General Forum

I can only say that "most" are sending PWE to me and that would range up to 27 cards in a regular long envelope. I cannot recall a single envelope without "tire marks" showing they've gone through a machine even though "non-machinable" is stamped (or written) or extra postage is used. In my case I've never received damaged cards and I have received damaged envelopes - and even a damaged bubble mailer.

I personally believe you should just pay for the weight and forget about the non-machinable charge because it's going through the machine.

Does anybody know if PWE's sent from Canada to the US get machined once they cross the border?

Does Canada have their version of "non machinable"?  I can't speak on Canada to the US but I did ask for a couple things to be sent to Canada the other day from my local PO in the US to be sent non-machinable and the guy told me there's no such thing to Canada.  I just sent em regular mail. 

I'm new to the site and have been following the advice of Eric C. that I saw referred to somewhere.  Is he on here?  Has he changed his tune on non-machinable? 

https://1912fenwayfaithful.wixsite.com/redsox/pwe-guide

Everyone knows my thoughts on PWE (or can see it in my sig and Profile page). I just wanted to comment on bubble mailers. They USED to be considered regular envelopes IF the thickness was right and the BM wasn't rigid. But USPS has changed that this year and ALL BM's are now considered a package. You will be charged a parcel rate for them now, but that doesn't always mean you will get tracking and pay as much as you would when getting a tracking number. I just stick with using a BM as 1st Class Parcel with tracking. I don't mind paying $3.50 to $5 for the peace of mind that the cards will get there unharmed and I have proof that I shipped as well as marker points where the package has been if it stops moving.

In my one horse town I was told by my carrier that every envelope goes through a sorting machine. No old timey hand sorting anymore. I have had other residents in these apartments deliver me my mail that was mixed in with theirs and the postal service absolutely could care less. Also their diplomatic approach if you say anything to them is to have you banned from the premises.

I'd like to hear from some pwe mailers that never use non-machinable postage about how often they've had damaged cards.  I get a mixture of both when receiving cards. Maybe 1 or 2 went missing but none have arrived damaged. Maybe I've just been lucky.

I have never used it but I have 2 new traders this week on the West coast that said they had to pay extra to pick them up  at the post office. California and Washington.

I always hand write the address and have the clek at the counter hand cancel/post mark the .88 cents postage for PWE non-machinable with 100% success rate!

I basically gave up on the non machinable concept a year ago. After seeing/hearing first hand about envelopes being machined and talking to my local PO, it's basically all for nought. So now I just try to package them well and send them with regular postage.