Discussion Forums - Questions about SwapaCD
Topic: $3 minimum now to send a cd
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My postmaster now says that it's $3 minimum to send a cd. First class minimum is now $3 unless the cd is sent in a package the same size as an envelope - a square item does not qualify. I was about to post two dozen cds but don't need credits and really don't want to have to pay $3 to send each one. Is anyone now encountering this same issue? Supposedly the first class minimum went up a few months ago, and there is no other way the cd can be sent (acc. to my postal supervisor).
Tracy Last Edited on: 10/23/17 4:27 PM ET - Total times edited: 1 |
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Tracy. I think this applies to the retail First Class Parcel rate, for parcels over 1/4" thick or 6 1/8" high. I believe if your item does not exceed these dimensions, it can still be sent as a First Class letter with a non-machinable surcharge, for $0.91. I recently mailed a pacakge using a standard bubble envelope. The pacakge was over 1/4" and weighed less than 1oz. I was expecting to pay only $2.67. I was a bit surprised when the postal clerk told me it was $3.00. So, I surmise that any time you mail a first class package and use the retail counter at a post office to pay for postage, it will be $3.00 minimum. |
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Tracy - I mail for less than $1.00 all the time. This is 2 ounces, letter rate + a 20 cent surcharge because it's non-machineable (rigid). I wrap my CD's in thin cardboard (like a cereal box) and then place in a manilla envelope and tape the label on the front. As long as your CD is less than 1/4" thick.....it's not a parcel. If you print postage here (send without a case) and then choose confirmation it's still only $1.46 |
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Here are postal regulation guidelines FROM POSTAL REGULATIONS: Letter Sizes: Minimum - Maximum (visual reference ….print page 37 of PDF file). http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/notice123.pdf Length: 5-1/2 inches - 11-1/2 inches Height: 3-1/2 inches - 6-1/8 inches Thickness: 0.007 inch - 1/4 inch Letters that meet one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics in IMM 241.217 are also subject to the $0.21 nonmachinable surcharge. Rules for Non-machineable criteria (on page 1 of 6) http://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/101.pdf Last Edited on: 10/23/17 8:27 PM ET - Total times edited: 2 |
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There was a postage increase on First Class Parcels at the retail rate. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced price changes for First-Class Mail® Parcels (FCM Parcels) effective September 3, 2017. Rate increase for First Class Parcel using stamps or buying postage at Post Office. Electronic postage not part of the increase. ⇒ pe.usps.com click on Price List Up to 4 oz. $3.00 up to 5 oz. $3.16
Last Edited on: 10/24/17 1:28 PM ET - Total times edited: 5 |
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I buy a lot of my postage at PayPal. There, a parcel (more than 1/4" thick) weighing less than 5 ounces is still $2.61 as of yesterday, 10/23/2017. However, because a lot of members here have wandered off and do not participate anymore, I've been using SwapaCD's postage with delivery confirmation to ensure that I get my credit. I only use PayPal postage for those members I know to be responsible traders. [Edit:] I just got word that PayPal has discontinued its postage service for anything that wasn't purchased through them. Darn! Last Edited on: 10/24/17 6:41 PM ET - Total times edited: 1 |
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Daniel, you are giving me a heart attack about not being able to buy postage from PayPal unless its with a purchase thru them. I need electronic postage to mail DVD's because the postage is discounted. The Retail rate at the Post Office is higher than electronic postage. |
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Daniel, I sent you a pm about the PayPal postage. |
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I talked to another postal supervisor who said the same thing - $3 minimum. However, if I black out the word nonmachineable, I can send a cd for .91, the way Netflix does. Netflix gets a cheaper rate by not indicating nonmachineable (and probably also mailing huge numbers of dvds). I can only assume this means that the cd won't be damaged in process going through machines. Last Edited on: 10/26/17 5:06 PM ET - Total times edited: 4 |
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The latest info I have about PayPal is that they've decided not to discontinue the current Ship Now feature. All of my info is non-official. So we shall see what we shall see. Tracy, if you black out the Non-Machineable, then paying that surcharge is sort of a waste. Most of us have seen what happens to a CD when it goes through the sorting machine. Better leave that Non-Machineable. It doesn't always work, but if it's not there, it won't even have a chance. |
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| Neither post office near here will let me send a cd non-machineable for under $3. The only way I can do so is to block out nonmachineable. I was also told that Netflix dvds (which I get) are not marked NONMACHINEABLE. On another note, I learned that even then, if the cd is "packaged" to size (square), it also doesn't qualify for the lower rate. It has to be clearly rectangular. I was able to send one at lower cost by stapling it tightly into its square size and then sending it in a part of a file folder I cut down to rectangular shape. | ||
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This just goes to show the gross inconsistencies from post office to post office. Even when confronted with their own postal regulations, they seem to set their own rules. These lame reasons ("it's square," "it's rigid," "it's cardboard so must be a parcel," "it has nonmachinable on it," etc.) don't hold up when following the established regulations for a 2 oz. non-machinable letter. This will continue to be an issue and makes trading CDs through the mail just a little less fun. Last Edited on: 10/27/17 10:28 AM ET - Total times edited: 1 |
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The last time I mailed a CD was on 9/7/17. I mailed the CD in a birthday card envelope with a piece of cardboard. 2 Forever Stamps on the envelope and I wrote NON-MACHINEABLE under the stamps. Then I took a picture with my Ipad. I mailed it from my mailbox and it was later marked received. I avoid the Post Office at all costs.
Last Edited on: 10/27/17 10:23 AM ET - Total times edited: 2 |
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> I avoid the Post Office at all costs. Good advice. |
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Tracy - I mailed a CD from the post office (self-serve) kiosk for $1.12 last week. CD booklet was heavier than usual. Put your CD mailer on the kiosk scale. The kiosk asks if you want to mail a letter or package. I chose LETTER. The kiosk asks if the letter is RIGID, I chose yes. The kiosk asks if a full label will fit on your letter....I chose NO. The kiosk will then print a small rectangular stamp type label to put on the upper right corner of your CD mailer. Last Edited on: 12/9/17 3:55 PM ET - Total times edited: 1 |
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With Media Mail packages up to one pound are $2.63 (going up a few cents in a couple of weeks). |
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