The quarter-inch postal rule.
 

This has bitten me 4 times now (4 different sellers). Basically, if a small "bubble mailer" is thicker than 1/4", then it becomes a package and not an envelope. Each time, I get a "dun" from the USPS that I need to give them $2.50+ postage due. Big sellers seem to be quite aware of this, but smaller ones continue to send "thick" mailers. Each time, I do write the sellers and nicely explain the rules. I have not run across this twice from the same seller. Check it out at usps.com (calculate a price).

"FLATS" rate postage for seeds
 

A second rule that trips up some seed sellers. According to the USPS folks, FLATS rate postage mean the envelope must be FLAT -- it is not "flat rate" like some Priority offerings. It means that the object must be able to go through the machine scanners/processors. A bubble wrap mailer will not do that. I just received a small tomato seed order that violated both rules -- bubble wrap mailer sent FLATS rate and also the 1/4" rule.

Envelope is 1/4" max, thin package is 3/4" max.

Do a search for "USPS retail quick tip sheet", for much of the info needed to navigate the maze.

I mailed some okra seeds earlier this year and I have asked the postal clerk to hand stamp the envelope and she said something about non machinable or something like that.

She used a special stamp that would keep it out of the automated system. I may have paid a few cents extra but I don't really remember.

I just googled this and apparently these non machinable letters need to be thin also and there is a 15 cent surcharge so it won't help with thicker envelopes but it may be good if you want to mail some seeds that you consider to be fragile.

I typically add an extra ounce stamp when I am sending lots of small seeds or if there are a few large-ish seeds like okra or cucurbit seeds.


This is a good article:
[url]https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2015/pr15_035.pdf[/url]

Oh my gosh, 1/4 inch, really? A different bubble envelope sitting here empty is thicker than 1/4 inch.
I mailed my seed envelope from the regular mail box outside the post office. It wasn't much more than an inch and a half. I had to squish it down to fit in the slot.
I hope my mailer didn't set off bells and whistles in your mailbox, Tormato. Did you get the "dun" described in Greatgardens post? Fingers crossed not.

- Lisa

Speculation... With the post office always running in the red, some post offices and equipment have different degrees of "slack" for the rules. Older mailers were definitely too thick; the newer ones are slimmer. But it just p.... me off to send in a paid order and then get it with postage due. I've never, ever had an issue with trades that come in regular letter envelopes.

It's stuff like this is why I ALWAYS take my orders in to the post office for them to determine the postage. Problem is some clerks do it differently than others at the same office. But I figure if THEY do it, it shouldn't get dinged for postage due. At least I hope not.

Carol

Another thing about the 1/4" max envelope is that it also needs to be flexible enough to bend while going through the high speed rollers. If anyone has ever received a 1/4" envelope from me, I wonder if they've noticed that I tape the seeds onto thin card stock, positioned so they're in the middle of the envelope, to avoid getting crushed in those rollers. Friendly postal workers can be a fountain of useful information.

[QUOTE=greenthumbomaha;760451]Oh my gosh, 1/4 inch, really? A different bubble envelope sitting here empty is thicker than 1/4 inch.
I mailed my seed envelope from the regular mail box outside the post office. It wasn't much more than an inch and a half. I had to squish it down to fit in the slot.
I hope my mailer didn't set off bells and whistles in your mailbox, Tormato. Did you get the "dun" described in Greatgardens post? Fingers crossed not.

- Lisa[/QUOTE]

Lisa,

The 1/4" is when mailing seeds in a business or greeting card paper envelope. Rarely do I receive a bubble mailer under the 3/4" package rule. And, my mailing out a bubble mailer under 3/4", that usually happens when I see a unicorn during a blue moon.