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Tell me your experiences in mailing cards in clear boxes. I want to mail some cards with the homemade flowers that are very thick and fragile. I don't want them to be crushed. Any suggestions?
I haven't mailed any in clear boxes, though that's as good idea for protecting your 3D embellishments as any, short of a heavy duty cardboard box. All I can tell you is that it will have to go at the package rate, which I believe currently starts at 1.95.
May I suggest kittie747's blog. She has an excellent tutorial for mailing since her cards are so 3-D! The same principle should work with your clear envelope.
Here is her link: Packaging and Mailing Card Tutorial - KittieKraft
I mail cards in the clear boxes all the time. So far so good. It sure beats getting squeezed through the letter sorting machines or flat sorting machines. In the boxes, your item is handled as a parcel. Really, the only drawback is the cost. But then I would rather pay more and get the card there in one piece, than to have it blown/torn apart in the letter sorting machine.
I'm a retired Postal clerk, I've worked on these machines and know what's "forced" through them. My DH is a mechanic and works on these machines. You wouldn't believe what he pulls out, that didn't make it through.
Nancy-Thank you for that link. Those are just the type of cards I'm talking about.
Jennifer-Do the sides of the clear boxes crush in when they throw them in with all the other parcels? Those boxes aren't very sturdy and many of the cardboard boxes that I receive are crushed. Do they put the clear boxes through with just envelopes or is there a chance that a heavy flat-rate box will land on top of it? What happens after my package leaves the front counter is a mystery to me!
Jennifer-Do the sides of the clear boxes crush in when they throw them in with all the other parcels? Those boxes aren't very sturdy and many of the cardboard boxes that I receive are crushed. Do they put the clear boxes through with just envelopes or is there a chance that a heavy flat-rate box will land on top of it? What happens after my package leaves the front counter is a mystery to me![/QUOTE]
The smaller parcels, 12 ounces and under are sorted into pouches. Rarely are these pouches crammed so full that the boxes would get crushed. Of course you have to realize that though the system is supposed to be the same, it may have differences in each processing center.
It's is still far better to send in the boxes or even padded envelopes, than to have all your hard work squished to smithereens when going through the DBCS (letter sorting machines). If you have a lumpy bumpy, it will either get squished out or jam the machine and get torn up wile being removed.
After a couple of hours of work, I'll gladly pay the small parcel rate and know that the card will arrive in good condition.
Hopefully you watched the video. If there is a processing center near you, ask for a tour. It is quite interesting. One letter may go through machines a total of 4 to 5 times is it's a good legible address. These machines sort the letters at an estimated rate of over 40k an hour, if all the mail is good mail and the machines are working properly.
Also something to consider. The USPS is trying to get every letter through the machine, it's cheaper than sorting them manually. If your letter goes to the manual cases, it may take longer. If it goes as a 1st class parcel, it will go faster than a manual letter. So trying to save money may not get the letter/card to the recipient in time.
I hope this helps.
Thanks Jennifer. I wouldn't dream of putting such a delicate card through the regular system. I was questioning whether or not to mail these cards at all or just save them for hand delivery. I'm glad to hear that small pouches and boxes are not thrown in with big ones. The sides of the clear boses are pretty flimsy and I wanted to hear if anyone had good results with them. I would love to start mailing fragile cards, but have been afraid to in the past.
I'm glad that I was able to help. The general public hasn't a clue about the behind the scenes part of the USPS. It really is quite amazing.
The worst part of my retiring, was not being able to sort my own mail. I knew that after I put it in the pouch or tray, that the next person to touch it would be at it's destination. Now I'm in with the rest of the world. But at least I know to prepare. And now you do too!
Mailing cards in clear boxes.
