# A question for postal mavens...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 1, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119 "2018-07-01T21:40:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119/1 "2018-07-01T21:40:14Z")

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I sent something in a minimum sized padded orange-brown envelope. I stamped it via an automatic kiosk. I categorized it as a large envelope for postage purposes, because I couldn’t believe that this 2 oz thing was a “package,” but I realized too late that the machine asked to make sure it wasn’t “rigid,” which I now think it is (the contents certainly aren’t easily, and shouldn’t be, bent).

Will it probably get cross country without getting mangled? Will extra postage be owed at some point?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119/2 "2018-07-01T22:04:13Z")

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My guess (as a long-time ebay seller) is: it will probably make it OK without getting mangled, and most likely without postage due.  
That said, if it gets kicked out of the automated sorter, it might come postage due.

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**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119/3 "2018-07-02T16:54:34Z")

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So do things get automatically sorted out or is this at the discretion of your post office? For example, a lot of fancy greeting cards say “extra postage may be required!” but I don’t think I’ve ever had something returned or arrive postage due for that reason.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-postal-mavens/817119/4 "2018-07-02T17:48:09Z")

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I think it works more-or-less like this: if the item is not explicitly marked “non-machinable,” it will get sorted with the rest of the mail. If it makes it through the sorting machine - great! If it gets kicked out due to thickness or size, it will get hand-sorted, and may get a surcharge stamped on it. If it’s close, and passes into the machine, but then gets damaged, it will come in pieces in a bag, with the surcharge.