So as of May 14th, USPS is raising postage again to 41¢ for a basic letter. However, the new rates will actually make it cheaper for mailing discs.

Right now a 2 oz. padded envelope (1 disc) costs 63¢ and 3 oz. (2 discs) costs 87¢. With the new price structure, 2 oz. will cost 58¢ and 3 oz. will cost 75¢. Woo hoo!

Might have to do a "it's now cheaper than ever to do a B&P" B&P in May.

Yeah, I read this too. The really confusing part is that, in the past at least, they've claimed to lose money on bubble mailers and the sort weighing less than 1lb, because of the variances in handling required. So it's sort of odd that they'd lower the rates on 'em...not that I'm complaining!

Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the case. Here is the new rate charts:
New Rates
It appears that the bubble mailers will now be considered "retail flats" which are separate from letters. (This would go along with what John said about them previously losing money on these bubble mailers.) Therefore, the price will go up across the board:

Weight
Not Over
(ounces)
1 - $0.80
2 - 0.97
3 - 1.14
4 - 1.31
5 - 1.48
6 - 1.65
7 - 1.82
8 - 1.99
9 - 2.16
10 - 2.33
11 - 2.50
12 - 2.67
13 - 2.84
>13 - 4.60 (Priority Mail rate)

Even if you can still use the letter rate for bubble mailers, anything over 3.5 ounces gets the retail flat rate above. I could be wrong, but it doesn't look that way...

Grr.

A couple more terrabytes of storage, and I'll be going exclusively to HD&Ps anyway. Screw this B&P stuff.

I just got a 500 GB external that could be sent to Loves Park for some lovin'...

USPS better watch itself. Another quick hike and I feel it's quasi-monopoly may be under severe attack.

You know that you're on the short list of people who ever need anything - bring it on.

I got the following email from the mail services people here at work, it may help clarify a few things. I'm guessing you're average bubble mailer is now considered a "flat", as someone said above? (although, I don't like that part about being flexible. hmpf)


****************************************
On May 14, 2007 the United States Postal Service is implementing a rate
increase along with a significant change in the way mail is priced. The changes shift from rates based on weight to rates based on SHAPE and WEIGHT. It is important to understand the changes and new rates, to avoid unnecessary cost.

Revised Definitions:

LETTERS
Length: minimum 5 inches, maximum 11-1/2 inches
Height: minimum 3-1/2 inches, maximum 6-1/8 inches
Thickness: minimum 0.007 inches, maximum 1/4 inch
Weight: maximum 3.5 ounces.
Any piece that exceeds any of these specifications will be priced as a Flat.

FLATS (must be uniform in thickness, flexible and rectangular)
Length: minimum 11-1/2 inches, maximum 15 inches
Height: minimum 6-1/8 inches, maximum 12 inches
Thickness: minimum 1/4 inches, maximum 3/4 inch
Weight: maximum 13 ounces
Any piece that exceeds any of these specifications will be priced as a Parcel.

PARCELS
Any other shape (Tubes will fall into this category) that won't exceed 13
ounces.
Any piece that exceeds the 13 ounces will be priced as a Priority Mail.

PRIORITY MAIL
Any piece greater than 13 ounces.

The NEW Rates for Single Pieces are:

Postcards 26¢
Letters 41¢
Flats 80¢
Additional ounce 17¢
Parcels $1.13

So where can I find 11"x6" bubble mailers?

Can someone please explain this to me:

I live in Madison, WI, USA. I just dropped two discs in the mail to Canada, 1.8 oz., cost me $1.00. One disc, 1.1 oz., to Indiana cost me $1.30.

Its a well known fact that the USPS doesnt like Indiana

Sounds like one package got tagged with the "over 1/4" thick" adder, and the other didn't. Maybe that rule doesn't apply to international packages.

I've found that I can always lie to the APC & tell in that the package is less than 1/4" thick with no repercussions.

Is it Indiana that the USPS doesn't like or is it just Leep and Homie Dave?

Nice.

The post office ladies at my work post office LOVE ME. They always ask what or where I am shipping a poster tube to or a bunch of padded mailers (which I haven't done in a while.....could be time for a b&p)

haven't heard any word here in ns about a postage rate going down.
great time for freebie style jams!

D, keep in mind that this thread was started a year ago