Postage Price question

[Former_Member]

My fellow Etsy shop owners rock! With pricing for international items and all of your postal knowledge, I must say it has helped a newbie like me.

But now I have a question. I have made several trips to the post office this week (YAY) but I noticed something, a difference between a large envelope and package. I use 6 X 9 poly bags and 10 X 13 poly bags. The 10 X 13 bags I know how the post office classifies those for my shipping. But I am confused for the 6 x 9 bags. I use those to ship my coffee cozies. Once I was charged a large envelope and then as a package (its a huge difference in price). I would like to know, from those of you who ship smaller items, how do you package things to classify as a large envelope?

[AllieBlankets]

I ship my coffee and iPod sleeves in priority mail flat rate envelopes (the larger size). The items are flat enough to fit. It's about $5 within the states to use that. There are also regular flat rate envelopes that are the same size but cheaper since it isn't priority.

[InMind4U]

Flat rate, as the other s have mention would be your best bet. Experiment with the sizes the USPS offer and then see if you can get your products to fit in any of them.

[Former_Member]

I will look in to those non priority flat rate envelopes. I hadn't seen those. Are they on the USPS site?

[VintageCarolina]

It might also be related to the thickness as the price moves from envelope to pkg when it is over 1/4 inch I think it is. Would think all yours would be thicker than that though.

[Former_Member]

One alone is about 1/4 inches thick. Which Is what I sent today. The other day I sent out 4. all laying down flat. The 4 they charged me the large envelope. The one the parcel. I was confused by that.

[denisemcguire]

I've had similar confusion. If there wasn't a huge line behind me I would've asked, but people were generally impatient and the poor employee had a horrible customer right before me. I absolutely need to be certain I look online prior to going and make the best choices for shipping.

[Former_Member]

I ship 6x9 milar envelopes for my small crochet items for about $1.61 in the US using paypal's label printing.
8x10 for medium size items. If the item is small enough I foold the emvelope over before sealing it to keep the items from shifting inside. These usually mail first class with del confirmation for $1.81
For several items I use the 10x13 mylar envelopes and it is usually between $4 to $6 depending on the weight.

[Former_Member]

I avoid the post office for everything that is not shipped overseas. They always seem to overcharge me & delivery confirmation is so inexpensive online. I love the convienence.

[Former_Member]

Yes! this exact scenario happened to me today at the post office Denise. Plus if the worker wasn't rude to me as well, I would have inquired more and gotten defensive.

I think I will just print the labels off of etsy or paypal. Natasha, I did want to ask you, are your 6 x 9 mailers around a 1/4th inch thick once sealed? I just would hate if the postage amount was wrong.

[Former_Member]

The are thicker than that. Probably more like 1/2 inch but I do know you cant mail anything flat rate that is really flat in that envelope. That is what they told me at the post office. It has to go priority. Which makes no sense to me but whatever.

[Former_Member]

Price is related to thickness. When it's over a certain amount, they charge you a surcharge. Best to make your packages as thin as possible.