I sent out a bunch of Raoks yesterday only to discover one of them cost over $9 to mail. It was light weight so I just didn't get it, but the calendar inside was oversized!  So do keep in mind as you offer items here in the RAOK forum that it just may not be worth mailing something out when the postage costs more than the value of the items!  Look for local orgs that might be able to use those items!

Agreed, Jeanne.  I found that out the hard way myself.  I will be a lot more careful about offering up RAOKs.  Yikes, sticker shock at the post office for sure. 

Ouch, that's awful!  I try to stick with lightweight items myself, as I know how bad postage prices can be (I sell items on ebay and have an ecrater store).  

Same thing has happened to me.  Keep in mind that a lot (depending on what it is, obviously :-) can fit into a flat rate mailing envelope (12" x 9"), for $5.15.  I was sending to a charity & managed to cram quite a few things in one, so it was worth it.  You can get the envelopes  for free at the post office or order them for free online at USPS.com.

See, size does matter! (Sorry, I HAD to say that - I've been holding back!)  I have had those surprises too, and something over-size or odd shaped can cost way too much to mail. My postal clerks know that Pat can stuff a flat rate envelope to the max - might as well get your $ worth. But there are lots of things that just don't fit, so I just don't send them anymore.  We're here to do nice things for people, but also not go broke! Always think about what you are offereing, the size, the weight. We all learn the hard way.

Ouch! I'm expecting a calendar from somebody,but don't remember who right off. It would be perfectly fine with me if, when they find out it's so expensive to mail, they tell me they aren't going to send it after all. I would totally understand.

No worries, Glenda.  That calendar I mailed you last week was normal sized so fit in an envelope.

I just got a RAOK package sent back to me for Insufficient Address. They had put stamps on it and marked through the stamps with a pen, but there's no postmark. When I get the address fixed, will they try to charge me again for sending? I won't be worth paying again. Anybody know?

Glenda, I did a little searching & found this on the US Post Office website:

771.4 Remailing of Returned Mail
New postage must be applied to returned items, which are subsequently reentered into the mail.

Bummer

Sheesh! That doesn't seem fair. 

Thanks for checking that out for me. Maybe I''ll get lucky and they' 'll let it go. If not, I won't argue. Just won' t remail.

I had that happen with a pet food coupon I mailed to Debbie B right here in FL--I have been sending her these for over a year and her address never changed, I didn't make a typo in writing her address either.  PO messed up so unless you know you left something off on the address, I'd argue with them that they made a mistake in delivering and that you don't need to pay again.

The member I was sending to just made a goof with the address, repeated the first part of the street name. I could fix it just by changing a letter and adding some. They'd never know. But I'd have to lie and I won't do that.

I just told the member I won't remail it. It's a few Christmas card fronts and it's not worth paying $1.70 twice. Hope she understands. I wonder if there would be a cheaper way to mail it.