Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I just participated in the swap which included a self addressed envelope and priority package (& stamps, etc.).
As I usually do, I put my own address for the return address (from address), so my label had my name & address for both "to" and "from".
The lady who was coordinating the swap sent the package priority but I did not get it for almost a week and it came with a huge sticker with a crossed out airplane picture on it, saying "Do not deliver via air".
Talked to the PO and they said some of the POs are getting really serious about packages and if they have a same address for both From and To, they will deliver only by ground.
So I paid $6 to have my package mailed by ground and I have no one to blame. I just thought I would share this here because I know that many people do the same thing (do not know if many people put priority label with their swap - I am just inpatient and wanted them as soon as possible).
Although I was a bit disappointed that it took so long for my package to get to me, I am impressed with the attention to detail some PO person paid to my box!
I also got some tips from my friendly postal employees last time I mailed out some catalogs. I guess they are really cracking down on packages, especially the ones being mailed Media Mail. It seems many ebayers are "cheating" and mailing everything and anything Media and the PO is afraid they are losing a lot of money. So they are starting to inspect packages by opening them. They said that catalogs should be mailed printed matter instead of media. I don't remember the exact difference why, but catalogs are in a different category than books. It cost basically the same, but the stamp on the outside is different!
It's way too much for my little pea brain to remember!
Maybe it's just me, but I'd like to know the reason for that. I have been having drivers (NASCAR) autographs mailed back to me for 2 years with envelopes that have my address as both the sender and the addressee. What is the big deal. I mean, they know it can't be a bomb if you are mailing it to yourself. Maybe I just don't understand the "why" to this so I'm just deathly confused. I guess I could always use my work address as the return address, but why should I have to?
A bomber or a bio-terrorist wants to send something to someone. They don't want it traced back to them so they put the target's address in both the sender's area and the return address area. How does the post office know you are mailing something to yourself or if it's someone else mailing it to you using your address in both places so that it can't be traced?
As far as the catalog being bound printed matter, I tried to send a box of catties that way and the postal employee told me to send them media mail instead. Essentially they are BOOKS since the first words in the title are "Idea Book". She told me that if for any reason, the post office cannot deliver your catalog(s) they will destroy it rather than return it to you if it is mailed BPM rather than media mail. Just soemthing to think about.
A bomber or a bio-terrorist wants to send something to someone. They don't want it traced back to them so they put the target's address in both the sender's area and the return address area. How does the post office know you are mailing something to yourself or if it's someone else mailing it to you using your address in both places so that it can't be traced?
If you received a package that was sent to you with your address as both and you knew you hadn't done it, you wouldn't open it. That's what the PO told me a few years ago when I started doing the driver thing and it WAS after 9/11. They told me it was the surest way to guarantee I would receive my item back. I have no problem printing return address labels from me to slap on the swaps I hostess, but I want to know the current logic rather than the old logic. If that makes sense.
Putting your address in both the to and from spaces can also be used to cheat on postage. For example, my husband's accountant (which did payroll, etc. for his company) always used our address as the return address on their mailings. They once sent me a check and forgot to put postage on it. The return address matched the to address, and so it was mailed postage free, as it was returned to sender (my address) for lack of postage.
Personally, when I participate in swaps, I expect the hostess to put her return address on the package. What's the problem with that? If she doesn't put enough postage on it, it should be returned to her.
I think using the same address looks suspicious no matter what, so why would you take that chance?
Putting your address in both the to and from spaces can also be used to cheat on postage. For example, my husband's accountant (which did payroll, etc. for his company) always used our address as the return address on their mailings. They once sent me a check and forgot to put postage on it. The return address matched the to address, and so it was mailed postage free, as it was returned to sender (my address) for lack of postage.
Personally, when I participate in swaps, I expect the hostess to put her return address on the package. What's the problem with that? If she doesn't put enough postage on it, it should be returned to her.
Denise
Well, for one, when participating in swaps, it isn't the hostess's responsibility to pay your return postage. Not in any swap I've ever participated it. It's mine/yours to make sure you give her enough. Second, the PO will deliver it postage due if you haven't given the hostess enough money/postage, so you would want it coming to you, not going back to her.
