Can you mail a bag via USPS?

[Flasch186]

A burlap sack, or cotton bag with the address tagged to it, or stamped on it? Does it then have to be put in a box (thereby increasing packaging costs)?

I cant find it on the USPS website.... :(

thanks in advance.

[cartman]

From the USPS site:

hxxp://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm#wp1193057


3.0 Acceptable Mailing Containers
3.1 Envelopes

Mailers must prepare envelopes according to the following weight limits and conditions:

a. For mailpieces weighing no more than 1 pound and measuring no more than 1 inch thick, mailers may use letter-style (flat, nonreinforced) envelopes for stationery and similar nonrigid material.

b. For mailpieces weighing more than 1 pound up to 5 pounds or measuring more than 1 inch thick, mailers may use envelopes if they are sturdier than nonreinforced letter-style envelopes. Acceptable envelopes include those made either from paper equivalent to 28-pound basis weight (or greater) or from extra-strength materials with a Mullen strength of more than 90 pounds per square inch.

c. Mailers may use envelopes for odd-shaped items if the mailpiece meets the standards for the class of mail (see 11.18).

d. Envelopes for photographic film are acceptable if made from paper equivalent to 24-pound basis weight or greater.
3.2 Boxes

Boxes are acceptable, subject to these standards:

a. Paperboard boxes may be used for easy and average loads to 10 pounds.

b. Metal-stayed paperboard boxes may be used for easy and average loads to 20 pounds.

c. Solid and corrugated fiberboard boxes may be used according to the limits in the following chart, unless otherwise specified. The first maximum reached governs the grade of the box used.

Maximum Weight of
Box and Content (pounds)


Maximum Length
and Girth (inches)


Box Grade

Easy or
Average Load


Difficult
Load

20


—


67


12 5

40


20


100


175

65


45


108


200

70


65


108


275

—


70


108


350

d. Wood, metal, or plastic boxes may be used for all types of loads, assuming adequate construction.

e. The size of the box must be adequate to contain the items and provide enough space for cushioning material.

f. Good, rigid, used boxes with all flaps intact are acceptable.

g. Boxes with difficult loads to out-of-town destinations must be reinforced with banding about every 8 inches in each direction around the package.
3.3 Fiberboard Tubes and Similar Long Containers

Mailers may use fiberboard tubes and similar lengthy containers for mailing if the containers meet the following requirements:

a. The length must not exceed 10 times the girth.

b. When using friction slide closures as end caps, reinforce closures by encircling all seams with tape. Crimped or taped end closures are acceptable only for lightweight rolled items (such as posters or charts).

c. The strength of the tube ends must be at least equal to the tube sidewall strength, unless the contents are lightweight rolled items.

d. Sidewall strength of tubes must be equal to solid fiberboard that is:

1. At least 1/16 inch thick for tubes less than 18 inches long.

2. At least 3/32 inch thick for tubes 18 to 32 inches long.

3. At least 5/32 inch thick for tubes more than 32 inches long.
3.4 Paper Bags and Wraps

For easy loads of up to 5 pounds, paper bags and wraps are acceptable when at least of a 50-pound basis weight (the strength of an average large grocery bag) and the items are immune from impact or pressure damage. A combination of plies adding up to or exceeding 50-pound basis weight is not acceptable. For easy and average loads of up to 20 pounds, reinforced bags or bags with a minimum of 70-pound basis weight are acceptable. Nonreinforced loose-fill padded bags are not acceptable as exterior containers, unless the exterior ply is at least 60-pound basis weight.
3.5 Plastic Bags

Plastic bags must be at least 2 mil thick polyethylene or equivalent for easy loads up to 5 pounds; 4 mil thick for easy loads up to 10 pounds.
3.6 Plastic Film

Heat-shrinkable plastic film—either irradiated polyethylene, linear low-density polyolefin, or copolymer—must be at least 3/4 mil thick for an easy load up to 5 pounds, and 1-1/4 mil thick for an average load up to 5 pounds. When requested, mailers must provide documentation that these types of film are being used for mailing.
3.7 Cloth Bags

