My mother was sending me a birthday pkg. and the postal worker asked if she included a card in the pkg. my mom [who wouldn't lie} said yes and they charged her extra for it...So far that has never happened to me but we live in different states

I ship a lot of things in those flat rate envelopes. I tape the heck out of them b/c I've received some in really bad shape.
I am very tired of the attitudes of some postal workers.
I have all my stuff picked up by my mailman and rarely go to the post office.
I'd rather go to the dentist! :D:D

And when more and more people use UPS they wonder why,,,,,,,,,,

they can refuse to pick it up..or they can send it back to YOU the next day...I have heard of that happening...

BUT UPS won't ship most of what we mail, and they will NOT deliver it....like it or not the USPS does have a purpose and it will remain a NEED to have business.....

Jacquie,yes they could but I haven't had any trouble at all.
Keeping my fingers crossed :D

After receiving packages that have been half destroyed by PO machines, I have started taping not only the closure but around the edges as well. On not only Flat Rate envelopes but especially books. And if my envelope has one of those metal clasps on it - I yank it off with pliers - I have gotten packages with them just taped over, that have gotten caught in a sorting machine - the end results were not pretty.

Yes, June, I do the same.
I have a feeling though that they are going to get tougher on us. I ship a lot of things overseas and I just have a bad feeling about it.
I'm ready to close up my ebay business and postage is one reason :(

ME too...after 10 years, between the ebay crap and postage crap and the new tax laws...it is no longer any fun...nor is it profitable...

Did yall know that you can mail a package directly from your mail box even if you don't know the rate? My sister told me that the "carrier" was obligated to take that package, weigh it for you and put postage on it and give yoU back whatever you requested (insurance form, delivery confirmation, etc). All you needed to do was enclosed funds estimated to cover it. If there is not a big difference, she even covers any shortage and leaves a note for her customer to pay the difference.

CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE US REALLY TRYING THIS?????????