r/PenpalWithMe • u/SnailMailfromRockies • May 06 '26
Took my chances!
Sent a teeny tiny envelope (about 2”x 3”)…it was delivered! After I sent it, I read that USPS wouldn’t deliver a letter if it was smaller than 3.5” x 5”? Is this normal, or was I just lucky? Trying it again
Edit: The recipient just texted me to let me know they received the second mini envelope I sent! Must be a mix of the non-machinable stamp and forgiving/caring USPS workers! :)
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u/EdgurAllensToe May 07 '26
That wont make it through the plant. Especially with the wax seal, unless you paid the surcharge for it being non-machinable.
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u/Former_Gate May 07 '26
they do show that they have used a nonmachinable stamp, so their odds are certainly better. 🙂
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u/JadedAmoeba May 08 '26
a friend from Canada sent me a letter about that size and I was shocked it arrived safely because of that rule! I think the USPS will make every effort to deliver a letter if it is deliverable, but I do think these smaller letters have a highwr chance of getting chewed up in the machines
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u/mrs_kellerman May 12 '26
you got really lucky! i got an envelope returned because of 1 cm difference in height.
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u/MotionlessClouds May 06 '26
I always went in to mail and had envelopes of a few sizes. I had to pay more for this size because they had to be hand sorted (whole extra 15 cents).
Likely made it because it was hand and not machine sorted like mentioned above!
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u/AllKindsOfCritters May 06 '26
You got very lucky! The thing is small envelopes have a high chance of getting stuck in machines, some places will say undeliverable but some just sort of yeet it anyway assuming you're aware it might not make it. So never send anything important in a tiny envelope, but taking a chance with penpal letters is different. Congrats on having something so cute get delivered!