Another eBay Standard Envelope Issue

[brados2112]

Shipping with eBay Standard Envelope

Visited the post office today after my eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) was returned for 20 cents postage due. They informed me it was too rigid to go through the sorting machine. My reply was that it is NOT supposed to go through a sorting machine. I hope everyone is aware that cards are going through a machine that bends them when being tracked. Out of the dozen USPS employees I've spoken with, none of them have had any information communicated to them about ESE. I've gotten several different suggestions on how to proceed from here on, none of them acceptable or even close to the same. Ebay, your idea for ESE was great but the implementation was a failure. Can you at least communicate with the USPS to figure out a solution? What problems are everyone else running into? Any solutions?

[whattheactualfox]

How thick was the envelope with the items inside? I know 1/4 inch thickness is the USPS limit for First Class letters.

[cjmust30]

In Ebay's checklist is says you can have 15 raw cards in the envelope. That would definitely send it over the 1/4" maximum. There have been communication issues and problems with this program  from the start.

[ddrigon07]

So far on my end I'm good. knock on wood. I see the updated tracking with my standard envelope and sent it in a 5x5 cd/dvd stay flat and so far so good. Usually they will reject them because the envelope has to be in rectangular shape and not square. However, I did have 2 rejected and sent back to me due to putting a Do Not Bend sticker on it lol. they said I owed more postage because it would have to be hand sorted. What I think I'm going to do now is send them using a 6x5 wedding envelope that is still flexible yet more rigid than a standard PWE which I got the idea from someone online. With that being said, I will never ship a card/cards that are above $5 in eBay's standard envelope shipping method. Not worth the risk. The sorting machines really aren't that scary as everyone makes them out to be. They use rubber rollers to spit the envelopes quickly down the line and don't use "teeth" that everyone thinks. 

[brados2112]

Thanks for the reply and you're probably doing the right thing with the $5 limit. 

The postal clerk I talked to yesterday told me mail goes through a sorter that is shaped like a tire and actually gets bent. That shocked me. But she did tell me that by putting at least 71 cents on the envelope will cover the extra for a "hand sort" and increase the odds that an envelope will make it through. I'm wondering if eBay is aware of this? I'm wondering if sellers are aware of this? In other words, if a seller ships a card in a flexible CardSaver, there's a good chance the card will get bent when it goes through a sorter. I'm also guessing if you talked to several other postal workers, you'll get various different answers how a sorter works.

I like the idea eBay worked to decrease shipping costs but not impressed with the lack of communication between all parties involved.

[brados2112]

The envelope I used was less than 3/16" thick after all contents was in it. As dumb as it sounds, I actually have a micrometer here and measure each envelope to assure it complies with standards.

The postal worker told me it was the rigidity or inability to flex. I almost wigged out on her because it's not supposed to bend. There's a $20 collectible card in it.

This entire ordeal would probably be great if it would have been communicated properly with all involved.

[ddrigon07]

Yes. I Agree with the lack of communication between ebay and USPS. 99% of the USPS employees have no idea ebay implemented this new form of shipping. The good news is I haven't had one card be damage in the sorting process. Use your judgment though. If it's more than a $5 I would definitely not ship it via ebay standard envelope.  For your sake, I would recommended purchasing these.....https://www.amazon.com/Printable-Invitation-Envelopes-Invitations-Documents/dp/B08863M2DT/ref=sr_1_1...

They are much thicker than a PWE at a 120GSM. More protection and it will definitely make it through the regular mail. 

[murphy71605]

I use those same envelopes as well. I don't print directly on the envelope but do use a 4x6 thermal printed label that fits on these nicely. I have seen people cut and position labels that are crooked and uneven with tape crinkled which doesn't help. I try to position the label straight and centered which can help with the scanning process.

[wildpitchsports]

All of my .51 eBay standard envelope mailings were returned. Even ones with one card in a top loader with a piece of note paper around it. I had to start using .71 eBay standard envelope on literally everything at min. If I ship 2 cards in 2 top loaders I used .91 cents. That stopped the returns but the tracking still does not work 50-60% of the time. Buyers are realizing this and starting to state they have not received items (and we know they did) because the tracking is not working. They need to put real, scannable labels on these for it to work. Not hope a sorting machine catches it. I've never had an issue with damage but the tracking is a disaster.  If you are receiving buyers stating items are not received we all need to go out and file PIP claims for items under $20. Once eBay gets enough of THOSE then I bet someone will do something. Otherwise the USPS is literally just doing what it wants and is treating these like regular mail when they clearly are not.

[wildpitchsports]

I do the exact same thing 

[goodnu9]

The machine needs to grab the letter so it does need something bendable. I solved that problem by using a very thin piece of cardboard (example, from a cereal, pasta box etc.) . The cardboard is cut to the length of the envelope and half is place in the toploader, the other half is exposed within the envelope. This bendable part gives the machine something to grab onto as it travels thru the machine. I use the  3 5/8" x 6 1/2" small security envelopes.  A clerk within the PO recommended doing it this way. It works.

[kosmosattik]

Know that this shipping method is absolutely machine sorted.  Also, the instructions state the envelope should not be "too rigid".  

[kosmosattik]

I would not use a 6x5 envelope since it does not conform to aspect ratio specifications.

The instructions state the aspect ratio must be between 1.3 and 2.5.  6/5 = 1.2.

[dreams_in_motion_chicago]

I always just pay 71 cents minimum, but today I had over 30 envelopes returned and I paid 71 cents for all . For sure it’s less than 2oz and less than 1/4 thick. I went to another post office to drop it off. I hope they don’t get returned.

[dreams_in_motion_chicago]

I used 6.5x4.5 envelopes and they still getting returned