Perhaps the "rules" on SASE's have changed? Recently I've received two padded envelopes for seeds that I offered for SASE.
I feel really bad because these folks have spent $.70 or more to send the padded envelope to me, plus the cost of the padded envelope AND the postage back. That makes it unnecessarily expensive to someone wanting a packet or two of seeds.
As far as I know, SASE offers generally assume that you will send a self-addressed stamped envelope (regular, legal-size envelope, no padding) to the trader. Who in turn will protect the seeds with bubble wrap, tissue paper, thin foam, what-have-you.
No need to pay the USPS twice to send a padded envelope round-trip :)
I've also had traders send me a METERED envelope which is not good - the USPS requires that metered mail be sent the day the metered postmark is created. I can't use it if it's several days old. So take a minute to purchase some stamps, or order them online and have them sent directly to your mailbox if you don't have time to stand in line at the post office.
For more good advice on trading seeds, please take a few minutes to read the trading primer: http://plantsdatabase.com/go/857.html - it could save you some $$ and headaches!
After reading the primer, if you still have a trading question, feel free to send an email to the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page and Dave will see to it that we get it answered and included in the primer. Happy trading!
SASE?
I would have to agree. Most SASE's that I do... I just have the person send a mailing label and postage.
Since I already have the wrap and envelopes, depending on the size of the packs and how many there are... it is much cheaper in the long run. Especially if the person is new to SASE's. I have got too many small envelopes wanting a large # of seed packs. And since they had already put the postage on, it did make it rather difficult for me on this end...
Just my .02 cents!
SYR36
If the person they are sending a SASE to wants the bubble envelope they can mail it with their return postage inside and a address label to put over the one they mailed it to that way they are helping the person and the same envelope can be reused. Some post offices won't take envelopes anymore with bubble wrap in them they want the bubble envelopes. This is all in the primer but thought it was worth mentioning.
My post office here has a fit over a
regular size legal envelope with bubble
wrap inside.They say they get stuck in
their machines. So for a sase,i send
a brown,i think,6 x 9 non-padded
envelope with my name and postage
on it,inside a regular envelope.
For trades i use the same brown
envelope with bubble wrap around
the seeds. They can't run that size
envelope through their machines.
That's the only way they will take
my sase here. I can get those type
of envelopes for lots cheaper than
the bubble mailers. the bubble
mailers here are like 50 cents each,
I can get the others 20 for 2.00
dollars. Every post office is
different i guess around the US.
Every time i go in there the guy
says,more seeds going out. Yep!
So the moral to the story is to communicate carefully when setting up a trade - if you're not sure what the person with the seeds wants you to send, please ask!
I prefer loose postage (for bigger seeds) or a legal-sized SASE for smaller seeds (my P.O. will still take the legal-size envelopes with reasonable padding IF there is adequate postage - $.45 or $.55.) And I just hate to see a bubble-envelope (or anything similar) mailed to me so I can turn around and mail it back.
I re-use bubble envelopes until they are beyond hope, as do many traders (I know because I send AND receive them, LOL.) If I occasionally have to break down and buy some new ones to mail out trades, I figure I still have come out far ahead in the long-run, given all the seeds I have received in re-usable envelopes and all the wonderful friendships that have started as a result of trading. Well worth the expense of a few envelopes to send out trades, IMHO
Whoa! Have I been missing something?
I have been trading for a number of years, now, and have _never_ been in a situation where the seed sender is responsible for the padding.
Maybe you flower-seed people do it that way? I don't do flowers, so don't know. But among veggie seed traders it's the requester who incurs the costs of an SASE trade.
At base, the seed supplier is doing this as a favor, and shouldn't have to do anything except pop the seed envelope inside the mailing envelope.
On my own trades, I use, and insist upon from the other person, a padded envelope. Those bubble-envelopes aren't expensive if you buy them in 10 packs at places like Wally World. And, as G-V notes, they get recycled forever. I'm looking at one now that has been back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean at least twice, plus a whole lot of other places.
BTW, to facilitate re-use, do not use the stickum that comes with those envelopes. Instead, merely tape the flap shut. Then it's only a matter of slitting the tape, with no damage to the envelope at all.
I use bubble envelopes quite often because it won't get caught in the sorting machines and the seeds don't get crushed. I just write the persons address that I'm sendind it to in small letters and include a labe with my name and address to be placed right over their name.As Brook says use tape to seal it and then the person sending the seeds can use the sticky flap. My PO doesn't like the regular envelopes with the bubble wrap and have suggested this to me.
