I thought I would pass this on to you -

I brought a flat rate envelope to the PO this afternoon. It had a bubble wrapped box in it, which fit into the envelope. The flap did "just" close - I was told they would take it this time, but they were changing the flat rate rules. Apparently flat rate envelopes in the future - can only be 3/4" thick and what you put in it can not make the envelope "out of shape," and the flap on the envelope could not be taped shut.

I am not sure if this will affect anyone else, but in the past I've been able to ship Bingo games, baby clothes, fabric, vintage computer games and other rect/square items that could fit in the envelope, as long as the flap would close over it.
I am not a happy camper

One of the Quilt shops I get emails from recently sent out a message stating that she has a letter from the post office apologizing and stating that they will not enforce the 3/4" new rule. They will honor the "if it fits, it ships."

Hey June...I think it depends on who waits on you at the PO. I was told a loooong time ago that those were the rules. I've always been able to get mine to be mailed though and sometimes the thing would just barely seal...barely being the key word.

Oh, this is ridiculous!! I am not happy either! You should SEE what I can stuff into those envelopes! When are these rules supposed to change?

I actually reinforce the INSIDE of the envelopes and even if I had only a piece of paper in them, I would still tape them shut. The post office is becoming such a rip off. I am all for them going to 4 or 5 day mail delivery if they would just STOP gouging us!!

it must be a regional thing...my post office has never told me that. In fact, some of my envelopes have the saying "if it fits, it ships"...so I'm going with that motto!

This is true too. I actually changed post offices because one gave me a hard time... the other one laughed and congratulated me for getting so much into the envelope. I would be standing in line and the postal worker would be telling everyone else in line that I was an expert at packing that flat rate envelope. So, maybe it depends on where you go!

I have the postal worker stuff a flat rate envelope for me. She said as long as the flap can be closed it can be shipped. Then she taped the flap and said there you go.

Their machines chew up the envelopes so we would be crazy not to tape. I go out of my way to the post office that has the prioritymail machine so I don't have to go thru a clerk. It has always had the 3/4" warning, but it still takes the pkg.

I have heard this from others..but here mine make a contest out of who can fit the most in one! It can only have 1 piece of tape across the top though!

I don't know - Usually there are 3 men that work at this PO - today there was a woman helping - The worker that told me the new ruled, did give the woman a dirty look when she commented on my package shape. I know that 1st class is not going up, but I thought I saw somewhere on the board that other postal package rates were going up. The PO does advertise it "If it fits it ships" - I don't know. I'm just passing on what happened to me.

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?????????

NOT here....and if it weighs more than 11oz you can NOT put into the box, you have to have them either pick up or you have to bring it inside!

My mail carrier might really do that! She is great, although admittedly I live in a really small town and we tend to chat by the mailbox when I'm outside and see her coming. There are some real perks to small town life!

I knew they wouldn't be nice forever. short time too.
oh well, there are other postal delivery places. they should know not to run off customers.

here is what happens if you try to ship a USPS flat rate item at UPS or the post box store..you pay $.40 min. for them to accept it!

the cutoff is actually 13 ounces. And if you print postage online, you can leave anything in your outgoing mail box or drop it in the big blue box.

You are soooo right! All we do is make Ebay rich :(

I live in a very small town and I can leave money and my carrier will send it and leave change for me the next day. They will even give you envelopes to put money in. Most places you wouldn't dare do this because of the way people steal....

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...[/quote]

You are soooo right! All we do is make Ebay rich :([/quote]

I pay over $300 a month....so tired of it....I never have nasty customers on Etsy,,,but on ebay...OY...

Jacquie, I haven't had problems with customers for the most part. It's the fees that make me nuts.
And the new tax thing really did it for me.
I don't use Etsy b/c of what I sell but it's a very nice site!

I only use Etsy for my ultrasuede and some dying supplies,, but changing that this year!

I mailed two flat-rate envelopes at closing time Tuesday. The post office called me the next day to say the mail truck driver wouldn't accept them because they were about 1/2" thick. With the snow in the past two days, I haven't been able to pick them up and repackage them. Great service (NOT) and this postal clerk and I have been very friendly.

So the time is come to quit using these flat-rate envelopes. In revenge, I'm packing the boxes to the max. I guess they'll bust me for that too! Perhaps it is time to close up shop!

They have told me before that u can't "tape" those flat rate envelope...supposed to be flat or the flap should be able to stick w/o a problem...therefore the term "flat rate"
Well, i used the clasped envelope mostly and it is weighed which at most times is still cheaper that $4.95, but the envelope isn't strong like the flat rate ones either..
To Do or Not to do ????

The post office makes me so mad at times, that I will go to UPS before mailing a package thru them. I know with UPS it will get there and it isn't 20 questions everytime I mail something like the Post Office. I mailed something to Canada one time and it never got there. There excuse was we don't have any control over it after it crosses the boarder. I mailed a package U.P.S and insured it and they had a problem with the address, and they called me from Canada, that is more than the P.O. will do.

FLAT rate is suppose to be for the price amount, not the shape...some postal workers don't get it.

Your right there.

I had half my FRE come back so far this year. All because they were over 3/4" thick. That thickness has always been the rule, they have just not started to enforce it until the beginning of this year. They are coming out with flat rate regional boxes, I think these are to make up for enforcing the 3/4" limit on the envelopes. I have already ordered the boxes and they should be here any day. The cost looks to be about the same as a FRE, but we will see when the boxes actually get here what can be stuffed into them. I did resend out the FRE that were returned to me (I always print out 2 labels) I just put them in new envelopes and slapped the label on it, and they did deliver them o.k.. And it wasn't the local post office that returned the FRE, it was the central office here in MI. that all the packages are routed through, so I guess it just depends on who is on duty and if they feel like making the effort to pull the envelope off the line and write all over it and send it back. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. (by the way, that "if it fits it ships, does not apply to the envelopes, only the boxes!). So, take your chances ladies, until the post office decides which rules they are going to enforce. The new rules, effective 1/2011 can be found here:
http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm100/dmm100.pdf

Page 19 of that document - Flat Rate Quick Reference says....

Note: Flat Rate prices are available when material is sent in a USPS-produced Flat Rate Envelope or Box. When sealing a Flat Rate Box or Flat Rate Envelope, the container flaps must be able to close within the normal folds.
Tape may be applied to the flaps and seams to reinforce the container; provided the design of the container is not
enlarged by opening the sides and the container is not reconstructed in any way.

On the padded FREs, there is no pre-established "normal" fold...so I'm sticking with those ones.

The quick reference only states that you can't enlarge them by opening the sides of the container or reconstruct it in any way.

It doesn't mention thickness.

I think it depends on the postal workers too. I always go to our small town one, the ladies there are so nice. The big cityone has oneman there who is NOT nice at all!

see this is what I have always been told. It has to maintain the original shape and integrity and the tape is just there to keep the lip from getting caught in the machines...or those stupid corners it makes...ugh...I wish the tyvek envelopes would have become the flat rate envelopes...so much easier to ship in those!