Post Office flat rate envelope alert
 

Just a heads up to all who use the flat rate envelope to ship fabric. I just went to the post office, and was informed that my flat rate envelope was now $9.85 even though it was in the $5.15 flat rate envelope. I was informed that because I had used tape to close the envelope it was no longer "a flat rate". I had 4 1/2 yards of fabric and had shipped this , like this many many times before. I was also informed that they are cracking down on the use of the priority flat rate envelopes.... any tape to close or seal... and regular priority rates will be charged. I expained that I had used tape as I did not trust the glue to hold ... they said "if the glue on the envelope will not hold or I do not trust it to hold" ... its no longer flat rate.
I guess "if it fits, it ships " has new rules. Needless to say I was not a happy camper.

The "no tape" rule has been around, for years . . . just not enforced. Guess with the price of everything going up, they have to start cracking down on it. :-(

you should have tried a different post office. they do vary a lot in who you get!!
my postman told me to take my quilt to the post office and use a flat rate box. i stood in line forever and was told they didn't have a flat rate box large enough. it wasn't a big quilt. i drove over to Walmart and got a box for .67 cents and then back to the post office. jeesh.

I was told that about the flat rate envelopes but was okay to put in a padded flat rate envelope was okay. But yes they are cracking down and come January I was told the rates are going up. So I have decided to stop doing a lot of swaps as between the fabric cost and shipping it is getting to be too much for my budget. :(

Yes, I was also told that FRE will go up in January. I am finishing up a Civil War block swap, and with the cost of fabric, and postage, I am sad to say that I may not be hosting anymore, even though I enjoy it so very much. I use the padded envelopes ordered on-line, and they will remain $5.30 till January 1.

just glue it down.....

i agree with you!!!!!!!

I think it depends on who is working that day...! So sad to think of our postal rates going up again. When I am sure there is more shipping being done today then ever before ....yet the postal service is "Broke". All I can do is shake my head....

I commenting to my daughter today, if we should check into UPS of Fed Ex. Does anyone know if they are cheaper? I got a weird one a few days ago when I shipped a quilt and the clerk said we had changed the shape of the box. It was okay if it bulged but that it had to meet on top. We hadn't changed anything but the pack of boxes we got looked like they had been dropped a few times so one of the corners was beat up. I'll have to remember not to tape the envelopes anymore.

Interesting. In Canada our equivalent of a flat rate envelope is $10.00 for a small one and when I drop them off at teh post office, the counter clerk adds tape to secure it.