Today’s blog post is on discovering yesterday the real-life-application for needing my very own First-Class Mail Shape-Based Template. To cut to the punchline – Their “Thickness slots help you determine if your mailpiece is a letter, flat or package”.
Previous blog topics have included 3D Bulky Lumpy Dimensional Mail, Mailing Hula Hoops, and Postage Due here at AnchoredScraps.com.
To Be or Not To Be … a package. Or to be a letter.
Yesterday while at lunch I discovered that tucking in that little extra flat item in with my letter before sealing the envelope bumped me out of being considered a Letter. Even though I had weighed it at home with my Stamps.com scale I had not selected Large Envelopes & Flats, or Thick envelopes for the menu for what was now considered a First-Class Mail Package/Thick Envelope.
While at the Post Office counter we started chatting and thankfully out appeared a nifty First-Class Mail Shape-Based Template and my envelope would not fit through the slot. So I’ve been in search to order one of these templates and have found two offerings! Think of this template like seeing does your suitcase fit under this seat example when buying luggage or at the airport at check-in.
From the Product Description at Stamps.com –
“Just place your mailpiece in the corner of this guide to determine whether your mailpiece is a postcard, letter, non-machinable letter, or package.”
There is also this USPS Shape Based Pricing Template I came across from PostageMeterSuppliesOnline.com.
Over at the USPS in their posting on What is First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing? “First-Class Mail shape-based pricing aligns the shape of mail with the relative processing costs for each mail shape.” “The maximum size for letters did not change: 11-1/2″ x 6-1/8″ x 1/4″ thick.”
In conclusion, the quest begins to figure out what small little inserts to include with my letters without leaving the Letter category for my postage! See if you don’t start trying this out too! Wishing you a Happy Wednesday!
Anchors Aweigh,
Helen
First-Class Mail Shape-Based Template Attribution & Thank you to the following who are referenced today
Image above and Excerpts Stamps.com First-Class Mail Shape-Based Template
Excerpt USPS First-Class Mail Fact Sheet – What is First-Class Mail Shape-Based Pricing?
USPS Shape Based Pricing Template
AnchoredScraps.com blog posts 3D bulky lumpy dimensional mail, Mailing Hula Hoops, and Postage Due by Helen Rittersporn
