Sorry, I meant to put this in discussions... As long as it's here, does a square envelope really cost more to mail than a rectangular one?

Yes, square envelopes are more.

Scroll down to Large Envelopes at the link below. Most trades in Bubble Envelopes qualify for Large Envelope rates. They must be less than 3/4" thick, with the contents somewhat evenly distributed. (tape the packets down to a piece of paper b4 inserting them.)
Small trades of 1 OZ or less start at 83 cents now.

First Class Mail Prices

If your Post Office is automatically charging package rate ($1.17 minimum,) they are overcharging.
If you go to the Conversation side, and put postage in the search box, you will find numerous threads about the charges since they adopted shape based pricing in May 2007.

I see you found the address to write to the Postmaster General about the ongoing problem for over a year now, in many locations.

Also...you might want to print out this thread bubble envys now 80 cents-print out for 'your' Post Office! and take it with you to your PO. It states that they are 80 cents, but that was b4 the rates went up in May 2008...the message is the same though.

Sue

My latest ruling from the Postmaster at the PO near my office is...

42 cents for a 4" x 7" bubble envelope weighing 1 oz. or less -- as long as it is flexible -- and less than 1/4" thick.

Since I normally mail pepper seeds or other small seeds, most of my envelopes meet this criteria.

I was paying up to $1.23 before this last ruling on May 28th. I double checked this info on the USPS website; it agrees with the info from the website shown below.

Dimension Minimum Maximum
Height 3-1/2 inches 6-1/8 inches
Length 5 inches 11-1/2 inches
Thickness 0.007 inch 1/4 inch

First-Class Mail Letter Prices

Weight Not Over
(ounces)
Price
1 $0.42
2 0.59
3 0.76
3.5 0.93

Any item smaller than the minimum dimensions is not mailable.
For larger items, see large envelopes or packages.
For envelopes, length is the dimension parallel to the address.

Letters that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics below are subject to the $0.20 nonmachinable surcharge. For items over 3.5 ounces, see large envelope or package prices.

 It is a square letter

 It is too rigid  does not bend easily

 It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices

 It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter

 It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven

 The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5 (calculate this below)

Just for the record, and so many won't be confused, there are very few bubble envelopes that will ever be less than 1/4 inch thick, even if they are empty. The Post Offices have a template to determine if it is less than 1/4 inch, and if it is it can go as a First Class Mail Letter.

They also have a template to determine if it is less than 3/4 inch thick, and if it can go as a First Class Large Envelope Rate....

The shape based pricing went into effect May of 2007, yet many Post Offices are not aware of what they 'should be' charging.

42 cents for a 4" x 7" bubble envelope weighing 1 oz. or less -- as long as it is flexible -- and less than 1/4" thick.
Amelia, Are they charging you 42 cents at the window at your PO, or are you assuming the bubble envelopes are less than 1/4" thick? I'm just curious, as I have gone round and round with numerous Postal workers in different positions across the nation this past year.

Postage on bubble envelopes-What are you paying?

Sue...getting all riled up again at the PO overcharging

I took in 3 of my 4x7 bubble envelopes -- various amounts of seeds. The Postmaster put them through the template and then sort of twisted/partially folded to see if they met the flexibilty text. The heaviest was 7/10 of an ounce.

Chemocurl, what part, exactly, am I supposed to print out? It seems that it's addressing the seed trading community, not any post office employees.

I'm sorry but I am SO confused! Why does the P.O. make this so confusing? Is it .42 or .83? Or different? And why the heck would square cost more??????????

This is crazy that to mail a simple padded envelope, you have to go through all this trouble. I remember when I just slapped .42 on a bubble envelope and it was good to go.

Chemocurl, what part, exactly, am I supposed to print out?
Go to This thread and printout the Original post in the thread....or just the part between
Consumer Affairs Managers
and ending with
Cathy Snyder, Consumer Affairs Manager
United States Postal Service
Louisville Ky 40231-9631

additionally, print out Bulletin 22218 and then maybe highlight for them the part that says For padded bags (e.g., ReadyPost® "cushion mailer"), when the thickness is 3/4" or less and the item is flat-size and somewhat flexible, the item should be classified and priced as a large envelope.

Yes, things were certainly simpler when bubble envelopes just went as a First Class Letter with an additional non machinable surcharge...before going to the shape based pricing.

Numerous members have been socked with postage due when they received in bubble envelopes. Seems someone along the way took it upon themselves to overcharge the customer.

The Postmaster put them through the template and then sort of twisted/partially folded to see if they met the flexibilty text.
Well that is great Amelia...where do you buy your envies that they are so nice and thin? I know there is a difference in them.

Sue

I get them at our local Wal-Mart. (I picked them up by mistake the first time.) They are Duck bubble envelopes, 4" x 7", Size 000. (www.duckproducts.com) They also show Henkel Consumer Adhesives, Inc., on the envelopes.

I took in 2 envelopes again today and had the PO check. (Each had 2 to 5 packets of small seeds inside.) They again told me 42 cents each. This little PO actually handles a lot of mail. They are located in the center of the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor. The employees there seem to be more familiar with rates than at other PO's. I would guess that 75% or more of the mail they handle is for multinational chemical companies.

I would always check if I sent larger seeds or larger amounts. I would also check with them if mailing very brittle seeds that might require special handling.