eBay

koolthings06 · ‎01-28-2022

Hi I’m hoping someone can help me here.

I am a new seller on eBay and I just mailed out probably 15 or so bubble mailers. When I purchased these bubble mailers from the dollar store, they said that they were 9 by 6 inches on the packaging , so I did not think to measure them since Canada Post states that you can use a regular $1.07 stamp and that will cover a letter that is No larger than 9.6 by 6 inches wide.

However I ended up measuring one of these envelopes after I had already sent them and the measurements shown on the package are nothing like what they said . The dimensions were actually 9.4 inches by 7. So basically the width is 1 inch over.

My question is, what are the chances that any of these will go through and get delivered or are they all coming back as insufficient postage? I know they use automated machines to sort Lettermail but I’m just wondering how often they catch small things like this? It’s not incredibly over the size limit but like I said it’s 1 inch over in width.

Please let me know.

dinomitesales · ‎02-01-2022

@fh991586 wrote:
For you information, an enveloppe must go through unaided (totally by itself) to be ruled ok; pushing it makes it too big for this rate, according to Post Canada's rules.

I just want to clarify here: there is no written rule that states the envelope must pass through the slot unaided. At least, I've never seen one, so if you can provide a link I will definitely stand corrected. Canada Post does nothing more than state the maximum thickness dimensions and provides no instruction to retail workers on how the mailing template is to be utilized. Any post office you are dealing with that says it needs to fit through "unaided" is going off their own rules that they've decided to enforce.

I recommend everyone that regularly ships via Lettermail to purchase a template. As long as you can jam the package completely through that slot (I mean, be reasonable here folks) it will be delivered fine 99% of the time. If a clerk is hassling you then stop dealing with them - just toss your letters in a red mailbox.

fh991586 · ‎02-01-2022

The reason why the enveloppe must pass through the 5mm slot unaided is intended for the automated sorting facilities: it must not jam, but go by itself in the flow of the mail.

I've been using the official CP template since 2005, and this rule was told to me by numerous postmasters over the years from at least 5 different cities (not franchises, but full patch post offices). That's why I thought it was an official guideline... My mistake if it's not, but it's really easy to understand its importance in the process!

ricarmic · ‎02-01-2022

Over the years (42) I've worked with a lot of PMs, in terms of "fitting through the slot" their rules have been everything from "easily slides through" to "as long as you can get it through by pulling with both arms it is ok". Most have been in the middle.

dinomitesales · ‎02-01-2022

You're right that they are definitely more strict with regard to what can fit through the smaller 5 mm slot than they are with the larger 20 mm slot. There's definitely some leeway with that larger one though.

In the end it's a total **bleep**shoot and comes down to what the person handling your mail believes is right. If something is working for you I wouldn't recommend changing how you do things until it stops working. But don't be afraid to take risks; no ones going to be charged or fined because they don't have enough postage on their item or it's deemed to thick to go a certain way - worst case scenario it will just come back to you and you can resend it.

dinomitesales · ‎02-13-2022

@recped wrote:
@dinomitesales wrote:
@recped wrote:
I recall getting one of these returned because I used 2 x P stamps plus a 10 cent stamp, the 10 cent fell off and the envelope was returned for insufficient postage. I learned to make sure that the self-adhesive P stamps overlapped the poor quality glue small denomination stamps.
Huh, that's weird, that shouldn't have happened. Canada Post considers two P stamps to equal one Oversized Lettermail stamp ($1.94). All I ever put on my Oversized Letters (under 100 g) is two P stamps and have never had one returned (many hundreds of shipments).
No they don't! 2 x P = $1.84, you have to add 10 cent to get to $1.94

If you haven't had any returned or delivered postage due you have been lucky.

Okay I finally remembered to snap a picture while I was at work. Here is the relevant page from the Canada Post "Retail Operations Manual" on what they consider to be "fully prepaid". Note my highlighting.

pjcdn2005 · ‎02-13-2022

That's interesting! Thanks for posting that.

ricarmic · ‎02-13-2022

The only caveat I would suggest to this is that there is risk that someone along the line will not know this rule and that it comes back shortpaid.

IMO one item sent back and all the time, and possible cost around it having to be resent along with INR communication etc isn't worth saving the 10c difference (or much less in my case) if one is using old postage, but if one is paying the full 10c each time, hey a lot of 10c do add up over a year!

(I would be interested to hear from anyone that uses this for a while in terms of if anything came back or not)

(Addendum, I see that you and folks in your area do have experience with no losses so this is already answered!)

dinomitesales · ‎02-13-2022

@ricarmic wrote:
The only caveat I would suggest to this is that there is risk that someone along the line will not know this rule and that it comes back shortpaid.

Oh, 100%. There are so many rules that it's impossible for every employee to know everything - I see many people coming in to the post office asking why their letter/package was returned to them (even though there's no reason why it should have) and the only reason I can think is that whoever was handling it at the depot didn't fully know the rules. And once someone marks it as "Return to Sender" I can guarantee you no one along the line is going to think twice or double check as to WHY it's being returned to sender. 99.9% of the time I just pop the item back in the mail and it gets delivered just fine.

ricarmic · ‎02-13-2022

Yes I've had a few come back for no apparent reason, or "too thicks" when they aren't. So far in 100% of those cases my PM has simply put it back in the mailstream exactly like it was when I sent it and voila it arrives AOK the next time.......

I also have to be careful when I use the undenominated stamps like the "A" stamps (which are 30c each) I write in pen below the stamp or block the value with an arrow to the stamp/block. My PM knows, but she's not the one I'm worried about its anybody else down the line.....