eBay

aharon-milechai.com · ‎11-08-2023

So it is great the Ebay standard envelope supports more categories...too bad the Post Office doesn't recognize Ebay standard envelopes!!!

The Post Master at the Florence, Colorado Post Office pulls my envelopes and charges me extra to send them. She maintains Ebay does not have an agreement with the postal system to ship a single coin for 63 cents if it is less than one ounce. (Shown in the photo) She calls it Postal Fraud.

Ebay's response is, "well, yeah we have an agreement but can't prove it" so here is a $20 credit for postage.

wastingtime101 · ‎11-08-2023

Did you file the complaint I suggested 3 weeks ago? If there hasn't been improvement, file another complaint.

https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/postal-facility-inquiry

Someone higher up than your postmaster will look into it and will educate your postmaster on the service. That URL is the best path for reporting local/regional ESE issues.

GLORIOUS!

lacemaker3 · ‎11-08-2023

@aharon-milechai.com, I did read your previous post.

Coins are allowed with eBay Standard Envelope, but the envelope has to meet the requirements for machinable mail.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=...

Are you positive that your envelope met the USPS standards for machinable mail?

https://pe.usps.com/text/qsg300/q201.htm

ESE envelopes have to be machinable, i.e. processed by machine. The tracking gets updated automatically as the envelope gets scanned while it goes through the machines. They don't get scanned manually. If the envelope is too rigid or stiff, too thick (> 1/4 inch) or not a uniform thickness the whole length, then it might get processed by hand., and would not get scanned.

Here's more information from the USPS about what items need in order meet the requirements for machinable mail. Coins are allowed, as long as they don't make the thickness of the envelope uneven, or make it too stiff or rigid.

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

There is no point in arguing with the postmaster about this. They are not going to have a debate with you, they are going to enforce the rules as they understand them. You will need to make sure that your envelopes meet the standards for machinable mail.

wastingtime101 · ‎11-08-2023

The OP is using plain white envelopes, non-rigid. They're in compliance. It's their new-ish postmaster that's in the wrong.

OP should keep filing complaints at the link I provided until this postmaster stops erroneously flagging these envelopes.

GLORIOUS!

lacemaker3 · ‎11-08-2023

@wastingtime101 wrote:
The OP is using plain white envelopes, non-rigid. They're in compliance. It's their new-ish postmaster that's in the wrong.

OP should keep filing complaints at the link I provided until this postmaster stops erroneously flagging these envelopes.

@wastingtime101, that is not necessarily true.

A plain white envelope may not be suitable for a coin, according to the last link I posted from the USPS, see below. A thin cardboard envelope or insert may be needed to make the envelope more consistent along it's length (and more effective).

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

1786davycrockett · ‎11-08-2023

@aharon-milechai.com

"She maintains Ebay does not have an agreement with the postal system to ship a single coin for 63 cents if it is less than one ounce. (Shown in the photo) She calls it Postal Fraud."

The "agreement" between eBay and USPS is printed in the top right corner of the envelope in your photo: it proves that USPS has a legitimate contract with USPS for metered mail -- just as hundreds of thousands of other American businesses have similar metered-mail contracts with USPS.

Sounds like you're going to have to take this up with your postmaster's district supervisor, and not just the postmaster's supervisor.

If that doesn't work, go another step further -- eventually, somebody in your postal district will admit that eBay has a legitimate contract to ship via metered-mail.

Good luck.

worldcoinauctions · ‎11-09-2023

I've shipped hundreds of these. I put the coin, in a 2x2, in a small ziplock bag, staple it to the packing slip, and fold that to fit in the envelope. I put the coin so it is not on the side by the postage (seems to help) and I mail them. I've put up to 2 coins in side by side, 3 with additional postage, 4 or more I send ground advantage.

I had a few come back before I started putting the coin away from the postage, in all cases I reprinted the same label (no need to buy a new one, it wasn't used) and mailed it again in a fresh envelope. All went through.

Mail it outside the post office to minimize the postmaster's chances of interacting with it!

aharon-milechai.com · ‎11-09-2023

>> "The "agreement" between eBay and USPS is printed in the top right corner of the envelope in your photo: it proves that USPS has a legitimate contract with USPS for metered mail -- just as hundreds of thousands of other American businesses have similar metered-mail contracts with USPS."

You nailed it .... 100% -- You are correct the Local Postmaster doesn't know what the agreement QR code generated by ebay to pay the post office means or says .... this code isn't generated by a whim .... or anyone could make a counterfeit code.

aharon-milechai.com · ‎11-09-2023

> Someone higher up than your postmaster will look into it and will educate your postmaster on the service.

> That URL is the best path for reporting local/regional ESE issues.

From the link you gave us -- we got an email ... that said you are 100% wrong ... no coins. Her name is Susan Parker OIC Florence Post.

12345jamesstamps · ‎11-09-2023

And the question is....who came first...the post office or eBay?

The envelope looks too wide. I live in San Francisco a major city...and my post office will not ever take that for .63 cents.

It's not how long it is...it's how wide it is it got returned.

Its like playing Russian Roulette...will it get delivered or returned.

1786davycrockett · ‎11-09-2023

@aharon-milechai.com

Show your postmaster this memo from USPS Customer Support, updated January 2017, PS-328 (201.3.10) (From the USPS.com Postal Explorer), particularly this section:

"When any envelope contains loose coins, tokens or similar small flat odd-shaped items that are not affixed to a component within or if the inclusion of such items results in the mailpiece not being streamlined, the mailpiece does not qualify for automation letter prices. It may be mailed, but is subject to the nonmachinable surcharge for First-Class Mail letters or the nonmachinable prices for USPS Marketing Mail letters."

So, if your coins are NOT loose, but are tightly secured inside the envelope, you are in compliance with USPS regulations regarding the mailing of coins via USPS First Class mail.

So eat THAT, Susan Parker, OIC Florence Post.

wastingtime101 · ‎11-09-2023

@aharon-milechai.com wrote:
> Someone higher up than your postmaster will look into it and will educate your postmaster on the service.
> That URL is the best path for reporting local/regional ESE issues.

From the link you gave us -- we got an email ... that said you are 100% wrong ... no coins. Her name is Susan Parker OIC Florence Post.

So it's just the officer in charge AKA the temporary postmaster that's been rejecting your envelopes that's sending the reply? Geez. The complaint is supposed to go over her head.

Follow davy's tip above showing USPS policy that coins can be shipped FCM as long as they are secured and not loose.

https://pe.usps.com/text/csr/ps-328.htm

GLORIOUS!

aharon-milechai.com · ‎11-09-2023

The coins I ship are not loose. My envelopes meet the requirements.

However, after half an hour on the phone with Susan at the Florence Post Office who said she had no idea why I was able to mail coins with no issues for better than 18 months.

She then said a Senior Business Services Network Specialist from USPS Headquarters has contacted Ebay and informed them coins are non-machinable and subject to a 40 Cent fee above and beyond what is paid for the Ebay postage label and specifically told the Florence Post Office to continue pulling our envelopes and sending them back for postage due.

wastingtime101 · ‎11-09-2023

My condolences that this one very wrong USPS employee is wreaking such havoc on your business.

GLORIOUS!

squinkercat59 · ‎11-10-2023

I also use the post office in Florence, CO, and was just charged an extra 40 cents to mail a PATCH (under one ounce). Under the extended program, we are supposed to be able to send patches (flat, flexible) under the Standard Envelope prices. Apparently this post office hasn't gotten the memo. I have made a complaint through the USPS site. If nothing is done, I may use the post office in Canon City and see what happens.