage costs. [more at the link]
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hwahwa
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:20:20 AM new
I wonder if USPS will just accept the old rates and old ways for the next few days just so they dont have to reject and return packages which were prepared over the weekend.
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Lets all stop whining !
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pmelcher
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posted on May 14, 2007 09:31:59 AM new
Nope, my Posties measured everything and it went for the new rates. Hubby thinks they will recind the new balloon rates but the Postlady just laughed at him.
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neglus
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posted on May 14, 2007 03:02:54 PM new
I just got back from my PO and they made me pay a 17 cent surcharge for "rigid" mail. I place my postcards inside a semi-rigid (it's still flexible) sleeve and have been mailing them at the 1 oz rate. I tried to argue the definition of "rigid" with the clerk but to no avail. On the plus side, he told me that 2 oz would mail at the same rate (not 41 cents + 17 + 17) and international mail does not carry the surcharge and 2 oz is a little cheaper than it was before. I still think my sleeves are not "rigid" - any ideas how I could get a definitive answer for this?
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on May 14, 2007 06:36:54 PM new
If you'd like to vent your spleen to someone in government about how foo'ed up the new system is (and please be specific), go to:
http://www.prc.gov/main.asp?Left=OCA.asp&Right=../OCA/OCAIndex.htm
The Postal Regulatory Commission is the body that rubberstamps rate increase requests from USPS. Since this might look grossly unfair to us, the average consumer and taxpayer, there is also an Office of Consumer Advocate of the Postal Regulatory Commission. They are the people you contact through the above link. I can't imagine that they wouldn't reply; after all, they must have immense amounts of time on their hands since they didn't put up a single squeak in response to USPS's last rate increase request.
fLufF
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pixiamom
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posted on May 14, 2007 07:01:27 PM new
I went to my neighborhood "Postal Franchise" this A.M. I had a few borderline weight international First Class mail I wanted them to weigh and apply postage for. At first, they calculated the new domestic rate - I pointed out that it was international and they replied they haven't received the new international rate sheets yet. I know the new rates and they complied in applying them. I had each letter marked "International First Rate" in bright red letters, but the clerk carefully stamped them "Air Mail" which has disappeared as a shipping option. The question of rigid versus semi-rigid never came up, even though shipments of multiple postcards tend to the the rigid side. Wonder what will be returned to me next week.
Edited to add- I asked the same clerk last week to apply postage for another borderline weight international shipment - I was thrilled it squeaked at the the 2 oz limit and paid $1.70 - I gladly paid it but asked her why she didn't apply the postage to it? She told me she would apply printed postage later. Fine. It was returned to me Friday for no postage attached. She was very gracious when I brought it in today and applied the new postage rate without extra money due.
[ edited by pixiamom on May 14, 2007 07:16 PM ]
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hwahwa
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posted on May 14, 2007 07:31:49 PM new
The last time I used a 'Postal Franchise ' was when they first came out with Global Priority mail and they said they dont have time to go to school and learn,so they dont ship Global priority mail.
I reported them to the post office and they were told to haul their ass in to learn about Global priority mail.
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Lets all stop whining !
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MAH645
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posted on May 14, 2007 08:36:02 PM new
I mailed a bunch of single DVDs this morning with all went First Class as they are 3/4" thick. I ask how much one would cost going to Canada, it is now cheaper than shipping within the USA.
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pixiamom
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posted on May 15, 2007 07:37:24 PM new
The gracious clerk who had omitted postage the first time had difficulty removing the Return to Sender label without destroying the envelope. I suggested blacking out the label - she agreed she would do it later. Today I received it back again - proper postage but returned to sender - arggh!
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