Capt.Micha,
I just got 2 orders of 25 boxes each 2 different sizes. In fact, I thought you were the one that got me started ordering the boxes from USPS. I tried to print out the sample twice but it didn't happen.
I didn't think about ordering tape etc. I had to give up my mailbox on the highway because the snowplows kept beating it up so bad. Now I have to drive 14 miles to a postoffice.
Shipping Tips
I love those free boxes! I think the whole box obsession comes from my not too distant childhood. You know, you give a kid and toy and they play with the box instead?
Jnette, there's supossed to be some kind of download... it asked me twice whether I would accept a certificate when I tried the sample and then again when I printed actual postage. Did you perhaps not accept? I certainly don't remember actually downloading anything unless that counts as a download.
You have to drive 14 miles to a postoffice EVERYTIME you have to mail something????! That's horrible, I bet you do all your bills online.
Michelle
I'm retired and don't have bills. haha I used to until I ran into a problem with one then decided I better go back to having a written back up. Now I hear they are going to do away with checks. Somehow, someway.
This is my only vice.
We do put a lot of miles (gas) on the car though. Would you believe 254,000 plus? We service the car regularly, oil and lube every 3,000 miles. I laughed and told the guy that we have to drive 90 miles just to do the oil change. I know you guys think we don't do any of this ourselves, but I schedule drs. appts. (those are 160 miles round trip) haircuts, groceries, etc. together.
Yes, we go to the post office several times a week. That is in a different direction.
I will try that again Michelle. Maybe I didn't follow through.
Jeanette
This is a great service. When I have to send someone postage prior to being sent a package, I just print a mailing label w/postage, with their return address & my mailing address...makes life easier for them & me!!
And I STILL can't believe they give you free boxes...UPS & FedEx must give them some heavy duty competition...
So Beth, tell me how do they collect the money for this postage? Paypal? I am having as hard a time with this one as you are with the free boxes. haha Jeanette
Credit/Check Card (Visa, etc)
If no one posted this yet, the best boxes for larger plants are the tube boxes.
The come in 2 sized and are long and narrow so if you're shipping something like banana pups, vines, etc. you can't beat them.
I just got a new gizmo from USPS this week for weighing packages. They are heavy plastic things that bend under weight. They are in 1, 2 & 3 lb strengths. You can combine for up to 6 lbs weight. You set your package on the 1lb bar and if it bends down to where the middle touches the table, you are over that lbs limit. If it doesn't touch, you are under that lb limit. Very easy to estimate weight.
Jan...
Budgie lover, I never thought about those tubes. They would be wonderful for plants so you wouldn't have to curl the tops etc. Good idea! The other thing, where did you get it? Locally or did you send to the USPS for it? Did you pay money for it? That sounds like a trip!
Here is something for all of you, I won 2 auctions on ebay for 2 doz plants. The seller sent them priority mail. They didn't come and didn't come, so after a week, thinking they were probably mush somewhere the seller refunded my money and postage.
8 days later they showed up. Actually in top condition. A real tribute to her packing. Not even a yellow leaf on them. However, when she called the post office and wanted a refund for the difference between priority shipping and standard, she was told that they did not guarantee 3 day shipping. They wouldn't pay even with insurance and the plants arrived dead. They said the best way was "express" which would cost $18 a lb. from her to me. Jeanette
That's really strange. Unless the package was lost or something.
Jan can you post a picture of that gizmo? It sounds very intriguing. Jeanette
Here is a link to the images. I didn't order. It just showed up in the mail.
The odd one is one of my cats enjoying a seed box. If only I could get him to pull weeds!
Jan...
http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid5505358
Jan,
Your seed box looks worse than mine. Didn't think that was possible but your cat sure looks like she enjoys it. And that is what counts. Jeanette
Why not just use a scale so it'll tell you exactly how much it weighs? The PO ones goes up to 20 lbs (I think) and you can use it in tp measure other things too.
