... mailing policies still vary from post office to post office and even from postal clerk to postal clerk... especially so with 'make-believe' satellite post offices housed in a shopping center drug store.

Additionally, I routinely receive large 8 1/2" x 11" manila envelopes (non-chip related) from my brother in Central Jersey where the affixed postage stamps aren't even cancelled ... most times adding up to between $1.50 to just under $2 per mailing.