Question
I use Endicia software and we ship out 50-60 1 oz. padded mailers daily. All are shipped 1st class w/DC.
A few days ago I had a buyer email me that when she got her package there was $3.85 postage due on it. She refused the shipment and I got it back today. The peanuts in the package came out flat as a pancake. The few peanuts put in the mailer were a foam peanut not the styrofoam we normally use. In each padded mailer we put in 3-4 peanuts to take care of the required 0.75" thickness required. I had a another buyer contact me today and tell me there was $3.85 due on her package, she paid it, hoping I would reimburse her, which I did.
I went and talked to the Postmaster, asking what could cause this. He said possibly a priority label accidently got stuck on the package, the buyer said that wasn't the case.
Here is the kicker, we noticed both of these buyers are from the same town in Missouri.
I was just wondering if any other sellers have had this problem with other post offices?
We have been shipping these small mailers for several months with not one problem... now this?
I can see an additional fee if they have to be handled by a person and not machine, but Not $3.85
Sellers what do you think?
Answer
For a long time several of the employees at some of the P.O.s here (but not all) assumed that all packages with the pre-printed label were Priority. We had a couple that we got charged Priority for before we started calling out the type of mailing on each package to them. It took us a long time to convince some of them that you could do DC on a 1st class piece even with the thickness in place.
I would call the 800 number and register a complaint so that it gets passed along to that particular P.O. town. Sounds like it's been mixed up --OR-- somewhere along the way the package was flattened and they are now charging Priority to deliver it. I thought they would no longer collect from customers but if postage was not adequate return it to sender. Me thinks you need additional clarification from the USPS.
Laura B
Answer
if the peanuts were flattened and the package then wasn't .75 inch that might be why. It no longer qualified for first class edc. I'd think as long as it was that fat when it started would be sufficient but maybe not! I'd not use those type peanuts again. I put a styrofoam peanut in my first class mailings also and was told if it wasn't the .75 inch then it had to be charged priority rate.
Mel-
Answer
That is truly weird.
For one thing, if it had been somehow miraculously upgraded to priority mail, then the additional postage would have been $3.85 minus whatever postage you originally paid.
Maybe if you used the stealth postage deal and the local person didn't know how to handle it and thought you hadn't paid any postage???
Or maybe a scam by somebody...the buyers, maybe?
Just speculating...
goodworks1 at ebay
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Answer
$3.85 is the one pound rate for priority. DC can not be used on 1st class less than 3/4" thick. So, they should have just canceled out the DC instead of charging you for Priority. But, as noted above, they should charge priority less the 1st class you already paid. Sounds like some overzealous postal worker in that town needs a good talking to.
Answer
Can you clarify why you need the 3/4 inch thickness.
Can you clarify what the postage label on Endicia prints out as postage. Also, if there is any other writing on it besides the postage amount.
Also, please indicate the from and to zipcodes as well as the weight of the shipments.
Answer
commentary,
a first class package has to be 3/4 of an inch thick for you to be able to use delivery confirmation on it per USPS rules.
Mel-
Answer
Okay - this is a wild guess.
If a envelope exceeds 3/4 inch in thickness, it is consider a package. A package can go first class or parcel post. Parcel post rates are very expensive for low weight items.
If there is no indication on the shipment as first class mail, the USPS may have treated it as parcel post. In this case, they would have tacked on extra postage. Only way to tell is to know what markings on the package as well as the total weight and zipcodes of the shipment.
Oh, since parcel post is a zone rate, it would make sense that both shipments had $3.85 postage due if they are about the same weight since the zipcodes will be the same.
Like I say, just a wild guess.
Answer
I use endicia stealth too,
I have never had this happen, it says on the label the weight and class that was mailed, all they need to do scan it to see what you paid.
Me thinks it sounds like a post office that does not know, I live in a small one horse town and when I started using it my po was very confused with the stealth.
You probably need to contact the post office or take the returned one to your post office and have them look at it and have them contact that post office.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Janet * Lanetzliving.com
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Answer
Well, guess what?? I just got an email from another buyer from that same town in Missouri and she owed $3.30 on her package. I am going to take the one I received back in the mail to the post office and have them look into it.
Wonder why it is only this one town?