Postage question

For a 6X9 bubble envelope - how much postage do you guys normally put on the outside to send it and then how much on the inside for the return?

Thanks

Swoz

You need to ask the person who is sending you whatever in the inside envelope how much postage they need,, then you go to the post office and ask them to weigh the sealed outside bubble mailer with the one inside and then you know how much it will cost. After you do this awhile you will be able to guess the amount. but just starting out,,, you need to rely on the post office for weighing the enveolpe holding the inside envelope.
I hope this helps.
Vicki

Yep- it's hard to know anymore with the new postage rates. They may have a chart up by now on the USPS website. The new rate is .52 for a 4x6 bubble envelope less than one oz. A larger one would of course be more.

This message was edited May 28, 2010 4:49 PM

Oh yeah - this blonde is confused... No - just trying to make sure I have enough postage for the person on the other end - once I get the envelope to them to begin with.

Thanks folks for the help.

Swoz

Woofie stop drinking so much coffee. LOL You have my head spinning. If the address is writen across the short end it is more? WHY on Gods green could be the reason for that do you think. Only are Gov.

It's because of the way the envelope feeds into the postage machine. It won't fit in sideways, so they have to hand stamp it. Hence the extra charge.

This message was edited May 28, 2010 4:49 PM

OH, yes! Grape juice is VERY good for you!

I'm gonna need some of that vintage by the time I get these mailers in the post... Hahahah

Very old grape juice might just be the ticket. I like trading but hate getting things ready to mail if I have a lot. Good luck getting them all ready to go.

I only use bubble mailers for really bulky seeds like canna. For everything else I ask people to send me a SASE with 2 stamps on it and wrap, cut to size bubble wrap around the seed packet. Just for the asking, the PO will hand cancel your envelope so there is no chance of it going through a machine. Been doing this for years and have had no complaints or reports of squashed seeds.

X

Swoz,

If you haven't thought of it already, after you figure out the postage for one bubble envelope, just send it to your trader with a sticky label inside with the return postage. They can just use the same envelope to mail the seeds back to you.

It's a great way to recycle. I haven't bought any bubble envelopes in years. If one gets too worn out, toss it and go to the next used envelope.

Also, if you have a scale at home, you can do your own weighing and get the rate off the postal site. I bought a USPS scale from them a few years ago. It saves a lot of time waiting in line at the post office and allows me to use click 'n ship.

Molly
:^)))

Molly - that's exactly what I did. Put the labels and return postage inside and taped down the flap - so the person receiving could seal it new. I just wanted to make sure it got there and enough inside to get it back... I have a scale here at work that I can weigh letters - but it does'nt take into account the charge for handling large envelopes or hand stamping.

I'm getting back into the swing of things - so am having to get my supplies back in order. I went to the dollar store and got mailers for .50 so recycling won't be too bad... Just could'nt see stuffing an bubble envelope into another to mail it... I was wondering about the cancellation on the front - if it could be used more than once. Maybe I should have - we'll see.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Now I will put my two cents worth in this. I am getting all kinds of postage on the bubble envelopes and even one with 37 and they all come thru and som e of them were not even cancelled. If you put the seed in there and send them back out with less postage than needed the person that receives it will have to pay the extra postage so I dont worry if someone dont put enough in for the return postage. If they put more than I think I need I just reture the extra. If It didnt have enough then the extra is in the envelope. Just dont put your return address on the envelope or they will send it back to you for the extra. Fran

Folks,

I've just got to add a bit. Years ago I purchased a small Pelouze scale that
has been worth it's weight in gold. While certainly not necessary, it has paid
for itself ten times over due to the fact that I no longer have to stand in line at
the post office. Stick the envelope in your mailbox, raise the flag and go
back to the garden. :-)

To me, it is not worth the hassle of having varied charges and waiting for
the post office line, the grumpy clerk and the added thing to do on my daily list.

A box of 6 x 9 clasp envelopes and a sheet of tissue paper to wrap the
seeds in, and you've got the following charges, which include the "It's too
fat to fit" charge.

.01 to 1.0 - .52
1.1 to 2.0 - .63
2.1 to 3.0 - 3.1 to 4.0 - 1.11 (this would be one big trade)

I just about quit trading seeds due to skimpy traders using duct tape, toilet
paper and such. Hey, I'm all for recycling, but a little effort goes a long way, too.
Be creative, but be neat.

The last time I traded (not this site, mind you) I put a lot of effort and care into it
only to receive a return that left me flabbergasted and disgusted.

Smoky, used ten times wadded up envelopes with a tiny piece of masking
tape stating "Daisies". The bubble wrap looked like it had been popped long
ago and thus was providing zip for seed protection. Ugh!

Tissue paper typically comes in 30, 40 or even 50 sheets at the
local dollar stores, meaning seed protection will run two to three cents. It can be
used again when sending a trade back out. I'm not talking about wrapping the
seeds in smooth wrap like a holiday gift, wad that stuff up, then open it back up.
It's all puffy now and provides the cush for the seeds. Yes, this will incur a bit
more of a shipping charge, but I've seen traders pay .50 cents for bubble envelopes.
This system beats that rate.

A box of Kraft 6 x 9 clasp envelopes runs about 5.00 for 100, so call it a nickel for
an envelope. These, too, are re-useable.

Shipping varies, but .63 will cover the shipping as well as the "too fat to fit so
we have to hand cancel it" charge.

Little ziploc bags run one penny. A 100 count bag of 2 x 3's at Wal Mart is 99 cents.

Okay, folks, we're up to .72 cents.

You can even buy shipping labels for a song, which only adds a few more cents.

Hope this helps.

I think the additional few cents for materials is why some folks request a couple of first class stamps in loose postage for a SASE rather than exact postage.

PLEASE use BEs or larger envelopes so they are hand cancelled for sure, even if your seeds are small. The trade primer suggests this too. Even if you write "please hand cancel" on the outside of a regular envelope and put on the extra postage to cover this, a regular envelope will get sent through the machinery more often that not... I've received a couple of mangled envelopes, and I don't so much regret the loss of the seeds or of the postage I've spent etc as I do regret the time the other person took to harvest, dry, clean and package the seed only to have it destroyed in shipping.

And in terms of recycled materials & DIY packing, Wuvie put it perfectly, "Be creative but be neat."

I've said it before, but I'll repeat it... Making your own paper packets is great, and I've recieved some wonderful ones, but please cut them out with little tabs to fold over and tape down... If you just fold a piece of paper in half and tape around the edges, little seeds can and will stick themselves to the tape during transit -- ugh!

I use regular white letter envelopes for most of my seed sending, unless there are lots of packets or the seeds are going outside the U.S. I line the envelope with bubble wrap, add extra tape to the flaps, and post with a 50 cent stamp and a 2 cent stamp. When sending several packets, I use the small bubble wrap and use the same postage. If the envelope is bigger, I use 2-37 cent stamps (to use them up!).

Critter is right about those seed envelopes. I do a lot of trading, and it is sad to receive an bubble mailer that has tiny loose seeds inside, escaped from the packets. When using glassine bags or the little manilla coin envelopes, give the tops an extra fold over and tape them shut.

Here's a hint: If you want to make two bubble envelopes from one or cut one down to size, a hot iron will seal the new edge - one fourth an inch or so. . .Saves a little cash and/or a trip to the store. . .