posted on March 15, 2004 05:03:02 PM new
Has the PO just started charging for a non-standard envelope (bubble) or has my brain fog been too dense to see it. I mailed three bubble envelopes today and was charged an additional $.12 for each on top of standard postage.
Thanks
posted on March 15, 2004 05:21:00 PM new
That seems excessive. I mailed 4 first class bubble envelopes and it only came to $6.00. One had insurance. Where did you mail them to and how much was the weight. We need more information.
I don't think bubble envelopes are considered oversized envelopes. Those are in my estimation packages. Is this the same PO you always go to?
Figure out your postage weigh out your envelopes with contents check to see if they go 1st class or Priority. Weight will tell you. 13 ounces and under are 1st class and the most 13 ounces would go for is $3.13
posted on March 15, 2004 05:25:05 PM new
was it the big ones? did you mail it first class mail? 8.5" X 11"? 8x12? I don't have one right at hand but if you mailed it first class I know I was surprised by that 12 cent "surcharge" once.
My husband mails reports in every month in a large (non bubble) envelope, although I did print his postage out here at home and mailed it tracking (with Endicia because I didn't want to go stand in line) by putting some bubble wrap in it. He kept arguing with me how much postage he always had to put on it, but I said Endicia says it's so & so much. Took it into the PO and dropped it off and started walking out and I heard "hey hey lady you owe postage" and they made me pay for an "oversized" envelope. Maybe they said it was non-standard, but they hit me up for the 12 cents or whatever it was.
So yeah, it is possible. I'm used to using that size for media mail so I guess I've never noticed the surcharge, but my husband pays it every month. Or rather his office does.
posted on March 15, 2004 05:36:27 PM new
One of the bubble envelopes was 2.10 oz and says $2.13 total cost with a base rate of $0.83 which went to CA. One of the others was 0.90 oz with total $0.72 with a base rate of $0.60 going to Canada.
The one to Canada was a side loader cut in half so was only about 5 x 7. The other just a little larger, maybe 7 x 9. The bigger one was 12 x 7 and the same charges were applied.
This is the same PO I always go to. I just went through some of my old receipts and it is on some but not on all. Some it is added in but not listed separately. Strange huh? They added an additonal $0.12 to the ones today.
[ edited by paws4God on Mar 15, 2004 05:38 PM ]
posted on March 15, 2004 05:53:30 PM new
Sorry I have a problem seeing after my surgery I didn't realize it was only 12 cents I thought it was 12 dollars.
Did you have a eDC on those envelopes? If so the USPS charges you for that service Priority is free.
posted on March 15, 2004 06:07:22 PM new
I mail a lot of bubble envelopes weighing under one ounce, postage is 45 cents. If I drop them in a mailbox they are always delivered.
On a few occasions I took them to the PO along with other packages & everytime 12 cents was added to the 45 cent postage.
posted on March 15, 2004 06:25:11 PM new
Well hail! No wonder some of them go through and some don't. Ever try making your way through the rules and regs at the USPS?
"First-Class Mail
Will First-Class Mail letters containing odd-shaped items be mailable?
Yes. However, they will be charged the nonmachinable surcharge in addition to postage if they weigh 1 ounce or less.
The nonmachinable surcharge will be $0.12 for pieces mailed at single-piece rates and $0.055 cents for pieces mailed at Presorted and automation rates.
What is the nonmachinable surcharge?
The current nonstandard surcharge will be expanded to include certain physical criteria that could make a mailpiece nonmachinable. Pieces that are nonmachinable are excluded from automated processing and must be handled manually. Nonmachinable pieces also may impede mail flow or damage the mail or mail processing equipment. Manual pieces are considerably more costly to process than machinable letters. Nonmachinable criteria for letter-size pieces will be listed in new DMM C050.2.2. The nonmachinable surcharge will apply to single-piece and Presorted rate letters that weigh 1 ounce or less and meet one or more of the criteria in that section. Also, the nonmachinable surcharge will apply to letter-size pieces (but not card rate pieces) for which the mailer has chosen the manual only (do not automate) option.
Will the nonmachinable surcharge apply to postcards?
No, the nonmachinable surcharge does not apply to any pieces mailed at First-Class Mail card rates. However, cards mailed at Standard Mail rates could be subject to the surcharge.
Will the nonmachinable surcharge apply to flats and parcels?
Yes, it will apply to all First-Class Mail flats and parcels weighing 1 ounce or less.
Is a key affixed to a card or piece of cardboard and inserted in an envelope considered a nonmachinable item and therefore subject to the surcharge?
A "non-bulky key" (such as a house key) firmly affixed to a piece of stiff paper inserted into an envelope would be machinable and no surcharge would apply. However, a bulky key (such as a vehicle key with thick plastic at the top) in an envelope would pay the surcharge, regardless of whether or not that key was affixed to anything, due to the uneven thickness of the piece."
