How do you mail your seeds?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Hi everyone,

I wanted to start a thread to see how people mail their seed trades. I've recently completed a few trades and noticed that there's a lot of different methods (and costs) for sending them. I'm going to post how I've sent/received seeds and I'd love to hear how you guys send yours (for small, medium, and large trades). I'm asking this, since I've read that there have been a lot of cases of letters/large envelopes being "upgraded" to a parcel designation, either when you take it to the post office or when the person receives it no matter what the size.

Letters (49 cents) : I've only received one trade like this, and it's sort of the impetus for me starting this thread. I received an 11 pack trade with a mixture of small bean seeds, corn, melons/watermelon, as well as small seeds packed in a 3x6 envelope with a piece of bubble wrap in the back and seeds stacked from biggest to smallest (biggest seeds next to the bubble wrap) thickness 1/4". The seed baggies, which were about the same size as the envelope seemed to provide additional protection on the non-padded side. All seeds were received in perfect condition and there was no postage due.

First Class Large Envelope (98 cents-3.62): This has become my go to method for sending trades of 15-30 seed packs. I use a 5x7 bubble envelope that is ~1/4" thick when empty. I've been able to send large and small seeds with these envelopes and they have all arrived in good condition with no postage due. I've also received seeds in good condition with no postage due via this method as well; some envelopes were much larger and definitely bordering on being over the 3/4" thickness limitation.

First Class Parcel (2.54-4.54): I send seeds as parcels when I participate in swaps since I send in 100+ packs and because it's nice to have a tracking number. I use whatever size bubble envelope fits all of my seeds and haven't had any problems with smashed seeds, and of course no postage due ;).

Featured Answer

Karen Holt

10 years ago

My preferred method is all about size of seed and amount of packets I'm sending. Small seed, small amount of seed packets (3-8) will go in envelope with bubble wrap. Is the envied being sent back to me or one being returned to me in a trade? They will get a sasbe no matter size or quantity.

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Comments (6)

Sandra
Original Author
10 years ago
Karen, thanks for responding to my questions.

Do you mean a regular letter envelope with some bubble wrap that you add or a bubble envelope (like the manila ones)?

I'm not sure what you mean by sending a SASBE, do you mean when you respond to SASE offers you send bubble envelopes no matter the size or quantity?
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Karen Holt
10 years ago
Ah, sasbe is bubble envelope. Sase is a reg envelope that include a sheet of bubble wrap. If someone is offering a ton of seed for sase, I'll send the bubble envelope. If it's only 3-5 seeds, 2 stamps alone is good. Usually the one offering for sase will tell you what they need. As in, send 2 stamps or send a sase or sasbe. If it is an even trade, meaning pack for pack, each trader sends what is called for.
Sandra thanked Karen Holt
little_minnie
10 years ago
I've received many trades postage due and many trades in plain envelopes with no protection and smashed seeds. I don't think the manila bubble envelopes are necessary but a lot can be done with a regular envelope and some extra padding. The PO is a PITA! I have gotten different information depending on who I talk to. I've had seeds travel all the way to me with their PO thinking it is fine and then having my PO think postage is due when it isn't or some of the time but not all the time. Ok you got me started! aaarrrggg
Sandra thanked little_minnie
tergrov
10 years ago
I save old bubble wrap envelope and reuse them
Sandra thanked tergrov
Sandra
Original Author
10 years ago
Little_Minnie- Sorry to hear that you've gotten packages with postage due/smashed seeds. I've only been trading seeds for the past few months and luckily have not encountered any problems. I agree that bubble envelopes aren't absolutely necessary, if you've figured out a method to protect the seeds in a regular envelope (like I wrote in my original post about the trade I received in a regular envie... all seeds arrived in perfect condition). The post office can definitely be a pain in the you know what ;) I've taken to using the self check out kiosk so that I don't get over charged for sending bubble envelopes that are under 3/4". The self check out kiosk in my post office has a slot that only Large Flat Envelopes and Letters will fit through... so they can't say I'm not following guidelines. Now I can avoid the lines and the automatic parcel designation that the mail clerks are fond of :)

tergrov- I do the same thing! My sister buys a ton of stuff from ebay and they always come in bubble envelopes so I tell her to save them all for me. Haven't had to buy a single one of my bubble envelopes yet :)