FYIs for SASE trading

lissalaurel76 · 03-03-06, 01:56 AM

I'm sure most VFers here are very aware of the proper way to do a SASE, but this is twice that this has happened & I am not trying to be mean to the most recent person & won't mention names, & thankfully its only been twice in the last couple of years I've been here, but still its something that I think needs to be said.... When sending a SASE, unless its for paper material like an old magazine, catalog, DVD insert or something, please send a padded envelope. This is the 2nd time I've received a plain paper envelope, no padding whatsoever, so I've had to go buy some bubble wrap to make sure the VHS doesn't get all banged up. Also, make sure the envelope you send to a person is big enough for what you are getting. I got one in the mail that was too small for the VHS, no way will it seal on its own, I have to really pull it tight & really wrap the thing to all heck with packing tape.

So, for folks who may not be aware, please remember these very important things when doing SASEs

ETA : I'll keep an updated list in this post of the tips people have posted.
So far we have :

1. If sending for a VHS or DVD please send a PADDED SASE
2. Make sure the envelope you send is big enough for the item you are wanting to receive.
3. Send a NEW padded envelope, not one that's so beat up it needs loads of tape to hold it together.
4. Make sure there is enough postage included.
5. Include a note to remind the person which video is being requested
6. Recipient should use their return address on the SASE - that way if there is not enough postage it will go back to them, not the person who mailed the VHS/DVD.
7. If you are requesting multiple videos, this sorta goes in hand with #2, make sure the envelope you send is big enough for what you are requesting. You may do well if requesting multiple titles to include a strip of bubble wrap or something so that your videos can be shielded from crashing into eachother on the journey. This would be more important with VHS than DVD, since the discs are protected better than a VHS.
8. No metered postage because the metered mail has a date and location it was mailed from which needs to match. For instance, if you send me a metered envelope with the postmark of Tipp City, OH & a date of 03/01/06, but I am sending it from Peoria, IL on 03/07/06 the info obviously won't match & the post office can not send it. So, stamps only.

*also, this isn't necessarily about postage, but a couple of people have mentioned this so I thought I'd add a note about it. Once you receive your videos if you can do so please send a quick note to the sender to let her know you've received the item/items.

Mary09 · 03-03-06, 06:01 AM

I always send padded envelopes but since joining Netflix, which ships its DVDs in plain paper with no bubbles or padding, I've wondered how necessary it is for DVDs.

athompson10 · 03-03-06, 09:08 AM

Quote:

I always send padded envelopes but since joining Netflix, which ships its DVDs in plain paper with no bubbles or padding, I've wondered how necessary it is for DVDs.

I wondered about that too, but then I started getting cracked DVDs from Netflix. I think for a swap it's a good idea to use padding. If the seller sends a perfect-condition DVD that gets damaged en route because the buyer's envelope isn't padded, I'd say the buyer is the one at fault, but it's the seller who's screwed - she's now left with an unusable and untrade-able DVD.

Tish · 03-03-06, 09:12 AM

I also wanted to add that a new SASE padded envelope is really appreciated. I've received SASE envelopes that require so much taping just to hold it together that if it wasn't for the postage already attached, I would have bought a new envelope.

lgentry · 03-03-06, 09:57 AM

Make sure there is enough postage included also.

JustSandra · 03-03-06, 10:06 AM

Another nice touch is to include a note to remind the person which video is being requested.

Cheers,
Sandra

Carol_is_fit · 03-03-06, 02:07 PM

All wonderful reminders - thank you! As someone who sends out a lot of SASE's, nothing is more frustrating than getting an envelope - padded or not - that is not big enough to fit into it what the person is requesting. I don't like to send DVD or VHS without lots of padding. I would feel terrible if someone received something from me that was cracked or damaged. Also, I really do appreciate it when the receiver lets me know they got it, especially with SASE's because I don't use delivery confirmation with them. It's just a quick courtesy.

Carol

lissalaurel76 · 03-03-06, 03:14 PM

Wow, I didn't know there were so many problems like the couple I've had going on with SASEs. Maybe this thread could be stickied somewhere, like in the Exchange forum or maybe Exchange Rules & Tips.

lissalaurel76 · 03-03-06, 03:20 PM

Ok, so I'll start a list. I'll add Sandra's, Tish's, & Linda's to my 2. (Carol, your tip about sending a note is good too. I try to do that, but I'm thinking maybe the last time I forgot to let the person know I received my end. I thought I'd said something, but if I didn't I hope the person sees this cuz I can't remember who it was that I traded with last month. )

ETA : I'm putting the list in my post that started this thread. I'll edit it as more people give tips.

Suzette · 03-03-06, 04:18 PM

Recipient should use their return address on the SASE - that way if there is not enough postage it will go back to them, not the person who mailed the VHS/DVD.

