ESE shipment returned for additional postage

[anasazirose]

I had an ESE shipment returned today for an additional 43¢  postage.  I reweighed it, it's .56 oz, it went at the 1 oz rate.  It's 4.5 x 6.5" and less than .2" thick.  I've sent a few ESE envelopes and this is the 1st to come back.  I'll take it back to the post office and ask what's up, but I'll probably just add the extra they're asking for.  Anyone else have this happen?  Any advice?  

It also still shows NO scans at all.  The buyer also reached out today and this was his message: Can you send me an updated tracking number?Can you send me an updated tracking number?The one on the shipping link from Purchases says it doesn’t exist and cannot be tracked. The one on the shipping link from Purchases says it doesn’t exist and cannot be tracked. Thank you.

This was my response:

Hi (buyer name), the tracking number does exist. It's an Ebay generated tracking number, that's why it starts with ESE. Often these don't show any information until after delivery, and sometimes not even then. Your package was returned to me by the post office. It said it needs 43¢ more for shipping. Since the shipping amount is calculated by ebay after I enter the package size and weight, I double checked and the postage attached was indeed correct.  I'll be taking it back to the post office tomorrow to resend it. 

 I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. Amanda

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If the envelope is too rigid, a non-machinable surcharge which I believe is $.43 is due.

[wastingtime101]

It's probably because you're shipping seeds and someone at USPS called it out as either too rigid or too lumpy. Or maybe the machine kicked it out.

You're not shipping tiny seeds so I can see where you might run into issues.

[dcrtechandelec]

If it is just non-machine-able, there's a specific stamp that covers the cost of sorting manually. This will at the very least allow you to not have to worry about them getting crushed. The only other thing you could do is adjust the method used to prepare the mail-piece. Not sure what your current method is, but any soft material like bubble-wrap or 1/8" foam will help to create a uniform thickness. That is likely the issue since it is otherwise within weight and dimensions. Someone probably saw it, and using a 2 second window determined it to be non-machinable. The uniform aspect seems to be important, as employees have referenced that specifically in the past. The foam sheet works well in my experience, you can just cut out a centerpiece for the item(s).

[wastingtime101]

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@dcrtechandelec wrote:

If it is just non-machine-able, there's a specific stamp that covers the cost of sorting manually. This will at the very least allow you to not have to worry about them getting crushed. The only other thing you could do is adjust the method used to prepare the mail-piece. Not sure what your current method is, but any soft material like bubble-wrap or 1/8" foam will help to create a uniform thickness. That is likely the issue since it is otherwise within weight and dimensions. Someone probably saw it, and using a 2 second window determined it to be non-machinable. The uniform aspect seems to be important, as employees have referenced that specifically in the past. The foam sheet works well in my experience, you can just cut out a centerpiece for the item(s).

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Hi @dcrtechandelec . You might not be familiar with ESE which stands for eBay Standard Envelope. It's essentially letter mail so the item has to be flat, flexible, uniform thickness, etc.

Your suggestions of foam and bubble wrap are appropriate for regular packages, but not for this letter mail service.

Seeds are eligible for ESE if they meet the physical specs. A lot of flower seed packets are essentially flat and flexible so they ship well. The original poster's seeds are on the larger side, so while she may get some through with ESE service, it's easy to see why some of her envelopes will be stopped and kicked back as non-machinable.

[anasazirose]

Thank you.  I have 'non machinable' stamps that the post office sold me when one ESE appeared non machinable.  It was $1.24 once and $1.40 another time.   There seems to be a variety of charges. 

This is a paper envelope that is very flexible.

[anasazirose]

These seeds I shipped were small but not tiny, not the large paw paw either.  That could be it, a bit bumpy.  Thank you.

[worldcoinauctions]

I have had that from time to time. If the PO has marked up the envelope I print the same label again, put it in a fresh envelope and just resend it. I've never had them come back twice. Often just a postal worker who noticed the envelope and assumed it should be non-machinable. 

[bdmh-enterprises]

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@anasazirose wrote:

These seeds I shipped were small but not tiny, not the large paw paw either.  That could be it, a bit bumpy.  Thank you.

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I would be wary of sending anything much bigger than a pepper seed through ESE/letter mail. Not just because of flexibility & lumpy issues, but there's a good chance with larger seeds getting squeezed out the back of the envelope or simply being crushed by the rollers of the sorting machine.

Also note that if an ESE gets put non-machinable it will NOT get any tracking.