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Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Jan 29, 2007 10:31am
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I was at the Post Office this morning to send out a bunch of PLB's that gathered at my house last week and I really noticed a difference in postage. Unfortunately Canadian postal rates have gone up (yet again!) and some of these boxes cost $ 5-6 dollars to send. And that is sending them ground not airmail which is $8-9 dollars. Yikes!

However, one was only $1.74! And that was to ship by air not ground! It didn't look that much different than the others, so why was it is cheap and fast? It was light and thin! Light and thin are key, people, to keeping the costs down. A small handmade booklet without a lot of extra pages and a stamp. That's what's in that package. It makes all the difference. Using thin craft foam for fun and colourful covers is a great idea I have recently discovered. Ribbon and embroidery thread are light also.

NOT PUTTING MOUNTS ON STAMPS FOR POSTALS WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. Some of the most expensive postals to send are the ones with large mounts on them. I know I am perfectly capable of using a stamp without a mount. I don't think a mount is necessary but if you really, really want one, try craft foam, it is at least light.

I think when we are in rings it is more important to make your package light and thin. This also allows you to ship by air for an excellent price instead of ground which takes so much longer. For a single I don't mind it being more money as they are usually really special.

Don't get me wrong, I will except packages of all costs gladly, but it isn't too difficult to keep costs down if we think about it before we mail it.

Keep those postals rolling! I love you wonderful, creative people!

Red Soup
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67459 by JennieGee
Jan 29, 2007 10:39am
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Quote For a single I don't mind it being more money as they are usually really special.


I think that all postals we send out should be 'special'; why spend the postage if it is not? I definitely prefer quality to quantity...

~SHH :-)
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67461 by SHH
Jan 29, 2007 11:08am
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I agree that they should all be special and I have yet to receive one that didn't measure up. I was just thinking of the single that I received recently that had TWELVE lovely stamps in it! I have NO PROBLEM paying extra for something like that. It was like getting an entire postal ring at once! Very cool!

Red Soup
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67461 by SHH
Jan 29, 2007 12:01pm
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Quote I think that all postals we send out should be 'special'; why spend the postage if it is not? I definitely prefer quality to quantity...


I agree!

Although I have been having fun with some of the smaller carving rings, I have to admit that some of my favorite postals received are those that are like getting a vacation in a box. These ones to savor often have "extras" that add to the mood, and as a result add to the overall weight and the postage.

Personally, I struggle to make logs, so I love it when a very intricate and beautiful handbound log comes my way. These one-of-a-kind treasures are often heavier than normal, but worth every penny in my book.

That said, everyone has a budget they're trying to stick to, so I understand if when you're running a ring, you specify light weight only. But I would hate for those I consider to be the true PLB artisans to feel any pressure to change their creative styles. . .and usually, over the course of a ring, the lightweight and heavier ones even out.

dewberry
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67459 by JennieGee
Jan 29, 2007 12:03pm
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Quote It didn't look that much different than the others, so why was it is cheap


I don't know if it makes a difference to the USA charges, but over here if you put a written letter in the parcel it costs way more than one without any letter. Even just one written page puts the charge up. This is because it can't go parcel post if it has a letter in it.

Just something that may have a bearing on the charges, and for anyone who receives a parcel from me I hope you will understand why there is no friendly letter enclosed - it's 'cause I'm a cheapskate :-D

YT
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67506 by The Yorkshire Tortoise
Jan 29, 2007 12:11pm
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Quote I don't know if it makes a difference to the USA charges, but over here if you put a written letter in the parcel it costs way more than one without any letter. Even just one written page puts the charge up. This is because it can't go parcel post if it has a letter in it.

Just something that may have a bearing on the charges, and for anyone who receives a parcel from me I hope you will understand why there is no friendly letter enclosed - it's 'cause I'm a cheapskate :-D


YT, how do you get around the logbooks not being counted as a letter?
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67506 by The Yorkshire Tortoise
Jan 29, 2007 12:12pm
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Quote This is because it can't go parcel post if it has a letter in it.


Ok.... I'll bite: How would they know? Now I'm just dying of curiosity!

HP
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67514 by mowizliz
Jan 29, 2007 12:15pm
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Quote YT, how do you get around the logbooks not being counted as a letter?


On the customs declaration I put 1 erasure, 1 notebook.

No-one has ever queried it re the charges. However just last week the postlady did say ''Why do you keep sending erasures to the USA don't they sell them over there?'' LOL

YT
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67517 by Pi
Jan 29, 2007 12:19pm
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Quote Ok.... I'll bite: How would they know?


Don't know about England, but when I was living in Germany twenty years ago I would often get parcels from home that had been opened for inspection by customs.

YT may be talking about overseas mail which is subject to different rules. However, even in the States if you send something Book Rate or Third Class, it is not supposed to contain personal correspondence. I guess they expect you to be honest but I suppose there's the chance it could be inspected even under domestic travel.

Knit wit
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67517 by Pi
Jan 29, 2007 12:21pm
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They don't care what's in the parcel here. How can they know if you write a note?

Red Soup




























































































































































































































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Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67517 by Pi
Jan 29, 2007 12:23pm
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Quote How would they know? Now I'm just dying of curiosity


I've wondered that myself. Sometimes I put postcards in, the first time I was honest about it which is when I discovered it was approx $4.50 more expensive.

Sometimes they take one look at my face and know :-D My main worry is that they don't make it through to the USA just because I haven't written every single item down. Sometimes I get worried that they might have an x-ray machine at the airport. That is when I also declare 'Card'. I don't say Postcard, just card, and again the Postlady has never queried it.

YT
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67520 by The Yorkshire Tortoise
Jan 29, 2007 12:23pm
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na, no erasers here. Be careful how "thin" if you need DC#, less than 3/4 inch you have to send them priority mail, which is a whole lot more $$$$
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67527 by CathCainGwen
Jan 29, 2007 12:46pm
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I always put rubber stamp and paper. The paper can be in many forms logbook, note, postcard ect, but paper still covers it. I don't think they even look at the label except for the zip code so they can punch it in their computer for pricing. I have never received a PLB yet that was opened by customs.

Red Soup
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67527 by CathCainGwen
Jan 29, 2007 12:58pm
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Quote Be careful how "thin" if you need DC#, less than 3/4 inch you have to send them priority mail, which is a whole lot more $$$$


I don't know about you, but if the item is too thin, I just don't use the delivery confirmation. No offense to anyone because I LOVE postals as you all know by now, but they just aren't worth priority mail.

TG
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67536 by Trekkie Gal
Jan 29, 2007 1:46pm
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Quote I don't know about you, but if the item is too thin, I just don't use the delivery confirmation. No offense to anyone because I LOVE postals as you all know by now, but they just aren't worth priority mail.


For this reason, I keep bubble wrap when I get it. You can add a layer or two of bubble wrap, make the package 3/4" thick and add almost zero weight.
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67532 by JennieGee
Jan 29, 2007 6:27pm
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Quote I always put rubber stamp and paper


I just put down rubber and paper. My clerks dont care, but one is getting interested in what I am sending so one of these days I will have to take an open postal so she can see what the fun is all about.

Mystic Dreamer
Re: Postal Postage
Board: Postals
Reply to: #67459 by JennieGee
Jan 29, 2007 9:30pm
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In the US, you need to have the package be at least 3/4" for them to accept a Delivery Confirmation. That doesn't mean it can't be lightweight. Just stack the stamp and loogbook on top of each other. Maybe fold the Ziplock baggie over so that it puffs up a bit.