Post Office will not accept eBay standard envelope.

[ussrockwellnx17416]

I’m not sure what to do anymore

The three local post offices (la grange, la grange park, Brookfield - illinois) will not accept the eBay standard envelope.  

the envelopes adhere to all of the eBay guidelines regarding length and width. They are less than 2 ounces and only included a slip of paper (the packing slip), 1 top loader, 1 card, and one penny sleeve. Postage paid was $0.71 

the postmaster told me he knows of no agreement between eBay and the USPS and that the only way these will get accepted is if I either pay the non-machinable surcharge or send them postage due - otherwise they will not be accepted. 

It’s not like another 0.20c is going to break the bank, but when everything is calculated and budgeted toward 0.70c postage, this is a major problem. 

[lacemaker3]

@ussrockwellnx17416;

eBay Standard Envelope items have to qualify for "machinable" postage, meaning they can be processed by machine. If they are "non-machinable" (eg rigid, or uneven thickness, or any other reason) they don't qualify for this service.

From what you said, your envelope was non-machinable, so it did not qualify.

https://pages.ebay.com/ebaystandardenvelope/index.html (see envelope details)

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-the-Non-Machinable-Surcharge-for-First-Class-Mail

[ussrockwellnx17416]

You're not being helpful at all. 

The eBay standard envelope for trading cards has guidelines that state that what I have in the envelope is exactly the purpose the envelope was created for. 

[ussrockwellnx17416]

• Destination address must be parallel to the longest side
• Envelope thickness should be uniform, no thicker than 0.25 at any point, and not too rigid
• Envelopes must contain no clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices
• Envelope should have an aspect ratio (length divided by height) between 1.3 and 2.5
• Envelope is not enclosed or made of any plastic material
• Envelope is not allowed to be completely rigid or non-uniform in thickness
• Bubble mailers or any packaging made of plastic are not supported
• One single sealed pack or up to 15 standard raw cards per package
• Up to three cards sleeved and protected with side or top loaders per package
  
  @lacemaker3 
  

[lacemaker3]

@ussrockwellnx17416, You reported that your post office said that you needed to pay a non-machinable surcharge for the envelopes. That means that some how, some way, they did not qualify for the special rate. 

You should get clarification from your local post office about why your envelope had to have a non-machinable surcharge added. The characteristics that would impose the surcharge, are almost identical to the characteristics that would make a shipment not qualify for eBay Standard Envelope.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-the-Non-Machinable-Surcharge-for-First-Class-Mail

 ...

The nonmachinable surcharge is added to First-Class Mail® with any of the following criteria:

• For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less than 0.009 inch
• The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (length is the dimension parallel to the address)
• It is poly-bagged, poly-wrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior surface made of a material that is not paper
• It has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices
• It is too rigid or contains items such as pens, keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven
• It has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece

...

[teth_1615]

[murphy71605]

You must be using something other than a PWE, like a semi-rigid mailer. The guidelines show a semi-rigid mailer being used, but as a former USPS worker I am skeptical of using those. Some post offices may be rejecting them not being familiar with the service. My post office knew absolutely nothing about this service when I started using it. 

[ussrockwellnx17416]

@murphy71605 

I am using exactly what eBay said to use - a 6x8 paperboard mailer - which I purchased from the eBay shipping supplies store. 

[ussrockwellnx17416]

@lacemaker3 

The postmaster at the location said that any that is even semi-rigid has to be machinable - I'm not even sure how he got his job if he doesn't know what flexible means. Anyhow, if I'm doing exactly what the eBay guidelines for this envelope/postage say, there shouldn't be any issues. I'm even using the envelopes from the eBay shipping supplies store. 

[murphy71605]

I have those same mailers but have not used them yet. There was really no clear rules other than ebay showing them in their guidelines. As a former Postal worker red flags went up as soon as I saw them. I was afraid they would get pulled and charged postage due when delivered. You may have to switch over to PWE until more clarity is given as to whether these mailers will work in machines. This whole roll-out of this program was unclear from the beginning.

[simba6]

The post office rejects top loaders. Says they don't flex/bend so not machinable.

[lacemaker3]

---

@ussrockwellnx17416 wrote:

@lacemaker3 

The postmaster at the location said that any that is even semi-rigid has to be machinable - I'm not even sure how he got his job if he doesn't know what flexible means. Anyhow, if I'm doing exactly what the eBay guidelines for this envelope/postage say, there shouldn't be any issues. I'm even using the envelopes from the eBay shipping supplies store. 

---

OK, there you go. Your envelopes were "too rigid". 

The eBay requirement states:

• Envelope is not allowed to be completely rigid or non-uniform in thickness

and the USPS requirement states a package is "non-machinable" [if]:

• It is too rigid or contains items such as pens, keys or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven

They are both saying pretty much the same thing. First class mail items have to be flexible, because envelopes that are too rigid don't work in the automatic sorting machines. eBay Standard Envelope has tracking that relies on being processed automatically. If the envelope has to be processed by hand, then the tracking isn't going to work.

I did say this in my first post, just without all the detailed explanations, so I don't know how you can say that I was "not being helpful". Just because you don't like the answer, doesn't make it incorrect.

Now you know what you have to change, and you can change or not, whatever.

[wesk_36]

Are they being sent back to you or are you taking them to the counter?

I ask because there is no need to take them to the counter, just drop them in the mail. If you are using the envelopes that ebay sells for this purpose you will be OK, despite an uninformed postmaster being clueless about the program.

[mhoponhop]

I'm in this exact situation. Been using this service since Jan. Sent out hundreds already. Today I got one back asking for the Surcharge too. I am using the eBay recommended envelope too. We are in the same exact boat. I think one other thing in common is that we both found a Post Office clerk who does NOT know what is going on. I have sent an email for clarification and will update if I actually hear back from someone. Please do the same.

But lets be clear: If the rate we pay does not already account for a non-machinable envelope the whole service should be eliminated lol, I mean, the entire purpose of this service is to send something in the mail that cannot be bent **bleep**. 

It is my understanding that the fee we pay already includes (albeit at a discount) costs for what the post office would normally consider non-machinable & that the postal clerks should stop looking for additional non-machinable money - this is not standard first class mail or eligible for standard additional fees. The rigid envelope, the allowable toploaders inside, etc. that's all inherent to the overall concept as to what this whole service is for! 

It does not surprise me at all that certain people within the post office are unaware of this and causing problems. My drop-off branch never even heard of this before me. But what is unacceptable would be to return items or ask for more money. It already takes forever to get delivered. And we haven't even talked about how they're not getting marked delivered either. dumpster fire! 

A memo has to go out at the PO or we need to have documentation that it is allowable. 

[mhoponhop]

I just want to suggest that the argument is NOT whether these envelopes are non-machinable /"too rigid" or not.  The problem seems to stem from the confusion as to whether the service fee we pay *already includes* the non-machinable fees or not. Surely when this service was designed it was implied that we'd be shipping rigid non-bendable items as this is meant for a trading card in a top loader. And of course you can ship non-machinable rigid items (for a fee). The argument is that the fee we pay to ship a trading card in a Standard Envelope is PAYMENT IN FULL for the whatever it takes for the post office to process and deliver this.

eBay can't cut a deal with the post office to offer a discount on shipping a trading card in a top loader in their envelope as they recommend just to have the post office decide additional money is due. 

The evidence that all non-machinable fees are actually already covered is that 99.9% of all the same type envelopes are indeed getting shipped, processed & delivered. It is only a particular clerk here & there that don't know this imo.