US Postal Service headaches. . .

[episodic]

Hey there. . .
Ok quick honest summary.

I want to use delivery confirmation when I send MO payments. It costs over 4.00 to do so with priority mail.

1st class mail can have delivery confirmation - but requires the following per USPS site.

- Must weigh 6 ounces at least
- Must be 3/4 inch at least in the thickest part

So - I got a manilla envelope (the kind that can fit a full sheet of paper unfolded). I dropped a 3 ounce weight in the envelope (I've got tons, I fish). I balled up a piece of typing paper, slid it in the envelope. This makes it an inch thick (I measured). The whole thing weighs a good margin over 6 ounces.

I go to the post office and tell em I want to send this 1st class with delivery confirmation. The guy says no. I pointed out the rules. He looks at me and tells me he does not have time to mess with me and asks me to get out of line (I waited over 10 minutes to get to the window).

I feel like yelling, but I remember this is a little different than an average store, so I just leave.

I called 1-800 USPS # and told them everything I said here and they side with me. I stopped short of reporting the post office.

I wanted everyone's opinions - should I put up a big stink?

BTW - I went down the street and mailed it at a Mailboxes Etc for less than 2 dollars and they did not blink at doing a delivery confirmation on it.

My feeling is they worker got pissed because when he weighed the envelope he looked inside (I was getting a USPS Money order to place in it and had not sealed it yet) - I think he was just being spiteful. Why should they care what I mail - as long as it is not illegal?

Sorry - just a minor rant. . .

Thoughts?

 

While the post office clerk shouldn't have gotten mad at you, I don't see anything wrong with mailing a MO via Priority Mail - if it's important enough for DC, can't you at least ante up the dough to get it there in 2-3 days?

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: jumpr
While the post office clerk shouldn't have gotten mad at you, I don't see anything wrong with mailing a MO via Priority Mail - if it's important enough for DC, can't you at least ante up the dough to get it there in 2-3 days?

1.83 Cents for First Class with Delivery Confirmation
4.35 + .55c for Priority With DC. ( I know you can get free DC via the website - but that requires foresight - either way it is more than a 2$ difference for what I see as basically the same service).

From experience - they both get to destinations at the same time.

I'm living off 20 grand a year too . . .

Hope things are a little clearer now 🙂

 

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: jumpr
While the post office clerk shouldn't have gotten mad at you, I don't see anything wrong with mailing a MO via Priority Mail - if it's important enough for DC, can't you at least ante up the dough to get it there in 2-3 days?

1.83 Cents for First Class with Delivery Confirmation
4.35 + .55c for Priority With DC.

From experience - they both get to destinations at the same time.

I'm living off 20 grand a year too . . .

Hope things are a little clearer now 🙂

If you print off a Priority Mail label from http://www.usps.com Delivery Confirmation is free. Additionally, for a Priority Mail flat rate envelope (as much weight/thickness as you want; in fact I once mailed a laptop hard drive padded with foam in a flat rate envelope), it's only $3.85, DC included.

I love Priority Mail...I find that the lackeys at the PO seem to treat it nicer than Media or Parcel Post. IMHO, it's well worth the extra $$.

 

[episodic]

Anyone with thoughts to the original question? I simply don't want to spend 4 dollars and spend time at the USPS site make one free DC tag to mail something that by their own rules should cost less than 2 dollars.

<vent on>What made me real mad is the line was full and the guy talked to me like a dog - loudly.</vent off> And I know had I yelled or lost my cool, more than likely I would've been escorted out. . .

 

[NeoPTLD]

Certified Mail. $1.85. it is more secure than delivery confirmation. It requires signature upon delivery.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Certified Mail. $1.85. it is more secure than delivery confirmation. It requires signature upon delivery.

It is more than that. I did a run for the shipping cost on the USPS site for a 3 ounce envelope:

From the USPS Website:

Itemized Service Summary
Service Rate &amp; Fees
First-Class Mail $0.83
Certified $2.30
Total Cost: $3.13
Notes
? Estimated shipping time from Helena, AR 72342 to KERNERSVILLE, NC 27284 (Zone 5) is 3 Day(s)
? Certified items must be presented to a retail employee at a post office or a rural carrier.

