U.s. Postage And Non-Machinable Items

[ssbbg]

So, I was mailing some cards today. I remember that the United States postal service now has some weird rules about the size and shape of first class mail. Annoyingly, while my cards passed the size tests (length between this and this, height between this and this) they failed the shape test (length/ height must be greater than 1.3 and less than 2.5). My cards were 1.1.

 

This means the card cannot be sorted by machine, and is subject to a surcharge (not explicitly stated), but which appears to be 20 cents.

 

As far as I can tell, first class postage can be purchased in 44 cent stamps (amount for a 'regular' 1 oz first class letter) and 2 cent stamps (make up to current rate from old rate)

 

Thus, I have the following choices:

1) Go to a post office, wait in line, and get them to print me a stamp for the exact amount 64 cents

2) Put two regular postages stamps on (88 cents) and over pay by 24 cents

3) Put one regular stamp and 10!! two cent stamps on my card- though there isn't enough room.

 

None of these choices make me happy. I went with #2, because a trip to my local post office has never taken less than an hour.

 

Am I missing something obvious about how to mail items like this without wasting a bunch of time, or over paying the postage? Do I have to bring a ruler and a calculator every time I shop for stationery?

 

My cards were handwritten with my new Ahab pen. I was very happy with how they turned out. Then I tried to figure out postage...I'm a big supporter of the post office, but I'm not happy they got an extra dollar of postage out of me (I had 4 cards).

 

Louise

[Woody]

You could have bought 20¢ stamps and add them to 44¢ stamps to make the 64¢ postage rate, or you could've simply bought 64¢ stamps.

[Rita_K]

I usually put the square card and envelope into a rectangular envelope and then no extra postage is needed. I recently bought a box of square note cards that came with rectangular envelopes and there was a note saying no additional postage required. There is a little partition in the envelope so that the note card fits securely. It was the first time I had seen anything like that. If you send a lot of square cards I would agree with Woody that you should just get some 64¢ stamps to have on hand.

 

The rule that I was not aware of is that if they can't bend the envelope there is a different rate applied. I found that out by trying to mail a CD of family photos along with a Christmas card. I thought I would just have to pay for the extra weight but the rate itself was different. Who knew ?

 

Glad you're enjoying your new Ahab. I'm loving mine as well.

[watch_art]

Can't you buy stamps online?

[ssbbg]

Can't you buy stamps online?

 

I buy my stamps online at the US mail website. I've never seen 20 cent or 64 cent stamps, hence my question. The only stamps I saw are 44/forever or 1 or 2 cent stamps. (Or more expensive stamps like priority mail).

 

In the distant past, I remember being able to buy other values of stamps.

 

So, to those who suggested it, where have you bought 64 or 20 cent stamps? Are they only available at the post office? If they are online, could you please provide a link, because I've spent a fair amount of time looking online for other valued stamps.) That was part of my frustration- as far as I know, there isn't a stamp to make up the difference for the non-machinable fee.

 

Okay, I am an idiot. I looked under "first class", and "price change", but there is a third category of "additional postage" which does have bunch of other values.

 

Thanks!

 

Louise

[ssbbg]

I usually put the square card and envelope into a rectangular envelope and then no extra postage is needed. I recently bought a box of square note cards that came with rectangular envelopes and there was a note saying no additional postage required. There is a little partition in the envelope so that the note card fits securely. It was the first time I had seen anything like that. If you send a lot of square cards I would agree with Woody that you should just get some 64¢ stamps to have on hand.

 

The rule that I was not aware of is that if they can't bend the envelope there is a different rate applied. I found that out by trying to mail a CD of family photos along with a Christmas card. I thought I would just have to pay for the extra weight but the rate itself was different. Who knew ?

 

Glad you're enjoying your new Ahab. I'm loving mine as well.

 

Putting it in to another envelope never occurred to me! I'll have to remember that.

 

There is a whole series of rules about the machines- there is also a max thickness (in addition to weight.) I just want to stick a stamp on it, and toss it in the mail, not parse the US Mail website.

[meowmda]

We order the 20 cent stamps for work all the time, through the USPS website.

 

USPS.com 20 cent stamp

[professionaldilettante]

Well... how much did you pay for the stationary? I would say that it's just a minor inconvenience mailing odd things. Wired magzine has a running contest to see who can get the strangest thing through the USPS. I think I saw an orange once... covered in stamps. Anyways, it's just a few more cents that I would just consider part of an expensive hobby. Pens.. paper... ink... sealing wax... etc...

