Please Do Not Bend

tru

I sent a jiffy bag with a handmade card in it through the post, my buyer left positive feedback but mentioned that the card looked a bit bashed. I sent her an email saying I'd replace it, but she said it was OK, there was a crease right down the middle but she put a heavy book on it overnight and it was straightened out now The card was perfect when I sent it, the only way it could've been creased is if the postman bent it in half - I 'tested' it by posting the same-sized jiffy through my letterbox, there's plenty of room so no need to fold :rolleyes:

So, I was thinking of putting the 'please do not bend' stickers on everything I send, but have a feeling that I'm asking for trouble and it's an invitation for them to bend them :rolleyes: and I'd be better off not bothering.

What do you think?

rose_sparky

I put please do not bend stickers on relevent envelopes but to be honest it's not for the postman, but to let the buyer know I've at least tried!

If it was something like a card, I would also put stiff protective cardboard both sides, just to make sure.

tru

Al_Mac wrote: »

Do not bend is an invite

Thought so

But then I'm tempted to use them for this reason -

rose_sparky wrote: »

I put please do not bend stickers on relevent envelopes but to be honest it's not for the postman, but to let the buyer know I've at least tried!

I've searched for jiffy bags with card in but I can't find any - do they even exist? I've found board-backed envelopes, but not jiffy-stylee

Where would I get the protective cardboard from?

Hermia

tru wrote: »

Where would I get the protective cardboard from?

I just use cardboard I find around the house (boxes, cereal packets etc.) and cut it to size. When I send handmade cards I usually sandwich them between 2 pieces of cardboard slightly smaller than the jiffy. My lovely postie said that "Do no bend" stickers are okay, but you should really make the parcel impossible to bend. You have to remember how many people will be handling your parcel!

lindens

I use stiff card with some of the items i send, and i cut up and keep cereal boxes for this purpose.
I also add a note a t the bottom of each auction that i use recycled packaging for environmental reasons, so buyers do not get a shock when the item arrives.:D

tru

Thanks everyone

I'm hoping to sell loads of cards so I'll have a good hunt around the house. I know someone who works in a furniture shop, they have HUGE cardboard boxes, I'll just have to persuade him to bring them home for me LOL.

ssparry

You can get brown envelopes that one side is made of stiff card, designed for this reason! They sell them in my post office but guarantee you'll get them tons cheaper on Ebay. They have please don't bend on the front, but they are so stiff you couldn't bend it!

rare_stuff

I use card backed envelopes a lot and find them very good and actually cheaper than jyffy type bags (and lighter too!) Though putting a stiffener (bit of card) in with the jiffy is a good plan, though you're upping your postal weight doing so.

Just because it says "do not bend" doesn't mean its not going to get bent when it's sitting at the bottom of 10kilo's of mail in a postal sack.

tru

A lot of my cards aren't flat, they have sticky-out bits so I don't know if they're safe in an envelope.

I'll have to buy a variety of stuff and work out if it's cheaper to use jiffy bags and a bit of card, or stiff envelopes with a bit of bubble wrap :think:

postingalwaysposting

ssparry wrote: »

You can get brown envelopes that one side is made of stiff card, designed for this reason! They sell them in my post office but guarantee you'll get them tons cheaper on Ebay. They have please don't bend on the front, but they are so stiff you couldn't bend it!

ssparry i was looking for one of these yesterday, i went to 2 crown post offices and about 5 smaller ones as well as 5 supermarkets and 3 hardware stores... anyways i gave up and made my own with 3 cereal boxes and a big stiff piece of card but i did write do not bend on it... but the buyer only payed 1p for it but i will prob have to refund them :rolleyes:

lindens

tru wrote: »

A lot of my cards aren't flat, they have sticky-out bits so I don't know if they're safe in an envelope.

I'll have to buy a variety of stuff and work out if it's cheaper to use jiffy bags and a bit of card, or stiff envelopes with a bit of bubble wrap :think:

This may sound odd but why don't you try a couple of methods and send them to yourself, and then you can guage what condition the arrive in.