I hate when that happens too, but sometimes it does, especially with all the rules and regulations at the PO now a days!

If anyone gets anything from me with postage due...PM me and I'll send you the equivalent in unused stamps! I would want to make up for it!

Same here! (And I would prefer a PM to a commment in the rating!)

It is not necessarily the fault of the sender. I think one of the problems is that they have changed the rules of what is an envelope vs parcel. And they apply the rules inconsistently. Technically, if it is less than 3/4" thick and can bend 2" in both directions from the center point and non-lumpy you can mail it First Class. Some post offices ignore the 3/4" allowance. Some post offices have different standards for 'lumpiness.' The end result is that my post office may call it a large envelope but an intermediary post office may class it as a parcel and slap it with a postage due stamp. Very frustrating for all involved!

We also have seen several cases of stamps and even postage falling off in transit... so the sender may have put on the correct postage!

Me to. The thing is when I have postage due I never have to pay? I wonder why?

Thanks you guys!

I always let the person know on the rating I give. It may seem a bit unfair, but I think some people are unaware of the different ways things get priced.

mustxbexfate: My guess is you have a generous mail carrier who just pays the difference. In my tiny town we're all tight for cash so while my mail-ladies wish they could they just can't either.

When I go to the postoffice I make sure they weight it and whatever it is I make sure the amount is a little over as to make sure the reciever doesn't have that problem . I want them to enjoy the package and not open it and think they didn't like it on top of having to pay postage.

biasbabe; That's cool. And did you know that when you over pay on postage it just goes into the general postal carriers retirement funds! I hope that's true, my mom told me that once.

That's cool. I always go 1 stamp higher than I calculate when I mail from home and I always wondered what happened to that money!

I take everything to the PO and get it weighed, even letter swaps [because I use homemade envies] oh, with the exception of postcards :)

I ask for stamps unless there is a line or the package is huge.

I don't think my carrier would leave a letter with postage due, I suspect I would have to go pick it up which would be a huge pain. I've never had it happen so far.

Halfwaythere; You're a gem of a swapper.

I hate when I have to go pick up a postage due package...but I can't leave it there, I want it soooo bad!!

I've never had any postage due fees, and I really hope I haven't created any for my swappers.

One day when I was at the post office, the clerk showed me a template they use to determine if the envelope goes into the next higher priced category. Basically, if the envelope is over 1/4 inch thick, it will require additional postage. Assuming it's less than 1 ounce. Anything over 1 ounce always costs more.

Scrapette...my postal lady gave me one of those to measure my packages because I was in there all the time asking her if I had enough postage! It's been a life saver!

I had the mailman ring my door the other day with a postage due envie. Luckily it was only 17 cents. You would think they would all be on the same wavelength and charge the same. It is so unfair.

Thats why i get my lazy ass up, drive to the PO every other day or so(right down street) and stand in line to mail everything off. I think its accurate, gets me out of the house(lol), and I dont have to buy rolls of stamps/scale, wiegh everything myself and then take a chance on someone else paying the difference if postage isnt right.

But the prices are fair, somehow their job has to be paid for. By having to handle things by hand it just makes it cost more, I get that. And I get that if something can do by machine it's cheaper. I get that based on weight things cost more or less. All those things do seem fair to me, what doesn't is when someone doesn't take the time to put the right postage on to make sure it gets where it's supposed to. If I were to send a package to a dear friend I'd be sorely disappointed and embarrassed if I made that kind of a mistake, if I'm doing a swap I try to treat that sending with the same kind of care.

Kimbeewa, I wonder if I could get my hands on one of those, might save me some trips... but really I don't mind, like twisted, it gets me out of the house every now and then (when I'm not having hubby do it for me.)

I, too, bring almost all my stuff to PO to be weighted - only postcards being different. But I don't swap THAT much that I'd need to go there every day! :P

Yep, I take all of my things inside the PO, even postcards. My home scales are less than .10 of an ounce off. The only time it's a problem is when it's close to the change of rates, but it does make a difference. I'd rather have them weigh it and be sure. Fortunately, a clerk double checked for me after I weighed at home and I could see it was off just by a tad.

I'm in the habit now of even taking my postcards inside to a clerk and requesting that they be 'round stamped' because our mail is all shipped out of town to be sorted and postmarked. I've had postcards destroyed by the machines. A clerk told me that when they use the round stamp, that peice of mail won't go through a machine. So far the postcards that I've had manually stamped have all arrived. I just had a batch that I didn't request be hand cancelled (just dropped them in the box outside because I was in a hurry)and sure enough, one of them never arrived. :(

It can be a hassle to go into the PO but it's worth it for me for the peace of mind! Plus, I live in a small town so it's not a big deal to run by there once or twice a week.

Here in the UK they have recently changed the system. there are new rules and regulations about size, shape, weight etc of post. Apparently it is to "help" the customer.... HO HO HO I dont think so! I have noticed a big increase in cost, and also because of the size and thickness thing, I have been paying excess postage on simple cards etc that have been posted in this country! And the posties wont bring it with them because its happening too much, so we HAVE to go to collect it! Ant if its 6p under we have to pay a £1.00 "handling" fee!! AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

Yeah, hoppyloo I hear you on the £1 handling fee. My friend sent me a birthday card last year where he'd put on a normal stamp rather than a large letter one so it was only a few pence so the £1 was just silly - especially since I paid online and then ended up having to call the delivery office a week later as they'd still not delivered it. I did make my friend buy me lunch to make up for it though, so I did ok really :)

Got I hope that doesn't happen to me. I pay $8.50 for a padded envelope swap to go overseas. That adds up pretty quickly. I can't understand why it costs so much to send overseas from Australia.

Ive just come back from the post office and Im FUMING!!!! I know they changed the way they charge, but this little episode takes the bisuit! I have sold a couple of things on Ebay.. including some books. All were being sent within the UK... and none were huge books. One of them cost a huge amount extra JUST BECAUSE OF THE SIZE ENVELOPE! Can you believe it?! It would have fitted in a smaller envelope, but I just used what I had (like you do) It wouldnt have weighed any less in a smaller envelope! OMG Im so mad!! Dont think Ebay will be used so much now... It cost me the same to post a book within UK as it did to post my magazine/hot choc swap to USA!!!!! Think Im going to have to be extra careful with my swapping from now on :(

I've stopped putting cool chopsticks, pens & pencils in as extras -- even the thinnest envelope that has a pencil in it has to be mailed as a parcel because it is rigid!

My post office will give me the correct postage in stamps when I go there to get something weighed that isn't a box. I think you may have to ask - one lady always does it, and the guy never does unless I ask. I like stamps too and not the printed-as-you-stand-there postage.