The small one was mine (the permanent marker was obviously not permanent) and corrected it but the big one I didn't understand. It had Big Muddy and the address on a lable. I checked the address we have and the lable has that address on it so I couldn't figure out what that is about. Any clues? Do we need to change the pre-printed lable in some way? Another one that was returned last week was because the lable didn't stick to the brown shiny tape. It just fell of leaving only the return address on the box.
You could use the Sam's gift card to get a scale if one isn't donated. They vary from $29 to $49. The PO (upstairs) also has a set of weird spring type scales that are much cheaper. There are different colors to hold different weights (0-1lb, 1.1-2 etc) and if the package puts the platform on the table, it is over that weight.
The rates you have below are Media Mail rates and most of our shipping for prisoners is done whatever is cheapest, usually bulk bound and printed (and usually not Media M) but shipping depends on weight and how FAR they are going by zip code. It can get quite complicated but not impossible. When they ship our books, the PO computer gives them several shipping options with the cost of each shipping option. Then the Postal People just choose and ship via "the cheapest" for that particular package.
FYI-our shipping for prisoners for January, which also includes the last of December packages is just under $400 so far. I'll try to get some figures together on what our average per package cost was. I should be able to break it down to seperate bulk (much higher cost per package) from individual packages. It won't be done tomorrow......I'll need to go through receipts....but maybe by the next monthly meeting.
Deb Sanderson
Owner/Buyer
Sand and Sea Sells Used Books Etc.
www.sandncsells.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Porter Bruce
To: BTP
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 3:11 PM
Subject: [Bookstoprisoners] anyone have a postage scale?
BtP:
Does anyone have a postage scale they'd like to donate to Books to Prisoners? Preferably digital, but it could be the old fashioned kind.
I'm thinking we might experiment with paying attention to the weight of packages. As Sandra has pointed out, we're spending an awful lot on postage, and even more when books get returned to us. Yesterday we had two huge boxes returned because they were not properly addressed. A costly mistake.
Below is the rate chart for media mail, up to 5 pounds, just fyi. I will try to talk to someone in the post office about the complexities of our mailing.
Something we can talk further about at our next meeting or gathering.
WEIGHT RATE
1 lb $1.59
2 lb $2.07
3 lb $2.55
4 lb $3.03
5 lb $3.51
Other rates are available up to 70 lbs.
For complete Media Mail rates, see the domestic postage calculator.
Susan
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