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Wi

I was at our local post office the other day and had an interesting experience. The "normal gal" Shirly was there as well as a gal from another town subbing in. They both PROMISED me that for sending these seed packs we DO NOT need customs forms. If this actually works man does it save lots of time.

They also PROMISED me $.92 would get a bubble full of seeds anywhere in the US. As long as the bubble stayed under 3/4" thick. Again this is 2 different gals from 2 different towns making the same promise. Shirly also said since she's the one responsible for stamping the bubbles "postage due" that I'm in good hands with my auction bubbles.....lol.

So we'll see!

11/26/2013 9:08:41 AM

South Hero, VT

Different rules for different states/towns?

Or maybe they just like you.

11/26/2013 9:15:59 AM

South of Buffalo

I have found that depending on the person at the desk or if you use the automated postage machine the rate will vary each time for the same size bubble with the same amount of seeds. Depends on whether they call it a letter or a parcel and the thickness. I've had bubbles under $1 and as high at $2.30.

Just had one sent to me that required an extra $1.15 in postage due. My post office labeled it as a parcel when it arrived form out of state (so it was sent)and required more $ for me to pick it up total of about $2.25.

If you get 92cents thats spectacular.

11/26/2013 10:00:05 AM

Winston Salem, NC

I am really surprised to report the same thing that Chris said. I always just take everything to the post office and ask them how much? In years past it had been $2.12 or whatever...I was really surprised when she slapped less than a buck on the envelope. Even pressed her on the issue and I was assured it was good to go...I guess we will see. Moral of the story is just ask the nice folks at the post office.

11/26/2013 10:50:35 AM

Joliet, IL

When people request seeds from me I tell them add 4 USA stamps. And when I send seeds to growers with my own bubbles I put 4 USA stamps if I am covering postage. None come back with 4. Some in the past have come back with 2 stamps used. Only one time returned with 3 stamps. So I figure 4 is a good number. With the amount of money we spend on this hobby, an extra buck in stamps is worth bubbles not going round and round or sitting in post offices for pick up. And I just drop them in a public mailbox.

Overseas or Canada I go to post office and claim contents to be gifts and contents to be guitar pics on declaration sheet and pay the postage they say needed.

11/26/2013 10:58:25 AM

Wi

I want to clarify. My post officed PROMISED me that if the postage was not sufficient that nothing would be done until the package arrived at my local post office. Therefore they promise there is no way the package won't get to me timely. Even if short on postage. So they are again...PROMISING...lol....

When we as clubs / individuals are sending out many bubbles it definitely adds up.

11/26/2013 12:37:03 PM

Alaska

Life is full of promises Chris. If you are suspicious try FedEx or UPS and see what cost and promises they can make. Happy Holidays.

11/26/2013 12:54:39 PM

Western NY

2.07 on all of my bubble packs going out so far. That's 5 stamps to be safe. I'll try a different PO and see what happens.

Also, for those of us that had stocked up on customs forms, there's a new version of the CN 22 that is no longer green. They even asked me the number of seeds in the pack now!

11/26/2013 1:09:48 PM

BC, Canada

great answer Shazzy, I love your way of thinking!
Is there any thing such as an international stamp? Sure would make it easier in some ways. In the past I have just sent some cash along, which I don't mind doing, but I know that isn't as convenient for the person mailing. What do people prefer from out of country request?
Thanks.

11/26/2013 1:27:45 PM

Alaska

Okay her's my solution. Make it the clubs obligation to pay postage. After all seeds are being sold to fund them, right. It seems folks don't mind donating seeds but don't like paying postage. Just a thought?????

11/26/2013 1:35:46 PM

Johnston, R.I.

5 stamps on all bubbles here and no problems.........

11/26/2013 2:23:56 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Requests going out for the club auction have $0.92 postage. The bubble inside for the grower to return has 5 stamps. No known issues and yes the club pays the postage. I do the work but I don't pay the bills.

11/26/2013 2:55:04 PM

Wi

I should clarify.

-I am paying $2.05 for the envelope that contains the bubble
-I am paying $.92 for the bubble itself
-I'm being told I never have to fill out a customs form

11/26/2013 3:15:12 PM

Nottingham, UK

Well, try this one....

I received a note throught the door from the postman to say that they have not delivered an envelope as it was 9p short on postage. If I want the envelope I have pay the post office site and pay £1.09! £0.09 + £1.00 charge.

