Oh My goodness...She is so clueless and doesn't know how to do her job and (imho) should be fired! If you mail a Bubble Envelope, regardless of the size or the thickness, it will be charged at the Parcel Rate of $1.22 and up. She said they don't use the device at the counter for measuring a Bubble envelope for thickness, it automatically gets charged the parcel rate. If the Bubble envelope of any size, even empty goes through their machines, it comes out ruined, so they have to put all the bubble envelopes through a different system. She is so wrong! She has been wrong ever since Shape Based pricing went into effect in May 2007...so those employees have ALL been OVERCHARGING now for going on to 4 YEARS! When will this madness end? In order to attempt to get her properly trained (isn't it sad the customers are trying to train USPS supervisors?) I suggest you print out this bulletin...First-Class Mail Fact Sheet At the bottom of it under First-Class Mail Quick Tips, it 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." Why is that so hard for postal employees to understand? I think even a caveman could understand that! She said that if you put the seeds in a long white envelope, with a small amount of padding in it, and if it is under an ounce, you can put a $.44 cent stamp on it and ask for the 'non machinable' rate. They would charge you another $.20 for that and so the total cost of your envelope would be $.64. hmmm...and we ALL know how well seeds do in regular envelopes with bubble wrap in them. The envelopes end up torn up and the seeds destroyed, if the envelope and seeds even make it to their destination and aren't totally destroyed. What about those who live in the rural and don't have the convenience of getting into the PO very often? What about those that get dropped into the blue mailboxes? Does she think that every envelope is read and sorted by hand so marking something Hand Stamp will be seen? Give me a break. I asked about the little gadget to measure the thickness of the envelope and she said they don't give them out, but they keep one at the counter, but they don't use it to measure bubble envelopes. It seems strange that some of were able to get them from our post offices without any problems. Would you mind posting her name and telephone number here along with her address? I will personally contact her superior from the list at the link below that lists all Vice Presidents and District Managers. It shows the zip code areas that are covered by each one. Imho, she needs to be reported littleonefb, Fran I really don't think anyone associated with the PO is reading this or is attempting to get anything done. I sure wish I could get NBC, CBS, or one of the major networks to pick up on this stealing that has been going on for almost 4 years. A lot of folks should be fired for not knowing how to do their job correctly. In the private sector, a lot of these employees would have been fired long ago. Here is a link that might be useful: USPS Management-it is an 11 page pdf file that will need to load

ok...adding more here, for the record... from an email from queenofthemountain. CA I saw the discussion about postage rates and wanted to let you know my Post Office charges the parcel rate for bubble mailers. When I have gone there to mail (usually 2-4 seed packets, taped in place) they charge me $1.22 or $1.39. Here is their info: 8587 Fenwick Street Sunland, CA 91040-1953 (818) 951-0376 I think next time I will print out the Mail Prices page from the USPS Web site to take with me. I suggested she also print out the Physical Standards for Flats (2.0 thru 2.4) and that she ask them to show her their First Class Mail Shape Based Pricing Template...PSN 7530-10-000-0765. If they follow the instructions on the template and check for flexibility (print out that flex test) and see that it is uniformly think...show them the printout on that...then they should be on board. I asked that she report back here with whatever she is told. Hopefully she can get them straightened out, as it is just 2 months shy of being 3 years that the public has been overcharged. Sue

All right, OMG. Someone sent in a complaint to the USPS using my name and address. While I appreciate the concern and it is OK, I just wish they had let me know in advance. I received a post card from the USPS yesterday saying they are investigating this. I mailed two packages today. One to north central Georgia up near Lake Lanier and the other to Texas. The difference between parcel post and Priority mail to Ga. was 64 cents. I just can't figure that out because priority is SUPPOSED to get there in 3 days. That seems like so little to pay for the supposed service of 3 day delivery. BTW, you pay for 3 day delivery but it isn't guaranteed.

Ouch!I'm sorry I stirred up this mess. Hi Alice, I was the one that mentioned you had the beautiful brug seedlings of Monica Gottschalk. I started this thread. Several of us had been trying to find a source for some of her babies. I was drooling all over the place when I stopped by to look at some of your cannas. I love cannas and anything that looks tropical. Then I looked and you had brugmansia too, I just had to take a look. Those are some beautiful brugs you have there and the cannas are out of this world too. I saw my first brugmansia or angel trumpet October 6, 2007 I'll never forget it. With the wonderful folks here on this forum I have been able to obtain a few, learn about the brugs for sale on ebay. I have purchased more than a handful from several different vendors along with some brug seeds. Please let me tell you a little about myself and this site. I am an older lady, most of these folks on here are my childrens age or younger. I know very little about the computer and my memory isn't very good anymore. Yet these wonderful people on this forum are like family and I wouldn't trade any of them for a million brugs are all of Monika's Brugs. Please take a few minutes to get to know everyone here. We all share the same passion as you. We LOVE BRUGS, we love flowers, plants, and just talking to one another about what works best for us with all our plants. We are like one big HAPPY FAMILY and I myself would dearly love for you to become part of our BRUG family here on this forum. I hope that you don't think I'm being rude, that is not my intention at all. Since you have explained the situation about the brugs I'm sure everyone will be much more understanding. Besides, we will be some of the people buying your babies and what better than to have you here once in awhile to let us know what's going on with you and your latest brugmansias. I look forward to seeing you post here and helping us newbies learn more about brugs. I apoligize to everyone for starting this thread but now we all know we can get some of Monika's Brugs through Alice. Happy Gardening, Happy Brugging, and Happy Easter, Love Marian