When you mail a quilt
 

Just want to share what came in my mail and I don't know how it got to me at all. If you are mailing any packages please be careful how you address them. Both addresses are illegible this came from a far away location to my house and I am amazed it arrived. Be sure to use either an address envelope or put clear packing tape over the addresses to insure the weather doesn't get in the way of reading them. You don't want your quilts to get lost in transit.

I also include both addresses inside a waterproof baggie in any package I mail in case of damage. It gives the USPS one more chance to insure delivery.

Isn't the USPS awesome!!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]540146[/ATTACH]

peace

I have always been proud of my local post office and the transfer facility at the airport (open 24 hrs - 365 days/yr). My stuff always gets where it's going and usually quite quickly. That being said, I am amazed at what your piece of mail looked like! Great work, USPS!

That's wild smearing, almost like it was done intentionally by someone. Glad your package arrived. I always cover the address label with packing tape, put the address on at least two sides and place an address inside the box. If they want a description, I say it's just a blanket. I think a little precaution goes a long way.

When you take a package to the post office the clerk puts the address into the computer and the label is printed with the info in code, so they can tell where to send it.

Tesspug, Thanks for that information. Learn something new everyday. I am very old and not up to date with new (old) computer systems and all they do for our modern age. Rather silly not to know this by my age, but now I do!
peace

Wow that's amazing that it arrived! When I mail a package, I put strips of the clear mailing tape over the address so it doesn't smear.

it's amazing it got delivered at all!

You are lucky you got it. I mailed a baby quilt from our office to another post office, they picked up their mail at the post office, they never got it. We were in the process of moving and I lost the receipt. Filled out a form for lost items, never heard a thing.

WOW, that is amazing. Some postal worker took the time to decipher the washed out printing. I always do my shipping online so that the label is printed. I make sure it is secured with packing tape. It is also advisable to have the "to and from" addresses enclosed in with the quilt.

Address does look like it was intentionally tampered. I also put tape across the addresses but also put include an addressed envelope. When I sent 2 repair quilts to my sister up north, I put them into the xxlg Ziploc bags with the envelope inside. I had my little niece sit on it to squeeze the air out. I buy mailing tape in multipacks for that very reason. I use a lot. I always send priority mail. Worth every penny.

yep, I always put tape over the address. Been there, done that.

I do have to say I am a little shocked by the idea that someone intentionally messed with the address. For what purpose? The package got where it was intended. Postal workers do not get to keep un-deliverable mail. Especially in bad weather, packages get wet, wet ink smears on wet paper.

My son and wife had a new baby while they were in Iceland. I mailed a baby quilt and new clothes. I also put in toys for the older boy, When it got to them, it was filled with bags of hard candy (so it weighs the same?). It went military mail from New York. I was so dissapointed.

This has been a great help, as I will be sending a baby quilt to my daughter in a couple of days...and yes, I do use priority mail. It definitely is worth it!

I have struggled with what to put on the label when asked for contents and "blanket" is a great answer!

I mailed a quilt from PA to Nebraska. I went on USPS website & printed out my shipping label, requiring signature on the receiving end. They did not ask what was in my package. I used a vacuum bag & stuffed a queen sized quilt, extra fabric & a few other tiny items in the largest priority box, which is 12" x 12" x 5 1/2" inside. I added extra insurance before printing out my label. I accordion folded the quilt length wise first then width wise & made sure it would fit inside the box first, then safety pinned a index card with to/from address on it. Then I placed it in the vacuum bag & shrunk it down. I Taped the daylights out of the box....every seam, the whole label, etc. with heavy packing tape. My Post Master said that's the way they like to see them, so they don't get ripped open. My friend had to sign for it when it arrived. She remarked about all the tape she had to cut thru to get the box open, but it arrived. I have also sent items to a friend in Sweden using the same method, except overseas packages go by size & weight.

The more tape you use the less someone will try to rip the box open. Also insist on a tracking number & watch it on line daily. If it goes missing go to your post office & insist they find it. I had dog collar tags that went missing & my Post Master found them after 2 months.

This one will shock most of you:
My friend in Sweden sent me a collectors plate. She wrapped it in paper, placed it in a paper bag & stappled it shut. That's it...no other pagkaging, nothing. I was shocked when it arrived in one piece. Yet I have received packages, sent from barely 100 miles, away smashed. Go figure.

I would like to add something... when mailing a quilt abroad make sure they have a post box and their city hasn't switched them over to a "Community Mailbox". I had never heard of such a thing until my friend in Winnipeg told me how unhappy she was being switched over and about the problems with receiving packages. Now I send things to her by courier rather than using the postal service.

HettyB

Interesting stories. Thanks so much for all the shared info. I will keep them in mind for future mailings.
peace

Only address one side of the package. Postal workers are on deadlines and must work quickly. If a worker picks up a package to sort to the correct bins and happens to pick up a side with the address but no postage because it is attached to the opposite side. They may assume the parcel has no postage and put it in Return for Postage bin which delays it. But do use the packing tape on the address and put the destination on the inside, too. Then when it ends up in the Dead Parcel dept. and they open it, they will be able to rewrap and put a new address label on it.

Even military mail must go through that country's Customs Dept. That is where nearly all missing merchandise can be traced to.

You are correct in that Postal workers do not get to keep undeliverable mail. After a specific amount of time the Dead Parcels are auctioned on a special Ebay account.

Learner747, who is the "seller" on ebay? Never knew that.

This has been a very interesting thread. I've learned several things here. TY everone for posting!

The "seller" is the USPS. When you go there, type in USPS/dead parcels.

TY! Will check it out. Searched, and that's not the "seller name". There is a seller "USPS", but only stamps are being sold.