[demicolon]

Some post office branches have an automated postage calculator; there's a screen that walks you through entering information about what you want to mail, then a scale and a ruler that figures out how much it'll cost to send, and then it prints out postage for you on the spot that you can pay for with a card. The post office I use even has that available 24/7 in the lobby; so long as I'm sending something that fits through the drop-off slot, it's all good.

[GreenVelvet]

There is a whole series of rules about the machines- there is also a max thickness (in addition to weight.) I just want to stick a stamp on it, and toss it in the mail, not parse the US Mail website.

 

The rules are there for some good reasons... if your non-machinable items get sent accidentally through the machines, they will be destroyed.

 

As for wanting to stick a stamp on it, and not parse the postal service website... I guess when you send as much mail as I do, you just sort of internalize and remember all the rules.

 

I have a hand-held scale for weight (that's why I go up to the 64-cent option, more than shape), but I don't have calipers for width. I sort of wish I did, but usually I err on the side of excess. Our postal service rates are still among the most reasonable in the world, comparatively, and I often choose stamps for the look of them. I don't mind throwing on a few extra cents.

 

And, incidentally, I have stamps in almost every denomination known to the history of the postal service on hand anyway...

[ssbbg]

Well... how much did you pay for the stationary? I would say that it's just a minor inconvenience mailing odd things. Wired magzine has a running contest to see who can get the strangest thing through the USPS. I think I saw an orange once... covered in stamps. Anyways, it's just a few more cents that I would just consider part of an expensive hobby. Pens.. paper... ink... sealing wax... etc...

 

 

I've never seen that contest. An orange! Completely awesome! How much does that cost? Can you send it through first class mail?

 

As for your main point, I see it differently. I'm writing a letter, by hand, on paper. I've carefully selected a pen, an ink that shades, a paper that enhances my pen/ink choice. I draft the letter (on the computer), spell check it, write it out to make sure it fits, rule lines on my card, and rewrite. Erase the lines, and then... I should be ready to go, but, I have to measure my card/letter in 3 dimensions, do some math and compare the results to the US Mail's webpage (which isn't straightforward- they no longer explicitly state the charge for non-machinable), then I have to to figure out how to make the correct postage from what I have. My hobby ended half way through that list! The rest is an inconvenience!

 

Besides, that dollar (in excess postage) could go towards another bottle of ink. Really, the sending letters part is just an annoyance, necessary to justify the excessive amount of ink that I buy.

 

First class mail is declining, why put additional barriers on people mailing letters. When you need a ruler and a calculator to determine postage, then I think there is something wrong. I'd rather pay a few cents more to have a set first class rate rather than this two tier (machinable v. nonmachinable) system.

 

Anyway, after being clued in my helpful fpners that there are other denominations of postage (why oh why doesn't the post office online store make this more obvious!), I've purchase enough "other values" of stamps to start my own post office. Since mail rates are going up in the new year, I assume that the non-machinable charge will also increase, so I bought one sheet of everything. I may mail an orange.

[ssbbg]

Some post office branches have an automated postage calculator; there's a screen that walks you through entering information about what you want to mail, then a scale and a ruler that figures out how much it'll cost to send, and then it prints out postage for you on the spot that you can pay for with a card. The post office I use even has that available 24/7 in the lobby; so long as I'm sending something that fits through the drop-off slot, it's all good.

 

The last two cities I've lived in have not had this option. Well, the first city did, but then closed the post-office with the machine. The next closest office did not have the machine. I agree that the automated system isn't too bad, if you have that option.

[tfwall]

As for your main point, I see it differently. I'm writing a letter, by hand, on paper. I've carefully selected a pen, an ink that shades, a paper that enhances my pen/ink choice. I draft the letter (on the computer), spell check it, write it out to make sure it fits, rule lines on my card, and rewrite. Erase the lines, and then... I should be ready to go, but, I have to measure my card/letter in 3 dimensions, do some math and compare the results to the US Mail's webpage (which isn't straightforward- they no longer explicitly state the charge for non-machinable), then I have to to figure out how to make the correct postage from what I have. My hobby ended half way through that list! The rest is an inconvenience!

 

Besides, that dollar (in excess postage) could go towards another bottle of ink. Really, the sending letters part is just an annoyance, necessary to justify the excessive amount of ink that I buy.

 

First class mail is declining, why put additional barriers on people mailing letters. When you need a ruler and a calculator to determine postage, then I think there is something wrong. I'd rather pay a few cents more to have a set first class rate rather than this two tier (machinable v. nonmachinable) system.

 

As first class mail is a loss leading proposition for the USPS, consider making your contribution to keeping it alive by always using too much postage. Help in some small way to defray the losses by using two, three, four stamps for your letters. Odd shaped or non-machinable? Throw on another two stamps. If space on the envelope is of concern, start buying $1 stamps for all your postage needs.

