I had this in the wrong Forum.
This may sound dumb but how do people send these envelopes without paying double postage, if I put them in another envelope they need 2- 37cent stamps, if you put your label, and stamps in the envelope and send it then there is a stamp mark on the envelope even if you peal of the old stamps
sending SASBE
As for the post stamp mark I donn't worry too much as long as the new stamps are over them, but sometimes I use a black felt tip marker over the markings. If you start with a new bubble env. and place clear tape where the address, return address, and stamp area. Then send the env. with the appropriate adresses... taped on the taped areas but include stamps, a return address label so the seed sender can easile remove the unwanted labels and place the new ones on and go from there. I have done this once or twice...
Well, I'll add to dumb....LOL. Do you write " hand cancel..seeds" on the envelope or don't you worry about it going through a machine? I thought they were radiating all the mail...does that hurt the seeds?
Writing Hand Cancel does not help.. If it is a certain thickness, they go thru the machine regardless...You can write"Hand Cancel" til you are blue in the face, lol...This is what the P.O. told me..Your post office throw it in the bin for you without the machine, but at the next stopt they are not hand handled, so here comes the machine..
Larkie
Good questions!!! This whole process seems like it could be handled better, but I can't figure out how. What we need are some little bubble packs that would fit in a regular envelope then one problem at least would be solved.
A little PayPal account for everyone would probably become a nightmare, but a person could then have the option of paying the sender for the bubble envelope and the postage, if that was agreeable. Also then if a person wanted to make a donation to "the cause"/help offset expenses for those so willing to share their seeds then that would be possible.
Anyone got any suggestions on how to improve the system???
Judy
I'm not sure a bubble env. in a white env. will work as the postage (.49) is for anything under 1oz. if it is too thick for machine canceling, which it is, thus it would still cost .49 in a white env.
maybe instead of sending the envelope we should all buy the bubble kind and have the person that want seeds sent that amount extra
Would that not cost even more? How cheep can you get a bubble env. for?
Yes but it would only require a regular stamp to get it there. Plus the small bubble envelopes are not available in some rural areas where they are not use often, besides they cost something like $.75 each if you can find them!!!
$.75 +.49+.49 = $1.73 for seeds that are "probably" good.????
versus
a few cents for the bubble slip to put in the envelope & $.74 total in postage.
At least a 50% savings, I would think.
Judy
You can get around 100 on ebay and a few places for a little over $20.00..
Larkie
As Kayaker said above,covering the postage and address areas with clear tape and putting the stamps and address labels on top seems to work well,and prolongs the useful life of the envelope.The labels and stamps peel off without a lot of bother.Some of the sase's get pretty ragged,but still make it.One recently received sase was so tired it had a facelift of a pristine sheet of white paper glued to the front.That's good recycling.
There are many many ways to send a SASE. You can place your bubble envelope in a non-bubble envelope. Also you can add a piece of bubble wrap to your envelope and place another envelope for return. A $.49 envelope isn't going to go through the machine anyway. You can be very very creative! I've received seeds made with construction paper envelopes. Also I received them with the envelope made out of Bubble wrap alone! no kidding! The envelope was see through like glass :-D No matter how you look at it. The SASE is cheaper then buying the seeds. There are seeds I want right now. I clicked on "Add to Cart" for the one packet of seed my Grand Toal was $7.90. I have to really really really want a type of seed to pay $8.00 for it. They wanted $4.95 for S/H and this is the majority of these companies :-(
I buy bubble envelopes at the Dollar Tree. The big ones are 2 to a pack for 1.00--You can cut those in half and use so that is 4/1.00--.25 verses .75--also reuse them till they just about fall apart. Someone sent me some seeds in one that had been cut down until it was about 3'x5' and it made it here fine. I have not had any problems sending tiny seeds in a regular envelope, or receiving them either, but the larger seeds will be crushed if you don't use bubble envy.
Sandra
Oh, I just wrap most bubble mailers in empty paper bags and address it to the other party, while filling out the info on the mailer to come back to me. I've used this old roll of white 'scribble' paper I've had around for years (Shhush, or the grandson will find out!). I stick a note in with the bubble mailer on an index card with a piece of tape (if I remember to tape it.) Sometimes I put boxing tape all over the front so I can reuse them if they're new, with no trouble, ie: stick & unstick. I've also put glued big pieces of paper over the 'sore' spots (using glue sticks,) designs and other fancy stickers work too. You can always use a blank label for a trouble spot. Think of it as 'Arts & Crafts' 101.
Just food for thought ....
~* Robin
Good ideas here. I bought a few sheets of laminating paper. The kind with the peel off backing. I use it to recyle the bubble envelopes. I just write out the address on a piece of white paper, cut the laminated sheet just a bit bigger and it covers up previous envelope info. I think it helps add strength to the envelope as well.
As for the flaps of the envelopes, I find these are pretty much ruined after the first use. I cut off the sticky part leaving a little flap area and then seal with a strip of packing tape. I don't think bubble envelopes go through the postage machines because of their bulk.
I've bought bubble envelopes on ebay for approx. .12 cents each. That included shipping and handling. The box is light so it doesn't take a huge amount for shipping. I like the idea of cutting them in half though, that would bring it down to about .06 cents each.
Do you have a link to the ebay offer?
Judy
I'll see if I can find one.
Naturewalker - I like the idea of wrapping the bubble mailer in brown paper and sending it out. I've been buying big bubble mailers to put smaller ones in. duh! Why didn't I think of that! I have sent the small bubble mailer with labels so it could be reused but only when people requested it that way. I wasn't sure everyone was into recycling the same bubble envelope.
Glad you started this discussion Kaeoke!
thanks songbird839, me too. :)
Ok, apparently my memory is going. I can't find anything under .15 each, that includes Buy it Now and shipping. This is the guy I bought from.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11967&item=3940997533&rd=1
I think it would be a good idea to just send $1.00 to the person who will send the seed. It will average out over time. There will be a few who want a larger quantity which will cost more than $.49 but the envelopes are available for about $.25 if you just do a little shopping.
Gordon Hale
That was what I suggested when this all started, but I think the problem is that somehow it falls under the catagory of "selling" your seeds. I don't see it as a problem since the person is using their time, supplies and seeds. It would make things SO much simpler in the long run.
Amen!!
I thought that would be best, so much easier just to send a Dollar or two depending on how much you are wanting, re- cuttings or seed.
I use regular white envelopes for domestic mail. I've already cut bubble wrap to fold over and line both sides of the envelope. I reinforce the seams with magic tape, as well. I use 50 cent stamps. For foreign mailings, I use the bubblewrap manilla envelopes. As far as I can tell, the 49 cent stamp is the determining factor concerning whether it will be hand cancelled or not. Also, I have found that bubble wrap used over and over again can lose its air a bit. I throw away old bubble wrap and save newer stuff or purchase new.
you can purchase the Bubble Wrap faily cheap at Wal-mart, and sometimes the Dollar store has it
Weezingreens - great idea so practical and economical.
Thanks you all have answered allot of my questions since I had never used them and wasn't sure how you did it..
Thank you everyone for the great ideas and thank you kareoke for starting this post!!
smilinLdy, your welcome :)