Mailing the ACEOs - need advice

[margarets-art]

QUESTION: Since at times I don't get much money for my ACEOs, what is the best way to mail them? I know the safest is USPS but that costs $4.60 and I don't even get that figure for some of my work. If I charge buyers that for mailing, I'm not going to get many buyers. I have been selling my artwork for the past 3 months and have recently encountered US Postal problems. My buyer notified me that he received an empty envelope which had postal markings of RECEIVED UNSEALED, DAMAGED AND WITHOUT CONTENTS. It seems that someone at the Post Office had ripped me off. Buyer sent jpg images to prove what envelope looked like. Any and all advice is appreciated.

[poozybear]

You know, I remember back when we had the '84 Olympics in L.A., my sister took to collecting Olympic pins. You could get them at the games, or write to the sponsors and they would send you one for free. Probably half of the ones my sister got in the mail came with the envelope opened and resealed, with the pin missing. At the time, everyone was collecting those pins, so the postal workers knew what was inside those envelopes. When someone buys something from me that's over a certain price, I'll spring for insurance at my expense if they opt out of it. It's worth spending the extra money to keep little postal fingers out of your package. They won't mess with anything that's insured. -- Kathy

[sunshinesketches]

I buy fabrics on eBay from a person who is selling off her grandmother's collection of vintage fabrics. She packs very well, and pretty much the whole package is sealed with tape. It takes me hours to get them open, but better to pack like that than have them arrive with the package shredded.

[sunshinesketches]

Ahhh the '84 Olympics. A Canook won the first ever gold medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics, which was my sport. No, it wasn't me who won the medal, lol. Of course that was also the Games where the Eastern Bloc boycotted, so who knows how much butt they would have kicked.

[formwithfunction]

I've seen envelopes without the clasp, but they always cost more. I misread your post the first time. That's odd it would cost more for less. It's good to know the clasp is problematic. Hopefully taping over it will minimize mishaps. -- ~ Charlie imagesbycharlie

[poozybear]

I think the ones without the clasp cost more because most are self-sealing . . . the kind you don't have to lick. -- Kathy

[pinkshudders]

It's not just ACEO people - I had to order business cards from Vistaprint TWICE because they stuck the cards in a BOX with a tiny little piece of tape to seal it, instead of a small padded envelope, which would have been cheaper and more secure. Of course the box arrived empty, and when I took it to the post office to ask if perhaps the cards had fallen into the carrier's pouch, you'd have thought I wanted enough info to stalk the guy - NOT helpful. I called Vistaprint and told them what had happened, and they resent the order free, in a padded envelope, which arrived safely. I get the same erratic pricing on my aceos as you all have complained of - depending on who is manning the counter, or their mood. I've shipped the same weight aceo, on the same cardboard backing, in the same size envelope - and the counter price has varied from 42 cents to $1.17. Makes you want to shriek. But then, being goth, I'll shriek with very little provocation! :) Vena

[sunshinesketches]

Vena, that's why I choose to go to our little local post office (we call it Mayberry), Jodie/lakeeriebeachglass you know which one I mean, lol. I like their pricing a lot more than the officious pricks' who run the post office in town.

[sunshinesketches]

Heh I guess that word didn't violate community standards. I wasn't sure.

[briswife88]

You might find this helpful. Here is a link to the USPS pricing manual. Dimensions for letters, large envelopes and packages are on page 32.: http://www.usps.com/prices/_pdf/not123.pdf And from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, here is a list of non-machinable characteristics that would be subject to the $.20 non-machinable surcharge: 1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria A letter-size piece is nonmachinable if it has one or more of the following characteristics: a. Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5. b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, or enclosed in any plastic material. c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices. d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, or loose keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven. e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn). f. For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less than 0.009 inch. g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece. h. Is a self-mailer with a final folded edge perpendicular to the address if the piece is not folded and secured according to 201.3.13.1. i. Booklet-type pieces with the bound edge (spine) along the shorter dimension of the piece or at the top, unless prepared according to 201.3.13.2. Linda

[formwithfunction]

c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices. Thanks, Linda for the thorough info. That still doesn't explain how envelopes can be delivered completely empty. Unless, of course, we accept Kathy's theory. ;) -- ~ Charlie imagesbycharlie

[formwithfunction]

e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn). Hmmmm... perhaps this was the issue. I have not calibrated my transport belts lately. I might have too much tension around my diameters. ;) -- ~ Charlie imagesbycharlie

[drawdog5]

:^O -- -Ann "Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that is how dogs spend their lives." ~ Sue Murphy

[artistjillian]

:^O -- ~Jillian artist, Jillian Crider ... google me!

[sunshinesketches]

Lol. If I'm unsure of a piece, I hand it to the postal clerk rather than just dropping it in the mailbox. Although I've heard of people who STILL get the mail at the other end with a "postage due" very small amount when they receive it.

[poozybear]

g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece. Ummmmm . . . huh? What? Are they saying delivery address written vertically on the envelope instead of horizontally? -- Kathy