Cloth bags are acceptable for easy and average loads of up to 10 pounds, if the seams of the bags equal the strength of the basic material.
3.8 Difficult Load

The USPS does not accept bags, bales, or wraps with difficult loads. The contents in bags, bales, and wraps must be compressed when possible.
3.9 Bales

Bales are acceptable within postal weight limits, if adequately compressed and reinforced to contain the material.
3.10 Cans and Drums

Mailers may mail items in cans and drums with positive closures (such as clips). Friction closures alone are not acceptable. Mailers must shield protruding devices, such as locking rings, with padding material to prevent injury to USPS employees and damage to equipment or other mail.

[Flasch186]

this makes me think yes, what is your interpretation?

3.7 Cloth Bags

Cloth bags are acceptable for easy and average loads of up to 10 pounds, if the seams of the bags equal the strength of the basic material.

thanks Cartman!

[SnDvls]

looks like yes to me, but I don't believe you are saving money by not boxing it as you may incure an additional charge for the "unusual" shape of the bag or some sort of special handling for it.

double check that though I could be wrong

[sterlingice]

What (who) are you mailing in a bulap sack? ;)

SI

[AZSpeechCoach]

Is this a way to dispose of the hooker? By sending her to the dead letter office?



Couldn't resist.

[Flasch186]

What (who) are you mailing in a bulap sack? ;)

SI

I think, Im starting a company and I want to deliver my product in a burlap sack, for marketing reasons.

[JeeberD]

You do know that you can't mail a house, don't you?

[Passacaglia]

Whatever you do, don't draw a big dollar sign on the bag.

[cartman]

Just a word of warning, I think that mailing one bag will be ok, but if you start to mass mail burlap bags, your local post office will come to hate you in very short order.

These won't be able to be auto sorted by the machines, which means they will have to hand process each and every one.

[Flasch186]

Just a word of warning, I think that mailing one bag will be ok, but if you start to mass mail burlap bags, your local post office will come to hate you in very short order.

These won't be able to be auto sorted by the machines, which means they will have to hand process each and every one.

true, but if it's allowed it's allowed right? what can they do?

It aint a house sir.

BTW everyone here will get a discount code :)

[FrogMan]

true, but if it's allowed it's allowed right? what can they do?


oh lord, all the things they could do to/with your parcel... letting it sit on the dock could be one of them... :D

FM

[Butter]

Whatever you do, don't draw a big dollar sign on the bag.

Awesome.

[Flasch186]

oh lord, all the things they could do to/with your parcel... letting it sit on the dock could be one of them... :D

FM

this may be an variable we have to try out before opening up shipping options to our buyers to UPS/DHL/Fedex. I want to avoid that and the inherent cost that goes along with it.

I was hoping to be able to give free shipping but that may be too much cost.

[FrogMan]

this may be an variable we have to try out before opening up shipping options to our buyers to UPS/DHL/Fedex. I want to avoid that and the inherent cost that goes along with it.

I was hoping to be able to give free shipping but that may be too much cost.


I know and see your point, just don't be naive enough to believe that the USPS employee won't start referring to you as the "dumb idiot with the freaking burlap bags that we have to manually sort"... ;)

As you say, maybe the trade off won't be so bad...

FM

[MikeVic]

What are you mailing a burlap sack for?

[Flasch186]

it's filled with ears.

[st.cronin]

Ears of corn?

[Peregrine]

Not to sound like a smartass, but couldn't you call the Post Office and find out the details, giving them the dimensions of the bag full of skulls you want to ship?

[Mustang]

it's filled with ears.

I was thinking it was going to be sack of shit. You have a potential market in politicians, lawyers and SEC coaches.

[MikeVic]

Is it a sack with your headshot on the side?

[Butter]

Not to sound like a smartass, but couldn't you call the Post Office and find out the details, giving them the dimensions of the bag full of skulls you want to ship?

That's just what they'd be expecting him to do.