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03-03-06, 01:56 AM
lissalaurel76 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Peoria, IL	FYIs for SASE trading I'm sure most VFers here are very aware of the proper way to do a SASE, but this is twice that this has happened & I am not trying to be mean to the most recent person & won't mention names, & thankfully its only been twice in the last couple of years I've been here, but still its something that I think needs to be said.... When sending a SASE, unless its for paper material like an old magazine, catalog, DVD insert or something, please send a padded envelope. This is the 2nd time I've received a plain paper envelope, no padding whatsoever, so I've had to go buy some bubble wrap to make sure the VHS doesn't get all banged up. Also, make sure the envelope you send to a person is big enough for what you are getting. I got one in the mail that was too small for the VHS, no way will it seal on its own, I have to really pull it tight & really wrap the thing to all heck with packing tape. So, for folks who may not be aware, please remember these very important things when doing SASEs ETA : I'll keep an updated list in this post of the tips people have posted. So far we have : 1. If sending for a VHS or DVD please send a PADDED SASE 2. Make sure the envelope you send is big enough for the item you are wanting to receive. 3. Send a NEW padded envelope, not one that's so beat up it needs loads of tape to hold it together. 4. Make sure there is enough postage included. 5. Include a note to remind the person which video is being requested 6. Recipient should use their return address on the SASE - that way if there is not enough postage it will go back to them, not the person who mailed the VHS/DVD. 7. If you are requesting multiple videos, this sorta goes in hand with #2, make sure the envelope you send is big enough for what you are requesting. You may do well if requesting multiple titles to include a strip of bubble wrap or something so that your videos can be shielded from crashing into eachother on the journey. This would be more important with VHS than DVD, since the discs are protected better than a VHS. 8. No metered postage because the metered mail has a date and location it was mailed from which needs to match. For instance, if you send me a metered envelope with the postmark of Tipp City, OH & a date of 03/01/06, but I am sending it from Peoria, IL on 03/07/06 the info obviously won't match & the post office can not send it. So, stamps only. also, this isn't necessarily about postage, but a couple of people have mentioned this so I thought I'd add a note about it. Once you receive your videos if you can do so please send a quick note to the sender to let her know you've received the item/items. __________________ - Melissa Who is not afraid to use the word CRAP, doesn't TAKE* Crap, and encourages others to 'Embrace the Belly !'

03-03-06, 06:01 AM
Mary09 Join Date: Aug 2005	I always send padded envelopes but since joining Netflix, which ships its DVDs in plain paper with no bubbles or padding, I've wondered how necessary it is for DVDs.

03-03-06, 09:12 AM
Tish Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FL!	I also wanted to add that a new SASE padded envelope is really appreciated. I've received SASE envelopes that require so much taping just to hold it together that if it wasn't for the postage already attached, I would have bought a new envelope.

03-03-06, 09:57 AM
lgentry VF Supporter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Payson AZ	Make sure there is enough postage included also. __________________ Linda

03-03-06, 10:06 AM
JustSandra Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sacramento, CA	Another nice touch is to include a note to remind the person which video is being requested. Cheers, Sandra

03-03-06, 02:07 PM
Carol_is_fit Join Date: Jul 2004	All wonderful reminders - thank you! As someone who sends out a lot of SASE's, nothing is more frustrating than getting an envelope - padded or not - that is not big enough to fit into it what the person is requesting. I don't like to send DVD or VHS without lots of padding. I would feel terrible if someone received something from me that was cracked or damaged. Also, I really do appreciate it when the receiver lets me know they got it, especially with SASE's because I don't use delivery confirmation with them. It's just a quick courtesy. Carol __________________ We can secure other people's approval, if we do right and try hard; but our own is worth a hundred of it. --Mark Twain

03-03-06, 03:14 PM
lissalaurel76 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Peoria, IL	Wow, I didn't know there were so many problems like the couple I've had going on with SASEs. Maybe this thread could be stickied somewhere, like in the Exchange forum or maybe Exchange Rules & Tips. __________________ - Melissa Who is not afraid to use the word CRAP, doesn't TAKE Crap, and encourages others to 'Embrace the Belly !'

03-03-06, 03:20 PM
lissalaurel76 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Peoria, IL	Ok, so I'll start a list. I'll add Sandra's, Tish's, & Linda's to my 2. (Carol, your tip about sending a note is good too. I try to do that, but I'm thinking maybe the last time I forgot to let the person know I received my end. I thought I'd said something, but if I didn't I hope the person sees this cuz I can't remember who it was that I traded with last month. ) ETA : I'm putting the list in my post that started this thread. I'll edit it as more people give tips. __________________ - Melissa Who is not afraid to use the word CRAP, doesn't TAKE Crap, and encourages others to 'Embrace the Belly !'

03-03-06, 04:18 PM
Suzette VF Supporter Join Date: Apr 2002	Recipient should use their return address on the SASE - that way if there is not enough postage it will go back to them, not the person who mailed the VHS/DVD.