From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mulino, Oregon

Okay, starting to see a disturbing trend. For those of you who are mass mailing bubble packs to growers this year, BEWARE. The cost is NOT, I repeat 'NOT', 2 stamps. It will be at least $1.30.

10/30/2007 7:42:39 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

The person at our local post office told me that if the package is more than one quarter of an inch thick, the first ounce is $1.31. Additional ounces are 17 cents each after that. Perhaps a grower who works for the post office can post the current rates. Patchmaster, where are you?

10/30/2007 7:48:27 PM

Minnesota

I was in a postal unit in the army, it does'nt go by weight but by size or thickness. Although, I have paid the 1.30 and I have sent with two stamps and they both went thru, I did'nt consult the post office when I sent with two stamps, when I asked them how much it was they said 1.30.

10/30/2007 7:52:12 PM

W. Lafayette, Indiana

1 oz $0.80
2 oz $0.97
3 oz $1.14
4 oz $1.31
5 oz $1.48
6 oz $1.65
7 oz $1.82
8 oz $1.99
9 oz $2.16
10 oz $2.33
11 oz $2.50
12 oz $2.67

10/30/2007 7:59:07 PM

W. Lafayette, Indiana

This is for a 6x9 bubble by weight.

10/30/2007 8:00:23 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I can understand why this has happened. Last year, postage for that same bubble pack was 52 cents. If there's been a change, most of us are unaware of it. And here I thought I was being overly generous by simply putting two first class stamps on it.

10/30/2007 9:15:59 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Same here. I put two stamps, and every year before this, that has been enough. $1.30? Wow.

Actually, when I send them out I put two stamps on the return SASBP, but the envelope I use to send the SASBP has only one stamp and so far it hasn't come back. I use 4x7 bubble envelopes, and a 6x9 over that. I also usually include a few seeds in the request.

So, I wonder if the price will be less when using a 4x7 bubble? I hope so...

One year I had two 6x9 envelopes come back, with the post office complaining that the envelopes had a "metal clasp". They wanted an additional 12 cents each. (There has got to be a better way!) Since then I've taken to removing the metal clasp before sending.

10/30/2007 10:09:44 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Once again we need to remind growers that when sending self addressed bubble packs out of country (eg USA to Canada), do NOT put any postage on the return bubble. US postage will not work from Canada nor will Canadian postage work from the US. This also holds true for other countries. If requesting seed from a foreign grower, put in enough $$ for the grower to purchase the return postage.

10/31/2007 12:27:09 AM

Mulino, Oregon

It changed this year! It goes by dimension and then weight. If it doesn't fit throught the small slot that the post office has for measurement (about 1/4") then it jumps up to a different rate. It is a NEW change this year, not sure when it took effect. Put at least $1.30 on the BP to be sure. Put at least $3-$5 IN the BP if going to Canada. Times are changing we have to get used to it!

10/31/2007 12:48:27 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Of course, my post office still has that expensive machine out in the lobby where you set your item on the scale, you punch in where it's going and it tells you the postage. I guess that will be going away soon and be replaced by another machine? No wonder they need to raise rates.

10/31/2007 10:19:20 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I went and confirmed this at the USPS site. I like to delve in to the details, as long as the available information is reliable. (lol)

There are several classifications of packages and letters. One classification is "large envelope". Another is "package". I found this little item on the site:

"First-Class Mail PACKAGE rates apply to Large Envelopes that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick."

I think that rule will kick-in if a sender puts a few or more different small seed envelopes in a 4x7 bubble pack.

Thus, there is a rate for "large envelopes" and another for "packages". More often than not, your bubble might be declared a package.

There is a calculator on the usps.com site. The calculator also takes zip code into account (lovely!), so who knows anything anymore? Anyway, when I plug in Pocatello to New York (or whatever 10001 is), for a 2 ounce PACKAGE I get $1.30.

I don't send out bazillions of requests, but I have sent out three, each with two "FOREVER STAMPS" on them. I hope this doesn't cause a problem for anyone. (Let me make it up to you, please!) ;-)

10/31/2007 10:35:55 AM

ordinary,VA

just git back from the post office mailed a 8.5x11 inch bubble off to the great white north-cost me one $1.even?
thought for sure it would be litte more...

10/31/2007 11:53:10 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Ok, so if I am going to send a bubble from Canada to the U.S.,
do I just include money for the return postage?

10/31/2007 12:06:40 PM

Leamington, Ont.

Correct Andy, I usually just send a couple U.S dollars to cover the return postage

10/31/2007 12:28:15 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Ed, unfortuneately the deciding post office in this whole equation is the receiving one not the sending one. I personally wouldn't take a chance with my seeds. Just my 'two cents' worth.

10/31/2007 2:12:55 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Send Canadian dollars, they're worth more.... ;-)

10/31/2007 5:15:27 PM

Long Island,New York

Andy...just put the same 3-5$ that Jim suggested in the envelope.....

10/31/2007 5:16:43 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I placed 2$ U.S. in each bubble for return postage. The bubble coming back is smaller than a standard 4 x 9 envelope and weighs 11 grams, The bubbles that I received from the states were larger and the U.S. postage was 69 and 99 cents. The two bucks should cover it right?

10/31/2007 5:50:16 PM

kamloops, BC, Canada

soory to any guys sending bubbles back to me from the USA if I didn't put enough return postage money in the envelops. Crazyness all right. Happy Halloween everyone !!!

10/31/2007 6:43:50 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

My post office also said 1.30.

11/15/2007 5:04:17 PM