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So. Maine

In part 1 of a seed sending test I just sent seeds from the U.S. to Canada today as first class mail and the rate cost me $ 2.05 . After seeing the rates for even a small bubble envelope jump up to $ 6.55 back in January or February and reading all the comments to Quinn's post I figured I'd try this .

I wrapped some seed packs in small plastic bubble wrap ( bottom and top of seed packs ) stapled around the edges of the bubble wrap to keep them in place and put them in the middle of a standard 9 X 12 in. envelope and took it to the post office . No questions asked at the window , price was $ 2.05 .

With the diameter of the large envelope I think it tapers off the thickness of the seeds and wrap making it appear like just some paper in a envelope .

For growers who mail seeds out of country maybe this can save ya about $ 4.50 for each mailing .

The 9 X 12 in. envelopes I used were bought at a Ocean State Job Lot store 20 in a pack for $ 2. So that's ONLY 10 cents each .

I don't think this would work with the large type plastic bubble wrap as it would make the envelope appear thicker . The size of the bubbles in the bubble wrap I used was about 1/4 in.

Now , for growers who have a pile of new or old used bubble envelopes you should be able to cut a section of the bubble envelope with scissors to use around the seed packs you are sending , staple around the edges as I mentioned earlier and insert the seed in the large envelope and cut your mailing cost by over 50 % .

Part 2 of this test should be next week when the seeds arrive in Canada and are opened and inspected . We'll let you all know the results .

AL B.

3/28/2013 1:14:24 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I just gotta tell ya Al that there is no way I would trust any postal service to get a $500.00 seed to its destination safely in a standard envelope that goes through a machine for sorting. It's tough enough to trust them to get a seed to its recipient in a bubble envelope. I am curious about your trial however.

3/28/2013 5:25:34 AM

Muddy Waters

Trucktech is right! if you have a hard to replace seed I would pay the 4.50.There is however a way to do this with out worry.You need a really thin mint tin or equivalent.put your seed in the tin.I promise your seed wont get smashed.In less however the post man drops your letter and a big spider happens to jump on the letter whiles its laying on the ground,and he stomps the spider with his size 12 work shoe.LOL! another way is ship in prescription bottles but it will shoot to the higher rate possibly.

3/28/2013 6:52:40 AM

Muddy Waters

I tried this above a couple years ago & the 239 leonard arrived to Georgia crushed

3/28/2013 6:55:59 AM

west central IN/East central IL

I've sent seeds (20AG and 50sunflowers) to 3 friends this way and haven't had a problem, but definitely wouldn't send good seeds this way. I used a postal bubble I had, cut and taped together to fit envelope, put seeds on box tape so they don’t move and stood on it (measured less than 1/4in thick). Cost 46 cents.

3/28/2013 9:04:01 AM