Additional postage needed from USPS

[pakpooty]

Not sure of anyone have had this happened but I recently had some PWE returned to me saying additional postage needed of $0.46 cents?

I have shipped hundreds of the same envelope with PWE $0.97 with no issues and them being delivered. However I've received 3 today saying additional $0.46 cents. Why? All are the correct size envelopes, under 2 oz and less than a 1/4 inch. Why is USPS sending these 3 back when they fall under the guidelines? Also why did the hundreds and hundreds I've shipped before had no issues which were delivered?

I swear USPS has been so bad with consistency on not only scanning and updating tracking but also delivering them on time. Not this with saying additional postage needed. I measure and weigh all my envelopes so it should be an issue at all. 

It's costing be additional shipping I have to pay now for another label, additional supplies I need to use and refund I have to issue because of USPS incompetence. eBay and USPS needs to fix this for sellers.

[fm2000]

The envelopes are non-machineable, the 46 cents is the non-machineable surcharge. ESE must be machineable (there is no non-machineable option when you buy ESE, unlike regular letter mail... I wish there was, but I digress...)

Do the problem ESEs have cards inside top loaders inside? If the envelope cannot bend, and they can't with top loaders, they can arrive postage due for the non-machineable surcharge.

eBay is not as clear as they should be about this. ESEs must be bendable, and there should not be top loaders inside.

[pakpooty]

Thanks for the reply and explanation. I get it however I've done the same packaging for about 1000 cards with toploaders with no issues but a handful came back this time. I've even sent 100pt toploaded cards PWE with no issues. For sure it doesn't bend but still was delivered. 

Really hate how inconsistent USPS is and it seems like it depends on the person sorting/feeding the mail that day. Example would be some employees scan and others not at all which causes buyers to ask if I even dropped the orders off. Smh.

Thanks for the information!

[simba6]

They don't catch them all.  Every now and then you get a real goody two shoes and they pull it for more postage.

[bdmh-enterprises]

This^^^

The inconsistent scanning you've experienced is because they need to be machined to be scanned. Envelopes with toploaders are inherently not machinable, but they don't all get caught and separated. In the past they would usually just move those on without machining, but now with the USPS being under financial scrutiny I guarantee they will be cracking down and either sending them with postage due or RTSing them more and more often.

[12345jamesstamps]

'correct size envelopes'...are you using the small standard size envelope or those 4 1/8 X 9 1/2 envelopes or larger?

The extra .46 cents sounds like the larger envelope and not the smaller standard size envelope.

I use both envelopes...but I weigh my 4 1/8 X 9 1/2 envelopes at the post office machine and some are good for .73 cents and some need like 1.01 cents...usually it's the weight and not nothing else.

Might be some new system where mail is being weighed no matter if it's stamped envelopes or metered mail(ESE) envelopes now.

[krazzykats]

Follow the USPS printed guidelines, and not "what has worked before."

[fm2000]

There are many policies at the USPS which are not followed consistently. The issue of what is machineable and what isn't is one of them. (The policy related to scanning items people drop off at the counter is another big one.) We as customers of the USPS are expected to follow policy consistently, we should also expect and receive that same consistency in return.

Even if most with top loaders make it, by policy they are not supposed to make it through, it is best to just not use them.