The proper way to do a SASBE

wayright

wayright

When sending a SASBE please follow directions!

Try to make it easy on those who offer seeds! :)

Here is a picture of how a SASBE is supposed to look!
anything other than shown is wrong!

PB110133.jpg


The number of baggies depends on offer given


Kevin
 
LOL My favorite is the SASE you get with only 1 envelope. You are supposed to reuse the same envelope it was sent in (which is fine) except it looks like the envelope has already been used 10 times before for the same thing. It is typically covered 100% in packing tape and has multiple old labels. I consider myself lucky if it actually is an envelope... many times it is just the corner of a larger envelope made to look like an actual envelope.

You should also point out that the correct postage in the USPS mind for a Bubble envelope is $1.71. (Your picture shows 2 forever stamps) I have had 3 arrive stamped "postage due". The Mailman has never asked for the extra postage but as the USPS hemorrhages more and more each day they may start to refuse to deliver at some point.
 
Yes the USPS can't make up their mind on what it actually costs to mail a bubble envelope.

I have taken mine with 2-3 packs of seeds in them to get a close weight down to the post office and depending on who is working, time of day, phase of the moon or whatever else I always get different amounts quoted. Some say .64 cents some $1.12 one clerk told me 3 bucks...so the last few I have sent out I always include extra postage.

I don't like seeing my SASBEs come back with postage added when someone was generous enough to take time to offer free seeds only to have them shell out extra money to send the seeds back...

I have recycled a few of my bubble envelopes...but most have been used only once before.
 
Beaglestorm said:
You should also point out that the correct postage in the USPS mind for a Bubble envelope is $1.71. (Your picture shows 2 forever stamps) I have had 3 arrive stamped "postage due". The Mailman has never asked for the extra postage but as the USPS hemorrhages more and more each day they may start to refuse to deliver at some point.
Click to expand...
It is not always 1.71 most of the ones I have sent out have cost 2 stamps like shown and the ones sent back anywhere from .64 cents to the 1.71. I spent some time visiting my local postmaster and this is what he told me. If it is 6x9 or less with the smaller bubbled wrap so can pass through their little checker they have it can go as mail and cost 2 stamps or less unless over weight. If it is over this then it needs to go as parcel which is the 1.34 to 1.71 price again unless it is over their base weight. Last if it has the metal clasp that some mailers have then it is even more as it has to be hand sorted at each point of transfer because it jams up the auto sorter. SO all take the dam clasps off and use tape if you want additional holding power on the opening. Now this being said if a person offering seed for a SASE or SASBE and they ask for 1.71 in stamps for them then this should be the cost regardless of what it takes when they go mail them. It is still a very generous deal they are offering others on here and it is better to over stamp then fall short and expect those offering these offers to pick up the difference.

My postmaster here is one of the most awarded/certified/educated ones in the state and has been doing his job for almost 30 yrs and knows most if not all ins and outs of the US postal office. Many others fall well short of this like the one in the next town over who on my first SASBE offers i sent for on here wanted to charge me over 2.00 to mail them to the members to send back to me. Chris on here messaged me back about how many stamps i had on the SASBE I sent him.lol...Point is rather it is .64 cents or 1.71 we all have to go by what the postman wants when we take them in.
 
I mail all my bubble envelopes with 1 Stamp, and they always get delivered. (no postage due, no issues)

I use padded very small 4x6 envelopes, with nothing in them but a single baggie with seeds.

I have mailed hundreds

I guess there a real special slim envelope or something.
 
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Here are the (first class) postage prices as of Oct,2011:

1oz. letter: $ .44
2oz. letter: $ .64
(add $ .20 for non-machinable letter)

1oz. large envelope: $ .88
2oz. large envelope: $ 1.08

1-3oz. package: $1.71
__________________________________________________________________

Letter-size mail is:
  • Not less than 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches high, and 0.007-inch thick.
  • Not more than 11-1/2 inches long, or more than 6-1/8 inches high, or more than 1/4-inch thick.
  • Rectangular, with four square corners and parallel opposite sides. Letter-size, card-type mailpieces made of cardstock may have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch).

Large Envelope mail is:
  • Between 1/4" and 2/4" thick
  • Between 11 1/2" and 15" long
  • Between 6 /12" and 12" high

Large envelope-sized pieces that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick pay package prices.

A letter-size piece is nonmachinable if it has one or more of the following characteristics:
  • a. Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or more than 2.5.
  • b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, enclosed in any plastic material, or has an exterior surface made of a material that is not paper. Windows in envelopes made of paper do not make mailpieces nonmachinable. Attachments allowable under applicable eligibility standards do not make mailpieces nonmachinable.
  • c. Has clasps, strings, buttons, or similar closure devices.
  • d. Contains items such as pens, pencils, keys, or coins that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven; or loose keys or coins or similar objects not affixed to the contents within the mailpiece. Loose items may cause a letter to be nonmailable when mailed in paper envelopes; (see 601.2.3, Odd-Shaped Items in Paper Envelopes).
  • e. Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).
  • f. For pieces more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long, the thickness is less than 0.009 inch.
  • g. Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.


Reference: USPS Price List
 
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SO, if you use a regular letter-sized envelope (6 1/2" x 3 5/8"), it weighs less than one ounce and you pad it with 2 sheets of bubble wrap that comes out flat and less than 1/4" wide, it costs you a whopping 44 cents. I do this all the time.

