Christmas is coming, so get out your micrometers

[Moo]

This year we've been uncharacteristically efficient and sent off a first tranche of cards early enough to use 2nd class stamps.

A friend who has just received hers has informed us that " stuck on the front was a KGB style warning that they were going to let us off THIS TIME for underpayment of the correct postage."

We checked and reassured ourselves that the card was well within the limits for a standard letter, so the problem must be with the thickness (max 5mm)

Me other half checked with his micrometer and found that we had exceeded the limit by 1mm.

So don't go sending any of those fancy hand-made cards with bits stuck on them, or you'll be in trouble.

 

[NT]

A micrometer has so many uses... all of which are the same task. Well worth having.

NT

 

[Mark]

Just a thought. The recent changes to the postal system only applies to internal uk post. Sending things to and from europe the costs and sizes have not been altered (international treaty I assume)

I know that it is now significantly cheaper to send film for processing to germany or switzerland because it doesnt count as a parcel as it would now in the uk.

Anyway - if you are planning a booze cruise to stock up for the forthcoming festivities, it may be cheaper to send all your cards from france - and they get different stamps as a bonus to any young philatelists (sp?)

 

[Penners]

So don't go sending any of those fancy hand-made cards with bits stuck on them, or you'll be in trouble.

What on earth did you stick on them, Moo? Golf balls?

 

[Moo]

No, honest guv, it was just a glittery cut-out tree fixed on with one of those double-sided sticky pads.

 

[Penners]

No, honest guv, it was just a glittery cut-out tree fixed on with one of those double-sided sticky pads.

If you don't mind a word of advice, the postage will be cheaper in future if you just use a picture of a tree, rather than the real thing.

 

[Moo]

Oh, I've learned my lesson, Penners. From now on there'll be no fancy stuff at all; just the thinnest cards and the flimsiest envelopes.
Or, come to think of it, I could send e-cards and give the money saved to a deserving cause.

 

[Penners]

I could send e-cards and give the money saved to a deserving cause.

Funnily enough, Mrs P and I have discussed doing exactly that from next year onwards. I instituted it as a practice at the last company I worked for, and it has now become widespread in the furniture industry. Companies donate the notional cost of their Christmas cards to the industry's benevolent association, and the trade magazine donates a free page advertisement, wishing happy Christmas to all suppliers and customers of the companies who participate.

 

[Craig]

It's good to see our venerable institutions getting to grips with proper modern techniques and standards...

I was experimenting - if you compress the card to several atmospheric pressures, then you can almost certainly get it under the limit. Did the Royal Mail specify the ambient pressure under which they would take their measurements?

And we haven’t even started to consider temperature & moisture content...

 

[plumbers mate]

After I stomped on a letter to compress it so it would go through the slot at the PO Counter and therefore be cheaper, I was told it wasn't a good idea as if the air got back into the envelope before delivery at the other end (thereby making it thicker again) the recipient of the letter would have to pay extra.

Vacuum packing seems to be the answer - but that might cost more than the extra postage...

 

[Penners]

I was told it wasn't a good idea

It's also not a good idea if you're posting a bone china vase to your maiden aunt.

 

[plumbers mate]

Bother, so that's why it arrived in bits...