Bubble mailers & the new postal rates

ctsoxfan

Any definitive word on this? The rates go up Monday, and I have read differing opinions on how this will affect bubble mailers, which is how I assume the majority of Ebay sellers ship 1-3 graded cards. If you now have to use the "parcel" rates, the cost will jump quite a bit. I mostly use the #000 size for 1 slab, and the #0 size for 2-3. Any thoughts on what the USPS will consider those envelopes to be?

Why can't they just leave well enough alone? Raise the rates if you must, but this seems like its going to cause a lot of confusion.

Treetop

My Post Office said a "0" bubble mailer at 3oz will go down to 75 cents from 87 cents

nam812

Only the first ounce is going up. The 2nd ounce, 3rd ounce, etc... are going down actiually.

Carew29

Any hard plastic(graded card) automaticly jumps it up to the next level which is about .30 more in cost. If you write "Do not bend", that will jump it up to the next level as well. So if you don't stuff crammed into your buyers mailbox, i would suggest writing "Do not Bend" on the package.

AtlFalconsAzDbacks

Do Not Bend isnt a very strong guarentee.
Sigh.
Bubble mailers on graded cards are usually just fine
and as started
first ounce up
second ounce down
third ounce down

cardbender

<< <i>Only the first ounce is going up. The 2nd ounce, 3rd ounce, etc... are going down actiually. >>



I thought I read the USPS site correctly. Now I don't think I did.
Rates are going down on the 3rd oz. for bubble mailers huh? Cool.

I just raised my shipping rates up a quarter to cover the increases. Might not have to do this.
I think the new insured rates at USPS.com are messed up. It looks like the insurance rates increase from $1.35 to $1.65 for under $50 of ins. But then you would think they would go up at about the same level for each additional ounce and they don't.

USPS list's it this way for the new rates:
0-50 ........$1.65 (a $0.30 increase)
50-100...... 2.05 (so that's a $0.25 decrease)
100-200 ....2.45 (a huge $0.90 decrease, this might be an error)
200-300 ....4.60 (a $0.20 increase)
300-400 ....5.50 (a nickel increase)
400-500.... 6.40 (a dime decrease)
500-600 ....7.30 (a quarter decrease)
600-700 ....7.30 + 90 cents for each addl. $100 of coverage ( old rate was $7.55 + $1.05 each additional $100. (large decrease)

What doesn't look right is the $100-200 insurance range price.
I wonder if the amount is supposed to be $3.45 for this insured range? Maybe a typo on their website. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Rich

nearmint

From http://www.usps.com/prices/prices_shape.htm:

For letters 1/4 inch or less thick, it's 41 cents for the first ounce and 17 for each additional.
For large envelopes 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch thick, it's 80 cents for the first ounce and 17 for each additional.
For anything more than 3/4 inch thick, it's $1.13 for the first ounce and 17 for each additional.

I don't think a bubble mailer with a card in it could be 1/4 inch or less thick. What had cost 87 cents to mail will now cost at least $1.14. I have two cards here wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in a bubble envelope, and to my eyes it looks thicker than 3/4 inch. At five ounces, that would have cost $1.33 to mail under the old rates, but now it will be $1.81.

I hope I'm reading it wrong, but I don't think an extra quarter will cover it, Rich.

ctsoxfan

That's exactly what I was thinking when I first asked this question. How is the USPS going to police this, anyway? A lot of us have small postal scales to check package weight, but now we have to measure the thickness of the envelope?

softparade

Size matters, so does shape under new postal rates
POSTED: 1:31 p.m. EDT, May 13, 2007
Story Highlights• For the first time, the U.S. Postal Service will be charging by the shape of the mail
• New rates, shape, thickness guidelines begin Monday
• Some businesses say mailings could be severely curtailed due to higher postage

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- The postal rate increase that kicks in Monday is shaping up to be a big headache for many businesses.

Many companies say they are confused and frustrated as they try to adjust to the new rules, and some say mailings could be severely curtailed due to higher postage costs.

The new regulations mean larger envelopes and packages will automatically cost more than smaller mail. Currently, postage is determined by weight, unless it's an especially large or odd-shaped package that warrants special handling.

If your solution come Monday is to stuff the same amount of material into a smaller envelope, the Postal Service could get you there, too: There are new thickness restrictions.

For first-class, letter envelopes, the allowed thickness is a quarter inch. If you go over a quarter inch, you run into more costly large envelope or parcel rates.

Postal Service spokesman Dave Partenheimer said the new rates take shape into account because it requires more effort to process a larger piece of mail.

