I'm thinking about putting up my seals on German E-bay.

If I mail (Airmail Post) the seals in a 6" x 9" padded envelope, does the Post Office consider it an envelope or a package?

This makes a big difference in Air Mail rates... $1.60 vs. $5.00.

Any tips and advice on "mailing" the seals, safely, efficiently, and inexpensively?

Do I need to fill out customs forms or something.

Thanks,

Karl

(We've gotta have someone here that works for the Post Office.)

Padded envelope would be your best option, from my experience an envelope and a small package would be the same, go to USPS.com and use the international calculator and it will give you all of the info reguarding package size and cost, to keep shipping cost effective I believe it needs to weigh 13 oz or less.


Hiedi

Rouser, you out there?

He is a fine USPS employee.

I shouldn't do this but he won't mind. (I hope)



Paul

I did to that. That's how I got the rates.

What I don't know is if an international air post envelope can be padded. If so, it's $1.60.

If, due to the thickness, they consider it a package, then it goes to $5.00.

I guess I will go to the Post Office in the morning.

Thanks!

If they do not let it through as an envelope @ $1.60 stuff your padded envelope into a Global Priority Mail small envelope. $4 to Germany I think.

I ship using padded envelopes all the time. They go out as a large envelope of flat envelope or if over 3/4" thick a "thick envelope".
I use stamps.com exclusively. Only thing is I go to the local Post Office to mail to Foreign countries. Customs slips and other stuff they require.
Good luck.
CCLINUSPSINTHEUSA

Found my answer. If it is greater than 1/4 inch thick it is a package and requires the customs form.

It all depends.

If you want to risk sending it in a 6x9 unpadded envelope, with required postage, and have the piece processed through this machine first ...

than this machine ...

than just send it as lettered mail; it'll get there (relatively) intact.

OR, you treat it as a Flat (padded large envelope), insure it, than it'll be hand-processed by these folks on this machine ...

Oops, I mean this sucker ...

Than routed by FedEx (under contract with USPS) with this machine to Germany ...

Lettered mail is just that ... lettered mail, but folks like to skirt the limitations (and cost) by sending anything from personalized ink pens (watch one of THOSE detonate all over the machine deck; wonderful ...), to jewelry (a valuable bracelet) and keepsakes (a night-vision surveillance photo of a straying spouse with the caption "BUSTED! You Cheatin' C*NT!").

Best you treat it as a Flat and have the buyer pick up the postage, considering also the Customs issue.

Postal Porn!!!

Paul

I no longer work at the Main Processing Facility (thank GOD! ), but you'd be amazed at the things people try to send through the mails, good intentions and bad.

The stuff I hated was anything that exploded, with fluids, that required Chemical Warfare Equipment (i.e. gloves, face mask, bucket, and Pine Sol).