 

Consider it a small fee to avoid the hassles and keep first class mail going a while longer. You won't have to give a thought to measurements again, you can just focus on the hobby portions that you enjoy.

 

 

[JohnS-MI]

Well... how much did you pay for the stationary? I would say that it's just a minor inconvenience mailing odd things. Wired magzine has a running contest to see who can get the strangest thing through the USPS. I think I saw an orange once... covered in stamps. Anyways, it's just a few more cents that I would just consider part of an expensive hobby. Pens.. paper... ink... sealing wax... etc...

 

 

I've never seen that contest. An orange! Completely awesome! How much does that cost? Can you send it through first class mail?

 

As for your main point, I see it differently. I'm writing a letter, by hand, on paper. I've carefully selected a pen, an ink that shades, a paper that enhances my pen/ink choice. I draft the letter (on the computer), spell check it, write it out to make sure it fits, rule lines on my card, and rewrite. Erase the lines, and then... I should be ready to go, but, I have to measure my card/letter in 3 dimensions, do some math and compare the results to the US Mail's webpage (which isn't straightforward- they no longer explicitly state the charge for non-machinable), then I have to to figure out how to make the correct postage from what I have. My hobby ended half way through that list! The rest is an inconvenience!

 

Besides, that dollar (in excess postage) could go towards another bottle of ink. Really, the sending letters part is just an annoyance, necessary to justify the excessive amount of ink that I buy.

 

First class mail is declining, why put additional barriers on people mailing letters. When you need a ruler and a calculator to determine postage, then I think there is something wrong. I'd rather pay a few cents more to have a set first class rate rather than this two tier (machinable v. nonmachinable) system.

 

Anyway, after being clued in my helpful fpners that there are other denominations of postage (why oh why doesn't the post office online store make this more obvious!), I've purchase enough "other values" of stamps to start my own post office. Since mail rates are going up in the new year, I assume that the non-machinable charge will also increase, so I bought one sheet of everything. I may mail an orange.

 

An orange is a package.

 

Every major postal service in the world has gone to size and weight pricing with rules on minimum and maximum sizes and aspect ratio for letters. There are separate rules (and higher prices per unit weight) for large letters (which USPS calls "flats") and packages. Having looked at some of the other rules around the world, USPS is pretty accomodating, and the non-machinable surcharge is better than outright forbidding the odd-size envelope.

 

Really, you just need to learn what standard size envelopes meet the standard and use them. A letter is very unlikely to exceed the 0.25" thickness limit unless it is quite a few sheets. The main problem is cards which tend to be more squarish, but if the height is less than 3/4 the length, you're OK. It is pretty easy to judge this in the store.

[JohnS-MI]

There is a whole series of rules about the machines- there is also a max thickness (in addition to weight.) I just want to stick a stamp on it, and toss it in the mail, not parse the US Mail website.

 

 

It does require some parsing. USPS offers (sells?) a template under the number "Notice 3A" and unwieldy title "Letter-Size Mail Dimensional Standard Template." There is a low res. and useless image on the USPS website. Several companies associated with bulk mailing offer a free, cleaned-up, pdf verion of it which will print correct size on legal paper. Here is one: http://www.mailitplus.com/pdfs/Notice3A.pdf

(no affiliation, not even a customer, Google found it)

 

 

My browser add-on didn't like changing to legal paper. I had to save the file and open it with "real" Adobe Reader. It has all the rules on one sheet of paper, and you can lay the envelope on the template for easy go/no-go, no other ruler or math required. It also shows postcard limits. It fails to show one rule: for domestic mail USPS accepts a minimum length of 5" (marked), but for international mail, it is 5.5". I suggest adding this to your copy.

[Pendragon]

In case it helps, this price list shows the first class mail prices, including the nonmachinable surcharge. Some of the rates will change on January 22, 2012.

[stonezebra]

Or you could go to your largest local post office and ask if they have the FREE "First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing Template" (that's the exact name). It's a largish card you can lay your envelopes on (or slip thru a handy slot) to see if they are the appropriate size/shape. They also have the 'rules' printed on them so you don't have to remember them. I love mine and use it all the time. It's saved me many a trip to the post office. I also bought a small scale at the "kitchen store" which is accurate enough for me.

 

I buy a lot of my stamps at the Postal Store (run by the PO) and there's a special stamp just for square envelopes (some of the card envelopes actually have "extra post required" printed right on them so you know before you buy)

Edited December 31, 2011 by stonezebra