Here's more:
"Nonmachinable Surcharge
The definition of the current nonstandard surcharge will be expanded to include certain physical criteria that could make a mailpiece nonmachinable. Pieces that are nonmachinable are excluded from automated processing and must be handled manually. Nonmachinable pieces also may impede mail flow or damage the mail or mail processing equipment. Manual pieces are considerably more costly to process than machinable letters.
The criteria for nonmachinable letter–size pieces will be listed in DMM C050.2.2. The nonmachinable surcharge will apply to single–piece and Presorted rate letters that weigh 1 ounce or less and meet one or more of the criteria in that section. Machinable pieces are not subject to any restrictions regarding the OCR read area or barcode clear zone.
The nonmachinable surcharge also will apply to single–piece, Presorted, and automation rate nonletters (flats and parcels) that weigh 1 ounce or less if any one of the following applies:
(a) The piece is greater than 1/4–inch thick.
(b) The length is more than 11–1/2 inches or the height is more than 6–1/8 inches.
(c) The aspect ratio (length divided by height) is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
The nonmachinable surcharge will be $0.12 for single–piece rate pieces and $0.055 for Presorted and automation rate pieces.
The nonmachinable criteria in C050.2.2 do not apply to pieces mailed at any card rate.
The nonmachinable surcharge will apply to letter–size pieces (but not card–rate pieces) for which the mailer has chosen the manual only (do not automate) option. For card–rate pieces, a mailer can specify manual handling, but they will not be charged a surcharge.
This change is consistent with the addition of a nonmachinable surcharge for Standard Mail service.
In conjunction with this change, trays of machinable and nonmachinable letters will be prepared and labeled differently. The preparation for machinable letters will be similar to the current preparation for upgradable letters (e.g., no packaging, optional 5–digit sort level); the preparation for nonmachinable pieces will be similar to the current package–based preparation for Presorted letters. The current weight limit for upgradable letters (2.5 ounces) will be replaced with a weight limit of 3.3 ounces for machinable letters. Letters heavier than 3.3 ounces and less than 1/4–inch thick will use the nonmachinable preparation and labeling but will not pay the surcharge (because it applies only to pieces that weigh 1 ounce or less).
On tray labels, the current "NON BC" (not barcoded) designation will be replaced with one of two designations: "MACH" for machinable pieces or "MANUAL" for nonmachinable pieces. Although card–rate pieces will not be subject to the surcharge, mailers will be required to show on the tray label whether or not those pieces are machinable (for instance, a double card that is not tabbed is not machinable). The "MANUAL" designation will help the Postal Service direct trays of mail to the appropriate mail processing operation. As is currently required, mailers who choose the "do not automate" option will show "MANUAL" on Line 2 of the tray label.
Barcoded tray labels are allowed, but are not required, for trays of First–Class Mail machinable letters. Zebra codes must not be used on trays of First–Class Mail machinable letters. (Zebra codes indicate that the tray contains automation rate prebarcoded mail.)
There are no preparation or labeling changes for Presorted flats or parcels subject to the surcharge.
Mail preparation instructions for Presorted letter–size pieces subject to the nonmachinable surcharge will be included in DMM M130. Preparation instructions for automation flats subject to the nonmachinable surcharge will not change (see current DMM M820).
The nonmachinable surcharge will be assessed on any piece mailed out as a different class of mail and returned as a First–Class Mail item (for instance, a Standard Mail item endorsed "Return Service Requested" if the piece weighs 1 ounce or less and meets the criteria for nonmachinability in C050.2.2. Pieces returned at First–Class Mail card rates will not be subject to the nonmachinable surcharge."
????? Greek to me, maybe they understand it better.
posted on March 15, 2004 06:58:12 PM new
To be brief....it costs 37 cents to mail a letter under 1 oz. It costs 49 cents to mail a padded envelope under 1 oz. Extra 12 cent surcharge for non-machinable. Doesn't matter if it's 1/4" thick or 2" thick. If it weighs under 1 oz. it costs 49 cents in a padded envelope.
[ edited by pointy on Mar 15, 2004 06:59 PM ]
posted on March 15, 2004 07:04:18 PM new
ahhh...but trying to decide what qualifies as machinable or non machinable is the trick evidently!
Because the piece of mail I sent for my husband was 2 pieces of paper in a large size manilla envelope. I added a piece of bubble wrap to bring it up to the 1/4 thick so that I could print an Endicia envelope. Thus, did it not qualify for the 5 cent barcoded price instead? This went first class and had to of weighed under one ounce! Although it was 11.5 or 12 high.
posted on March 17, 2004 07:10:56 AM new
An update---
When I was at the PO yesterday I ask about the additional charge of $.12 on the bubble envelopes. The clerk, who is brand new, said they were always supposed to charge it but now they are really sticking to the rules. An envelope over 1/4 inch thick is non-machinable and therefore non-standard hence the extra charge.
