I went to the post office to mail 2 small 'packages'.

Envelope #1 contained one 6 1/2" block and the 7" x 8 1/2" envelope was flat.
Envelope #2 contained a few FQ and some other small fabrics and the envelope was 'thick'.

I could mail #2 as first class and apply delivery confirmation.
I could not mail #1 as first class and get delivery confirmation - *because it wasn't thick enough*. I had to step up to Priority for $4.95 and then I could get delivery confirmation. I was told that people actually put cardboard or something in these flat envelopes to make them thicker so that they could be mailed 1st class.

This does NOT make sense - why are things so complicated.

Because it is a rule that things have to be complicated so more people have govt. jobs!:>)

Wow, that is strange and complicated.

I discovered that too! It doesn't make anysense to me either! I guess that's how they make their money.

You cannot get delivery confirmation on "letters" or anything packaged similar to a letter, whether it is in a standard or manilla envelope. I went through this same thing 2 days ago.
If the envelope is thicker than a 1/4" it becomes a first class "package", which you can then get delivery confirmation.

I was told on my fabric postcards I could mail them in the manilla envelope for 44 cents, first class, no delivery confirmation, OR pay $4.95 for priority first class plus .70 cents for delivery confirmation... THAT was not going to happen for each postcard!!

I didn't find out until today I could have stuffed a wadded up clean kleenex in the envelope and mailed it for a total of $1.20 LOL
Some people will add one packing peanut to the envelope.

actually thicker than 1/4" it could be a large envelope, you can't get DC on that either.

To qualify as a parcel, has to be

Over 3/4" thick OR

Rigid OR

Irregular (lumpy)


but why would you want to put DC on an envelope with one block? 80 cents to see if it gets there, if it doesn't get there the PO will not do anything for you.

Very few items get lost in the mail, save up your 80 centses and you will have nice little fund to reimburse the occasional person who does not receive your package.

YES that's what he was saying - it had to be 1/4" or thicker and then told me people put 'stuff' into it in order for it to qualify. Geesh

I wanted DC so the people receiving it couldn't say they didn't get it and I'd have proof I mailed it.
Neither envelope was insured.

OUCH! Guess who among us works for the Post Office as a Postmaster! The reasoning for the Delivery Confirmation rules is the machinery that the items are processed with. Letters, large envelopes and parcels are each run on seperate machines that process mail differently. The rules are all logical if you understand how the mail is processed. Anyways, I suggest you use the packing peanut trick to bump your envelope to the parcel rates if you want to get the Delivery Confirmation.

Anything run by the goverment usually does not work very well

That might explain why some of my purchases from ebay have bubble wrap and peanuts. It confused me that a fat quarter would need bubble wrap.

I've all but given up on the post office! My DS lives 50 miles from me, normally if i mail something one day, he would get it the next day. I mailed the sticker for his plates a wk ahead of time & he didn't get it! I went to the DMV, paid $25 to replace the sticker & hand delivered it myself! Then just the other day I got my Fons & Porter magazine. It looked like it had been put thru the shredder! you could not salvage ONE article out of this magazine. AND this magazine was from OCTOBER! Was suppose to be on news stands by Oct 11th. So I should have gotten it in Sept???? Errrrr

I have been very happy with the PO this 'package' season. Examples: package from FL to NJ - two days. Germany to FL - 10 days. When I picked up the package from Germany, the lady was so nice. "If I give you this Christmas package do you promise not to open 'til the 25th." When I promised we both had smiles & wished each other a Merry Christmas.
PS. You now have to show a picture ID & sign to get your package.

and they wonder why they're gonig bankrupt!!!!

what??? oh for goodness sakes, the rules they make the clerks obey now are so confusing. for them as well as us.
no wonder they are going out of business.

I went to mail my PIF and patterns today. I was asked for every single pkg. Does it contain hazardous...liquid....a whole paragraph.. I finally tapped the pile and stated. ALL these contain fabric and paper patterns, there is nothing dangerous about them. I did however get a very long receipt with the type pkg, city, state, zip code and amount paid on it..and a Hope I see you tomorrow with a smile.

crazy

I hate going to the post office. Waited in line today for 45 minutes.

Here's what I ran into today. You can't get delivery confirmation on international mail if you use the priority mail box. They will only do it if you use the more expensive express mail option or the even MORE expensive registered mail option. Within the US you can get it though. *puzzle*

Also...there is some weird mailing restrictions on sending sewn goods to Italy...glad I wasn't mailing there. She just happened to tell me because I was mailing out fabric postcards.

And finally my USPS annoyance for the day. Hand stamping is a courtesy and they only do it when they have someone available to do it? I'm sorry...what? There's four ppl working here...I've done it before I don't understand? I was told this by the supervisor who was taking a very nasty tone with me. All I wanted to do was get my fabric postcards hand stamped because I send them in clear envelopes & don't want them returned or ruined. I brought them back home with me I was so mad! I'll put them in a brown envelope & send that way *grrr* I like the clear envelopes because I think they look pretty.

Somewhere in the world, we lost customer service :(

I do as much online shipping as possible. My experience with the post office is 99.9999% rude, slow, arrogant, unhelpful, the list goes on and on. I am always pleasant no matter what and when I smile or say "How are you today" they look at me like I'm crazy.
My shipping this holiday season seems slower than last year. I check my packages and they've not been moving as fast. Don't know why that is but I'll do anything not to have to make a trip to that horrible place. lol

Doesn't sound logical. I've always been able to mail stuff however I wanted. Usually use Priority, but don't see why you couldn't use first class if you want to.

Personally, I'd just not deal with folks like that. Unless this is a business of yours.