"Before, thickness didn't matter," he said. Now, "thickness does come into play. If it gets too thick you create a new shape."

Cindy Golebiewski, an office manager in Wilmington, Del., said her company faces much higher postage costs under the new rules.

"The price is just doubling," she said.

If not for the new thickness limits, "we would be better off stuffing a 6-by-9-inch envelope than putting it into a big brown envelope," she said.

The Direct Marketing Association in New York is "very, very unhappy," said spokeswoman Stephanie Hendricks. "The rates go into effect on Monday under protest."

She complained that businesses also have to deal with a new pricing category called "not flat-machinable."

That pertains to mailings that are not flat and more rigid because they might contain things like cardboard. As such, they don't go through processing machines as easily as letters -- they have "parcel-like characteristics," Partenheimer said.

The new rules pose a problem for Roska Direct Advertising in suburban Philadelphia, which produces marketing pieces in unique shapes like small boxes.

"We're trying to figure it out," said Mario Amici, senior vice president of production, operations and project management. "The post office hasn't really explained this."

Even mailing a simple brochure may pose a problem for businesses.

Postage for a three-panel brochure weighing an ounce might cost the new rate of 41 cents -- up from 39 cents -- unless it's not folded well and the envelope puffs up to half an inch. If the mail can't be easily flattened, then the postage would shoot up to 80 cents. Under the old rules, the envelope could puff out and still cost the same.

tedh111

Small bubble mailers even with one card under one ounce will now be 1.13 instead of $.52.

storm888

Looks like most of my non-Priority-Mail costs are
going to about double.

I use DC on everything, and INS on most stuff.

I will continue to offer "Free Shipping," but some
prices will get bumped-up a little.

Such is life.

schr1st

It would be so much easier if they would just get rid of the 3/4 inch requirement for D/C.

thenarcissus01

Just packaged up a couple of items. Items that use to cost me $1.01 now cost $1.65 to mail. Guess we'll have to get used to it.

ctsoxfan

I updated my stamps.com software, and looked over the new rates. It's true - its going to cost more to ship cards in bubble mailers due to this new "shape-based" pricing. In some cases, up to 40% more.

storm888

"It would be so much easier if they would just get rid of the 3/4 inch requirement for D/C. "

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

THAT has always been the thing I most dislike about
the USPS scheme. I have wasted countless hours
fattening-up mailers, and the process makes the
slabs MORE vulnerable to being torqued or crushed.
I have also been made persona non grata at a few
mailing stations for arguing with the USPS witches
and their measuring tapes.

cardbender

<< <i>Just packaged up a couple of items. Items that use to cost me $1.01 now cost $1.65 to mail. Guess we'll have to get used to it. >>



Exactly, I just packaged three single psa card sales (one card per mailer) in a padded mailer with extra cushioning inside and w/dc paid for thru paypal payment, price went from $1.01 to $1.65. Yikes!

A 65% increase for those transactions.

You're right Mike, a quarter increase on my postal charges will not cut it.

Rich

WinPitcher

lets see, most people charge 3.00 shipping. we are still ahead of the game.


I see no problem, yet.

Steve

Bunker

I just mailed several items using Paypal shipping. I sent the items First Class in a bubble mailer and this is what it cost me:

1 oz $1.13 postage + .18 confirmation = $1.31
2 oz $1.30 postage + .18 confirmation = $1.48 (used to be .77)
3 oz $1.47 postage + .18 confirmation = $1.65
4 oz $1.64 postage + .18 confirmation = $1.82

TonyC

I just mailed 4 items and it also was $1.13 each. That same package was .63 last week.

Mike

Bunker

Does anyone know if the flat rate price of $8.10 changed and if so what did it go to?

AUPT

Priority Flate Rate Box went to $8.95

wolfbear

<< <i>lets see, most people charge 3.00 shipping. we are still ahead of the game.


I see no problem, yet.

Steve >>



I see this more as affecting the sales of cheap raw cards.

If you win a graded card for 17 bucks and the shipping goes from 3 to 4 dollars that's a 5 % increase.

If you win a raw card for 1 dollar and the shipping goes from 2 to 3 bucks then that's a 33 % increase ...

thedutymon

Goo day,
Just got back from the Post Office, mailed 10 items. The biggest item that gets me is there is now a .17 cent surcharge on all non Machinable items (Ie. Bubble mailers), So as well as increasing the rates they have added a BS Surcharge !!!!!
Neil

nam812

There was always an extra charge for non machinable, they just increased that slightly too with this new increase. If I remember correctly it was 52 cents for the first ounce instead of 39 when I used a bubble mailer.

