Concerning Postage - Part 1 - Card Protection Tip

As you know, earlier this year, the USPS increased their rates and revamped their guidelines/regulations.  All the changes have been met with lots of questions... lots of confusion... and a fair amount of unhappiness.

For instance, in addition to actual weight, "bumpy, lumpy, thick (1/4" or greater), rigid, or square," now cost extra...

Why?

Answer #1  Because of the need to have envelopes zip through the automated machines -- bumpy, lumpy, thick, rigid, and square clog up those machines -- slowing down the process and requiring manpower intervention.  Since "time is money," the USPS is really just passing on the added cost. They actually call it a "non-machinable surcharge." BTW, requesting hand-canceling does not eliminate the problem because chances are a hand-canceled envelope will still be run through a sorting machine.

Answer #2 (as explained by my ever-patient postal person, Jerry)   Envelope rates are meant for just that -- FLAT envelopes... For years people have been putting package-worthy material into envelopes, and expecting envelope rates, so now, the USPS has defined a package by its qualities -- "bumpy, lumpy, thick, non-rectangular," etc. so even if it's in an envelope, the piece is assigned the package rate...

Okay, understanding the underlying reasoning helps, but I still resent paying "extra" just because I love brads, eyelets, charms, rhinestones, bows, and dimension.  After all, regardless of the "bump," it's a card, NOT a package!

Having worked on getting a handle on all the new considerations since May, I've maintained there just has to be a win-win situation out there... streamlined for the USPS, and inexpensive for me...

I used to cut a card-size piece of bubble wrap to protect my card front, but with the new regs, that makes the envelope too thick, so I stopped.

For a while, I tried inserting a simple piece of cardstock.  I wasn't 100% happy with this mode of protection because it still felt pretty "bumpy" to me, but envies weighing up to 1 ounce made it into the postal system on 41 cents...

Then I received a card utilizing the same "cardstock" protective method... Sadly, it arrived torn (a brad had gone right through the cardstock and the envelope).  Obviously, cardstock alone doesn't fair so well in the machines... Time for another idea... BTW, I've also had a card someone cleverly turned inside out, "tear through" (it is, after all the same concept).

Now, my new, so-far-so-good way to protect dimensional cards w/out clogging machines, or adding extra postage is with a card-sized piece of cereal/cracker box weight chipboard --

Here's why it works:

• it's heavy enough to really smooth out the "bumps"
• it's relatively lightweight (a standard A-2, 4.25" x 5.5" piece adds only 0.2 oz. to the weight of the envie)
• it's flexible enough to pass the "rigid" test

Additionally, it's one way to recycle those boxes and be kind to the planet. ~clap, clap, clap

To date, I've used the cereal box insert method on dozens of cards with no trouble at the post office, and no damage to cards... I've even received an insert returned to me in a swap card's envie with the words, "Great Idea" written on it. Hence, my deciding to share the idea with you.

Note: Jerry, that ever patient postal clerk even took the time to locate and photocopy this informative sheet for me.  It's the easiest one to follow that I've seen.  

Comments

[Dee]

Thanks for sharing your great idea. I will certainly give this a try...as I send out lots of cards.[made with all those beautiful little additives]
Thanks for the informative sheet
from Jerry too!

Dee