ozymandiasism
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Posts posted by ozymandiasism
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Well, I had a good experience.
We tested two of our coins and I also mailed one coin (2 oz) to Canada. The coin to Canada was $1.00. Our coins are just about a HAIR too thick for the letter rate. The guy used their special "tool" with the 1/4 inch slot, and he could ALMOST get it through, but not quite.
He told me they would all be large envelopes though, not packages. So, it was a helpful experience...as long as I continue to mail coins at that post office!
mailing to canada and international do not matter, I believe, since the only thing that really count is weight. It is the domestic mailing that is troublesome
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I talked to the guy at the little post office I deal with.
(I do all my orders pre-labled so I'll have to see if they come back)
He was saying the biggest problem is lack of training. They haven't trained the post office employees on what is what.
If one offfice is saying something is a flat and another one is saying the same package is a parcel the post office is going to be in for a lot of BAD PR if a bunch of businesses all start getting their packages back.
How long would it take before a reporter somewhere takes the same package to three different post offices and gets three different rates. I think once that story breaks then there will be some consistency among the rates.
"Tonight on Nancy Grace... see what we found out about the safety arrival of YOUR packages. The inconsistencies across the country. And what the United States Parcel Services DIDN'T tell YOU!"
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My post lady said padded envelopes all go at the package rate, since they are thicker than 1/4, and don't meet the guidelines for large envelope (ie not big enough).
they're not big enough length-wise but they are thick enough to qualify for large envelope.
what annoys me is the inconsistency of all the POs. they need to find a uniform regulation. I don't care of they're considered all large envelopes or all packages. Just make is one way or the otehr!
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Mailed a few packages today and found out that any padded envelope is considered a parcel so:
Shipping to Tennesse cost me: $1.28
Shipping to California: $1.48
Shipping to Canada: $1.00
Shipping to Netherlands: $2.20
Shipping to Germany: $3.90
So the domestics certainly cost me more than before!
there's a difference in domesteic rate???
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Ok...question.
We tried our our postal scale and envelopes with our sample coins just to get an idea of what we're looking at for shipping costs.
Coin mailers are being considered large envelopes because they are more than 1/4 inch, right?
What about the minimum dimensions listed on the usps.gov site??
Large Envelope
Dimension Minimum Maximum
Height 11-1/2 inches 15 inches
Length 6-1/8 inches 12 inches
Thickness 1/4 inch 3/4 inch
None of the coin mailers are 11.5 inches x 6.125. Is this disregarded?
you don't have to fulfill all the requirements as long as it fits one of the dimensions. for example, a #000 mailer is 4"X8", but if you fit 1 or 2 coins in, it will be between 1/4" to 3/4" in thickness, hence consdiered a large envelope.
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Oh isn't that nice.... I mean... PayPal didn't update their website yesterday, so who knows.... I guess I will find out when all my packages are sent back to me
Yup - BUT you had a "mail on" date that was yesterday. This is the same as postmark, so I would think they would let it slide.
Btw, I caught paypal in mid update. They were working on the pages yesterday and had a scary looking page that was live for a few minutes that asked that package dimension be included on EVERY shipment. Then then page reverted. Sad thing is, I'm pretty sure they had developers working on the updated code late on a Sunday night. Glad to see them on the ball.
Yeah I saw that too as I was cramping all the shipping through... LOL
I saw the area that they are asking for dimension and went "oh gosh" and refreshed the page.... LOL
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thank god I sent out all my packages last night
Packages mailed Sunday had to have the Monday rates. Yeah, they didn't bother to tell anyone! Hopefully they'll go through though!
Oh isn't that nice.... I mean... PayPal didn't update their website yesterday, so who knows.... I guess I will find out when all my packages are sent back to me
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so.... USPS will reject any packages with DC sent out as large envelopes?
That's what I was told. But who knows, maybe they'll be relaxed a little for the first week. I honestly don't think the workers understand this rate structure any better than we do (no offense to any postal workers).
Heck, they tried to tell me the two trades I mailed that DID GO at the large envelope rate (because they had no DC) might come back. I called BS on that one tho cause they meet the large envelope criteria 100% - based on that little 10 page rate booklet they passed out.
