katsewnsew

I was just going to mention the above. P.O. got smart about reusing their boxes, so they have "Priority Mail" printed on the insides, too. I have boxes boxes left that are the older ones, don't have that written down inside. Many people forget about the "Flat Rate Envelope". You can get around 5-6 yards of fabric in those puppies and they go Priority Mail for $4.90. I use them alot when mailing out items, as long as it fits in the envelope and it is not more than 2 inches in depth, it can ship in the envelope. I just make sure that I tape it closed very well and run the tape around the envelope by the top and sides. Never had a problem yet.

neonparrot

As far as shipping from Australia to the U.S., once you pay the postage in Aust. there is no fee or charge to the person in the U.S. that is getting the package. You pay the postage only once by the sender.

I love our post office. Everyone is so nice, friendly and fantastic to ask questions to and work with. Yes, the flat rate fee is terrific...stuff as much as you can in one envelope for only the one fee.

No matter what the weight of the boxes are, remember the post office is supplying them free for our use. I send out tons of stuff and haven't bought a box in years. What would I do without all the boxes, labels, stickers, envelopes, etc. they supply free? I would be scrounging all over the place, making my own boxes and buying boxes to use.

All it takes is going into USPS on-line, reading the rules of the different choices that are available, knowing what you can get free from the post office and following their rules. They have to have shipping rules!

Since emails started, and other reasons such as FedX and UPS, the post office is losing millions of dollars in shipping each year. That's why they are considering stopping Saturday deliveries. I want my post office and what they supply!! Without them I would be up a creek, floating in a big box. Just be informed in what they require, and all will be well. :D

quiltmaker

I am confused as to why some members believe the USPS is not a government enitity (sp)?????? They are and the people who work for the USPS are federal government employees. Perhaps if you google USPS you would find that they are a part of the federal government.

tooMuchFabric

I don't see what the problem is if the package is sent Proirity every time it is used, first time or fifth time, they end up getting more profit off the packaging and have to use up fewer packages to get that profit, no matter what is or is not printed on the outside or the inside or on the edges.

The organization makes more money from getting Priority postage on using the same piece of packaging over and over and over.

It doesn't matter if I know the carrier or counter tellers or not. The rates are the same, the packages are the same, and the P.O. is getting the postage.

I don't see anything unclear about it.
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moonwolf23

Sorry but no, Congress has to fund the Post office. Not a matter of survival. They've never turned a profit.

tooMuchFabric

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consum.../uspsabout.htm

"According to the laws under which it now operates, the U.S. Postal Service is a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be revenue-neutral. That is, it is supposed to break even, not make a profit."
"The USPS does get some taxpayer support. Around $96 million is budgeted annually by Congress for the 'Postal Service Fund'."
"Still, the US Postal Service has averaged a profit of over $1 billion per year in each of the last five years. Yet, Postal Service officials argue that they must continue to raise postage at regular intervals in order make up for the increased use of email."

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ghostrider

Point taken, wrong wording on my part.

Well, yeah, it was. Would you get mad at the clerk in the grocery store because you bought a gallon of whole milk instead of skim???

moonwolf23

If they talked to me in a snotty way, yes I would.

tooMuchFabric

.....However, let me say for the record, I do appreciate the Post Office and how for the most part it works splendidly. It is a huge-mongous operation, and the only wonder to me is that more doesn't go wrong than does.
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neonparrot

Well...this has gotten way out of hand with all this congress and technical stuff. Ease up. There are many things we have lost a couple dollars on in our lifetimes, and learned a lesson on what to do/or not what to do. The post office isn't the first one, and it won't be the last, that we get money flustered about...it is just one of them.

It is so simple...the post office is there for us to mail things. Talk to them or go on-line and read all about it. When you understand the mailing cost process and the procedures to do so, then all will be fine.

I use the post office because it is fun to receive things and a lot more fun to send something to another person. I don't give a hoot what congress is doing with the post office, when I know I am sending something to my grandchildren and they will be jumping up & down, thrilled to receive something from Grandma.