Also I had to mail a violin bow yesterday to Canada in a tube. The clerk got out the tape measure and measured it to see if it fell below the 36 inch mark and could be mailed as an envelope rather that package. That really helped on postage but she is the first to measure anything I've ever mailed. The kicker is this. I have always been told that anything under 1 lb. doesn't have to have a customs form. Well, she informed me that regardless of weight each package going out of the country has to have a customs form. They have also charged the forms. On the green ones "merchandise" is no longer an option to check so you have to check "other". I tried to keep the package under a pound so the guy wouldn't have to pay duties and wait an extra week for the package being tied up in customs.
I don't know if it is because the clerk is new and trying to stick to the letter on the rules or what. Like I said she told me the PO employees are having to walk the chalk on regulations now. Maybe because of security but I didn't ask.
posted on March 17, 2004 07:18:56 AM new
I think it's best to always put custom forms on packages leaving the country. I have extra ones at home, fill them out and stick them to the package. I always put in either the PayPal payment page or the EOA notice from eBay so that the buyer doesn't get over charged. I don't know what price they start charging customs, but for example, if you have a necklace in an envelope and didn't declare the price can't customs put a duty on that? They might decide it worth a lot then the buyer would be stuck for customs.
posted on March 17, 2004 07:33:57 AM new
I think too, its how they feel at the moment. Some days they go through much more rig-a-ma-role, others days, it seems they could care less and just move the stuff through.
posted on March 17, 2004 07:54:51 AM new
About that new customs form: Yesterday I filled one out and couldn't find "merchandise" so asked my favorite p.o. clerk. He said just check "gift." He knows I sell on Ebay and I said--again--to him that I don't want to get in trouble with the law. He assured me I wouldn't. I know it's not okay, but with him instructing me to do it and a long line of customers waiting behind me, I did it.
___________________________________
Have you noticed since everyone has a Camcorder these days no one talks
about seeing UFOs like they used to?
posted on March 17, 2004 08:03:59 AM new
I ship bubble mailer envelopes daily, I am told it is the thickness and has to be charged a non-machinable rate. I pay .49 cents an envelope. I cut them to greeting card envelope size. I just had my very first problem every envelope that I shipped to Ca. on one day the 23rd of February, and one to Hawaii never got there. It was a total of 14 envelopes. The only thing the post office told me to do is write a letter include the receipt which I have circle the ones that never got delivered and she will forward it to the proper investigations. They did say they did not hear of any problems in that zone. The item is inexpensive and 8 of the 14 are repeat customers, I replaced all of them.
reenie
I don't get even....I get even better Jimmy Hoffa
posted on March 18, 2004 09:58:48 AM new
I read the regulations over 6 months ago on non-machineable envelopes. There is an additonal portion that deals with metal clasps on envelopes. They are considered non-machineable and one is supposed to pay the additional $.12 for those as well. I remove them and use tape. I'm usually sending more than one ounce and just put the regular First Class postage.
Many birthday cards are considered oversized, but the post office was not previously collecting the additional postage of $.12 for them. I got them for years from my mother, additonal postage due, but the mailman never asked for the money. He just put them in my box.
You may have noticed some greeting card manufacturers (not many) make their cards long and skinny to fit in a #10 envelope. That is one reason why.
Ever sine 9/11, postal regulations and their lack of enforcement has come under closer and closer scrutiny. They also have a few new verbal rules since 9/11, not written down, that they are expected to follow, that violate the written rules. I have taken one of these up with a regional director and got nowhere.
posted on March 18, 2004 10:29:09 AM new
paws4god,
Sounds like your new clerk is trying to follow the USPS rules... but she is WRONG to charge you a $0.12 surcharge on EVERY bubble mailer. The surcharge should ONLY be applied to bubble envelopes that weight 1 oz. or less!!! (making them $0.49 instead of $0.37) Any bubble envelope weighing more than 1 ounce should be charged the standard first-class postage rate (regardless of their thickness). It also does NOT get applied to airmail. (regardless of weight). I'd point this out to her... and if you have any problems, talk to the postmaster. She is right about customs forms though... they need to be on every package, regardless of weight. Hope that helps!
posted on March 18, 2004 04:51:40 PM new
Back in 1999 I sold just a few postcards. Since I didn't know what I was doing then I bought some bubble envelopes and put a piece of cardboard in each.
These were small bubble envelopes, just big enough for a post card. I was charged a surcharge for each one for size.