Graphix

I don't want to add to the confusion but I just got back from the PO and the guy at the next teller was having a problem. I did not hear all of it but apparently he was mailing a #000 mailer with postage he had printed out from online. The problem seemed to be the service he selected was small envelope and the shipping label looked like one printed out of Paypal shipping. Anyways, it sounded like the teller was saying that the label for a small envelope has to run side to side with the length of the envelope.

grote15

So much for the discount on additional ounces! They are now charging a surcharge on thicker envelopes, so a 3-ounce bubble envelope that used to cost 87 cents to ship now costs $1.46!

nam812

$1.47, but we hear ya Grote, we hear ya.

carew4me

Gas is over $3 a gallon, what did you expect.

dude

Yeah, I just got back from my mail run at the Post Office and a "0" size bubble mailer package for a single graded card that was usually $0.87 is now $1.47. They also have a new insurance sticker/receipt for items $200 or less. Those square green ones for insurance $50 or under are now obsolete.

onefasttalon

Does anyone know if the flat rate price of $8.10 changed and if so what did it go to?

HUGE jump there... I believe it went from $8.10 all the way to $9.20. For some reason, I'm thinking it might have jumped higher, maybe $9.60?

storm888

Government officials have told USPS that the world is going to end;
probably an astroid crash. I know this because the USPS would
NEVER be selling "forever stamps," if "forever" was a very long time.

The lines are wrapped around the block. The incompetent clerks
are all in supreme passive-aggressive mode. NIGHTMARE.

Since the world is ending, it really does not matter that the USPS
has destroyed my biz-model.

nam812

I think i'm gonna hold steady at $2.50 for up to 15 raw cards. My size 000 bubble mailers cost 9 cents each (500 for $44 shipped), and my size 0 bubble mailers were like 16 cents each. 15 and 25 count snap cases are 22 cents each (buying 100 at a time from BCW) Stamps.com charges 18 cents for delivery confirm. So, 15 vintage cards in a 25 count snap case inserted into a 000 bubble mailer weighs 2.3 ounces, so you pay for 3 ounces which costs $1.47 That means:

Bubble Mailer = $0.09 or $0.16
Hinged 25 count snap case = $0.22
Stamps.com delivery confirmation = $0.18
Postal fees for 3 ounces = $1.47
Not standing in line at the post office thanks to stamps.com = priceless

SoFLPhillyFan

Well I guess the USPS is finally making us pay for the trends in shipping.

I understand that less letter mail is being sent with the advent of e-mail and online billing/payment. Wish I could get my wife to start using the latter. She still insists on writing checks and mailing them.

So what else can the Postal Service capitalize on to increase revenue? Ebay and other on line businesses. Just think of all the packages out there every day that are effected by this new rule.

I see this increase as nothing more than an effort to make more on the Ebayer and others who ship small packages. The USPS saw this coming and found a way to use it for their gain.

Graphix

There are currently 308,295 auctions on ebay just in the cards category alone. Sure alot will not sell and all won't go through USPS but still, even 30% of that number is huge amount of $$

ctsoxfan

I had a bad feeling it would come to this - but I didn't look at the rates all that closely until I absolutely had to. There is no way in the world I am standing in any PO lines today (or any day, but especially today), as I can imagine the chaos these new changes will cause the average PO customer. Thank goodness for stamps.com. But, at $1.47 to ship one graded card, the USPS has basically ripped out all of the incidental profit from most sellers shipping costs, and taken it for themselves. A .10 or .20 increase I could see, but almost doubling the cost (in the 3 oz. example) is a bit much, and I bet a lot of small businesses will look to other alternatives to the USPS as a result.

Graphix

I think the cheapest you can get anything into UPS for is around $8 (I def could be wrong). I bet FedEx or DHL is about the same. I think USPS is still the cheapest by far. Perhaps everyone jsut got accustomed to how inexpensive USPS was.

WinPitcher

It still is the cheapest game in town. I guess it depends on what you are selling and your profit.

Think about it for less then 2.00 you can ship your item.


