I got this today in an email. I'll use it to judge shipping charges from all online shops, including Ebay.

Some examples of orders that can be shipped in a flat rate envelope
4 Charm Packs
A small ruler + 3 Charm Packs + 2 Patterns
1 Jelly Roll + 2 Charm Packs
1 Layer Cake (folded in half) + 1 Charm Pack
3 Yards of Fabric

I don't know about that??
a jelly roll is 2 1/2" thick. my PO wont let me mail in the flat rate cardboard envelopes with it hoved up.has to be uniform thickness.
one PO wouldn't even let me ship in one if I reinforced the seal with tape.
I always err on the side of caution as once I had a package that arrived to the buyer with postage due because of this

Well, that is a *safe* estimate for sure. I just folded 7 total yards and put it in a FRE. Saved about $15 shipping to Australia. If you can fit it in a gallon ziplock, it will fit in the FRE.

The rule on that is a single piece of tape across the seal to reinforce. That's not just "if they want to". That is the policy. It can't wrap around to the front though.

I got a jelly roll from a an online shop in a FRE. It was taped all around with packing tape too. The post office has to be shown their own rules sometimes! I know some of the clerks in my local post office get on a high horse about what they think is the rule. I have written to the post master general with pictures of what was refused and I have taken my reply right to the clerk who refused to mail the package as I had it. They see their name in the letter to the PMG and they start learning the rules as written not what they were told by other employees or bosses.

Is that on their website anywhere?
good to know and I want to print it and take with me!
we are in a rural area and most PO have one clerk(the postmaster)
they do what they want and you pay or they won't ship!

I had one about a year ago refuse to charge me flat rate on a box(with the big red flat rate seal on it) said she had never heard of such a thing all priority was by weight and destination! Honest!

Good idea!
will keep that in mind for the next time!

I've managed to get 6+ yards in a FRE - but it's a struggle!

My post office will accept it if the envelope has not been enlarged.

In fact, a couple of times the clerk has added more tape to it to reinforce it.

I've gotten things from e-bay that were lumpy.

Today I got 2 Moda jelly rolls from a seller on ebay in a flat-rate envelope.
I've also gotten lots of yardage in one. Not even wrinkled!
No joke.
There are some very reputable sellers on ebay who charge very little for shipping fabric. You can get many more than 2 charm packs in a flat-rate envelope. I got 5 once plus other yardage in one. PM me if you want some good ebay sellers of fabric.

Under the (?) on usps.com, flat rate envelope. I can't remember where I got the "single strip" info. Like, it's around there somewhere...you just gotta dig!

And when the flat-rate box came out? My most un-favoritest post office lady wanted to charge me regular. They know now that it's all flat-rate for me.

We've found that we can fit 8 yards of regular cotton fabric into a flat-rate envelope; about half as much if it's flannel.

We have had to argue with our local Post Office about our "stuffed" envelopes, and the issue of the tape. We do put one continuous strip of tape over the closing, because we don't trust the adhesive. We also make sure that the tape goes over the tabs (the ones you use to pull the envelope open)... just to make sure that they do not snag on any of the PO's machinery. These envelopes do take a beating enroute! Especially on international shipments.

Well I recd a jelly roll and two charm packs just today in an envelope. No problems getting here and the contents were fine. I also saw the same information in an email from an online store.

I got a FRE about six months ago with 27 fat quarters in it! TWENTY SEVEN!!!! And I did not have to pay any extra shipping!

I've received at least five punctured FRE's that had been stuffed with fabric. In every case, the only thing that saved the contents from damage was the plastic bag the shipper had used inside the envelope as protection from water. Those envelopes run the gauntlet and the fuller they are the higher the risk of puncture. My tiny little PO will let you wrap CLEAR packing tape all over any package like a cocoon!! :D

I got a package from Joanns fabrics that had 4 yards in it. It was folded nice and tight and fit in a FRE,

Well that brings up another point.
I have had 2 packages in the last 2 months that have been destroyed. one just last week . It was a small order under $20
but all the PO sent me back was my return address and the first name and street numbers of the buyer.
It took me 2 days to figure out the buyer and then I had to replace the goods.
I even tape the corners of the envelopes so they don't get stuck in the machines but it still happens.
So I guess I will ship in larger envelopes even if it costs more.
That way I have done all I can to insure safe delivery.
Because purchasing insurance increases the shipping charges also

The package you sent me arrived just fine. It was two sets of hst pieces so it was enough for 24 blocks. Not only did they arrive in great shape but, LISTEN UP EVERYONE, they were wonderfully cut and beautiful fabrics.

If the buyer doesn't mind, wouldn't it be easier if you unroll and fold the jelly roll instead? I'd much rather have mine flat if it reduced the shipping cost. Just a thought. :)

that is an idea but I am shipping mine in my own envelope for less than the cost of the FRE
I will just go 1st class not priority mail

I guess I have gotten away from the main idea of this thread.
Sorry if I have turned it into a #$*(#$ session!
It was not my intent but I get a little defensive when shipping is brought up.
We all want to save money in this economy but with so many small business closing, shipped is the only way for many to get items from quilting needs to appliances.
and I think that sometimes we lose sight of the true cost of driving say 30 minutes to a quilt shop. only to find they don't have what we need.
with gas here at $2.75/gal that is pretty steep "shipping" if I only get a FQ or a yd of fabric

Also was told i couldn't used taped on it !!i was sent a jelly roll recently....it was unrolled into a half flat...fit pretty good. My po has gotten strict with me all of a sudden for some reason on the fre being a little" too thick". supposed to be FLAT they said.......hmmmm.

From what I've been reading, it seems that different post offices/clerks have different interpretations of "what will go" in a flat rate envelope or box.

Nice that your PO is reasonable! I have rec'd lots of stuffed FRE full of fabric. I now request anyone shipping anything in an FRE to pre-bag in plastic for same reason. Also, I found the end-flaps (USPS sealed ends) would routinely pop open even when I got a thin little paper-cover quilt book with 20-50 pages; no stress on the seams either. So, USPS are not gluing these properly.

At our post office, it all depends on who is at the window!