Sending magazines in a large envelope using USPS Ground Advantage questions

[billythekid16]

I have magazines that perfectly fits in a large envelope like this...

Do I still need to slip into the envelope a couple of cardboard pieces to make it rigid, like it had been done in the past to qualify it as a First Class Package and (obviously) getting a tracking number? Or is making it rigid no longer necessary with Ground Advantage?

Some of the magazines range from 8 ounces to over a pound. Clearly if its over a pound, I can send it Priority Mail. But I am wondering if I am allowed to use Ground Advantage in this situation regardless of the magazine's weight and not making the envelope rigid.

[historypapers]

You can send them just like that for Ground Advantage. Ground advantage does not require rigid packaging. Even the ones over a pound can go Ground Advantage. No need to send priority mail. I would put the thin cardboard in to protect them from the post office machinery.

[wastingtime101]

Hi @billythekid16 . If it's under 13 oz add the cardboard to qualify for Ground Adv. If it's over 13 oz you don't have to add the cardboard, but you should if you don't want the magazines destroyed.

I recently put together info here about Flats vs Parcels if you want to check it out. See the first reply on the discussion for a link on how to ship magazines. 🙂

[toysaver]

If you have the right size card board all you need to do is fold it in half and you don't need an envelope at ll.

[bonanza125]

Yes you can and should use Advantage Ground. Yes you should slide cardboard on both sides to prevent the magazine from getting damaged. If a magazine has a higher value then ship it in a box.

[deserdog]

I always sleeve magazines in cardboard to protect them. I also write DO NOT BEND on both sides. I started doing this at the request of a buyer who said her carrier would bend items to fit in her mail box. 

[fm2000]

Unless the magazines are low value or low cost "reading copies" you are intending to send first class large envelope, you should always use several sheets of cardboard (at least one with the "grain" horizontal, and at least one going with the "grain" vertical); I use as many sheets of cardboard as I can until I am just short of the next weight or dimensional GA postage increase. Polybags are a bit better than manila envelopes, since they offer some water resistance in case they are left in an open mailbox or something.

6-8 sheets of corrugated cardboard will protect a magazine from anything short of being driven over by a truck or other extreme damage.

[salsaman1]

Using Ground Advantage has been a game changer (as a seller of magazines for over 25 years on ebay) for myself. I never bothered with heavy magazines in the past (unless they had a high enough value like 30's Fortunes or old Esquires) because of the need to step up to priority, now sending a 2 pound package is much more affordable. With that being the case, I always use two pieces of cardboard for protection. I have also switched over to poly bags for some measure of moister protection.

[sassykzt]

Keep in mind with ground advantage , your envelope will be mixed w/ packages that can weigh up to 70 lbs.  USPS no longer sorts light weight mail from the heavier packages as they did when first class was available for packages.  Writing "do not bend" or any sort of fragile sticker does absolutely nothing as mail is sorted and distributed by machinery.  If you don't want the magazines to suffer damage pack accordingly they need to be rigid and the corners need to be protected.