Steve

grote15

Am I correct in assuming that packages insured for less than $200 will no longer need to be signed for under the new rates? I guess that just means more money for sig conf, if so.

grote15

I just did some research on the USPS web site and yes, only packages insured for a value greater than $200 now have to be signed for. Rates are weird, too, as it costs $2.05 for insurance up to $100 and only $2.45 up to $200.

softparade

<< <i>I had a bad feeling it would come to this - but I didn't look at the rates all that closely until I absolutely had to. There is no way in the world I am standing in any PO lines today (or any day, but especially today), as I can imagine the chaos these new changes will cause the average PO customer. Thank goodness for stamps.com. But, at $1.47 to ship one graded card, the USPS has basically ripped out all of the incidental profit from most sellers shipping costs, and taken it for themselves. A .10 or .20 increase I could see, but almost doubling the cost (in the 3 oz. example) is a bit much, and I bet a lot of small businesses will look to other alternatives to the USPS as a result. >>



Like anything else, this increase will be passed along to the consumer. Say goodbye to the "average " 3.00 shipping on one graded card and hello to 4.00

grote15

Like anything else, this increase will be passed along to the consumer. Say goodbye to the "average " 3.00 shipping on one graded card and hello to 4.00

Agreed. Instead of it costing 87 cents to ship a 3-ounce bubble envelope, it now costs $1.47, quite an increase, even for the post office!

ctsoxfan

<< <i>
Like anything else, this increase will be passed along to the consumer. Say goodbye to the "average " 3.00 shipping on one graded card and hello to 4.00 >>



I thought about it tonight as I listed some cards, but I can't do it. $4 for one card just doesn't seem right. Of course, that doesn't stop 4SC and DSL, who were charging that much before the new rates.

f2tornado

As I mentioned in the other thread... You should still be able to send a card in a bubble mailer for as little as 80 cents since 99% of these will be greater than a 1/4 inch and less than 3/4 inch (the "large envelope" rate plus 17 cents additional ounce). The fun part is if you need DC. In this case the mailer MUST be 3/4 inch or greater and would fall into the "parcel" category (the $1.13 base charge). Nutshell: Base cost for bubble mailer with no DC went up from 52 cents to 80 cents (a 28 cent difference) and from 52 cents to $1.13 if more than 3/4 inch thick (more than double 59 cent increase). I added 35 cents to my shipping rate but already phased in 25 cents of that in the last month. I will charge an extra 75 cents for items that will need to go out at the parcel rate with DC. Fortunately, shipping to Canuckistan is still pretty darn cheap.

Ichiro51fan

Geeee... what a freakin surprise... a governmental agencies that is accountable to nobody yet again screws with legitimate commerce for no apparent reason (just because they can)!

Bottom line, the USPS is a joke! They'll usually screw you any way they can... there is no consistency... not even within the same postal office... from week to week or even day to day. I pray for the deregulation of this industry so that Fedex and UPS could start delivering regular mail. I garuntee that prices would go down and efficiency and reliability would be vastly improved.

I could go on and on about all of the problems I've encountered with USPS, but I'm sure you've all been there. Anyway, I hope that everyone affected by this latest snafu is able to make it through it ok... including myself!

gosteelers

<< <i>Geeee... what a freakin surprise... a governmental agencies that is accountable to nobody yet again screws with legitimate commerce for no apparent reason (just because they can)!

Bottom line, the USPS is a joke! They'll usually screw you any way they can... there is no consistency... not even within the same postal office... from week to week or even day to day. I pray for the deregulation of this industry so that Fedex and UPS could start delivering regular mail. I garuntee that prices would go down and efficiency and reliability would be vastly improved.

I could go on and on about all of the problems I've encountered with USPS, but I'm sure you've all been there. Anyway, I hope that everyone affected by this latest snafu is able to make it through it ok... including myself! >>



Yeah, I can just see it now. Fedex and UPS will just leave all your mail laying in your yard, blowing away, etc. They're terrible in this regard. I've had valuable goods just sitting on my front porch for hours, or even days, sometimes. The USPS is still the best and least expensive option, period...

yankeeno7

I just mailed a priority box...one of the small square boxes with 40 graded cards and it cost me over 15 bucks!!! Gosh, if I had known it was going to be that much, I would have just used the flat rate. Before, this package would have cost me no more than 8-9 bucks. Insanity.

ctsoxfan

<< <i>As I mentioned in the other thread... You should still be able to send a card in a bubble mailer for as little as 80 cents since 99% of these will be greater than a 1/4 inch and less than 3/4 inch (the "large envelope" rate plus 17 cents additional ounce). The fun part is if you need DC. In this case the mailer MUST be 3/4 inch or greater and would fall into the "parcel" category (the $1.13 base charge). Nutshell: Base cost for bubble mailer with no DC went up from 52 cents to 80 cents (a 28 cent difference) and from 52 cents to $1.13 if more than 3/4 inch thick (more than double 59 cent increase). I added 35 cents to my shipping rate but already phased in 25 cents of that in the last month. I will charge an extra 75 cents for items that will need to go out at the parcel rate with DC. Fortunately, shipping to Canuckistan is still pretty darn cheap. >>



If you are selling on Ebay, and not using DC, you are making a big mistake. Having said that, it now costs $1.48 to ship a 2oz bubble mailer with electronic DC, up from 77 cents. I can see no other way around this. I really hope I am missing a loophole somewhere, but I'm afraid the $1.48 minimum is as cheap as it gets now.

zef204

I think I might be in trouble...

