From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Jericho Vermont

Please remember to put the correct postage on return bubbles. I have one that has no postage and another that has 2 forever stamps which does not come close to covering postage. I am grateful that our seeds are looked upon as possible auction lots but have to add postage each year which is frustrating.

11/12/2022 2:26:25 PM

Deer Park WA

That's interesting John because I took a return bubble with a thank you note, 6 seeds in coin envelopes and had the post office weigh the bubble. They said 2 forever stamps was more than enough to send it across country? I agree its frustrating to have to add postage that's whey I tell all our donors that if they want to over-fill the bag with world class seeds or by chance the postage is inadequate to just email me and I will gladly PayPal them the extra money.

Thank you to everyone who so generously donates their seeds to these auctions. Our clubs depend on the revenue to pay for their weigh-off expenses, awards and prize money.

11/12/2022 3:37:23 PM

Lodi, California

I've sent them with two stamps before. People seem to want more because apparently they don't get run through the shredder if you laminate them with stamps. I tried explaining this to multiple post office workers when I was trying to get postage for my bubbles. They all thought I was crazy. I just ended up buying a truck load of stamps to do it myself and appease the mail gods.

11/12/2022 6:08:01 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you leave the stamps loose rather than pre-plastering them on then the whoever receives you bubble... depending how their post office runs things, its a small tip for their tip jar if you include too many.

If you want something sent as a parcel then best to wad up some paper and stuff it in, otherwise its possible they'll run it as an envelope and crush your seeds PLUS take the extra money!

11/12/2022 8:55:40 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

In recent years I just put a $5 bill in with every request for the club. Now, that isn't always enough!

11/12/2022 10:26:05 PM

Sharon, MA

A good trick to help assuring they get to their destination with less postage is to ask for metered postage, First Class Non machinable with no tracking, and keep the size of your bubble to less than 5" x 7" in size, and less than 3/8" thick, so no forever stamps. The post office runs it through their machine and sticks the metered postage on for you. Metered mail tends not to get reviewed or returned But you need to get lucky enough to find a post office that will do this for less than $4.80.

11/13/2022 6:13:29 PM

Sharon, MA

If you can find a post office that will do this for say $1.20 you have struck gold. Become their best friend and strike up a repore with that postoffice. Find out via trial and error, what hours they are less busy, since it take a little more time to get the mail metered and most will not like doing it.

11/13/2022 6:16:31 PM

Bloomfield, Iowa

I always do 1st class package for postage on the return bubble. Otherwise anything less than that is machine bound, "crushed seeds".

11/13/2022 8:30:36 PM

Penryn California

My postal clerk has been working with me for the last 5 years. We used to get away with a couple forever stamps. Now he says the machinery that measures is set up to be much more sensitive so it records size and weight and kicks out anything that is above its limits. He now says $5.60 is pretty standard for a 5x7 bubble although he admits that smaller post offices may still allow that same bubble to go for less.

11/14/2022 12:56:43 AM

Colorado

Sorry John I'm still new at this. I know how much hard work goes into getting the clubs seeds. My wife took the bubble to the Post office here in Fort Collins and they gave her what she needed for the return package. Obviously they gave the wrong information. I sent you an e-mail. All the growers that spend time and effort to get seeds out to the clubs are the reason this hobby survives and thrives. If it wasn't for their dedication to get the best seeds to the clubs this hobby would not be making the strides it does in bigger weights every year. Thank you all!

Scott

11/14/2022 5:33:52 PM

Alabama

If your bubble is 5" x 7" or under and not over 3/4" thick then it would go regular letter size and the price would change depending on weight.

11/16/2022 1:52:26 PM

send bubble inside a big envelope for 1.20.. even smallest bubble by itself over 5 bucks its then called a package not envelope

11/16/2022 9:37:27 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

I did what Don posted. Four envelopes at $1.20. I was amazed.

11/17/2022 6:24:33 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

I was told $5.60 at the post office. So I put $5.60 on the SAB and $5.60 on the package to send it. It's cheap enough for the wonderful seeds that I get in return!

This comes up every year. I've seen the bubbles arrive before with 2 stamps. For me, I don't want the grower to question whether their seeds are going to make it to my mailbox. Ever! A fufilled seed request is a GIFT from the grower.

11/17/2022 7:49:03 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

I was told $5.60 at the post office. So I put $5.60 on the SAB and $5.60 on the package to send it. It's cheap enough for the wonderful seeds that I get in return!

This comes up every year. I've seen the bubbles arrive before with 2 stamps. For me, I don't want the grower to question whether their seeds are going to make it to my mailbox. Ever! A fufilled seed request is a GIFT from the grower.

11/17/2022 7:51:38 PM

Deer Park WA

We send those white 4x8 return bubbles to a our awesome seed doners which are considered a letter by the USPS. Had to order them on-line from Amazon, couldn't find them locally.

11/17/2022 8:27:52 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

The problem is the inconsistency of the various post offices. It is fine if your po says 2 stamps will do it but what about the one coming back? I am going to look into getting the postage online.

11/20/2022 8:13:37 AM

Prestonsburg,ky

We have been using 8x12 yellow envelope with bubble inside and letter to grower it ships for 1.44 with 6.00 on the return bubble.

11/24/2022 9:08:57 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Someone sent me a bubble with a postage label for $5.60 that was pre-printed by their local post office. I was told that it wasn't valid because you can only use those on the day that they were printed. So make sure that you put stamps on your envelope and not a paid postage label.

12/9/2022 3:30:36 PM