Tier Changes: Thoughts? Ideas? (Patreon)

After literal months of my friendly Post Office Ladies assuring me that mail would start up 'as normal' sooner or later, I just got word that Japan is hiking their postal rates yet again. This time it's a biggie.

Before the pandemic, I could send an envelope with three or four little goodies for about 300 yen. Several months ago the prices rose up all the way up to 800 yen (and that's even talking about countries that weren't accepting packages and everything I sent but that got returned to me*).

Now, depending on who I'm talking to and what website I'm looking at, it looks like packages UP TO 1 kilo with be around 3,300 yen. Which is heartbreaking and depressing. 

I hate that I have to keep asking you all to hang on, things will be righted soon, when for all intents and purposes for the foreseeable future, they really won't be. (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

I've spent a week racking my brain on what I can offer higher level patrons that isn't a physical thing (except the postcards, which for the MOST part get through, more on that in a minute). 

Does anyone have any ideas? I'm open for any suggestions at all. 

What I DID come up with is this idea: 

1. Postcards ($15 & $50 tiers) will be sent as usual. I did have about ten or so return to me since the beginning of the year, but I have collected them and will send those in an envelope after making sure (via Post Office Ladies) they can be sent *fingers crossed*. 

Sometimes I just stamp them and send, assuming all countries are at the very least accepting postcards! So if you haven't gotten any last month or the month before, a letter with all of them enclosed is on the way! I'll also message you here and let you know who you are. 

2. Since the new rules state that a single envelope will be $30~$40 if it's 100 grams on up to 1 kilo, I think I'm going to try and do this: send envelopes, but only twice a year (June and December). But they will have more stuff in them, at least up to the 1 kilo, as it'll be the same price regardless. 

I'm still quite nervous about this. 

For one, what does Japan raising its prices have to do with whether or not other countries will accept the packages? All the postcards and envelopes that have been returned so far have been paid for. The post office here said it was okay, I paid, sent, months later the item came back. I didn't get reimbursed, and more importantly, YOU (the patrons) didn't get the postcard/envelope). That's lose, lose, right there.

So I'm skeptical. Although, I WANT this to work. I want to be able to send an envelope in June and December and stuff it a little fuller. 

3. That said, I TOTALLY understand if you want to adjust your tier in light of this postal hellscape being just so never ending. I really, really understand. 

4. If anyone has an idea for something extra I can offer (digitally) to make up for or instead of the envelopes, I'd love to hear thoughts there. I'm very, very All Ears. 

5. Oh, and finally, if you change(d) tiers, I'm still going to try my darndest to send the envelopes out in June per new postal rates. 

I think when rewriting the tier perks, I'll say 'must be a patron for six months', or something. I've seen that done a lot on other patreon pages. Right now all $30 and $50 patrons have been with me that long and longer, so even if you lower your tier, I know who you are, so you're still good for this June and December**

I'm so, so sorry. I feel awful about doing this, but more awful every month that goes by that I can't send something, or I DO manage to get envelopes out and and they just come back to me. 

Please feel free to message me or comment here on any ideas or questions. I'm not exactly sure how well this has been thought out. 

XO,

terrie

*So many envelopes have been returned to me, many times months after I had sent them. Case in point, I just got FOUR month's worth of envelopes from a certain patron in Europe. They made it all the way to customs there and were turned back. I really thought she was getting the envelopes! (ﾟoﾟ;;

**Please, please, please magical postal fairies, make this work.