cougarls88
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posted on July 8, 2005 07:06:14 AM new
What is the postage rate for the larger (EP14F) Priority Mail "Flat Rate" envelope...1lb or 2lbs? I remember last time I got caught paying $7-something for what I figured should be $3.85 so I don't want to get caught again. The envelope I have in-hand is non-denominational (only says "pay the Flat Rate Priority Mail postage" .
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neglus
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posted on July 8, 2005 07:16:15 AM new
As far as I know there is just one Flat Rate envelope - $3.85. There is no weight limit - just what you can fit inside (no tape allowed - can just seal with the peel-strip adhesive at top). I ship over 2 lbs in postcard sleeves in those envelopes.
There are flat rate boxes (2 sizes) - whatever you can fit in for $7.70 (you have to get those from the post office and they usually keep behind the counter)
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
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ebayvet
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posted on July 8, 2005 08:30:23 AM new
Neglus is right, there is only one flat rate envelope, and it is $3.85 regardless of weight. There is a flat rate box for $7.70, that does have a weight restriction though, but it is relatively high for its size.
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ewora
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posted on July 8, 2005 11:24:39 AM new
According to the USPS website you can tape the envelope to "re-inforce" it.
http://www.usps.com/mailerscompanion/june2003/mc0603art8.htm
[ edited by ewora on Jul 8, 2005 11:24 AM ]
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neglus
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posted on July 8, 2005 11:29:00 AM new
Thanks ewora!! I am going to copy that and take to my PO!! They are real a**es when it comes to the flat rate envelopes - they say it still has to have the crease on the top (dang thing is so hard to closed that sometimes it's missing the crease)., I sent 100 postcard sleeves to an APO box and I begged them to let me tape the bottom since it was going to someone in the military and would probably be put through more stress than domestically shipped ones but answer was NO WAY..the APO package made it ok but still! a little tape to reinforce the bottom would be VERY nice!!
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
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stonecold613
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posted on July 8, 2005 02:00:47 PM new
You can tape the envelope as long as you close it with the peel and stick strip first. The rule is the package must close without tape first, then it can be reinforced. The PO's here in the Twin Cities will tape them for you most of the time whether you ask them or not.
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Alive in 2005
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neglus
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posted on July 8, 2005 02:04:05 PM new
Yo Stone - I am in the Twin Cities and the Maple Grove clerks are the ones that won't let me use the tape. The guy clerk went so far once as to try to the postage sticker on in such as way as to help reinforce it.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
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excessassets
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posted on July 9, 2005 04:22:37 AM new
I use tape all the time on flat rate envelopes. I ship 10 pounds of lead ingots, so needs lots of reinforcement. no complaints form post office here.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on July 9, 2005 10:27:04 AM new
I just used my first $7.70 box to ship a jewelry lot to Calif from Florida. I saved my winner about $5.00 in shipping fee.
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Roadsmith
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posted on July 9, 2005 02:15:20 PM new
I too am copying this info from the USPS to take next time I have a flat-rate envelope. One of the clerks at our little p.o. (and only one--the grumpy one) gave me a bit of a time over it last time I'd used tape. Phooey on him!
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toolhound
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posted on July 10, 2005 03:35:28 AM new
ebayvet you said "There is a flat rate box for $7.70, that does have a weight restriction though, but it is relatively high for its size".
Do you know what the weight restrictions are? I have been shipping them full of tools with as much as 25 pounds with no problems. I don't want to get one back for being over weight.
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excessassets
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posted on July 10, 2005 06:57:45 AM new
Flat rate boxes weight limit is 70 pounds. I ship up to 50 pounds of lead all the time in them no problem.
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glassgrl
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posted on July 10, 2005 07:52:40 AM new
I've ALWAYS used PM tape to tape up the envelope BUT the PO here said to make sure you DON'T tape over the part that says "FLAT RATE" otherwise they will charge you the regular rate.
If I'm afraid of it busting open I tape all 4 sides.
I have received PM packages (boxes mainly) that have arrived with the sticky part no longer so sticky - the box is half open!
Anybody notice the newest PM boxes are imprinted now on the inside?
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stonecold613
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posted on July 10, 2005 08:34:38 AM new
Anybody notice the newest PM boxes are imprinted now on the inside?
That change happened about a year ago.
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Alive in 2005
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glassgrl
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posted on July 10, 2005 09:18:29 AM new
well thank you stone. I ordered all my boxes about 3 years ago but I needed a few small boxes the other day and picked them up at the PO. Otherwise I'm still using the old ones.
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stonecold613
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posted on July 10, 2005 09:34:01 AM new
Your Welcome.
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Alive in 2005
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ebayvet
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posted on July 10, 2005 11:23:33 AM new
Yeah, I am wrong about that, it is the Global Priority Mail flat rate envelopes that have a limit on them.
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on July 12, 2005 08:06:40 PM new
There is a weight limit on Priority Mail Flat rate envelopes and box's. It is 70 pounds though. Good luck fitting 70 pounds in one of those little box's. I have filled them with brass key blanks (52 pounds), full to top with steel chain (48 pounds), full to top with stainless steel padlocks (65 pounds). I have gotten close to the 70 pound limit but never reached it. Those flat rate box's are the best thing the post office ever did. One down side is your mail man will learn to hate you if you use free carrier pick up  I think I had a pile of 9 or 10 for him one day and every one was over 40 pounds. His car was sagging a little in the rear when he pulled out of my driveway that day. Another great feature about them is you can use them to Guam, Alaska, Hawaii and any other US Province. If you get over 20 pounds in one though use alot of reinforced fiber tape so the box does not explode. When I get done with them it's hard to tell it's a priority mail box because of all the tape I wrap around them. Now if they would just come out with a larger size like the large size priority mail box for around $15 or $20 I would be in shipping heaven.
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sparkz
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posted on July 12, 2005 08:30:28 PM new
Mike...I was just going to mention that. I sold some airline china to a lady in Hawaii. She thought they were tourist class plastic. She didn't read the description, they were first class stoneware by Pfaltzgraff. She wanted me to ship first class instead of priority so she could save on shipping. After I told her the weight and what it would cost, I brought up the $7.70 flat rate priority rate. She was thrilled. It had not occurred to me that these flat rate boxes can be lifesavers when shipping to Alaska, Hawaii or any U.S. possession.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
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