Any possible way to get a small metal item through letter mail?

[bigcasey123]

Not only will the allow me to sell the item cheaper but the profit margin will be 2 times better. But the problem i'm having is the item rips out of the pack about 70% of the time. I tried many ways to bypass the USPS sorting machine (using small non-machinable envelopes, etc..) but USPS workers aren't very reliable and still put the item through the machine.

The item is small so it can fit through the machine but the problem is, when the machine bends the envelope that's when the item rips through and shoots out. I tried placing the item in certain positions so when the envelope bends the item will not be affected but i have had no luck. I also tried using bigger envelopes but the item kept falling out of the top (it has corner spaces that i try to cover but had no luck).

[elmo]

Have you considered a plastic alternative? Or other shipping carriers

[bigcasey123]

What do you mean by "plastic alternative"? also yes i have looked through other shipping carriers but they're either expensive or require a lot of parcels (usually between 500 to 1000).

[Dmshark25]

I don't know the shape of your item but I guess you need it in a regular envelope, have you tried wrapping it in small bubble wrap assuming the itemis small maybe you can just make a small rectangle of bubble wrap inserted into the envelope

[bigcasey123]

This is the item


The size of the envelope in the pic is 5 3/4 by 8 3/4 so i'm assuming the item's width is about 4in.

The problem is the items metal so when the envelope bends there's nothing that can stop it from punching threw.

[yankee]

Get some heavy duty tyvek envelopes and bubble wrap your items. Maybe a cardboard liner

[Dmshark25]

I know u said you positioned it differently in the envelope, but have you tried wrapping it with bubble wrap and tape ,because than its not just a piece of metal against paper it's more like plastic, just keep it as thin as possible and an outside of duct tape like Yankee said

[bigcasey123]

Oh ok now i understand, but that would create a thickness problem. The maximum thickness in letter mail is 1/4in and bubble wrap is not really thick.

[Dmshark25]

Originally Posted by bigcasey123

Oh ok now i understand, but that would create a thickness problem. The maximum thickness in letter mail is 1/4in and bubble wrap is not really thick.

Try it with 3/16 bubble wrap and make it into a rectangle 3/16 are the tiny bubbles , you would just need a small piece to make a rectangle and with duct tape you could press it really thin, so it would be like having a credit card in the envelope

[yankee]

How about a cardboard insert and slide your item into the corrugation?

[Dmshark25]

I'm just thinking but Google to see what kind of packaging you could get as well like something like a Cd case, I know that would be too big but I can't think of something exact off the top of my head but just think of packaging that exists for small thin items , CDs are very thin and have Cd cases try and think of something else

I used to play the clarinet and on the mouth piece you would need to always buy and change the reed the thin wooden piece that you would bracket to the mouth pice

The reed would come in a small rectangle plastic container that was smaller than a quarter inch wide and an inch long

[Dmshark25]

Originally Posted by yankee

How about a cardboard insert and slide your item into the corrugation?

Good idea, this would probably work

[Dmshark25]

ImageUploadedByTapatalkHD1417362888.073057.jpg

Maybe something along these lines I'm sure u could get 1000's for cheap

[bigcasey123]

I'll try you bubble wrap idea.



About the other ideas, even if i put some rigid in the envelope the USPS workers will still put it through the machine. That is my biggest problem, i tried non-machinable envelopes, cardboard, etc..but they still don't know it is non-machinable. I understand there mistake, i saw a youtube video on how USPS determines which items go through the machine and which don't and basically they (USPS worker) scatters the envelopes and just look for the big envelopes (or the noticeably fat ones) and the rest just get put into the machine. I can't make my item fat because that would violate the thickness regulations, i also can't use a envelope larger then 6x8 because they count that as a parcel.

EDIT: if you meant allow the cardboard go through the machine i don't think that would work either (cardboard would bend item would shoot out).

[GreenBean]

What's the next size envelope that is smaller?

Two pieces of corragated paper as inserts. Tape the pin to one side so it does not move.

Or sleeve that pin & tape it as described above. Avoid adding too much bulk.

Something like that might work.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by yankee

Get some heavy duty tyvek envelopes and bubble wrap your items. Maybe a cardboard liner

That's a decent idea.