Because some of print and pay for our mailing labels on line (especially since delivery confirmation is free this way). Also, the regular carrier picks up at the house if you notify them by 2am the day before. Why waste gas and time going to the post office if you don't have to. Personally, I work m-f 8-5 so unless I leave work and use my lunch time, I can go to the post office on Sat. am. I do have a postal digital scale at home but this gizmo is easy and free for those who don't have one or can't afford one.
Jnette: Fortunately, everything is in individual baggies inside larger baggies so he can't do much harm. It isn't usually left out unless I'm actively using it.
I was actually thinking of starting a post for organizing hints.
Jan...
I have to organize my seeds..or I would not be doing any trading! LOL I wouldn't be able to find anything. I have them organized in alphabetical order. And some that I have many of..have a folder inside the alphabetical oder..For example. I love plants in the Scrophulariaceae family. So they have their own section. Then I have the section for those in the Papilionaceae..and so on...But I alsways find a Kittie in my seed boxes...For some reason it fascinates them! LOL
This message was edited Oct 22, 2004 7:37 PM
Don't you girls know that is what winter is for. Organizing the seeds so that when the seed catalogs start showing up you are ready for them. jeanette
I meant the digital one that you can buy. But I hadn't taken into consideration how much it cost.
Jnette:
You forget I'm in Florida. I winter sow directly in the ground. I have annuals just starting to bloom
Jan...
Hi Jan, sorry, I have answered this twice and it doean't show up. I can't get my brain in gear for planting annuals. We just saw our first snow this morning a few miles from home. Once we get it, a normal year we have it until May. Gets very depressing. If there was a libarary for seed catalogs it would be very popular.
One more thing on shipping tips. Rural areas, don't send plants out on Saturdays!! They do not pick up so your plants are sitting in the post office if they happened to be open a couple of hours that day, or the grocery store that has some postal activities. etc. They will not go out until Monday. Jeanette
I know, now I am going to get a flood of emails saying they pick u[ for you. Count your blessings.
Out here on this rock in the middle of the ocean (Hawaii) USPS is a joke! Priority Mail takes between 3 and 15 days...but if you query a shipment, you have to wait 6 weeks because "Maybe they sent it by boat..." as if that IS an option!!! When I said, "but I paid for Priority not by boat" the response was, "well, maybe it went by boat". Hello?
There is a floral shipping assn here with a deal with FedEx...we pay a dues of 100$ per year and get a good discount...it is worth it.
What makes my blood boil is that these are OUR $ at work!!!
On the upside...wrapping plants/cuttings in newspaper not plastic can make all the difference int he world!!
I take a piece of damp (not dripping) paper tower and wrap just the roots.
Then put just the root area in a baggie. I then wrap the whole plants in newspaper. That way, the roots stamp moist but the plants doesn't rot.
Jan...
that is a good point! I have purchased plants from E-bay that were wrapped entirely in plastic. When I recieved them, they were mush!! Plants that I've purchased wrapped in newspaper with the roots in plastic and something damp, arrived in great shape!!
Hey Hawaii, I sure feel for you. In this day and age you would think that only passengers would go by boat. For a hefty fee of course. haha
Where are your congressmen/persons, Senators, etc. I would be so mad. Maybe they just figure you should be really laid back to be living there. Some things like that mail system would be enough to make me move. Jeanette
btw, I sure do agree with the wrapping procedures you guys talked about.
Some notes to add here, hope I didn't miss them...
My post master said labels and tape are no longer free because people abused them. The labels now have a water mark that says "Priority" on it and if you cut off the top to use it you can get into big trouble. It is the same with the tape. People were using it for everything but Priority mail so they stopped supplying it as well. And for those of you that turn boxes inside out to use them, big NO NO. My guy still gives me what he has but said a lot of things will be changing in the future because people didn't use them properly.
Must be all of us DGrs. Jeanette
Ran out of masking tape for windows during last hurricane so..............