I too come from a Postal family - my dad's hard work as a Postal Clerk got 6 kids through 12 years of Catholic school. I'm sorry most people find it a headache to visit the PO.

You can contact the mag and some will send you a new replacement.

Priority mail is a rip off. You can send a heavy envelope for less than half the cost of Priority. I get so sick of them saying do you want insurance, confirmation, etc. Not long ago I sent something Priority (4.95) and it came back addressee unknown. Called the party and she laughed. DH took a manila envelope put the same addressee & address on the envelope, mailed it for (1.90) and she received it. I will never use Priority again. I will use the Big Brown Truck.

I think delivery confirmatiion is a joke. Last year I sent a Christmas gift to my dd in NYC. She lives in an apartment so I got confirmation and tracking. She stayed home the day
it was to be delivered. No package showed up. I went to my post office...called NYC post office. They pretty much said too bad. Couldn't claim the insurance. Because they said she got it.
Just this week, I sent a package to my mom. Looked up the confirmation and it said "Addressee has moved and left no forwarding address". Called my mom to see if she could talk to her mailman and she said why? She was wearing the apron that was in the package. Just glad it got there.

I love my po usually. Very nice friendly people who know me by name. I have been in there about every other day or two the last 2 months. 2 days ago I asked hubby to go for me instead. Big mistake. When they are always really nice and friendly to me they were hugely rude to him. They denied my packages. All flat rate envelopes. 2 of them they said were too full... Ok sure maybe. I get that. They were getting shipped internationally...so fine. But the other big issue was that I used more than one piece of tape on it. So if more than one piece of tape is used then they will not accept the package. And these were staying within the continental US.
I have shipped dozens of the flat rate envelopes. Filled to the brim. I always tape the tops of them up good because I don't want the contents to come out. And when you just use the sticky there are portions on each side that aren't secured down. I also happen to live in the very rainy puget sound area of WA state. I don't want water getting in. My incoming mail is often damp. So I can only imagine the out going is as well. Last time I send hubby to the PO for me.
All in all just frustrating. Not thick enough for you. Too thick for me. Too much tape. rules rules rules

Probably will be sending two (2) small; 8.5" star blocks to Gwyn for Adrianmom's quilt. She had a thread on it.

I am thinking of using the bubble wrapper-1st class rate, a squishy, right.

Any suggestions for the USPS journey after Jan. 1st?

It seems to me it's all about more money. The rates just keep going up.

I tried to use a vodka box from the liquor store to mail my quilt to Charismah to long arm for me! (thanks again "C"!) I was told I had to black out ALL references to alcohol. DUH! the whole box screamed alcohol. Seems in WA state you can't ship booze. OK! But I wasn't shipping booze. Alcohol seems to be FLAMMABLE, too! Cool! SInce I wasn't shipping booze....... Well P.O. guy was nice and helped me find a new box, etc! Explained all the ways to shop blah blah blah..... We finished our transaction, I turned to leave and there must have been 30 people in line behind me GLARING AT "ME"!!!!! All I wanted to do was ship a quilt!

Me too. Sent 2 boxes of Christmas gifts to DS#3 and family in California by Priority Mail and they were delivered within the 2-3 days as promised. Surprising for this time of the year when there are so many extra packages mailed. Other times of the year the priority mail has taken a week to be delivered.

May in Jersey

someone wrote, "'But the other big issue was that I used more than one piece of tape on it. So if more than one piece of tape is used then they will not accept the package. And these were staying within the continental US. "

Didn't know that about having too much tape on a package. When I mailed the packages mentioned in the reply above one of the postal employees was going down the wait line and applying tons of tape to everyone's packages.

the tape thing depends on the PO clerk's mood. Regulations allow you to put on as much tape as you want, PROVIDED you can still close the envelope the normal way with the adhesive strip. You can then apply tape OVER the closure (which I recommend HIGHLY) and along the edges to reinforce them. Especially if it is fairly well stuffed and/or going a long distance, I would reinforce the edges.

You can always turn a box inside out and re-tape it, to make a plain box. I have also heard of folks using old cans of spray paint to cover markings.

Who knows why they do what they do. I have had two Christmas cards not delivered to our winter address and they have the right address. Today I got one from South Dakota and was addressed the same way and got here fine.

sad part is I was told the US Postal Service is not part of the US government .. But a private agency. Anyone else heard this ?

I have done that .. turned the box inside out and retaped it. I was sending clothes to my grands and a neighbor told me about that (the alcohol thing). So I marched over to the store got some wide tape and proceeded to dismantle it ! My DH thought I was nuts (and he will tell you that to this day !!) but the package did ship andthey so enjoyed their clothes !

You BET the USPS is part of the US gov...... That is why they are so screwed up..... No offense to the P.O. workers here. Let's face it - our government is ........................ fill in your own adjectives and verbs........

I really enjoy the local rural post offices. The people that work there are part of the community and basically work their butts off giving customer service way beyond normal expectations. Besides that, they know everybody's name in town!

My P O is very helpful. they will find a box for me to use, borrow tape etc. i send a lot of pkgs. because of out of state family. rarely have a problem.

I wish everyone could live near me. My post office has wonderful people working at it. They always like to see what I'm mailing and help make sure everything is taped to an inch of its life. We all agree that what is inside is irreplaceable.

The standing joke for us is the hazardous question. My answer is always "I haven't cooked anything this time". If I have cooked the guys ask me what the half-life of the goodies I am sending is (since I'm a chemist, and not the world's best cook, you never know).

I will never use the "Big Brown Truck" people around here again. They are rude, overpriced and delivery isn't any better. Tracing packages through them isn't any easier either.