@lowcostsales2014 wrote:
No Bubble mailers is asking for problems. While I do understand items are covered against damage why even do a service that is inviting damage in the first place?
Also it says Not too rigid. So dont use cardboard to protect the top loader from being snapped & creasing the card?
I dont think card collectors were involved in the implementation of this idea!
I think for this to work with USPS at the price the item must be able to go through the high speed sorting machines. Bubble envelopes in general don't make the grade.
Here are SOME of the USPS requirements for First Class Letter Mail & Prices, which is very close to the eBay Standard Envelope rules...
Remember, this in regular First Class Mail rules.............
To be eligible for mailing at the price for letters, a piece must be:
Rectangular
At least 3-1/2 inches high x 5 inches long x 0.007 inch thick.
No more than 6-1/8 inches high x 11-1/2 inches long x 1/4 inch thick.
First-Class Mail letters that have one or more nonmachinable characteristics will pay a nonmachinable surcharge. Customers can be unpleasantly surprised that they must pay extra postage when, for example, they mail a square greeting card. The Postal Service charges extra postage because mail pieces that are rigid, square, or unusually shaped, often jam postal equipment and are difficult to process. This costs the Postal Service time and money—and may also damage your mail piece.
Nonmachinable
Letters
(201.2.0)
Maximum weight: First-Class Mail and Periodicals nonmachinable letters 3.5 ounces; USPS Marketing Mail
nonmachinable letters; less than 16 ounces.
Presorted First-Class Mail letters are subject to a nonmachinable surcharge if they meet any of the
characteristics in 201.2.1. The nonmachinable characteristics do not apply to pieces mailed at card
prices.
USPS Marketing Mail letters that have one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in 201.2.1 are
subject to the nonmachinable letter prices in 243.1.3.
Examples of a nonmachinable letter include:
It has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (a square envelope has
an aspect ratio of 1, making it nonmachinable).
It is more than 4-1/4 inches high or more than 6 inches long and is less than 0.009 inch thick.
It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
It is too rigid.
It has a delivery address parallel to the shorter side of the mailpiece.
It contains items such as pens, pencils, or keys that create an uneven thickness.
