USPS Priority Mail cautionary note
browneyedsusan_gw
8 years ago
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Phylis
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoAtomicJay007
8 years agoRelated Discussions
USPS Shipping Assistant, free software
Comments (0)I recommend all traders download this program from the post office. Here is the link to the page: USPS Shipping Assistant Page Here are the reasons: It has a built in address book and as soon as you get the address of your trading partner you can enter it in the address book by using copy and paste. Then save it and when you are ready to send your end of the trade all you need to enter is the weight of the package and by trying the different options you can see which method will be the cheapest and fastest. This software calculates the postage for you, but there is no option to pay for the postage online. You will have to pay the postage the old fashioned way unless you send everything Priority and use the USPS's Click n'Ship online. When you are ready to ship your end you can print the label on your computer's printer and it will have a barcode on it which EXPEDITES your package. The software will calculate your costs and delivery confirmation is included at the .14 cent online rate instead of the .45 you pay at the post office. To make your life even more simple, by being online you can easily schedule a pick-up of your packages from your postal carrier if at least ONE of them is Priority Mail. It is a good idea to stock up on all denominations of stamps by either ordering them online from the USPS or by buying them at the post office. If none of your packages is going by Priority you can still hand them to your carrier or put them in your mailbox to be picked up just like a letter. Warning: I would not take my packages again into the post office to mail as they will weight them and charge you for them WITHOUT the delivery confirmation or CHARGE you extra for the delivery confirmation. It can cause the postal clerks to get all flustered because they may not be used to this. This is caused by a glitch in the USPS. They developed the software without an option to remove DC. The USPS representive I talked to about it said to just pay for it as if it didn't have DC. HOWEVER, it is tracked by the PO as if it HAS the delivery confirmation, so I prefer to pay for what I get even if the PO can't understand or require it which is why I recommend putting your own stamps on or just giving a check to your postal carrier with the packages. NOTE: If you have many packages coming and going it is a good idea to have a good relationship with your mailman/woman. In my case, I live way out in the boonies and do not get into town often so our mail carrier is an important link in life. Back to the software, there is even an option that lets you know exactly the day and minute your package was delivered to your trader. One more thing: Every trader should make a modest investment in a postal scale. If you sign up at stamps.com they will send you one as a free gift for trying them out. You can also get a good deal on an inexpensive digital scale at eBay. Here is a link that might be useful: USPS Shipping Assistant...See MoreLarge packages need to be mailed in person
Comments (15)Yelena - I hope that ebayer made good on your order for you. I've only received an envelope of seeds once with no bubble wrap (and they were crushed). It was from a trade here. They were flat hosta seeds but they still didn't make it through the mail sorter. Dust! I think if they were more consistant with the rules and regs it would make it much easier for people that do an extensive amount of mailing. If you were just doing a few packages yearly, it wouldn't amount to very much. However, if you had a big SASE offer going and found you were short on postage for every bubbler, that potentially could amount to quite a bit. I'd certainly read the shipping rules if I was put into that situation and to try to send the packages out for the least amount as possible within their guidelines. (I wouldn't consider that tricking the post office). I don't think $1.13 is asking too much to ship a package either. Heavens, I just paid $5.45 to Gourmet seeds to ship 10 packs of seed! Really, the postage issue has to be put into perspective. If an extra stamp or two on a trade makes someone feel like it costs too much, it's not really worth doing the trade. Like everything else, shipping costs have gone up. It used to be worth it to trade for one pack of seed or a small plant exchange. It just would be less confusing for people it they stuck to the same rules at each PO. For instance Yelena, your PO lady won't leave her truck now. My PO guy was out delivering packages on a Sunday (yes Sunday!) the weekend before Xmas. He hand delivered them to everyone's door. My package would have fit in my box but he brought it up to the door and rang the bell! So, I guess they aren't as strict around here. I won't be putting my larger bubblers in to the drop box anymore though!...See MoreShipping USPS - A Cautionary Tale
Comments (8)I've shipped many pkgs via Priority mail using the e-mail notification feature. I've received many more but am extremely fortunate in that we have the nicest mail lady, Tina. Being in the country, she delivers via a mail vehicle. Knowing how to butter up people, I give her an ARS rose calendar every year and often leave rose blooms in floral tubes in my mail box for her. When we get a package, she brings it to the door along with the other mail. If she knows we're not feeling well she'll bring our mail to the door. I ship roses and on one occassion a little water leaked through the box. I had taken it to the post office to ship and the counter clerk noticed the wet spot. She helped me repackage it right there. I've lived in smaller towns all my life with post offices that employ people who know of me and my rose hobby. I'm always treated well and they seem to go out of their way to assist me. Fortunately, I've never had an experience like yours. If I'm not going to be home, a note in my mailbox and/or on the door will get any package and the mail delivered to my neighbor's house....See MoreUPDATE: 100 Limit Plant Swap
Comments (105)Karen, I am having to add planting medium to some so that is why I said it may be Monday before I mail out. I want to make sure they are happy before going BACK in a box for a trip home. I am trying to make the extra effort to make this a good swap for all of us. Please everyone remember, some of these plants MAY loose their leaves BUT with love and attention I am sure they will thrive in the long run. I would like to suggest if you live where it is HOT to cover them during the hottest part of the day for a few weeks to help them out, any thing you can do to help bring them along will ensure their chances, remember you can't just stick them in the ground and say LIVE these need to be cared for for a little bit! I know now if I do this again that I need to put them in a starting medium as soon as they arrive and to help me do this I may have everyone mail to me in stages so I can keep up with the plants as they come in. Also, remember I did say no TINY plants and they must be a nice size, well a few very small ones did come in with hardly any roots, these I will be keeping because those are NOT looking happy. I am trying to be fair about these and give some credit BUT this is not fair to those who sent in the required sizes. Someone and I will NOT say who even measured their plants to make sure they were the correct size. Not complaining I am just pointing this out for those who may have requested the plants in question this is the reason I didn't send them to you, because they are way small and one has already lost all the foliage and I am hoping it will come back from the roots, the good thing is that IF it does and you all join the swap again these questionable plants may be ready to share then :). I do hope you all will be happy with your boxes, I am doing the best I can to send things I am SURE you really want. Again I want to stress the some things will lose their leaves but should have no problem coming back from the roots. The phlox 1 offerd is one of them my mama assure me you can not kill it that if the root is there it will make it. I am sending a fair amount to those of you who wanted some so it should be alright. Ok, well break is over I need to get back to packing and sorting the boxes. :) Fran...See Moremom2zandt
8 years agoPhylis
8 years agoourhighlandhome
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agomom2zandt
8 years agofrankielynnsie
8 years agowoodthrush
8 years agobrowneyedsusan_gw
8 years agowoodsidetrader
8 years agoval (MA z6)
8 years ago
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