My big thing is I like a # to give the seller so they know they money is on it's way. Most of the time you can see the next day that it was sent from the USPS site. Most of the time I can see they recieved it.

Just a service I like that I am willing to pay the .55 for - just dont want to add the 3.85.

 

[Ness]

A post office is just like any other business. Ask to talk to the postmaster and get his opinion right away. As long as you aren't sending anything that goes against their restrictions (fragile, liquid, toxic, etc.) then they can't stop you one bit. You could put a stamp on a damn shoe and send it, if you so well pleased.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Certified Mail. $1.85. it is more secure than delivery confirmation. It requires signature upon delivery.

IF he is sending a MO, then the fact that the MO is cashed is proof.
If the MO is intercepted/lost, then he can file a claim against it.

Certified items as usually for important papers that require proof that it was recieved. The DC is just the PO stating that they delivered it. No proof that you got it or they actually dropped it off.

I have had DC on packages that were "delivered", yet the package could not have fit in the mailbox.
Lazy USPS delivery person.

With respect to the problem at the PO. I always thought that DC was for Priority Mail and Parcel Post only.
Take the Web Site Link printout to the local PO and have them honor it. You may have to talk to the local station master.

I just found out that this is a changed policy. The clerk may not have been aware of it.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: episodic
Hey there. . .
Ok quick honest summary.

I want to use delivery confirmation when I send MO payments. It costs over 4.00 to do so with priority mail.

1st class mail can have delivery confirmation - but requires the following per USPS site.

- Must weigh 6 ounces at least
- Must be 3/4 inch at least in the thickest part

I don't know where you got the 6 ounces minimum figure from, but it's bogus. Weight is of no matter. You can use dc on a 1 ounce article if you can meet the thickness requirement (at the oversized article price). The only thing that does matter is the .75" thickness issue but that's easily overcome by just sticking a piece of foam or crumple up a sheet of paper.

If I were you, just find a new post office to work with. Report those losers to the postmaster servicing your area for incompetence. The postmasters really hate these type of employees and is always looking at a way to get rid of them. So do yourself a favor by helping them out. Don't bother with 800 number, those people are contracted, not official, employees of usps so they are powerless.

 

[dartworth]

I shipped CDs all the time via USPS 1st Class Mail w/DC.

The package weighs 2 OZ and cost $.73 with DC. This is using stamps.com

I wrap the CD up in bubble wrap and place it in a 6x9 bubble mailer. This makes the package over 3/4"

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: vegetation

Originally posted by: episodic
Hey there. . .
Ok quick honest summary.

I want to use delivery confirmation when I send MO payments. It costs over 4.00 to do so with priority mail.

1st class mail can have delivery confirmation - but requires the following per USPS site.

- Must weigh 6 ounces at least
- Must be 3/4 inch at least in the thickest part

I don't know where you got the 6 ounces minimum figure from, but it's bogus. Weight is of no matter. You can use dc on a 1 ounce article if you can meet the thickness requirement (at the oversized article price). The only thing that does matter is the .75" thickness issue but that's easily overcome by just sticking a piece of foam or crumple up a sheet of paper.

If I were you, just find a new post office to work with. Report those losers to the postmaster servicing your area for incompetence. The postmasters really hate these type of employees and is always looking at a way to get rid of them. So do yourself a favor by helping them out. Don't bother with 800 number, those people are contracted, not official, employees of usps so they are powerless.

Unfortuantly, there is no other convenient PO. How do you go about finding out who the postmater servicing the area? The PO does not even publish local phone numbers anymore 😛

Thanks!

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: episodic

Originally posted by: vegetation

If I were you, just find a new post office to work with. Report those losers to the postmaster servicing your area for incompetence. The postmasters really hate these type of employees and is always looking at a way to get rid of them. So do yourself a favor by helping them out. Don't bother with 800 number, those people are contracted, not official, employees of usps so they are powerless.

