Archie, I agree 100% if you are mailing a non-replaceable chip. If sending a PC or a cheap chip trader, I see no reason to pay extra. Did you mark your envelope "non-machinable" or "please hand stamp"? If you did not, you certainly take the risk of the machines at the post office. If you pay the extra 17 cents postage and mark the envelope not to use the machine, that should never happen - in theory of course (I was going to make a derogatory comment about postal employees, but I remembered the lawyer thread and advised myself against it ).