American Stamps

[Jaffer]

It's funny you should say that, I actually got a response back using only a .98 cent stamp with a C5 envelope.

It's not just you because I know of other people who have gotten away with it including me. That's why I thought .98 was enough.
If there wasn't enough postage though and they notice it (assuming there wasn't a return address on the envelope), wouldn't they deliver it and ask the recipient to pay the extra? Or are they as nice as that?

I know for a fact they should do that domestically. Whether or not it happens internationally is another question.

[HappinessStan]

What happens in the UK if you don't put enough postage on is that they get returned to sender with a label to take to a post office to add postage up to the correct amount.

From what I can see looking on Google, the US postal service does something similar (although an American with experience of it would be helpful here to confirm!)

Unless the person you've written to has written their address on the envelope (which doesn't happen often in my experience) it won't get sent back anywhere and won't reach the addressee (as I understand it).

I'm sure that most C5 envelopes will come back just fine, just as at least half of mine come back with the stamps unfranked, but if I'm making the effort to write to somebody then I'd rather not take the risk.

[BossC]

What happens in the UK if you don't put enough postage on is that they get returned to sender with a label to take to a post office to add postage up to the correct amount.

From what I can see looking on Google, the US postal service does something similar (although an American with experience of it would be helpful here to confirm!)

Unless the person you've written to has written their address on the envelope (which doesn't happen often in my experience) it won't get sent back anywhere and won't reach the addressee (as I understand it).

I'm sure that most C5 envelopes will come back just fine, just as at least half of mine come back with the stamps unfranked, but if I'm making the effort to write to somebody then I'd rather not take the risk.

If there is no return address, the envelope will be sent to the addressee with a "postage due" sticker.

I have a hard time keeping all the UK size envelopes seperate but 0.98 works for a small (and under an ounce) envelope to the UK. Larger sizes get MUCH more expensive.

BossC

[HappinessStan]

If there is no return address, the envelope will be sent to the addressee with a "postage due" sticker.

Even overseas? How would they collect the money?

[ScottishDan]

If there is no return address, the envelope will be sent to the addressee with a "postage due" sticker.

Even overseas? How would they collect the money?

I sent dollars for postage to someone in America once and they forgot to put stamps on the envelope so I got a "postage due" stamp on the front but I didn't have to pay anything, they just put it through the door and that was that!

Also I always put 0.98C stamps on my SASEs which are C5 and I've not had nay problems..

[kimmylee]

I always put $2 on my envelopes for several reasons.
Firstly, the usps.com guide confuses the heck out of me. I'm never sure if my "do not bend" marked envelopes carry a surcharge or not.
Second, if a celeb wants to add something, and it goes over the $2 weight limit, they only have to add a few cents (has happened once, and another time I am sure it was heavier than $2 would allow, but it slipped through the net )
Thirdly, most importantly, prices are always subject to rise and I want to be sure my envelopes will get back to me!