Unfortuantly, there is no other convenient PO. How do you go about finding out who the postmater servicing the area? The PO does not even publish local phone numbers anymore 😛

Thanks!

Stop by and ask any clerk for the postmaster. If not available, then leave a polite message asking for them to call you at their convience.

 

[episodic]

Before I have a talk with the postmaster, is there anything wrong as far as anyone can tell about balling up a piece of paper and shipping it in the envelope to achieve the requisite thickness?

 

[Yossarian]

should have told him to stfu and do his job, and if he couldn't do that you should speak to his boss.

 

[vegetation]

There isn't always a postmaster at every post office. The postmaster resides at the main district post office and oversees all the smaller postal stations in the area. You can write a letter to your local postmaster by simply addressing an envelope with "Postmaster / Yourtownname, Zip", it will get sorted correctly.

 

[KarenMarie]

I would go to the website, find the page that has the rules and print them. Then I would take the paper back into the post office give it to the azzhat and ask to speak to the postmaster.

no, i do not think you are being unreasonable.
🙂

 

[RMSistight]

This best thing to do is to used Certified Mail.....HOWEVER, if you use Certified Mail, I'm certain that you will also have to use Return Receipt. This combination is much better since the person receiving it MUST hand sign the letter. This way, you, the sender, will have a signed document certifying that the receiver has received the letter and CANNOT lie that he/she didn't.

 

[RMSistight]

Originally posted by: episodic
Hey there. . .
Ok quick honest summary.

I want to use delivery confirmation when I send MO payments. It costs over 4.00 to do so with priority mail.

1st class mail can have delivery confirmation - but requires the following per USPS site.

- Must weigh 6 ounces at least
- Must be 3/4 inch at least in the thickest part

So - I got a manilla envelope (the kind that can fit a full sheet of paper unfolded). I dropped a 3 ounce weight in the envelope (I've got tons, I fish). I balled up a piece of typing paper, slid it in the envelope. This makes it an inch thick (I measured). The whole thing weighs a good margin over 6 ounces.

I go to the post office and tell em I want to send this 1st class with delivery confirmation. The guy says no. I pointed out the rules. He looks at me and tells me he does not have time to mess with me and asks me to get out of line (I waited over 10 minutes to get to the window).

I feel like yelling, but I remember this is a little different than an average store, so I just leave.

I called 1-800 USPS # and told them everything I said here and they side with me. I stopped short of reporting the post office.

I wanted everyone's opinions - should I put up a big stink?

BTW - I went down the street and mailed it at a Mailboxes Etc for less than 2 dollars and they did not blink at doing a delivery confirmation on it.

My feeling is they worker got pissed because when he weighed the envelope he looked inside (I was getting a USPS Money order to place in it and had not sealed it yet) - I think he was just being spiteful. Why should they care what I mail - as long as it is not illegal?

Sorry - just a minor rant. . .

Thoughts?

MO payments? I can't remember that last time I used that. Paypal should be your new best friend...and TRUST ME...it's WAY more secure than a MO payment. I haven't done a MO payment in 3-4 years.

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: RMSistight
This best thing to do is to used Certified Mail.....HOWEVER, if you use Certified Mail, I'm certain that you will also have to use Return Receipt. This combination is much better since the person receiving it MUST hand sign the letter. This way, you, the sender, will have a signed document certifying that the receiver has received the letter and CANNOT lie that he/she didn't.

Certified mail requires a signature, but the signature is kept on file at the delivery post office. You can request a copy of the signature if you ever really need it, for an extra fee. Return receipt also requires a signature, but that actual signature card is mailed back to you automatically. Also, certified mail now acts as delivery confirmation as well, with a # that you can enter into usps's system to see if it was delivered, but no signature initials will be provided. For online signature request, you need to use signature confirmation service which is ironically cheaper than certified mail. Signature confirmation carries the same first class mail restrictions as delivery confirmation, i.e. .75" thickness.