Anyone who is watching my eBay listings has to think I’m either a lunatic or just extremely fickle for changing my postage rates as often as I have lately. Be assured, it’s because of the information that I have received at my local post office branch, that these rates have changed so often. I think now, it has been settled (at least for now) and the rates listed are correct. And I certainly have much better things to do than squabble about postage rates. I really just want to be sure I am offering my customers the best possible rate.
I am welcoming all CD Sellers, but especially those who sell CDs on eBay to add to this post by leaving a comment. I have been selling information products on CD on eBay since the rules were changed and downloadables were no longer allowed in auction or store format. I have been selling my CDs in a slim jewel case and shipping in a padded envelope. When I first started I was shipping these using large envelope postage rate for the first 200 or so. Suddenly I started receiving them back for additional postage. Phone calls, emails, and trips to my local post office branch determined (kind of) that these had to go package rate. I continue to sell this packaging with the package rate shipping, per regulation.
With all the upcoming changes on eBay and wanting to do my part in lessening the carbon footprint, I decided to also offer a less expensive and greener way of shipping. I am now offering shipping without the jewel case in a CD mailer envelope that I “thought” would be a lot cheaper. This is a clear example of doing research before implanting. It is cheaper to ship this way, for now at least. I did research at the USPS website and found that because of the square size and the “non-flexible” content it would require a surcharge on top of the letter rate postage. This is still a savings over the padded envelope and plastic jewel case. As I had to go to the post office the other day for something else, I decided to take the CDs that were being shipped that day and ‘double check’ to ensure that a repeat of the first experience didn’t happen as I had already sent out several in CD mailers. Well, to my surprise the counter person (actually two counter people) determined that because it was not “a letter”, was not “flexible” it would require “Package Rate” postage. I paid the additional postage and went on my way.
After thinking about it, and knowing I had received CDs in the mail myself that did not have package rate postage on it, I did more research at the USPS website, I sent an inquiry and questioned the “letter rate with surcharge” versus “package rate for the envelope I was using. Just this morning, I had an email for the main area branch postmaster stating that if my envelope was OVER ¼ inch thick with a non-flexible item such as a CD, it would require the package rate. The dimensions of the CD mailer, packaged, labeled, and ready to mail is 5.5” x 5.5” x a little less than 1/8” thick. Hmm…this is weird. Around the same time, my local branch office had phoned and left a message stating that according to what I had stated in my email that yes, the rate would be letter plus a surcharge. I did return his phone call and we closed with the rate as letter plus a surcharge. He also said that if I wanted to be sure, bring an envelope out and they would use the template (that is also supplied at every window) to be sure the thickness was within the required range. To finally end this whole dispute once and for all, I did just that. But of course as luck would have it, he had left for lunch by the time I got there. Because they were not busy, I went to the first available window, the same one that I was at when I was charged package rate, and asked if she could check the envelope with her template. After she finally located the template, the envelope slid through with no problems. Keep in mind the cut-off for letter rate is ¼ inches thick. I explained that I had spoken to the Branch manager, and as long as the thickness was within limits, the envelope would require first class Letter Rate plus a surcharge. In her snippy manner, she said, “if that’s what he said, that’s what I’ll do”, BUT it’s not flexible so it should be package rate. Hello…Do these people actually read the printed guidelines for the customer to follow? Below is the exact Nonmachinable clause taken from the USPS website.
Nonmachinable Surcharge
A nonmachinable mailpiece is a mailpiece that must be sorted outside of the standard, automated mail process. Because it is more expensive to processes these mailpieces, a surcharge applies to them.
The nonmachinable surcharge is added to First-Class Mail letters with any of the following criteria:
- Square dimensions
- The height exceeds 6-1/8 inches, or length exceeds 11-1/2 inches, or thickness exceeds 1/4 inch
- The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (length is the dimension parallel to the address)
- It is poly-bagged, poly-wrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material
- It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices
- It is too rigid or contains items such as pens, keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven
- It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece
For detailed information on nonmachinable surcharges, including the cost, go to www.usps.com/prices and at the bottom of the page, click on “Customer’s Guide to Mailing.” Then click on “Domestic Prices” to find the information.
Now maybe it’s me, but my envelope fits pretty perfectly within the category for letter rate with a surcharge added.
So for now, I will continue to charge my customers the rate as listed on my listings which is the letter rate plus the surcharge (and a $.32 handling charge) to ship the CD in a CD mailer.
I’m very interested in hearing about other’s experiences with shipping CDs. I can’t believe that my P.O. Branch is the only one in the country that has employees that simply don’t agree with the printed guidelines.
If there should be a change regarding this, I’ll be sure and update this post.