I spoke with a couple of PO workers before my vacation and they both told me that this would be a "learn as it goes" type thing for them, and both of them are very capble workers. I don't think the PO was ever planning on training them on the new system until it was actually implemented today
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WOW! Rates going up and DOUBLING is 2 different things..A bubble mailer that i normally mail directly through with paypal cost me $.77 normally with delivery confirmation. Now it has gone to $1.48 for the exact same thing. But checking usps.com the international rates seem similar.
Jayman11
That's cheaper than I paid today for a coin w/delivery confirmation. Mine went from $1.23 to $2.05. See my post above, but the postal computers wouldn't allow delivery confirmation to be added to large envelope rate like paypal and stamps.com seem to be allowing.
so.... USPS will reject any packages with DC sent out as large envelopes?
thank god I sent out all my packages last night
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I had a somewhat unexpected experience at the PO counter today. My 4 oz package with two geocoins in it cost $1.31 to send as a large envelope [that I expected]. The bubble mailer with one coin in it (2 oz) sent or 58¢ ad a first class letter - I was expecting that one to cost 97¢ as a large envelope. I hope the recipient doesn't get hit with a postage due at the other end.
If the bubble mailer is more than 1/4" (and less than 3/4"), it will be considered as large envelope.
I would imagine the PO will be pretty forgiving in the first few days as they have created a fairly confusing system (I mean.... it made headline on cnn.com for crying out loud).
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OK. Just got back from my vacation! can't wait to go back to work on Monday! LOL
Thanks for eveyrone who had purchased coins when I was away. They will be shipped out by the end of today.
Feel free to order these coins!
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Any news about this coin? I haven't seen any paypal requests yet.
tot cache,
team Wij Drie
These coins are currently in production and they shall arrive around 5/21. I will probably send out an update email with the link for sales the weekend before. estimate shipping date will be around 5/23-34. So don't worry, I'll keep you in the loop!
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Very nice coin!
I visited a cache in Namur, Belgium one month ago:
The seashells on the ground guide the way to the great ancient scenery.
Wow... that is really cool!!! and I love your phone!!! LOL
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is it me or has there been a HUGE lag on geocaching.com for the last few months?
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Isn't a #000 mailer automatically considered thicker than 3/4"? also, if you put a coin in bubble mailer, they would certinaly be thicker than 3/4"
No, those mailers are about 1/4" thick, with a coin they stay the same to 1/2", depending on the coin. When you bubble wrap a non-micro coin it takes it to exactly 3/4" thickness --- at least based on my experience.
intersting.... well I guess I never had to pay attention to that since I bubble wrap my coins... and THEN put them in bubble mailer.... now seems like I need to find a better alternative....
*GRUNT*
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Some more news... international looks like its gonna change in some big ways.
Priority flat only lists large envelopes at $11. It appears that small envelopes (a very common shipping method) is going away. That said, flat rate BOXES are coming! But they are $37!
For the 6oz+ packages, first class appears to be the only real option, and that can run about 2x the previous small envelope rate.
So international folks are about to get shafted. Unless small envelopes are still going to be here, but just weren't listed.
Edit: Yup - small international envelopes are vanishing. From USPS: Regarding the small flat-rate envelope
for Global Priority Mail, as part of our product simplification and to more closely align domestic and international products, we will offer only one flat-rate envelope for Priority Mail International, using the same packaging as domestic Priority Mail. All items previously mailable in the Global Priority flat-rate envelope can be mailed in the new Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope.
Here's a good presentation on the rate change: http://www.mailing.duq.edu/mailing/USPSRateIncrease.ppt
Oh How Lovely...
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Bringing this back to the topic... has anyone figued out what the PO will charge for #000 bubble mailer? Would they be considered as large envelop or package?
It should go as a flat. I was told if I keep my mailers at 3/4" or less, they'll ship as a flat.
