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!