While I agree that the requester should usually incur all the costs in the case of sase's, it's sometimes not worth it like Terry said in the beginning. Heirlooms/OP seeds that have been isolated for trueness and trades of multiple packets of seeds are certaily worth the 2$ or more expense in sending padded mailers both ways, but are seeds from a hybrid petunia that may have crossed with three other colors or just a couple packages of seeds worth that? I tend to agree with Terry on not needing a padded mailer for just a couple packets of seeds. I'm of the mindset that the people I'm sending to are kind of doing me a bit of a favor, too, in taking the seeds I can't plant off my hands. I HATE to see seeds of any kind go to waste. BUT it's STILL the sender that's doing the big favor and lion's share of the work, so requestors should do everything possible to incur the costs and make it easy on the sender.
On the other thread about this, I've posted what I think is best http://davesgarden.com/showthread/220488.html and it was kind of long, so I won't do it again here. ;-) I do think it all boils down to good communication on both parts. When I've offered seeds for sase in the past, I've specified my preferences clearly and it all seems to work out fine.
A 6x9 EMPTY bubble envelope can be mailed for 45 cents. When I agree to send seeds for SASE, I ask the requester send me a bubble envelope with a self-addressed peel-and-stick label, adequate postage, and a reminder note inside. When I receive it, I read the nore, place the seeds inside, stick on the label and the stamps, and drop in the mail. They don't have to worry about whether I'll pad their seeds, get their address correct, or use enough postage. I don't have to hunt up an envelope and padding, decipher handwriting, or stand in line at the PO to get it weighed. Once their label is stuck over my name, any extra postage needed will be collected from them, on delivery. When I send a SASE to someone, this is what I send, and I've never had any trouble with seeds coming in crushed.
I'm really wondering what's going on with USPS now.. envelope problems, mail getting lost, etc. Weird. They should really do something and get new workers at least to some places what I've understood. :]
AT THIS TIME I WILL ADD MY 2 CENTS WORTH. I HAVE 20 SASE TRADES GOING ON AT THIS TIME. AS I AM CANADIAN, I ASKED THAT IF YOU WERE NOT FROM CANADA THAT YOU SEND ME A DOLLAR.
FOR THIS YOU GOT A NEW BUBBLE ENVELOPE WITH 10 PACKAGES OF SEEDS POSTAGE PAID TO YOUR DOOR.
THE PADDED MAILERS COST ME 37 CENTS PLUS 15% SALES TAX EACH AND TO MAIL TO THE U.S. IT IS 66 CENTS PLUS 7% TAX. I REALIZE THAT IT MAY SEEM AS IF I WAS CHARGING FOR THE SEEDS BUT I NEEDED TO PUT CANADIAN POSTAGE ON THEM AND FIGURED IT WAS CHEAPER THIS WAY INSTEAD OF HAVEING TO MAIL ME THE PADDED ENVELOPE. OF COURSE I GAVE EACH PERSON THE CHOICE.
IT WAS ALSO EASIER FOR ME AS I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT 20 BUBBLE ENVELOPES, LINED THEM UP AND PUT THE SEEDS IN THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME. NOW AS THE DOLLAR COMES IN I SIMPLY PUT THERE NAME AND POSTAGE ON IT AND SEND IT OUT.
DOES ANYONE OUT THERE THINK I DID SOMETHING WRONG BY NOT PROVIDING THE ENVELOPE? I SURE HOPE NOT.
I LOVE TO SHARE AND SEE MY SEEDS GROWING IN SOMEONE ELSES GARDEN BUT DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD COST ME MORE THAN THE 10 OR CENTS THAT IT DID.
trailingon, without looking at the exchange rates between the U.S. and Canada, I'd say it's more than a fair deal for someone to send you $1 US, in exchange for an envelope and the postage back.
Another Canadian DG member did a similar set-up last year, and I got a terrific assortment of seeds for $1 - I thought it was MORE than fair; in fact, it was a great deal.
trailingon, I am one of those that sent you a dollar. I didn't in any way think that you were charging for the seeds or anything like that. I know you can't use US stamps when mailing, so I was happy to send postage and envelope money in exchange for the seeds. In fact, you actually saved us money with not having to mail a padded envelope to you in Canada.
Hugs,
Joan
Trailagain, I have not traded with you. However, I wouldn't hesitate to trade under those terms.
To answer your question directly: I doubt that anybody thinks you did anything wrong by that system. Nor do I think anybody thought you were selling seeds. Most of us recognize that the rules have to be modified when national borders are involved.
trailingon, I also was more than happy to send a dollar, and got many times that in return. was happy to do it that way:) thanks.
Ditto what Brook said. I think you came up with a great solution to a border problem!