Post Office & they wanted more postage dilemma!

[@sigsandstuff]

Hi all! I'm hoping I can get some feedback on this. Today I go to the post office to drop off 10 requests. I typically send a 9x12 SASE inside of a 10X13 so I don't have to bend anything. And I also include a cardboard backing board which isn't too heavy. My first batch of successed I put 1.05 (2oz) on the SASE for First Class Mail Domestic. I put 1.22 (3oz) on the outside envelope for same thing, First Class Mail Domestic. I got 2 successes back from that batch so far so I figure I have the right amount on. Wrong according to the mail clerk today when I was in line!
I just happen to hand them to the clerk and she checks one of them and then goes, "you don't have enough postage sir." She ends up telling me that what I'm sending is a Parcel because I had put a DO NOT BEND stamp on both sides of the envelope. So I had to pay 50 cents more on all my envelopes and I didn't even say anything to her about the SASEs because they were already inside sealed! Now I'm afraid I may not get my SASEs back. What the hell? Is it because I put DO NOT BEND? Was the lady just being rude and trying to make an extra penny (she actually was a bit rude)? Am I really gonna have to start forking out $1.75 just for the outer envelope? Somebody please give me some peace of mind. Tell me this lady didn't know what she was talking about! Thanks fanmail land! I appreciate the feedback!

[mharm2k6]

I've had this happen when I've had to print postage to ship this for ebay. The problem like you said is that it said "do not bend", because the system is predominantly automated- they charge a fee because things that are rigid have to be dealt with separately.

From the USPS website: First-Class Mail Package prices apply to Large Envelopes that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick.

First Class Mail 3oz. Domestic = 1.22
First Class Mail Package 3oz. = 1.56

-Matt

[Jaffer]

I don't live in USA, but here in Australia, that is a load of crap. She is just trying to con you. If you dont mind me asking, how old are you? If you are a kid, then that just raises my suspicions that you got scammed

[osiris]

I don't live in USA, but here in Australia, that is a load of ****. She is just trying to con you. If you dont mind me asking, how old are you? If you are a kid, then that just raises my suspicions that you got scammed

It's not a scam and she didnt get conned. Please refer to mharm2k6's post. An item that cannot be machine sorted (i.e. a stiff object) costs more. Writing "Please Do Not Bend" also means this, as an item WILL BEND when it is machine sorted. So to hand sort it, they charge more.

[guilder1st]

I don't know if that's a set rule. I've had a few times where they did charge me more because I put 'do not bend' on the envelope, but most of the time they charge me regular rates. It seems like the people working at the post office are confused about the rules themselves.

[annie985]

Hi @sigsandstuff,

I've never had a problem with writing "Do Not Bend" on my envelope. I usually send out 10X13's with cardboard and "Do Not Bend" written on it and it usually doesn't cost me more than $1.20. I sometimes find that it depends on which post office employee you go to. I went to my local post office and asked about IRC's and they told me that they had expired 6 years ago and no longer sold them, and the next day I went back and the post master sold me an IRC. So, I think that sometimes the postal workers may not be aware of all the rules and regulations. Most of them time I'll just stick 3 or 4 stamps on my envelope and put it in the mail box. If I don't have stamps I use the automated postal machine to avoid the hassel. It's just one of those things.

~Annie

[dfreely]

Like others have said, it really depends on who's handling the mail. "Do Not Bend" after all is a suggestion and not a rule.

And no, you did not get scammed/conned. Any extra money she got out of you just went to the cost of delivering your mail, neither she nor USPS would've ended up with more money in their pockets.