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Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 3:34 am
by cagneyfan
I am in The Bronx, New York and go to the post office with one 9 x 12 envelope filled with two photos, a LOR and a piece of 8 x 10 cardboard that I cut out of their free boxes. I also go with a 10 x 13 envelope in which I insert the 9 x 12 SASE after I have applied postage to it and then seal the 10 x 13 envelope. I stamp do not bend on both envelopes. The post office clerk first told me that the cost of the 9 x 12 envelope was $1.25 and hen she said oh no - this is a stiff package - the cost is $2.10 and the 10 x 13 is $2.25. So every time I send for an autograph it costs me $4.35 and half the time the envelope is creased anyway. Am I getting ripped off or am I paying for it not to bent and not getting compensated when they bend it? I called up and was told "we can't tell if it was bent going out or coming in, so we can't point the blame anywhere - sorry." Thanks.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 6:36 am
by Historical
Hey I personally do not use cardboard when I mail out 8 x 10s and have never had any problem. The extra weight will cost you extra money. Also I always put my address as both the sender and receiver on my SASEs. This way if there is not enough postage it will always make it back to me.
In short, the less weight, the less cost to you.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 4:34 pm
by cagneyfan
Good idea on the SASE - also, if the stamps aren't cancelled you can put then in the freezer for an hour and it stiffens the adhesive just enough so that you can gingerly peel them off and they will stick like new to another envelope. If there is a little line in the white border you can use white out. It's really worth it on the dollar stamps.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 4:03 am
by vivalakayla
cagneyfan wrote:Good idea on the SASE - also, if the stamps aren't cancelled you can put then in the freezer for an hour and it stiffens the adhesive just enough so that you can gingerly peel them off and they will stick like new to another envelope. If there is a little line in the white border you can use white out. It's really worth it on the dollar stamps.
Be careful. That's highly illegal.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:23 am
by cagneyfan
Notice that I didn't say I did that - I said you could try it.

Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:24 am
by Jammydodger
cagneyfan wrote:Good idea on the SASE - also, if the stamps aren't cancelled you can put then in the freezer for an hour and it stiffens the adhesive just enough so that you can gingerly peel them off and they will stick like new to another envelope. If there is a little line in the white border you can use white out. It's really worth it on the dollar stamps.
Great idea that I will try it next time.

Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:33 am
by vivalakayla
cagneyfan wrote:Notice that I didn't say I did that - I said you could try it.

I said that for the younger crowd who read here and think it's okay. And it's not.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:53 am
by marksautographs
vivalakayla wrote:cagneyfan wrote:Notice that I didn't say I did that - I said you could try it.

I said that for the younger crowd who read here and think it's okay. And it's not.
I agree! Reusing stamps is one of the reasons why the postal service is in so much debt!
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 5:56 am
by Jammydodger
marksautographs wrote:vivalakayla wrote:cagneyfan wrote:Notice that I didn't say I did that - I said you could try it.

I said that for the younger crowd who read here and think it's okay. And it's not.
I agree! Reusing stamps is one of the reasons why the postal service is in so much debt!
They are in debt because people keep sending phone texts and emails. For the amount of stamps being reused that's nothing compares too that. So if your worried about the postal service it's best you chuck your phone down the toilet and then flush.
Re: Am I paying too much postage?
Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 6:17 am
by marksautographs
Jammydodger wrote:marksautographs wrote:vivalakayla wrote:
I said that for the younger crowd who read here and think it's okay. And it's not.
I agree! Reusing stamps is one of the reasons why the postal service is in so much debt!
They are in debt because people keep sending phone texts and emails. For the amount of stamps being reused that's nothing compares too that. So if your worried about the postal service it's best you chuck your phone down the toilet and then flush.
Right. They are in debt because of emails and texts, but I said that reusing stamps is one of the reasons!
This article says the postal service loses 25-75 million a year just from people illegally reusing stamps...And this article was from 1978!!!
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 49,3179753
This article says royal mail loses tens of thousands of dollars a year due to this fraudulent crime.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... stamp.html