?? Mailing Invites

[wdwlover]

I'm getting ready to mail out shower invitations and am wondering if they will need to be hand stamped by the PO and/or cost extra. They are the 1/4 sheet size with the pocket and have a ribbon tied to slide out the invite. The knot seems a little bulky in the envelope and not sure if it will make it through the machine. Any suggestions? If they need hand stamp can I just write that on the envelope?

[I-Am-Serendipity]

I got this right off the USPS.com site:

First-Class envelopes weighing 1 ounce or less require an additional $0.12 nonmachinable surcharge if any one of the following apply:

It is a square letter
It contains very rigid items such as wood or metal
It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices
It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter
It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven
The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5

If unsure, you could always call your local postoffice, but depending upon who you talk to, you may get mixed answers. If in doubt, send one thru to yourself, and see what happens!

[dstfrommi]

I had the same thing a few months ago with shower invitations. I think the best bet is to take one completed to the post office and let them tell you. I found out the hard way once before, thought everything was fine and they came back that they needed extra postage. Know I go to the po and let them tell me what I need.
Hope this helps!
Debbie

[wdwlover]

Ok, I think you guys convinced me. I'll stop by the PO after work and take them in and see what they say. I'm sending out only 20 so it only would be a couple of dollars more and with all the hard work my sister did, I'd hate for them to not make it in one piece.

[wdwlover]

F/U on mailing of invites. Took them to the PO and asked since they are a little "bumpy" do they need to be hand stamped. He looked at them and said "uh, maybe they should" so he just hand stamped them right there and didn't charge me extra. Yah!!!

[troopersma]

It seems like this varies from post office to post office. Our local PO never charges extra for most things. I can use the clear envelopes (technically they are supposed to cost extra) with no problems with regular postage. But one day I stopped at a different post office and they were just real sticklers about every little thing. Let's just say I choose to frequent my local PO these days!

:-)

Jane