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.