TOPIC: Post office issues

Anyone else had any packages returned due to 'thickness'? The new USPS rules being enforced are incredibly assinine. I had someone try to mail some trades for me and the seacow at the counter apparently pinched the bubble envelope and declaired it was over 3/4th of an inch. No doubt her claws are rated as calipers by the US department of weights and measures. I'm planning to go to the post office myself tommorrow and feed her a knuckle sandwich if she dosen't take the package.

Ever get into an argument with someone you're almost certain is a decerebrated ass-monkey? They made a claim so outrageously stupid that the only possible answer is that their parents must've repeatedly dropped them on their heads at birth. BUt then, there's this nagging little thought in your head that maybe it's not so much that they're a dirt-eating halfwit as the company/organization they work for creates mind-numbling assinine rules.<br /><br />I just got back from having a verbal slapfest with the USPS lady. She claimed that I couldn't mail my bubble envelopes with delivery confirmation because, get this, they were TOO THIN! She said that the envelopes had to be at LEAST 3/4th of an inch thick. When I told her that made no freaking sense and that when I looked up the requirements online it said a MAXIMUM of 3/4th of an inch not a MINIMUM, she responded that she had just received a memo from 'headquarters' saying that her standard was correct. I ended up having to mail everything with the confirmation whozits torn off and now I'm in a catch-22 about who to blame for this frak up. It would be easy if it weren't for the fact that I believe the post office is run by idiots in general and I can almost see someone adopting such a patently stupidass rule. Where else in the world do they set a MINIMUM thickness for mailing something?<br />

Funny - my bubble wrap thing to Felix which was maybe 1/2 in thick got Delivery Confirm and was taken just fine.<br /><br />BUT - OH was shipping insured and Delivery Confirm to CANADA a mess...$24 later...well a story for another day...but the USPS person said to try FedEx next time...<br /><br />Oh Henwy - your bubble wrap went out too - Delivery Confirm....I think yours was also under 1/2 in thick - so take that in to show your post office they do things differently than mine...<br /><br />G

I've mailed a half dozen packages in the past week that were less than that in thickness with delivery confirmation and without problems. Either this particular woman is a gibbering incompetant or there's been some sort of new and miraculously idiotic policy change lately.

I vote for the gibbering incompetent theory.<br /><br />Brian<br />

Direct from USPS.com:<br /><br />You can use Delivery Confirmation with:<br /><br /> First-Class Mail® Parcels - Envelopes and small packages weighing 13 ounces or less. Applies only to boxes or envelopes measuring at least 3/4” at thickest point. <br /> Priority Mail® - Cost effective delivery in an average of 2-3 days. <br /> Package Services Parcels - Send small and large packages, envelopes, and tubes. Includes Parcel Post®, Media Mail®, Bound Printed Matter, and Library Mail. Must measure at least ¾” at thickest point. <br /> Standard Mail Parcels - Items weighing less than 16 ounces can be sent at discounted presorted and automation rates. Available only for pieces subject to the residual shape surcharge and mailed at the Electronic rate. <br /> Parcel Select® - Send large volumes of packages at a discount. <br /><br />You can use Delivery Confirmation with the following Extra Services:<br /><br /> Collect on Delivery (COD) - Allows the postage and price of an item to be collected from the recipient by the USPS and given to the mailer. <br /> Insured Mail - Insurance against loss or damage for merchandise and gifts.  <br /> Merchandise Return Service - Your customers will appreciate the ability to return merchandise easily at no cost to them. When you have a Merchandise Return permit, you pay the postage and fees for goods sent back to you. <br /> Registered Mail™ - Provides maximum security and date of delivery or attempted delivery. <br /> Restricted Delivery - Confirms that only a specified person (or authorized agent) will receive a piece of mail. Only available with Certified Mail, Insured Mail over $200, or Registered Mail. <br /> Return Receipt for Merchandise – Provides a mailing receipt and a return receipt with the date of delivery and the recipient’s signature. <br /> Return Receipt - Provides a green postcard with the recipient’s actual signature by mail or a proof of delivery letter arriving as a PDF attachment that includes an image of the recipient’s signature by e-mail. <br /> Special Handling - Provides preferential handling for fragile or perishable items. <br /><br />Related Publications<br /><br /> Domestic Mail Manual - Delivery Confirmation <br /> Postal Bulletin - Check for current updates to Delivery Confirmation availability overseas. <br /><br /><br />  <br />I can't see anywhere that indicates that 3/4" is the max. thickness, it must be at least that thick to use delivery confirmation. 3/4" thickness is the one of the new defining characteristics for an item to be declared a "parcel" and subject to the parcel rate. Most P.O.'s will sell you a delivery confirmation if it is close. I don't have measuring calipers.<br /><br />Larry

I've had problems getting delivery confirmation on bubble-mailer envelopes myself.  <br />What it boils down to is you can't get Delivery Confirmation on first class mail.  <br />Envelopes less than 3/4" thick, they treat as First Class mail, thicker stuff counts as a Parcel.  <br />I think First Class and Parcel Post have different rates, so I don't know if it's worth it, but I guess one option is to bulk up those bubble mailers to over 3/4 of an inch in thickness (with a rigid cardboard support) and call them Parcels.  I agree it's a pain in the a**.  And I don't know why they don't just offer D.Con. on first class...<br /><br /><br />

The most asinine thing I've ever encountered at the post office is having the clerk tell me you can't send a magazine with book rate. <br />(And apparently, you aren't supposed to, on a pencil-necked technicality.)<br />

<br />I think First Class and Parcel Post have different rates, so I don't know if it's worth it, but I guess one option is to bulk up those bubble mailers to over 3/4 of an inch in thickness (with a rigid cardboard support) and call them Parcels.

<br /><br />I try to go with the bubble mailers because First Class has a different rate AND a different delivery window. When I send stuff across the border, I'd like it to arrive at its destination within 2 weeks. With parcels, not only do they cost more, but they tend to quote me something like 2-4 weeks by ground. If I want to send it quicker (by air) it costs almost twice the amount. One of the packages I mailed out was too thick to be considered First Class, and they wanted $21 to get it shipped by air in the 10-14 day window. <br /><br />I went with ground. <br />It's not like Indy is only 2 weeks away, and it's a rush or anything.<br /><br /> - Raven

Media Mail® service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs. <br /><br /><br />It is also the only mail which may be opened and verified that all contents meet media rate qualifications.  The Post Office gives a large price break to those individuals who mail books and other qualifing materials. Mailers who mail periodicals (magazines) receive a discount over first class rates. Individuals who want to mail magazines should place them inside another envelope and would have to pay first class envelope rate or parcel rate if there is alot of magazines.<br /><br />Larry

Just tell them you put in "spacers" to keep your diskettes safe...<br />

Well it usually works out that FC is better than Media anyway...