OT: bubble mailers

mlbfan2 · April 23, 2010 3:03AM

Are small bubble mailers with a baseball card (in a top loader) or a coin inside considered a letter or a large envelope?

USPS.gov says...
Letter - maximum thickness 1/4 inch
Large Envelope - minimum thickness 1/4 inch

That really doesn't help, because mine measure right around 1/4 inch.

Robb · April 23, 2010 4:44AM

Large envelope. If you are using DC, which requires the envelope to be at least 1/4" thick, it's a good idea to add a packaging peanut just to make sure. Otherwise the receiver can get stuck with paying the difference between your 1st class postage and Priority Mail.

jimq112 · April 23, 2010 4:48AM

Tape a piece of good cardboard on both sides of the toploader.

Wrap a couple paper towels around the cards/cardboard or add some packing peanuts to make sure it's thick.

If somebody at usps gets confused and thinks it's an envelope it might go thru the automation. Your buyer will be unhappy with his newly creased or otherwise damaged card.

Good strong cardboard doesn't weigh all that much more and really helps protect the card during it's trip.

BunchOBull · April 23, 2010 8:39AM

Actually, I think they're supposed to be 3/4" thick to qualify for DC. I too have heard of the PO upgrading envelopes that aren't up to Priority and charging the recipient. Rare, but it happens. Don't be that seller.

I ship everything between two pieces of cardboard, and that pretty much covers the thickness I need.

mlbfan2 · April 24, 2010 5:01AM

Thanks guys.

buymycards · April 25, 2010 1:42AM

Remember, if you use the cardboard, then the envelope is no longer flexible and it becomes a parcel. You don't want your cards going through the flat sorting machines anyway, so pay the $1.39 2 oz parcel rate and it will get there in one piece.

Rick

OT: bubble mailers

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