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Non-machinable surcharge for mailing wooden nickel?
edix2001
Posts: 3,388 ✭
Our club just received an order of wooden nickels to promote National Coin Week and we'd like to offer them by mail to people who may be interested. The standard we've seen in numismatic publications is about $1 each plus a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope.
The question I have is whether a non-machinable surcharge of 20 cents over the first class stamp price would be required for mailing such a thing.
Previously I've read that the post office would require such a fee for a mailing containing something as small as a paperclip.
I've just read over some post office documents and it seems to me that if the wooden nickel was actually affixed (statically) to the cover letter inside the envelope, then it wouldn't require the surcharge. From what I've read they are more concerned about loose items, like keys and coins that may fly out in the high speed conveyance system and possibly injure an employee.
Does anyone have a better knowledge of the regulations?
The question I have is whether a non-machinable surcharge of 20 cents over the first class stamp price would be required for mailing such a thing.
Previously I've read that the post office would require such a fee for a mailing containing something as small as a paperclip.
I've just read over some post office documents and it seems to me that if the wooden nickel was actually affixed (statically) to the cover letter inside the envelope, then it wouldn't require the surcharge. From what I've read they are more concerned about loose items, like keys and coins that may fly out in the high speed conveyance system and possibly injure an employee.
Does anyone have a better knowledge of the regulations?
0
Comments
A letter-size piece is nonmachinable (see 6.4) if it has one or more of the following characteristics (see 601.1.4 to determine the length, height, top, and bottom of a mailpiece):
d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, keys, or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven; or loose keys or coins or similar objects not affixed to the contents within the mailpiece. Loose items may cause a letter to be nonmailable when mailed in paper envelopes; (see 601.2.3, Odd-Shaped Items in Paper Envelopes).
From here...
edited to add... there appears to be enough room for interpretation here that arguing with a USPS clerk who disagrees with your position will likely produce less than satisfying results. Your best bet is to try another post office and see if they enforce the rules differently- it's not all that uncommon an occurrence.
We want to use these to promote the club, but I think it would look bad on us if the purchaser received a wood postage due.
<< <i>Thanx!
We want to use these to promote the club, but I think it would look bad on us if the purchaser received a wood postage due. >>
This is the downside of finding a post office that doesn't charge you extra- somebody else farther down the delivery line in the post office can disagree and decide to add the charge.
<< <i>
<< <i>Thanx!
We want to use these to promote the club, but I think it would look bad on us if the purchaser received a wood postage due. >>
This is the downside of finding a post office that doesn't charge you extra- somebody else farther down the delivery line in the post office can disagree and decide to add the charge. >>
Ah yes, our wonderful bureaucratic system in action.
The post office charges me 88 cents each to mail items like these.
I believe it is a little more than an additional 20 cents.
Good luck.
<< <i>Thanx!
We want to use these to promote the club, but I think it would look bad on us if the purchaser received a wood postage due. >>
If you knew the machines that letter mail is processed through, you'd be saying, "...if the purchaser received wood splinters."
<< <i>
<< <i>Thanx!
We want to use these to promote the club, but I think it would look bad on us if the purchaser received a wood postage due. >>
If you knew the machines that letter mail is processed through, you'd be saying, "...if the purchaser received wood splinters." >>
Yes, that would also look bad for us.