I just mailed off 3 books, weighing 7 oz., 10.5 oz., and 14 oz. I attached 6 first class stamps to each package and dropped them off in a blue drop box. This is my first time mailing books and I went by the estimated postage on the print out, which all had the same postage price. After I got home and went online to check postage regulations just to make sure I shipped them right and found out no packages over 13 oz. can go in the blue drop boxes.

Has this happened to anyone else? Will the book over the weight limit be shipped back to me or could it possibly still go out since it is so close to the weight limit? I don't know if I should mark the book as shipped yet.

Hi - Well, as you have found out, all books over 13 ounces cannot go in the blue box unless they have electronic postage.  I am unsure what happens to your book at this point.  I assume it will be shipped back to you...or maybe you'll get lucky and it'll be overlooked!  In the future, if you want to use the blue box, I'd suggest using PBS postage, Paypal postage, or postage printed out from the Automated Postal Services machines at the post office (where you can print out postage in exact amounts in bulk quantity and take it home to use).

Still go ahead and mark all as shipped.  You can PM the member if the book is returned to you, and just explain what happened.  I am sure they will be gracious about it.

Hope that helps.

Thanks so much!

Ditto the recommendation of the automated postal machines!!

I always just go and get a few under "print your own value stamp" and get some for:

5 oz first class $1.81

6 oz first class $1.98

7 oz first class $2.15

media up to 1 lb. $2.13

media up to 2 lb. $2.47

media up to 3 lb. $2.81 (usually for Box of Book swaps)

Then I use my handy-dandy postal scale at home, slap the postage on, and the mailman takes it right from my mailbox.  :)

Phooey on finding a blue box

I think it's all going to depend on the postal people who handle the package. You could luck out and it'll get to it's destiny w/no problem. Or it could come back to you. If it comes back then PM the person who ordered it and let the know the book will be delayed.  Get it back in the mail properly ASAP.  Unfortunately you will probably have to pay for the postage again.  I had a package that was 14oz go out today.  I put it in my mail box but I used the PBS printed postage.  It was worth the extra .60 or whatever to not have to go to the post office. 

The 14 oz one might come back to you--or not, depends on how stringent the postal worker who picks it up is.  The media mail postage ($2.13) would be the same for each.  Just have to wait and see what happens.