topic Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters in Selling

Letter Gauge for Large Letters

spacetomatoes — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:07:50 GMT

Hi 🙂 I hope this isn't too silly a question...but does anyone have any tips on making a 2cm letter gauge to test large letters? I pretty much have zero craft experience so I'm not sure what would be the best way to go about it. How would I cut through thick corrugated cardboard? Buy a special craft knife and cut along a ruler?

Any help would be appreciated 🙂 I've heard some people have managed to get one from their POs. Do you have to know the staff well to get one? I asked at my LPO and they told me to come in if I ever needed to test anything and that they didn't give them out 😕

Thanks in advance!

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

northwestnsw — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:15:46 GMT

Yep, the PO's have them already, just go in and ask

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

i-love-my-sheep — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:15:58 GMT

I made mine from thick cardboard. I measured the size I wanted, then put a dot where each corner would be, then drew the lines in with a ruler. Then I got a small pair of scissors and stabbed them through the centre of where the slot would be, so as not to damage the edge. Then I guided them out to the line and cut on the INSIDE of the line.

When I had cut the piece out, I measured the gap a few cm apart along the longsides and trimmed it up until it measured exactly 2cm all the way along. Unless you have a really steady hand or can draw a dead straight line freehand, I would use scissors over a craft knife.

My cardboard slot works a treat! So far, I've not had any issues with items sent that I have measured through the slot first.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

spacetomatoes — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:23:14 GMT

Thanks sheep! That's really clever; I never thought about cutting it out from the inside - that sounds a lot easier. Thanks again 🙂

@northwestnsw - I've asked twice and they've told me they don't give them out and that I have to come in 😞 Unless there's any PO that's happy to give them out that you'd like to recommend? 😛

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

justkidzbiz — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:48:09 GMT

You can get them from the PO free

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

mbselections00 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:51:56 GMT

Sheep is such a clever one

You must have a lousy PO, my local gave me one also with no hesitation. They did say they're not really supposed to though, so maybe it does just depend on the staff, but if you're a regular, I wouldn't think it would kill them. I wonder if you tried another PO ?

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

rick2u — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 15:17:11 GMT

HI I see you are in australia just tell your post office you want one, or call 13post and complain, my throw them at me as Im pretty rough with mine and always needing more.

good luck

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

cq_tech — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:56:02 GMT

The PO's Letter Gauges are not actually a stock item and the POs don't normally keep large stocks except for their own use. If they know you and they have a spare one available, they're usually more than happy to let you have one, but you don't really have the God-given right to simply barge into your local PO or LPO and demand one.

As i-love-my-sheep says above, they are very easy to make yourself, and it's also a good idea to draw a template on the cardboard to indicate the maximum size letter you're allowed to post, similar to the sizes indicated on the genuine gauges from the PO.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

curraone — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 20:19:28 GMT

yes, me too - although we used a piece of light balsa wood.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

stampingpaws — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:41:04 GMT

Sounds like there is a need for someone to make these and sell on EBay. Might try it.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

wilk1149 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:43:08 GMT

Better still get them free from the post office and then sell them

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

i-love-my-sheep — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 21:51:14 GMT

Balsa wood, that's a good idea! At least there's no risk of it stretching out of shape into a bigger hole, which could happen if the cardboard was a bit thin.

I asked my PO for one and they said they don't keep spares, they only have one for each counter. If one breaks, they share one between them until a new one arrives. That's why I made my own.

I find it really useful when I'm creating new listings. I send large letter items as 'free' post and charge postage for parcel items. If something looks like it's boarderline, I stick it in a padded bag and drop it through the slot and then insert the postage cost if needed (or not). Saves that OMG feeling after someone buys it and you realise that you've advertised with free postage and find it's too thick and has to go parcel rate.....which costs more than the buyer paid for the item!

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

casbit33 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:33:26 GMT

The post office gave me one for free.

I love it. it has saved me a few dollars too. I can slide through the finished item, if it doesn't fit, i rewrap it until it does.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

onekiwi0 — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 23:29:47 GMT

perhaps I'm too lazy - but i always just measure its not thicker than 2cm....(and within the 26 x 36 cm)... (have about 5 tape measures on my comp. desk)

agreed - my po looked at my blankly when I asked nicely for one...

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

spacetomatoes — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 01:06:44 GMT

Might try another PO when I pass by if I haven't made my own before then 🙂 I had an experience similar to onekiwi0 the first time I asked...the staff just looked at me blankly.

It would nice if Australia Post did have some to sell as well. Though if you're getting them for free, good for you 😛

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

padi*0409 — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 23:56:11 GMT

Apart from dragging up a 4 year old thread, you are NOT allowed to advertise you own goods here.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

lyndal1838 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:35 GMT

You are not allowed to advertise on the boards.

I am sure after 4 years most of the posters here would have solved the problem.

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

padi*0409 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:13:14 GMT

I also suspect that some of those dimensions are incorrect as well lyndal

https://www.publishpartner.com.au/envelope-size-guide/

https://auspost.com.au/business/shipping/check-sending-guidelines/size-weight-guidelines

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

dazzledayz — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 22:53:20 GMT

I know this is a very old thread but now that it's been resurrected ...

The simplest way to check letter gauge is to buy a cheapo plastic vernier caliper from Bunnings or similar.

They only cost a couple of dollars and will accurately measure the thickness of your item.

The envelope only adds half a millimetre to that figure.

This tool is also useful around the house for measuring thicknesses, lengths and internal widths of holes etc

Re: Letter Gauge for Large Letters

margaretterrytm — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 23:22:16 GMT

No you cannot. I have asked at every PO I've been to and they all say they don't give them out and you can't buy them. I can't undertand it since there are so many businesses selling on-line with lots of mail to post and they don't want to keep going to the PO to make sure it fits through there damn slot.

I find that it is very arbitrary and some will make it go through the slot if its a bit thick and others won't even try if it don't go through straight away they make you pay extra or call it a parcel and not a letter. Its a rort if you ask me.