If you’re an online seller, you’ve definitely stressed about the next trip to the post office - will my package pass the lettermail test? You’re pretty sure it’s thin enough, but how picky will the Post Office staff be? And then there’s the inevitable line to wait to pay. If you’re looking for a better solution, then keep reading! The Slot of Doom Canada Post Oversized Mail Sizer from Green Fox 3D takes all the guesswork out of shipping!
If you want to learn more about Oversized Lettermail Shipping with Canada Post - size requirements, weight limits, prices, AND how to mail any oversized lettermail from 0-500g using just 4 stamps, check out our post here with ALL the details! As a reminder, Oversized Lettermail can only be used for non-paper goods for domestic shipments. You can’t take advantage of lettermail rates for oversized items shipping to the US or globally.
In this post we’ll cover the full shipping process with a step by step guide to get your handmade items on their way to their homes as quickly (and cheaply!) as possible.
What is the Slot of Doom?
The Slot of Doom is what we call the ‘test slot’ at the Post Office. It is 20 mm tall, and 270 mm wide. Your package MUST pass through the slot, without forcing it, in order for it to qualify for Oversized Lettermail rates. Green Fox 3D has designed a handy sizing tool to take the guesswork out of shipping! The ORIGINAL Slot of Doom features a full sized Oversize slot (270 mm wide), and the MINI Slot of Doom is more compact with a 185 mm long slot. Both have full height (20 mm) slots. The MINI is big enough for a 7” envelope. You can purchase your own Slot of Doom here!
How Does it Work?
We’ll walk through a Step by Step Guide on the best way to ship using Canada Post Oversized Lettermail. Follow these simple steps and you’ll be shipping like a pro in no time!- Pack it!
- Verify Dimensions
- Weight Check
- Determine Postage
- Final Check
- Ship It!
Step 1: Pack it!
One of the most important considerations for shipping your handmade products is to make sure it will arrive damage-free. There’s nothing worse than a crushed, broken or otherwise ruined package!
When shipping with Oversized Lettermail, you have a lot of options for packaging. Our recommendations are Bubble Mailers, Rigid Mailers, or a combination of thin box and polymailer.
Bubble mailers are a favourite for Oversized Lettermail. They are very accommodating for lumpy or uneven items, and the padding provides some cushion during shipping. Just be aware that the padded mailers are fairly thick so you’ll need to take the mailer thickness into account when packing your items. Wrapping items in tissue, paper, or bubble wrap is another option.
Paper, photographs, artwork, or other flat items can be shipped in a rigid mailer. Some slightly thicker (but rigid) items like magnets or signs can also ship in rigid mailers. For anything less than 1.5 cm thick a rigid mailer is often a great choice!
Finally, a very thin box can also be used for Oversized Lettermail shipping! The box needs to be put inside a poly mailer or large envelope so the edges don’t get caught on the mail processing equipment. Boxes can be time consuming to assembly and may add considerable weight to your shipment, but can provide excellent protection. Similarly, you could wrap the item in bubble wrap, sandwich between 2 pieces of cardboard, and put it in an envelope/poly bag! Regardless of which option you choose, just be sure your items are secure and won’t move around during shipping!
Whenever possible, we choose reused, recyclable, or ideally compostable packaging!
Step 2: Verify Dimensions
Before you start putting stamps on your package it’s always a good idea to double check the size and make sure your item will qualify for Oversized Lettermail! The minimum dimensions for any lettermail package are 140mm x 90 mm x 0.18 mm. Maximum dimensions and weights for Standard and Oversized Lettermail are in the table below.
The Original Slot of Doom has a 270mm wide slot, and the Mini has a 185 mm wide slot. Both are full height at 20 mm. Your package should pass through the Oversized slot easily, without needing to force it through and without deforming the Slot of Doom. If it fits through the slot, it will pass the test at the Post Office!
Step 3: Weight Check
Once you know the package will fit, you need to get an accurate weight. A kitchen/food scale works great for confirming package weights, or you can use a postal scale. Remember to account for the weight of any labels or stamps that you’ll be adding to the package.
Step 4: Determine Postage
Oversized lettermail is charged based on weight. Find the package weight in the table below to determine the postage required. Check out this post for details on how to make all the postage amounts for Oversized Lettermail with a max of 4 common denomination stamps per parcel and save the trip to the post office!
Sometimes there's more than one easy way to get the required postage. A 0 - 100g Oversized Lettermail item needs $1.94 in postage. If you don't have a $1.94 stamp, 2 Permanent stamps (92¢) and 2 5¢ stamps will do the trick!
Step 5: Final Check
Once you’ve confirmed the size and weight and added the stamps, it’s time for one final check! Make sure you have your return address clearly marked, the delivery address is correct, and you’ve affixed sufficient postage. If the stamps or labels aren’t sticking, a glue stick or some packing tape may be just what you need! Lastly, put the package through the Slot of Doom one last time, and you are good to go!
Step 6: Send It!
If your Oversized Lettermail is thin enough (~16mm) you may be able to post it at your community mailbox. The slots for outgoing mail are less than 20mm so some of the thicker Oversized Lettermail will not fit. If it fits in the slot at a community mailbox you are good to go! If not, you can drop your package in any Canada Post street side boxes (the ones outside of stores and Post Offices) or you can take it to the counter and hand it to a Canada Post employee.
Remember, there is NO TRACKING with Oversized Lettermail, so you may want to take a picture of your package as you’re depositing it into the mailbox so you have proof. Delivery may take a few days, but you can be happy knowing you’ve saved 50-75% of the cost of parcel delivery!
Also note that you CANNOT use oversized lettermail when shipping to the USA or overseas. Luckily package rates to the US are actually pretty affordable (small packet is less than mailing to most places in Canada!), and if you get your label online from Canada Post you can do the customs forms at the same time!
Thanks for reading our guide on How to Ship Like a Pro with the Slot of Doom from Green Fox 3D! Get Your Slot of Doom Today!
