Postage Problems - Everyone Please Read

9 years ago

Of the last three trades I've done, one showed up on time, one showed up a week later than expected (with postage due) and another still hasn't shown up. I expect that insufficient postage is also the reason the last trade hasn't shown up.

The purpose of this post is to advise traders not to be stingy with postage. After a bit of Googling and speaking to my postmaster, I have learned that postage is calculated mostly by size, weight and thickness of envelopes. If you are sending standard envelopes with seeds enclosed in bubble wrap, one forever stamp is not enough. A single forever stamp will cover a standard envelope weighing up to one ounce and no more than 1/4 inch thick. If you're sending seeds in bubble wrap, you probably have them sandwiched between two sheets of bubble wrap. That will probably not fit through their 1/4 inch slot, especially when you factor in envelopes, baggies and lumpy seeds.

I suspect this may be the reason that many traders don't get their seeds. The postmaster advised me that you can either take your envelope into the post office and pay for postage there, or you can simply slap two forever stamps on it. There is also a lot of variation in how different postmasters interpret the rules. Better to be safe and considerate and just put an extra stamp on there so the person on the receiving end doesn't end up having to pay your postage. This post is not directed at anyone. It's just a heads-up for my fellow traders.

If any of the above information is incorrect, feel free to call me out on it, as nobody ever taught me the finer points of postage and I'm just sort of learning as I go. Also, if anyone more experienced than myself wants to chime in with their knowledge, please do so.

Featured Answer

val (MA z6)

9 years ago

Adam, you raise an important point that alot of newbies dont know and/or just stick a stamp on and send, and/or some older traders just dont know or send anyway. It's also very important to PAD your seeds so they dont get crushed when going thru the mail machines. I see these topics come up all the time, and on different sites, and it cant' be said enough. NO ONE wants to pay postage due to get a trade they are owed. Or crushed seeds.

Here is a blog that suggests some ways to send your seeds for less costly postage

http://worldseedsupplydotnet.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-send-seeds-safely-through-mail.html

The popsicle sticks are only going to work if the seeds are smaller than the height of the popsicle sticks, and you should tape them to stay in place.

If you are sending 2-3-4 packs of smaller seeds, I take a business envelope (or a card envelope) and cut a piece of cardboard (less than 1/4" thick) and then cut a rectangle/square in that cardboard. I place the seed envelopes in the "hole" and when the postal machines process, they stay at the height of the cardboard, as there is cardboard on all sides. i like this better than the popsicle method, and recycle my cardboard boxes, etc. this way.

If you are sending a good number of seeds, thick seeds, bubble mailer, DONT just put 2 stamps on it and assume it's OK. ALL mail over 1/4" thickness are considered a package and start at the $2.67 rate. This is why in this case, it's better to do larger seed trades to make it worth the postage. I've gotten small bubble envelopes that people put a couple stamps on and send...they come postage due, of course.

If you get a postage due trade, take a photo and send it to the person who sent it to you. They should make good and refund your postage paid. But it's much better to put the appropriate amount of postage when you send in the first place :D

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Comments (7)

Annie (Georgia / USDA Hardiness Zone 8A)
9 years ago
There is also an extra ounce stamp.
EricaBraun
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
My go-to site for all things postage:

http://www.nerdylorrin.net/jerry/postages/
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albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
9 years ago
The 'standard' or 'free' i.e. no extra shipping charges, from Amazon and Walmart are showing up later than their websites forecasts. There may be a delay of a day or three within USPS handling too.
Adam Chester
Original Author
9 years ago
If I have larger seeds, they go in a bubble mailer and I take it to the post office and let them determine postage. If I have smaller seeds or a smaller trade, I put them in bubble wrap in a normal envelope with two forever stamps and that seems to do the trick. I haven't had any complaints yet and if I do ever make a mistake, hopefully the person on the receiving end will let me know so I don't repeat it. I've heard that postmasters are left to interpret the rules as they see fit, which my postmaster confirmed when I asked her about it. So while some may be more lenient, others may run the post office gestapo style.
jlhart76
9 years ago
I prefer taking mine inside anyway, that way I get a tracking number and know they reached their new home safely. Also, you can put stamps on it and have one post office say it's fine, then the receiving one says it's not. If you take them in and let them post it, you know it's the correct amount.
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If you have a Paypal account and a scale, you can purchase USPS postage for any class USPS mail, get a tracking number and print your own label, all from the comfort of home. I do it all the time and it saves me a trip not only inside the post office, but to the post office. (You can also purchase postage directly through USPS, but I don't think you can buy First Class or Media mail on the USPS site - that is why I use Paypal.)

Here's the link to purchase the postage label on Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/shiplabel/create/

Here's what I purchased for blank labels - they are 8 1/2 x 11" (regular paper size), two (2) labels to a page. They fit USPS labels perfectly.

Labels on eBay

Here's the scale I bought - love it - saves me so much time - weighs fractional ounces up to 55 pounds - I paid under $20 for it in 2008. Be sure to sort results to show Price + Shipping: lowest first:

Scales on eBay

EDIT: Just updated/corrected links so they should work now.

Carol in Jacksonville