Second, this is about Priority. Those envelopes are a one price fits all. $3.85 for as much as you can stuff, so you aren't cheating in any way.
i've seen some of my bills to like credit card co's that have their address in the to AND from also, but does count? or is it only priority? i mean, these are big co's like credit card co's, and their envelopes are printed like that. i guess they really want my money!
also, is that correct that if you send something media mail and it's actually supposed to be bound matter, they will destroy it if they catch it???? :shock:
Just got back from the PO. Here's their take on it. Yes, you can have your address in the to and the from on Priority. They have companies doing it all the time. BUT ~ now you can no longer tape a priority mail package shut even if it for "just in case" reasons like here it's really humid and I didn't want it to open because of that. They allowed it because it was under two pounds but if you go over and it has tape, they will send it ground or send it back depending. So that could be why ChiChi's package was sent ground, but they weren't sure if that was why.
I guess it goes to the same premise as calling DS ~ ask 5 people, you'll get 5 answers.
Well, for one, when participating in swaps, it isn't the hostess's responsibility to pay your return postage. Not in any swap I've ever participated it. It's mine/yours to make sure you give her enough. Second, the PO will deliver it postage due if you haven't given the hostess enough money/postage, so you would want it coming to you, not going back to her.
That wasn't exactly what I meant. Of course it's my responsiblity to send her enough, but it's her responsibility to make sure there's enough on it. If there's not enough, she should make arrangements to get the proper postage from me. If I haven't given her enough postage, then she needs to let me know. If she made a mistake in calculating postage, then the package should be returned to her to correct. Furthermore, if she miscalculated (and most swap I've been in has you include an extra stamp just in case) then it *should* go back to her to correct. The priority envelope aside, a package with the same to and from address with insufficient postage would seem questionable to me.
Also (not to pick on anyone, but I have to point out the flaws with this argument) just because you've "always done it this way" doesn't mean it's right. (For example, when people say "I smoked/drank wine/didn't take vitamins during my pregnancy and my baby is just fine..." but that's a whole 'nother discussion for a whole 'nother group of people...)
I've just been reading through all the posts here. I used to work as a Post Master Replacement at the P.O. Priority mail is supposed to travel by air. After 9/11 the postal system started being more vigilant about packages that travel by air. Priority should be mailed at the P.O. or given to your postman (or woman) face to face. This is all a security and saftey issue since this mail travels by air. I'm not sure what the deal with not having the "TO" and "From" as the same or not is. I just always put the hostess in the from portion of my label for returning when I do swaps because at your P.O. it might be ok one way but along the way to where it's going you never know who may think that it's not ok and then it would be delayed. I always label my baggie inside the box with my name, address, etc. I actually had one of my swap packages arrive at the hostess's in one of those post office baggies with the nice little "sealing" sticker on it.....JUST the box! Since I had my name and address on the baggie that contained my swaps I did get my swaps returned to me by the postal system. I'm not saying this will happen all the time. I've had a couple of packages just disapear into the big black postal hole!
As for mailing catalogs, my postmaster says they go bound printed matter. I think the reason we get so many different answers to the same questions is that the people who work at the P.O. are confused about some of the rules and regulations too. If you saw the rules, regulation and rate books you'd be confused too. Yikes! Everytime I had to use that book I hated it! My boss actually encouraged me to "read" it in my spare time at work! zzzzzzz!
The maximum weight for Bound Printed Matter is 15 pounds. Rates are based on weight, shape, and distance. The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Mark each package "Bound Printed Matter" in the postage area.
Bound Printed Matter must:
a. Consist of advertising, promotional, directory, or editorial material (or any combination of such material).
b. Be securely bound by permanent fastenings such as staples, spiral binding, glue, or stitching. Looseleaf binders and similar fastenings are not considered permanent.
c. Consist of sheets of which at least 90% are imprinted by any process other than handwriting or typewriting with words, letters, characters, figures, or images (or any combination of them).
d. Not have the nature of personal correspondence.
e. Not be stationery, such as pads of blank printed forms
Media Mail (Book Rate)
Description
Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.
The maximum size is 108 inches in combined length and distance around the thickest part.
Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.
Don't know of this helps any. or makes it more confusing
Priority Mail when Swapping