Isn't a #000 mailer automatically considered thicker than 3/4"? also, if you put a coin in bubble mailer, they would certinaly be thicker than 3/4"
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Bringing this back to the topic... has anyone figued out what the PO will charge for #000 bubble mailer? Would they be considered as large envelop or package?
last I spoke with some wonderful reps in PO, they still have the "learn as it goes" mentaity (and these guys are very good at what they do...) I have had a couple of conversations with individuals on this dicusssion and wonder what everyone thinks.
The date is approaching and it would be nice to find out!
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Howdy from Hong Kong!!! Hope everyone's doing well!!!
It has been very busy few days for me... a lot of family stuff so I have yet to go caching in Hong Kong... but I'm crossing fingers that I will be able to... given we have decent weather....
Anyways, as promised, I have created an English version of the Hong Kong Map, so you can do a side by side comparison.... It is quite interesting really... and Ap Lei Chau, the little island south west of Hong Kong Island, is where I am staying in right now....
And for those who have purchased my hong kong geocoin to be dropped here.... I will drop them off in the next few days. Don't worry.... I brought like 8 pounds of coins with me and I am NOT bringing them back to the States! LOL.
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OK... this has been requested by a couple of cachers so I'll just post here to remind myself....
I will create a picture of the back of the Hong Kong geocoin with English translation, and put them side by side with the English version. Kind of a fun project really... not sure if I would have time to do so before I leave for Hong Kong... but will defintely have this up in a few days!
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I would have one to get its photo taken with tallships around the world.
ya know... if I didn't have this topic on email notification... I would have completely forgotten to set missions to my "set free" coins. Thanks for the reminder!
Tallship! I used to live in Boston and enjoyed the occasional tallship visit
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Also, I have read a recent thread about carrying geocoins on a plane... but I am planning on traveling with about 50-60 geocoins.... has anyone travelled with large amount of coins to anotehr country before? I wonder if they would give me a hard time because the large quantity....
I was just in Hong Kong airport yesterday on my way home from Beijing
You should try to have some of your coins visit 2008 Olympic venues in Beijing, for example there is a cache right next ot the Laoshan Vellodrome, GCWMKD. GC caches are rather few and far between in mainland China, but they are slowly spreading & there is also a fairly active Chinese language geocaching site. There is a virtual in the Forbidden City that would fit well with the theme of your coins, and the Dragon Armillaries at the Beijing Ancient Observatory would also fit well, even though there is no cache there, just a waymark.That's a good idea. thanks!!!
You're looking at around 2.5KG of coins, which they will obviously want to x-ray separately. It will be a good percentage of your carry-on allowance. One concern that they will have is that it will likely be considered commercial goods to be left in the country, in which case they may want to charge you importations fees. I'm not certain what the Hong Kong import allowance is. If the exemption is high enough, you might just be able to go through the "nothing to declare" lane and have no extra hassles. They will probably want to see some kind of commercial invoice as well, to verify their value & prove you are not trying to transport currency.
Good Luck!
Yeah, i figured it would be safe to put them in a ziplock bag... take them out and have them scan the coins separately. And thanks for the tips on the commercial invoice, that's a good point.
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Are there still coins available? My hubby saw these last night and thought they were nice. He might enjoy one for his birthday
Yeap!
You can buy them here: http://dwprods.com/Geocoins.htm
thx!
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I got my coins today (in Australia) and I'm very impressed with them! Great looking coins
The antique copper is great with the design standing out really well. Thanks ozymandiasism!
Thank you very much!!!
You should try to have some of your coins visit 2008 Olympic venues in Beijing, for example there is a cache right next ot the Laoshan Vellodrome, GCWMKD. GC caches are rather few and far between in mainland China, but they are slowly spreading & there is also a fairly active Chinese language geocaching site. There is a virtual in the Forbidden City that would fit well with the theme of your coins, and the Dragon Armillaries at the Beijing Ancient Observatory would also fit well, even though there is no cache there, just a waymark.
Postage is going up...
in Trackables
Posted
I think the quesiton is.... once you have paid for the package at the post office... do they just process it regardless, or do they do more checking once it is in the distribution center.... because otehrwise, I will find a PO that consider padded mailer large envelope and send all my packages through them.