Now I know its a bubble from the UK so I have to go and drive 5 miles then pay £1.09 to pick up a bubble envelope with a stamp worth £0.62 which againproba bly has underpaid postage on it.

Longer arms and shallower pockets could have avoided this

11/26/2013 5:25:36 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I wish we could go to a system like this... We all get on PayPal. If you want seeds from a grower, first, ask privately on email and make sure you have the "go ahead." Then, drop $5 in the growers PayPal. The grower then sends the seeds. The grower has some expense in envelopes and postage, and whatever is left over can go to the fertilizer fund. The benefit is that you're not paying postage twice, and faster turn-around.

11/26/2013 6:12:14 PM

Midway, UT

Tell that promise to the little envelope I received from the post office with a seed request envelope saying that I owed $1.15 in postage on top of what was already on the envelope.

11/26/2013 7:08:56 PM

churchville, ny

Exactly Cliff -

*Grower requesting seeds sends a regular envelope (46 cents postage) with $5 inside or PayPal information.

*Grower mailing seeds will address bubble, put on stamps and mail. This way only 1 bubble is sent and total postage cost is decreased.

I'm sending seeds to Canada this week and above is how we did it.

11/26/2013 7:36:44 PM

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Depending on how they classify your package, international postage will be $6.55 based on what I sent out today. My post office lady hinted that if I were sending a "regular letter" "without a customs form needed" postage would be less, but if someone on the other end thinks it needs a customs form (e.g. if it's a bubble envelope) it could be held up and possibly come back. (I've had them sent back before without a customs form.)

11/26/2013 8:33:50 PM

anytown U.S,A,

Damn this is a confusing thread.

11/26/2013 8:53:11 PM

50 Acres

It all depends on the receiving postmaster, whether they think it needs customs postage or not. I,ve shipped across Canada for 98 cents. I,ve shipped to the U S A for anywares between 2.70 to 6.70 . Some here ignore the customs rate.

11/26/2013 9:01:54 PM

El Paso TX.

Chris -- First off the thickness allowed for letters is 14 not 3\4 so even an empty bubble barely passes then another thing to remember is if you do get by with the less postage the bubble will be sent through the normal processing which means the roller machines to sort them to the destination and the bubble wrap is not sturdy enough to keep the seeds from smashing if they get caught between the rollers and since the rollers max width is 1\4 inch (thus the regulation that the package must be less than 1\4 inches thick) it is gonna be a tight squeeze (even moreso if one of the seeds happens to get into the roller and there is a good chance the seeds get broke or the envelope gets stuck causing the machine to shut down and possible losing the bubble if it jumps off the line. So better to pay the $2.07 for being wider than 1\4 inch and get it hand sorted !!

11/26/2013 9:16:24 PM

El Paso TX.

1/4 not 14 in first sentence above (Here is the USPS regulation that states the minimum and maximum thickness - http://pe.usps.com/businessmail101/mailcharacteristics/letters.htm ) If you want to see it in writing for yourself -- so the 2 tellers either heard incorrectly or are confused !

11/26/2013 9:18:42 PM

So. Maine

Info for any clubs or anyone who goes through lots of bubble envelopes I found the best prices at royalmailers.com

You can order a case of 300 500 or 1000 4X7 bubble packs for around 10 to 12 cents each 5 X 9 are a few cents more Plus shipping is FREE . They offer white or mennella .

Anyone looking for a great price on tiny zip lock clear plastic seeds bags go to royalbags.com We use Item id 1377 ( 2 X 4 inch ) 1000 for $ 6.77 plus shipping .

At the PO last week I weighed a SASE bubble pack for a seed request to a grower in the US which was $ 2.07 ( to mail it back to me ) then I put that bubble in a basic 9 X 12 inch envelope and they weighed it and only charged like $ 1.12 to mail it out ( with the bubble pack inside it .

We had that discussion here last year about wrapping seeds in small plastic bubble wrap and setting it inside a basic 9 X 12 envelope to mail seeds anywhere in the US for about 1/2 the postage required on a bubble pack.

The $ 5. PayPal or $ 5. cash in a regular envelope to a grower for seed request is most likely the best way .

11/26/2013 9:49:59 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

both of the bubbles I have received from the US have been marked with $6.88 postage - that freaked me out! I send $2 down to the States to cover their postage so I kind of dropped the ball on that one - I will have to reconsider seed requests next year - gosh darn postage is a biatch

11/26/2013 10:02:16 PM

Muddy Waters

They will send your seeds for .92 cents anytime you ask Chris,but they might arrive in 50 pieces.The 2.07 keeps them off the rollers,that smash them.

