"New" Postal Regulation is going to cost us more for shipping.
03-24-2011, 03:55 PM
#41
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: A Hop from Heaven, a Skip from Sanity and a Jump from the Good Life....
Posts: 6,665
Originally Posted by lynnsim
The small flat rate box is almost useless. While the medium & large size boxes are nice, they're also lots more money. The flat rate envelope has always been the way to go. That being said, I have ordered the new padded flat rate envelopes and have used them twice. Works very well.
Just print the pages I uploaded on page one and take it with you when you go to the post office.
03-24-2011, 04:03 PM
#43
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,850
Is it possible that the postal service is trying to say, hey the flat rate envelopes are NOT made for things other than paper? Common sense, do you want your parcel to arrive safely in one piece or have the package torn where things have vanished?
The postal service is protecting themselves here by trying to make it safer for the customer to mail things. Accidents do happen! I had ordered some items from a store on the west coast, it arrived torn - was a bubble envelope, should have been a flat rate box! It was overstuffed, no wonder it tore. Everything was there, but still.
I think perhaps that is what the postal service is trying to prevent so that mail gets delivered properly.
The postal service is protecting themselves here by trying to make it safer for the customer to mail things. Accidents do happen! I had ordered some items from a store on the west coast, it arrived torn - was a bubble envelope, should have been a flat rate box! It was overstuffed, no wonder it tore. Everything was there, but still.
I think perhaps that is what the postal service is trying to prevent so that mail gets delivered properly.
03-24-2011, 04:27 PM
#44
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 81
Originally Posted by quiltingsavta
Oh my, I'm so sorry to be hearing all these "bad" vibes from everyone. I work for the PO and as I've said before in other posts, there is always a reason why something doesn't work. Things change, sometimes overnight with no warning...just like gas prices going up, and milk at the supermarket, etc...you never have warning for that. Please be mindful that there are Postal workers who are nice people. If you really have a complaint with the PO, there is always your Consumer Affairs Office, I don't think this is the venue for it. always ask for a receipt if you can't wait to mail something, then call or write to the office that should be handling your issues. There is a phone number you can call too - it's 1-800-ASK-USPS. Sorry - just sharing my opinions like everyone else is.
03-24-2011, 04:38 PM
#45
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: east coast of SC
Posts: 1,176
Originally Posted by countrycottage
Many of us have been happily using the flat rate mailers to mail fabric that we sell. So, today, I take four of the $4.95 mailers to our post office; 2 of them contained 3 yards, the other two had 4 and 5. Keep in mind that the rule has been (and this is advertised on TV too) "if it fits, it ships". The only other rule was that it had to fasten with it's own adhesive strip, and not require any additional tape. Today, however, the postal worker informed me that the first two packages could go, but the other two could not at that rate. When I reminded her of the aforementioned rule, she stated that just last week, they got a new guideline for the flat rate mailers that included a maximum thickness, (which, by the way, looks like anything more than 3 yards would not qualify) and she showed me the printout. I argued that until the PO pulls their cute little ad on TV, or changes it to reflect the new rules, that the old regs. should still apply. Finally, our postmaster (probably to get rid of me)decided to let the packages go this time, but said next time, I had to follow their new regs. So, on top of the increase in price of yardage at quilt shops, we get to pay more in shipping for fabric purchases made online. I for one, am most aggravated about this, and I doubt I am the only one.
03-24-2011, 05:42 PM
#48
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,229
I know; just when I get used to the rates, they go up again. I guess we're pretty lucky. My small post office staff are friendly and helpful. The only problem is sometimes there are not enough working; but that is not the staff problem.
03-24-2011, 06:00 PM
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Maryland
Posts: 4,449
Gosh ghee, I keep reading here and this was talked about once before. Postage rates on boxes and envelopes etc. We all want the least expensive rate for mailing that is a given. But also we want our mail to arrive in good shape. Over stuffing a box or envelope risks the chance of ruined contents if not lost parts. Many complaints are aimed at the postal carrier or office when packages are some damaged or worse, but we have to take responsibility for how we package them. If the postal clerk says the package cannot be mailed because of excess stress to the package, we should be happy for their concern. Money is tight these days for sure and spending wisely is the rule. A package delivered in tact is worth more than one ripped and contents ruined or soiled. A little more spent for ease of mind is worth the price and I am not rich, just practical.
03-24-2011, 06:15 PM
#50
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,229
I agree, roseOfSharon. As a matter of fact, when I used the padded flat rate envelope yesterday, I could have mailed the package 1st class. However, I was mailing off a bweautiful round robin and didn't want to take a chance on having it lost in the mail. I feel more confident doing DC and using priority. Of coure, I use shipping assisant, so use DC even when mailing 1st class.
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