EDIT:
A standard 'bubble envelope' will cost you $1.71 if it is more than 1/4" thick , more than 6 1/2" high, contains cardboard which makes it stiff or if it is not 'uniformly thick'.

Technically, a bubble envelope which is 1/4" thick or less should cost 44 or 64 cents (1 or 2 oz.).
 
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I personally use a piece of small bubble and fold it over the seeds, tape up and in an envelope, but IMO if the person giving the seeds wants a bubble envelope padded with Hungarian sheep wool and blessed with $4 in Nigerian postage, then I simply have to decide if I want those seeds.
 
menotume said:
SO, if you use a regular letter-sized envelope (6 1/2" x 3 5/8"), it weighs less than one ounce and you pad it with 2 sheets of bubble wrap that comes out flat and less than 1/4" wide, it costs you a whopping 44 cents. I do this all the time.

A standard 'bubble envelope' less than 11 1/2" long will cost you $1.71.
Click to expand...


Thats the way I do it- I found some old DHL Bubble shipping envelopes and cut it to the size 2 X 3 inches. Hold a SAS #10 Envelope in thirds and but into a #10 envelope and mail it away. Works perfect for me.

Martin
 
I get the run around when i send the bubble envelopes too but it seems i have luck with the 64 cent mailing
here is a pic of my last 3 4"7" bubble eenvelopes. the top envelope came back without the postage stamping on them so i can use the stamps again
308117_2405434809829_1069905894_32655183_969568404_n.jpg
 
I had to laugh when I read Beaglestorm's comment about reusing bubble envelopes :whistle: I'm bad for that and JUST received seeds from him. Sorry Mike, My Bad! I am good with postage however. Including baggies with request makes perfect sense and I'm happy to have that pointed out. I WILL remember, Your doing us a favor with your generosity!! I wouldn't have half the varieties I'm growing if it wasn't for the members of THP!

Thanks wayright and others..... I guess I'll have to use my new roll of Duct Tape for something else :halo:
 
Beaglestorm said:
LOL My favorite is the SASE you get with only 1 envelope. You are supposed to reuse the same envelope it was sent in (which is fine) except it looks like the envelope has already been used 10 times before for the same thing. It is typically covered 100% in packing tape and has multiple old labels. I consider myself lucky if it actually is an envelope... many times it is just the corner of a larger envelope made to look like an actual envelope.

You should also point out that the correct postage in the USPS mind for a Bubble envelope is $1.71. (Your picture shows 2 forever stamps) I have had 3 arrive stamped "postage due". The Mailman has never asked for the extra postage but as the USPS hemorrhages more and more each day they may start to refuse to deliver at some point.
Click to expand...

I have actually had to pay the postage due before. Well, I guess I didn't have to, but I did. I try and forgive a lot of it for the newbies, as I assume that they just are unaware. I hope that this post really clears it up, but then again how many of the new newbies will look through posts like this. Oh well, I have just learned to roll with the punches and expect a certain amount of this if I offer up a SASBE. The thing that actually makes me mad is when someone doesn't even bother to send an envelope after they request seeds.

Justaguy said:
I personally use a piece of small bubble and fold it over the seeds, tape up and in an envelope, but IMO if the person giving the seeds wants a bubble envelope padded with Hungarian sheep wool and blessed with $4 in Nigerian postage, then I simply have to decide if I want those seeds.
Click to expand...

I actually like your bubble wrap. It is an intelligent way to protect the seeds. Thats all that I really care about when I am doing a SASBE; making sure the seeds will be usable because otherwise I could have given them to someone else who would have used them.
 
I have went through this a few times (the how much game). I usually take my stuff to the postal annex because I have never have stamps laying around. They told me that it would only cost like 2 stamps if I sent it in a regular envelope, but they consider a bubble envelope a parcel post which the minimum cost to send is 1.71. So maybe I will try to send with 2 or 3 stamps in the future and save a buck.
 
First I dont require little ziplocke to be sent with my sase offers (I'll use paper pouches) and as I don't have little ziplocks I don't bother with the offers that require them

When I send ours sase bubbles I go to the post to put the correct 88 cents on it then unless they ask more I put the CORRECT 88 cents inside as well

From what I understand a bubble in any case is a flat or large envelope which means on an empty the postage is ONLY 88 cents

That being said I had one from another site that was sent with 1 stamp come to me postage due of 44 cents

Yes I have as much as faught with the people at my local post over the correct postage one time it had the correct postage on and they wanted to charge more I had to say "no this is correct do you have the thickness cutout?" guy had NO CLUE what I was talking about BUT he let it thru (did NOT flex test) then another time I think for an offer here I took it in to put correct postage from them on so the person it was getting sent to wouldn't be charged extra they right away called it a parcel again I had to say "no that's a flat" and they asked if it would flex (it was a nearly empty bubble!) I nearly laughed they didnt even BOTHER to flex test it! Instead they assumed it was a parcel!

I'd like to think being in my 2nd x-mas of seed trading I know the postal regulations fairly well
 
The funny thing is I have NEVER ONCE in all the great many times I or someone I've gotten from gotten a note saying the post owes ME postage tho a few times ive been tempted to take things in and say "hey this isn't right" --ATM I only really trust the older guy at my local post both of the ones to try to overcharge were younger then him but I don't know his hours so lol I don't know when to catch him

Perhaps if the employees ALL knew the regulations then they wouldn't be loosing so much money? OR! They could take and charge the same price for ANYTHING by weight? That'd really make it easy for people like me with a scale (nutritional but still fairly accurate)
 
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