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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.

I hope you’ll find this post as exciting as I do and that you may even consider what I’m telling you about. I recently joined a newly launched website dedicated to positive individuals, motivated individuals where there is no room for negativity and griping, Virtual Online Learning. It is the most positive group I have ever been a member of. The interaction just in the first week is phenomenal. Sharing tips, real lessons that actually walk you step by step. The first meeting was about creating a Facebook Fan Page, the reasons why you should, what you can gain in terms of followers and customers, how to actually set it up, and some great ideas for marketing. This was step-by-step, with a recorded video to view after the class. This group is run by Danna Crawford, better known as Power Selling Mom. Danna is one of the most positive, helpful, and giving people, I have had the honor of knowing. You may have guessed, correctly, Danna is an eBay power seller, an eBay Education Specialist, and was entered into the eBay Hall of Fame, an honor shared by few. Danna has several websites in addition to her eBay store. She has recently opened an eBay drop-off store in Ocala, Florida. Her latest endeavor, Virtual Online Learning I’m sure will prove to be another huge success and one that she is dedicated to. Danna always has time to help someone else toward the success that she knows, the truest meaning of “Pay it Forward”.

Virtual Online Learning is a live, online classroom that is open to its members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The membership includes webinars, teleseminars, and radio shows (every Friday night 8 pm EST at Blog Talk Radio, private chats, video conferencing, message boards (where members exchange tips, ask questions, answer questions, give opinions, etc.) SKYPE meetings and even live-streamed local events. The next free meeting on the 22nd is on Blogspot. How to set up, promote, etc. I know it will be great and I for one have lots to learn about Blogspot because I’m positive I’m not using it anywhere close to the potential it has. My Blog is http://allinfo24-7.blogspot.com The blog for Virtual Online Learning is at Blogspot. Stop by, check it out, and follow to stay up to date on the events as they occur.

If you are serious about taking your business to the next level, brainstorming and learning with like-minded, positive people who are focused on learning all they can to be the success they deserve, you owe it to yourself to check out Virtual Online Learning. The fee to join is for a lifetime and is so low, until July 14, 2009 when the price will go up, but will still be very low and extremely affordable, that there is no excuse for you not to check it out and perhaps even sign up. There are both free and fee classes. The fee for classes are extremely reasonable and I’m pretty certain will be worth much, much more than the price that Danna has set. Go ahead, go check it out now. You do deserve to take your business to the next level, or even get started with your business. This group is for every phase of business, from beginner to the seasoned marketer, everyone will learn and grow from this virtual learning experience.

I’ve recently been fortunate enough to come across some WOW Niche Minisite Packs that I can’t wait to share with you. I am going to offer these in three packs at a temporary reduced price and also offer each Niche site individually.
These packages contain professional graphics in both JPG for those that don’t have the means to edit and the PSD versions for those that do. There are affiliate banners if you want to run your own affiliate program. What else
is there? The salesletter is included, a wordpress theme is included, a PLR eBook is included and some even have PLR articles (instant content for your Wordpress blog or autoresponder series), some may have a squeeze page, Keywords
are included. And don’t forget, you get master resell rights or you can order for personal use only at an even lower price. Check out the first of these high quality niche site packs here. I’ll be sharing more of these exciting packs in the near future, be sure and
check back often.