Seed Mailers

[Darren]

Only two or three packets side-by -side Cohan.

[cohan]

thanks, darren..

[cohan]

i was just sorting some stuff including various envelopes/mailers i received seeds in, and i noticed one from kristl--a bubble env, about 5x7 inches, i don't remember how fat it was when i got it--not stuffed and not empty--and it only cost $1.18 in may of this year; how then did i just pay $12 for a packet about the same size, maybe a bit fatter, and not much heavier?? i mean, even if it was double, i wouldnt think much of it, but almost 10 times as much? am i missing something? i think i really need to talk to someone at the post office....lol

[maggiepie]

Cohan, for 12$, maybe you paid for express delivery without realizing it?

I sent a 5X7 inch envelope with seeds to Calgary on Friday and was only charged 54cents, I almost fell over as I normally get charged around 1.59$ ( something like that) when I send seeds to Calgary.
Even the international packets I sent were only 1.65$. The packets did fit through the size thinggy, although barely.
One to the US was 95cents.
The best part was I recycled some of the envelopes and 2 of them had uncancelled stamps from when they were sent to me. I told the post office worker and she just added an extra few low cost stamps.
4 envelopes mailed out for a total of 2.78$
 

[Kristl Walek]

In the 25 years of dealing with Canada Post daily for my seed business, I've learned that there is an appalling lack of consistency about pricing from post office to post office, and even from employee to employee within the same post office.

Part of this is undoubtably due to lack of proper training, or consistent interpretation of what consistutes what, as the rules and categories constantly change, and new categories are added or deleted. It boggles my mind to keep up with it.

When postage costs are a major factor in what I charge customers, a consistent system that I understand is essential. For 20 years I mailed seed in my tiny post office in North Gower, but was never required to put customs stickers on ANY international postage---which saved me the time of the extra work and made shipping cheaper. I knew they were not following protocol, but it made my life easier, AND, without customs stickers, the international recipients were often saved extra costs in paying customs/duty. My new post office in Annapolis Royal follows the rules in this regard. Thus my padded mailers (IF THEY CONTAIN SEED) now become "light packets" and are more expensive, or stay "other lettemail" (if they do not contain seed). All non standard packaging (not plain letters or cards) require customs stickers anywhere outside of Canada. Contents matter whether shipped overseas or to the USA in terms of price.

HOWEVER, contents OR distance do NOT MATTER (or should not matter) within Canada. So a standard letter, even if it includes seed should still go out at the basic envelope cost.
As for padded mailers, again, it does (should) not matter WHAT is in them within Canada or THE DISTANCE it is going. If it meets the "other lettermail" limits (skinny enough to fit through the slot--often accomplished by redistributing contents) and meets the maximum size envelope (which is actually quite large---certainly over 8 1/2" by 12" (a fairly big padded mailer), then price is based on weight.

Because I mail hundreds of padded mailers every day, I actually go into the post office with my bins already sorted into the various categories. And for Canada, they are sorted by either under 100g ($1.18), or over (up to 200 g=$1.96, up to 500g=$2.75).

Anything that is too chubby to fit through the slot automatically becomes a small parcel AND THIS IS THE TRICKY (and expensive) PART--- because when you have a parcel (whether it is a box or a padded mailer) then DISTANCE becomes a part of the equation. And Cohan, mailing to Nova Scotia from Alberta will cost some money.

Your padded mailer to me (had it been a TINY bit thinner) would have shipped for $1.18. Even if you had sent one twice as large, with re-distributed contents, it would have cost a maximum of $2.75 up to 500g. Mind you, the larger mailers also weigh more. Or you could have sent two small mailers @ $1.18 each. However, I still wonder, why your mailer (which probably became a "small packet" should have cost over $12.00). It is worth while to go to the Canada Post web site and do a test run for a small packet, lightest weight category from Alberta to Nova Scotia.

NO MATTER WHERE I SHIP, TRYING TO AVOID BOXES (no matter what size) IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY, particularly overseas. It is *always* preferential to ship in multiple padded mailers, given a choice.

Being at the very eastern part of Canada now, it costs a fortune to ship boxes anywhere west---and the further west, the more expensive. ALTLHOUGH, even here it can get tricky.  I recently had an order for a box of 2,000 glassine envelopes, which was going to cost $13.00 to ship to Ontario (with a slightly preferential rate I get as a small business customer). When my customer decided they wanted 6,000 glassines, instead of 2,000---the weight and size of the box obviously tripled. Yet, it ultimately cost $15.42 even with the increased size and weight. It all comes down to the categories.

