I know this has been asked...

[dahmsie8]

numerous times over the past few weeks regarding how many stamps to put on a SASE cardboard 8x10 mailer.

Im not sure if there was ever a clear consensus and if there was I apologize for making this thread.

I was told by my post office lady that I need to put 5 stamps on the cardboard mailer. Recently I have been told 3 stamps will get it back to me and I have also been told 4 stamps will work too. How many stamps do you all use?

For the past 2 years I have been using 5 stamps. I just want to get the most bang for my buck in terms of stamps.

Thanks!

[REDANDGOLDPRIDE]

numerous times over the past few weeks regarding how many stamps to put on a SASE cardboard 8x10 mailer.

Im not sure if there was ever a clear consensus and if there was I apologize for making this thread.

I was told by my post office lady that I need to put 5 stamps on the cardboard mailer. Recently I have been told 3 stamps will get it back to me and I have also been told 4 stamps will work too. How many stamps do you all use?

For the past 2 years I have been using 5 stamps. I just want to get the most bang for my buck in terms of stamps.

Thanks!

It gets asked a lot because it depends on the post office. I know rates went up recently, so some people are stuck using 5 stamps otherwise they get postage due. I (knock on wood) have still be getting away with just three on my SASE.. I use a 8x10 top loader (I just set the 8x10 on top of the toploader) and then I put it in a 8x10 binder page, with my letter inside of it and it seems to get by with just three. Try it with three and see if you get postage due.. If so, then four, or maybe four with a 17 cent stamp. Get the feel of what works for you and your post office, because it varies big time.

[BigRedMachine]

I looked into this before I started sending out 8x10's and this is what I found. If your SASE is "rigid" then you have to follow package prices which means you will need $1.71 postage up to 3 oz. "Rigid" seems to be the key word here. If your SASE is not rigid you can follow the large envelope prices meaning you can use $1.28 postage at 3 oz. I use 3 oz. as the cutoff because most times my requests weigh up to 3 oz. Unless you are really putting a lot of packaging or cardboard in your request you should be able to get it to 3 oz. or less. If your local PO has a self serve postage machine you can weigh everything there to see how much your requests and SASE's weigh and then go from there.

So after all that I use $1.71(4 stamps) on the outside package and $1.71(4 stamps) on the SASE. I use manilla folders cut just slightly bigger than an 8x10 and my PO considers a manilla folder a "rigid" package.

[slitz]

went to my third PO since the price increase and was charged a third different set of prices LOL. this time I was charged $1.78 out and $1.08 on the return

[lizard-jd]

I looked into this before I started sending out 8x10's and this is what I found. If your SASE is "rigid" then you have to follow package prices which means you will need $1.71 postage up to 3 oz. "Rigid" seems to be the key word here. If your SASE is not rigid you can follow the large envelope prices meaning you can use $1.28 postage at 3 oz. I use 3 oz. as the cutoff because most times my requests weigh up to 3 oz. Unless you are really putting a lot of packaging or cardboard in your request you should be able to get it to 3 oz. or less. If your local PO has a self serve postage machine you can weigh everything there to see how much your requests and SASE's weigh and then go from there.

So after all that I use $1.71(4 stamps) on the outside package and $1.71(4 stamps) on the SASE. I use manilla folders cut just slightly bigger than an 8x10 and my PO considers a manilla folder a "rigid" package.

It's what BigRedMachine says. However, lately I have actually done the reverse. I pay the $1.28 going out and pay the $1.71 (RIGID) coming back. Since I started doing TTM years ago, I average about 20% that never come back so I really only care about trying to protect the ones that come back (USPS Carrier can be brutal!). Geee, I wonder if the person who doesn't retun my stuff re-uses the return postage?

[slitz]

the problem is that what is rigid to one mail handler may not be rigid to another. there is a subjective nature to it and thats were the differences in prices occur

[BigRedMachine]

I pay the $1.28 going out and pay the $1.71 (RIGID) coming back.

I originally started this way too, 3 stamps out and 3 stamps back. I had pretty good success, then I had one come back to me postage due. When I went to the PO and complained that my return envelope was within the dimensions they required on a large envelope they told me my envelope was too rigid and I had to use package rate postage.

[lilstovie34]

I use 3 stamps and 20 cent to ship there, and 3 on the sase. I just got 2 back today with no problems. Its odd that we all have to use different postage to git r done.

[dahmsie8]

Thank you for the replies!

It is really strange to see how we all send out envelopes with different totals of postage. I have always used on the SASE 5 stamps, but will try 4 now.

Do you all think 4 will do the trick? All Im doing is putting the 8x10 inside a cardboard mailer from Staples with no extra padding in the form of cardboard or photo holders.

[braves9]

Ive honestly only use a total of four stamps...2 there and 2 back...But I did go to the post office and accidently had my envolpe in my hand while shipping off somthing else and they charged me the 3rd stamp...But ive been doing 4 total for the last 2 years.