Mailing photographs?

[keithdewey3]

Originally Posted by Clakley

I have worked for the U. S. Postal Service for nearly 34 years (the last 15 as a Postmaster) and take exception to your remarks. As in any large organization, one will always have those who do not take their job seriously and fail to handle the mail properly. You are right that most packages are handled by machines; however, this does not mean that it will be mangled.

Even those political bulk business mailings that are marked "Do Not Bend" are handled accordingly. I am sorry that your experiences with the Postal Service have left you with such feelings.

I NEVER recommend UPS as I know that they will leave a package at a neighbor's (even one around the corner)--personal experience. The most important thing is to package the product properly, using stiffeners, our photograph mailers (available at most post offices), or, as suggested, our free priority mail boxes. If the photograph is important, then the mailer should make sure it is prepared accordingly.

And, we do pay attention to the special markings on packages; especially the "Do Not Bend" or "Fragile" markings. As a matter of record (and we have mystery shoppers who check us for this), our window clerks are required to ask if the package contains anything that is liquid, fragile, perishable, or potentionally hazardous for each one presented to us. Then, we are to mark it accordingly.

I have had great service and nothing but positive experiences with the USPS. I use them to ship photos at least weekly. Everything arrives sooner than estimated and I have never had a complaint. The key is to package it well. For 2 5X7 I would use 2 pieces of cardboard. Like the kind a cereal box is made of, cut the pieces slightly larger than the prints.
Put the prints between the cardboard insert into a padded mailer. Tell the postal carrier the pkg is photos ,even though I mark it on both sides of the envelope.

I havent ever had a complaint.

[Steven G Webb]

Most times I put 5X7s in the cardboard mailers available at the post office, slap a shipping label on them and send them on their merry way. I've never received a complaint that a photo arrived damaged or lost one in the mail. I only send about $2K in photos all over the US from post offices all over the US.

About mailers, I should bite the bullet and buy a case of 9X11 and 5X7 mailers from U Line they are about a third the cost of the Reddy Post stuff sold at the PO.

[MelanieTaylor]

Any stiff tight packaging box would do. Just make sure that there are back and front covers or separation between the photos so they don't smudge and make sure you keep them away from moisture. It would help if you have absorbents.