Just a quick note to remind everyone who has not already realized or noticed the new guidelines for USPS shipping.  The new guidelines seem to almost be directed at Ebay sales and other web based sales and can impact your bottom line if you ship at all.  The new guidelines make the bubble wrap envelopes/mailers over the thickness acceptable for first class mail and force all bubble mailers into a parcel post category. 

The difference in a 8 x 11 package can be an increase of over $1.00 per bubble mailer.  One way to get around this increase and help your bottom line I have found is to make sure any items you send in a bubble mailer are not stacked and when possible send a mailer that does not have bubble wrap throughout the entire package.  I am able to send a regular double strength mailer without bubble wrap liner for around $.60 while a fully lined bubble mailer with the same exact contents cost $1.63.  I  mail coins and other precious metals by wraping the individual coin with bubble wrap and then taping it down inside the unlined envelope/mailer.  This also makes the cost of the actual shipping material decrease while not causing any problems with the quality of packaging. 

The bottom line and things to ask when ordering your new bubble mailers or purchasing them from a local office supply is whether the bubble mailer is over 1/4 inch thickness.   If the mailer is over this thickness it will be put into the "parcel" category and cost you an extra $1.00 per shipment.  In addition buying the regular envelope/mailer can save up to $.45 per mailer.  So while line bubble mailers are conveinant ask yourself if the extra minute or two to package your product is worth $1.00 per shipment, in most cases for me it is not. 

Hope this helps a little bit and saves some people a little money and makes them a little more money in the end.  If anyone needs a line on some of the most cost effective bubble mailers or non-bubble mailers send me a note and I will be glad to direct you to the company I now use.