Warning post a letter less than 5mm thick with a normal stamp then the recipient may

miduck

Raksha wrote: »

If the gauge is solid, then no amount of assistance will allow something which is more than 5mm to pass through. Therefore, by definition, if the item passes through it must by 5mm or less.

Any air in the envelope will be compressed if the envelope is "assisted" through the gauge. Hence the envelope would be wider than 5mm without intervention.

custardy

Raksha wrote: »

If the gauge is solid, then no amount of assistance will allow something which is more than 5mm to pass through. Therefore, by definition, if the item passes through it must by 5mm or less.

lol. the gauge is solid
hence why the item would compress
Im glad Miduck gets it, as I thought I was the only one seeing this

Raksha

miduck wrote: »

Any air in the envelope will be compressed if the envelope is "assisted" through the gauge. Hence the envelope would be wider than 5mm without intervention.

But how many envelopes are 100% air tight to allow for the compression?

Ectophile

Raksha wrote: »

If the gauge is solid, then no amount of assistance will allow something which is more than 5mm to pass through. Therefore, by definition, if the item passes through it must by 5mm or less.

So if I put a bath sponge in an envelope, I can claim it's less than 5mm thick?

If I really squash it enough, I'm sure I could force it through a 5mm rigid slot.

custardy

Raksha wrote: »

But how many envelopes are 100% air tight to allow for the compression?

lol. do you mean not air tight?
or do you mean one you squash down,then hermetically seal to keep all the air out?

Raksha

custardy wrote: »

lol. do you mean not air tight?
or do you mean one you squash down,then hermetically seal to keep all the air out?

No I mean air tight, as in not allowing any air out when compressed

custardy

Raksha wrote: »

No I mean air tight, as in not allowing any air out when compressed

So whats your point?
an item that doesnt compress is a solid(or liquid under pressure i suppose)
so in that case it measures over 5mm
for an item to be forced through a 5mm slot,it must have some give in it to allow this
a jiffy bag with bubble wrap lining will compress
you also need to key in the contents
a cloth item inside will often bunch up and create a thicker item
I'm not really sure how many ways i can explain how an item over 5mm can be forced through a 5mm slot.........

JimmyTheWig

George_Michael wrote: »

If you push something half way through the slot and it then fails to fall due to gravity acting on it, there are only 3 possibilities.

1/ One or more of the dimensions of the envelope are above the permitted sizes which is causing it to stick.

2/ The person putting it through the slot forgot to let go.

3/ The envelope has been transported to an alternative universe, one where gravity doesn't behave the same as it does in our one.

Well spotted. I'd considered possibilities 1 and 3, but I didn't think about the RM staff forgetting to let go.
:rotfl:

Chumlington

A lot of these comments seem to be missing the point, which is whether dropping a letter through a slot is a valid way of assessing its thickness. Logically if a letter can pass through a 5mm slot then it cannot be more than 5mm thick. Unfortunately that is not good enough for the Post Office. It must not only pass through, it must do so without being pushed. This seems quite illogical and I'd like to see it challenged in court. I agree with those who say it's a sneaky way of catching people out in order to levy extra charges.

Pollycat

Chumlington wrote: »

A lot of these comments seem to be missing the point. Logically if a letter can pass through a 5mm slot then it cannot be more than 5mm thick. Unfortunately that is not good enough for the Post Office. It must not only pass through, it must do so without being pushed. This seems quite illogical and I'd like to see it challenged in court. I agree with those who say it's a sneaky way of catching people out in order to levy extra charges.

Let us know what date you're there.

I'll bring the snacks.


ETA:
I had a card left by Royal Mail over New Year, I knew pretty much what it was likely to be so I paid on-line for it to be redelivered.

I checked the size & weight and it was OK.
It obviously had some stuck-on item (it turned out to be a butterfly LOL) which might have made it too thick, although it was quite hard to tell.
So I took it to the Post Office and he tried it through the slot.
It caught on the guide so I agreed it was too thick.

I did tell my sister off for sending me a card with an overweight butterfly on.