11/26/2013 10:22:01 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

The first trip I made to the post office with bubble packs cost $2.07 each. The last trip I made cost $.61 each. The postal worker even stamped them "no machine" the second time. I still can't get a grasp on postal rates for bubble packs.

11/26/2013 10:28:57 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Postal man was even confused otherday sent 10 tomato seeds in a 4×7 bubble =$2.07,then weighed a 4×7 bubble with few sunflower&corn,&was in a 6×9 manila envelope &was $2.07 also. He had a confused look about it.

11/27/2013 8:17:12 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

It seems strange that bubbles cost $2+ to mail but if you put them inside of an envelope, the cost is $.92.
I was told by a postal worker that custom forms are not needed but 2 days later, the same person told me they were needed????
5 x 8 bubbles seem to cost less than the smaller sizes.
It is comforting to know that the government is now running healthcare.

11/27/2013 8:33:55 AM

Wi

JDFan. I also thought it was 1/4" so I questioned both employees. They held up the little cardboard measuring device that they use to determine thickness. She held it to my face and said..... "3/4"....lol. She made me feel bad for questioning it...haha.

It seems crystal clear to me now that there really is no correct way to send / receive seeds....LOL.

11/27/2013 9:13:59 AM

Central Illinois

I think most people are honest, if in doubt you could include a dollar bill in with your request envelope to cover any extra postage due, if its not needed they can return your dollar with the seeds

11/27/2013 12:17:25 PM

1. depends on retail workers knowledge.
2. depends on worker going strictly by definition of letter or parcel. most will go by dimensions and weight ignoring if it is eneven or smooth all around.(some are just glad to get the business without nit-picking)
3. if worker at the sorting plant decides to go by strict rules then they will send item to the short paid clerk and then it depends on how he is with the rules.
4. when it gets to the letter carrier most will think postage is good and deliver it.(most letter carriers were never involved in the retail end and are mainly concerned about getting it delivered as they are usually looking at the address so they can get the mail ready because they are under deadlines)

11/27/2013 3:44:21 PM

Niagara Falls,NY

I like to put my return address on the bubbles I send, that way if more postsge is due I'll be charged and not someone else.

11/27/2013 4:09:07 PM

Winston Salem, NC

Exactly the same experience as Chris here...really hope there aren't problems...

11/27/2013 6:39:03 PM

Muddy Waters

No worries, if there is not enough postage on bubble.I send them back postage due.The only problem I see baitman with returning the dollar is the envelope is already sealed.If not the seeds will be laying in my driveway.lol

11/27/2013 8:02:15 PM

Hanson Ma

Apparently the post office didn't get the memo that more. $2.52 postage on a bubble and fragile stamped on the envelope meant be careful. I got my seeds from Pete Denigris 1668 and 1544 yesterday and 3 of the 4 seeds were basically powder. so another envelope with a bubble in it went out today. Hope he has more and is willing to send them. So now thats about 7.50 in postage.

11/27/2013 8:06:14 PM

Hot West Tennessee

My two cents, we have been down this road many times. I guess we will go many more. As long as bubbles are not a standard. Not being a letter, flat (catalogs, large envelopes) or parcel. They will never have a real category. Ours are handled with the flats in most cases. Most being a general term. Some come with the parcels. Some parcels are heavy. I wish there was a better way of handling them. . Post Office equipment is basic and has not and will not change do to budget and limited work force. In my 21 year experience I have seen a lot of things believe me. The accountable clerk who handles incoming pieces has been there 30 plus years. She catches everything! Her replacement on days off is not so strict. So there you go. Just saying there is not a set rule for everything. Thanks Kreig Rural letter carrier. 4 more years till retirement!

11/28/2013 11:30:28 AM

El Paso TX.

At this point it might be better to start using boxes rather than bubbles - since the hard box would provide a bit more protection for the seeds than a bubble does and most are being charged at the package rate anyway, so the cost would be the same.

11/28/2013 2:36:12 PM

Oswego,ny

I've been paying $2.07 each way this year

I figure with the auction value of some of the seeds ,I'm not pinching pennies...
The entire process with supplies and postage gets expensive
compared to what some cheaper lots bring in, so bid HIgh!.

Since when are we pumpkin growers a practical bunch.

heating the ground and all,space heaters for each plant,thousands of gallons of water.. etc
costs more than a few cents in postage.
Keep your eye on the prize...lol

12/1/2013 5:11:08 PM