[South Florida DX Association] New Postal Regs - effects QSL Bureau

[Norman Alexander]

Those using QSL bureau should consider the following new rule (May) that USPS considers envelopes with a metal clasp requires premium handling and a $ 0.20 additional charge.  It is not 100% enforced, but it could happen.  I am now sending non-clasp envelopes.

 Regards,
Norm W4QN
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BURO Post office fun -
W9UM
Howdy -

I went to the post office today to mail a bunch of buro cards out to 
the U stations.   Imagine my surprise when the USPS employee at the 
counter tells me that any envelope with a metal clasp has a $0.20 
upcharge per item.

According to the clerk, this applies for envelopes even if the flap 
is sealed over the top of the clasp.

I had a nice time tearing open 30 outbound envelopes, removing the 
clasp and sealing them with tape while the clerk weighed some of my 
over 1 oz. items.

I did some searching on the net and found reference to a May 2008 
"Bad Envelope Penalty" fee of $0.20.

I have mailed dozens of buro envelopes since May 2008 and this is the 
first time I have heard of this.  Since I have nearly 1000 envelopes 
for all of the U stations on file here, I wonder if anyone else has 
addressed this issue?
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Never had that problem Mark, but I NEVER mail Bureau envelopes inside the 
PO - always into an outside box. They don't go through the local PO, but to a 
regional sorting center.