I printed shipping labels online the night of the 13th, but I put the mailing date as 3/14. I just checked and even thought I shipped one thru USPS and one thru PayPal and had the date set to 3/14, they charged me the old rates. I didn't realize this until after I dropped them off at the PO. Are they going to come back to me? If they do, I will probably lose the money I paid for the postage even though it was the USPS's fault that they didn't charge me the right amount.

f2tornado

<< <i>If you are selling on Ebay, and not using DC, you are making a big mistake. Having said that, it now costs $1.48 to ship a 2oz bubble mailer with electronic DC, up from 77 cents. I can see no other way around this. I really hope I am missing a loophole somewhere, but I'm afraid the $1.48 minimum is as cheap as it gets now. >>



Not a big mistake when sending out cheap cards. Even if I used the Paypal shipping label and got DC for 18 cents and passed that cost to the customer I don't see the need when shipping $5 and $10 cards. There is so little incentive for a buyer to rip you for that amount and in fact of the several thousand sales I've conducted over the years I've only had one person file a paypal complaint (which I refunded and was consequently repaid when the cards made it to their destinatation awefully later than usual). I'm better off pocketing that 18 cents. The mathematics are simple: 100 packages x 18 cents = $18.00. Since my average sale is less than $5 I would need 4 people out of 100 to stiff me before I lost a marginal amount of money but I've yet to be stiffed once. I just dropped off a pile of 1 oz bubble mailers with an 80 cent stamp and am confident I will have no problems. I do agree you need to cover your butt when sending out more expensive material and in these cases I do charge more for shipping.

I used to buy a lot of cheap cards for my player collection but have been having a difficult time finding cards with reasonable combined sale and shipping rates. I just cannot motivate myself to spend $5 on a $2 card. The days of buying cheap cards on the internet are ending. Sellers that gouge on shipping will be eating listing fees. I would think a lot more low end cards would sell if sellers put themselves in the buyers shoes. My actual postage on a single card shipped via bubble has gone up from 52 cents to 80 cents (excluding addtional services) so I added 30 cents to my shipping rate. Some sellers have added a full dollar or more. They were pocketing plenty at $3 and will pocket even more charging $4.

schr1st

That indeed is the cheapest you can go for 2 oz. with D/C.



<< <i>

<< <i>As I mentioned in the other thread... You should still be able to send a card in a bubble mailer for as little as 80 cents since 99% of these will be greater than a 1/4 inch and less than 3/4 inch (the "large envelope" rate plus 17 cents additional ounce). The fun part is if you need DC. In this case the mailer MUST be 3/4 inch or greater and would fall into the "parcel" category (the $1.13 base charge). Nutshell: Base cost for bubble mailer with no DC went up from 52 cents to 80 cents (a 28 cent difference) and from 52 cents to $1.13 if more than 3/4 inch thick (more than double 59 cent increase). I added 35 cents to my shipping rate but already phased in 25 cents of that in the last month. I will charge an extra 75 cents for items that will need to go out at the parcel rate with DC. Fortunately, shipping to Canuckistan is still pretty darn cheap. >>



If you are selling on Ebay, and not using DC, you are making a big mistake. Having said that, it now costs $1.48 to ship a 2oz bubble mailer with electronic DC, up from 77 cents. I can see no other way around this. I really hope I am missing a loophole somewhere, but I'm afraid the $1.48 minimum is as cheap as it gets now. >>

cardbender

<< <i>I think I might be in trouble...

I printed shipping labels online the night of the 13th, but I put the mailing date as 3/14. I just checked and even thought I shipped one thru USPS and one thru PayPal and had the date set to 3/14, they charged me the old rates. I didn't realize this until after I dropped them off at the PO. Are they going to come back to me? If they do, I will probably lose the money I paid for the postage even though it was the USPS's fault that they didn't charge me the right amount. >>



You should be fine. As long as you didn't go to the counter with them, I'm sure USPS will let them fly thru with no additional fee's.