too much packing tape on envelope = rejection?

[The Less Blob]

Yeah, sometimes I lay it on thick on those PM flat rate envelopes. I just had some rejected by my local PO (after I had mailed them) because I had too much tape on them. I guess they objected to me slapping so much tape on the self-sticking part of the envelope and the corners of the flap? I don't trust that to stay closed on its own so I put a lot of extra tape on there. Anyone had this problem?

[faster friends]

My PO won't let me put ANY tape on them.

[mschmidt]

What kind of tape are you using?

 

I use transparent tape to seal the top & bottom of the flat-rate envelopes all the time, and have never had any problems - the transparent tape makes it patently obvious that it's sealed with the self-sticking strip (and I'm not using tape to cram things into the envelope that wouldn't otherwise fit) :shrug:

[InvstmntComcSuply]

It does happen from time to time. You have to realize that lots of ebay sellers are stuffing those FRE full of stuff like clothes, etc. to the point that they look like a football.

 

So, sometimes you will get an overzealous postal worker that rejects stuff that seems borderline.

[kidcolt]

I was told by my post office that tape on an envelope suggest tampering so they don't like it. Receiving post office are suppose to record everytime that an envelope is receved with tape over the envelope opening.

[kdoginohio]

Well, maybe if they wouldn't throw the mail in a cage with a gorilla, we wouldn't have to tape the envelope.

[bronzilla]

Yeah, sometimes I lay it on thick on those PM flat rate envelopes. I just had some rejected by my local PO (after I had mailed them) because I had too much tape on them. I guess they objected to me slapping so much tape on the self-sticking part of the envelope and the corners of the flap? I don't trust that to stay closed on its own so I put a lot of extra tape on there. Anyone had this problem?

 

I do the same thing and have never had an issue

[Sal]

technically, flat rate envelopes are supposed to be able to be closed and sent without additional tape in order for it to be approved, but i doubt every PO follows that reg to the letter, no pun intended

[nocutename]

Yeah, sometimes I lay it on thick on those PM flat rate envelopes. I just had some rejected by my local PO (after I had mailed them) because I had too much tape on them. I guess they objected to me slapping so much tape on the self-sticking part of the envelope and the corners of the flap? I don't trust that to stay closed on its own so I put a lot of extra tape on there. Anyone had this problem?

 

I don't either. Some of the older envelopes do pop open. The couple of post offices by me will not take them if I seal around the tear tab. But if I add small amount of tape by the end of the flap that is OK just so it doesn't cover the corners and tear tab. I never understood why and no one gave me any good reason for it either. I try not to use those evelopes anyway.

[dupont2005]

It does happen from time to time. You have to realize that lots of ebay sellers are stuffing those FRE full of stuff like clothes, etc. to the point that they look like a football.

 

So, sometimes you will get an overzealous postal worker that rejects stuff that seems borderline.

Someone mailed me two shirts like that once.

[jools&jim]

 

As a former USPS employee, I know from firsthand experience how envelopes and packages are handled, so I've taped the living mess out of every Priority Mail envelope I've ever sent, and (so far at least) have never had a problem. But it probably helps that I'm a known commodity at my local PO, which is where I used to work...

[Designer Toast]

I've always put tape across the flap and a small piece on the bottom of each side to make sure it doesn't come apart. Never had a problem.

 

Though, take a closer look at the envelope and see what it says about using tape on it (apologies if someone has already pointed this out).

[Designer Toast]

As a former USPS employee, I know from firsthand experience how envelopes and packages are handled, so I've taped the living mess out of every Priority Mail envelope I've ever sent, and (so far at least) have never had a problem.

 

I temped during college at USPS during Christmas time. If you aren't comfortable with your package taking a long dive or being thrown a distance by hand, you haven't packaged it well enough.

 

While this was many years ago, imagine your package getting thrown across a warehouse floor football style into a sorting bin.

[TvComics]

I do not use FRE any longer, but when I did I would have issues with my local PO if I used tape. I was able to get around this issue by taping the INSIDE of the envelope. If I thought the enveloped needed reinforcement, I taped the INSIDE edges and the inside of the flap so that it was safe and secure but the clerk could not see the tape. Worked well for me!

[TvComics]

As a former USPS employee, I know from firsthand experience how envelopes and packages are handled, so I've taped the living mess out of every Priority Mail envelope I've ever sent, and (so far at least) have never had a problem.

 

I temped during college at USPS during Christmas time. If you aren't comfortable with your package taking a long dive or being thrown a distance by hand, you haven't packaged it well enough.

 

While this was many years ago, imagine your package getting thrown across a warehouse floor football style into a sorting bin.

 

Ha! I temped at UPS during the Christmas rush when I was in college. My job was to pack the trucks and I can not tell you how many times a 8 ft wall of boxes would fall on me if I failed to fit the puzzle pieces in just right!

[trmoore54]

You should see how my 82-yr old Ma packs Christmas presents...you need a blow-torch or a power-saw to get through the tape she puts on...

[The Less Blob]

thanks, i guess I am not alone! I had never had a problem before, but then again, I mail my packages from a lot of different locations as there are two post offices in the vicinity of my home and I mail from my office and two post offices around there too, so I'm raising my odds of getting hit by a stickler.

[skypinkblu]

I was told you could tape the front of the envelope, but that the tape can't go AROUND the envelope....it depends on the clerk, some don't seem to care.

 

I get around the tape issue by taping the address sticker on:) I just use 4 pieces:) of clear packing tape, instead of the little scotch tape.

[Big Dip]

As a former USPS employee, I know from firsthand experience how envelopes and packages are handled, so I've taped the living mess out of every Priority Mail envelope I've ever sent, and (so far at least) have never had a problem.

 

I temped during college at USPS during Christmas time. If you aren't comfortable with your package taking a long dive or being thrown a distance by hand, you haven't packaged it well enough.

 

While this was many years ago, imagine your package getting thrown across a warehouse floor football style into a sorting bin.

 

My wife and I were talking about this very thing this morning, and I have a stupid question to ask - why does our stuff get treated like that? It's not like we get this service for free - we pay plenty for it.

[Ringfinger]

Nice to know.