[Regelian]

I have received seed from Darren and was impressed with the cardboard idea.  It works well within its parameters.  A foam sheet would also work for this method.

Another possibility is to pack the seed with perlite or vermiculite to act as a cussion.  One does this for moist-packed seed and they travel very well with the extra padding.  One can, also, use paper towels or similar to act as a cussion, or the thin foam packing sheets to help anchor a packet in the middle of an envelope.

Good topic!

[Kristl Walek]

I have received seed from Darren and was impressed with the cardboard idea.  It works well within its parameters.

Yesterday I received a very large quantity of seed from someone in the USA. It was inside an oversized cardboard (not padded) mailer. The large, flat, woody seed (Prinsepis sinensis) was inside an extra large zip lock bag, had been flattened out to one layer and placed between two pieces of very sturdy cardboard in the mailer. It was so flat it could have been documents and the contents arrived in perfect condition. This would not work for softer seed, but was perfect for the Prinsepia.

When this same person sent Magnolia macrophylla seed earlier, it was sent in a more traditional way--with plenty of soft packing surrounding it.

It is worth saying that each seed lot shipped should be considered on its own merits and sent accordingly. Easily crushable seed or of certain proportions or sizes must be treated differently.

[cohan]

Cohan, for 12$, maybe you paid for express delivery without realizing it?

actually, since it was already so insanely expensive, i said what the heck, pay the extra 4 for express, so in fact i paid over $16! more than the seed was worth, i'm sure...lol

if i were paying the 1.18 or even 2.75, i'd never have started this topic, as those rates seem quite reasonable to move something across the country or halfway around the world!
i think from now on i will be doing all my mailing in the post office counter at the store where i work, i think it will be cheaper there, although i'm sure i sent a heavier  packet to europe for considerably less, from the safe post office...

[fermi de Sousa]

i have some american friends who are worried about crushed seeds, and have had it happen (not my seeds) which i find interesting--how can you crush the seeds without shredding the envelope?--apart from big soft seeds like amaryllids or other large fragile seeds...

Hi Cohan,
Having had some jobs as a teenager (sometime last century ) at a Postal Exchange I know that most letters in Australia go through a sorting machine that basically puts each envelope between two rollers - so anything wider than a sheet of paper is pulped. The machines were Japanese so I dare say most big exchanges in the world would have this sort of sorter...sort'er
cheers
fermi

[johnw]

I just bet the Sarracenias I mailed (via ground) to Vancouver last week went through Edmonton Friday night. They say -58c wind chill, flights were turned back to Calgary.

I couldn't believe it was raining here last night after such a nasty cold Saturday. Our thermometer's mercury looks more like a heart monitor.

johnw

[cohan]

I just bet the Sarracenias I mailed (via ground) to Vancouver last week went through Edmonton Friday night. They say -58c wind chill, flights were turned back to Calgary.

I couldn't believe it was raining here last night after such a nasty cold Saturday. Our thermometer's mercury looks more like a heart monitor.
johnw

here's hoping the packets were inside somewhere!

i mailed a 5x7 inch bubble pack to the u.s. the other day, managed to keep it flat enough to go as letter, and it was just over 2.00! yay! much better than the 12.00 for the last one! so i am relieved but also angry that they ripped me off by so much last time

[johnw]

[/quote]
here's hoping the packets were inside somewhere!
[/quote]

Cohan - Live plants in a big box!

johnw

[cohan]

here's hoping the packets were inside somewhere!
[/quote]
Cohan - Live plants in a big box!
johnw
[/quote]

all the more likely they should have been inside... i did know it was plants you meant, not seeds..
do canada post trucks drive overnight?

[Neil]

I use these boxes when sending out small bulbs, qualify for large letter rate in the UK, but parcel rate for else where. Never had a problem with crushing from them i pad the box out with somthing light to stop the contents from getting bruised.

http://www.defendapack.co.uk/pricing_in_proportion_boxes.htm

[cohan]

I use these boxes when sending out small bulbs, qualify for large letter rate in the UK, but parcel rate for else where. Never had a problem with crushing from them i pad the box out with somthing light to stop the contents from getting bruised.

http://www.defendapack.co.uk/pricing_in_proportion_boxes.htm

interesting, i dont think we have an eqivalent here, though i have received small boxes from south africa that presumably were not expensive to ship, since i was not charged much for shipping..