themachinelady

Maybe it's time we all spoke up and when they tell something like no tape etc., ask to see the rules of the post office and where it says you can't do that. I think sometimes we are much too passive when people tell us things that border on ridiculous. The fact that different post offices do not follow the same rules, tells me that maybe it's not in the rules at all, but just an interpretation by different people. Besides how many packages haven't you received that the post office has mutilated that maybe some tape would have helped!

Also a lot of time the Priority Mail doesn't get there any faster then the regular mail and you are paying the extra for it. I have shipped things Priority Mail and regular mail to the same address and the regular mail beat the Priority Mail that I paid the extra for.

Yes Congress straps the post office, but the post office has some gross mistakes and waste on their own too. It's like, "Oh well, we will put in for a rate increase".

All in all we are a pretty complacent society on a lot of important things.

My two cents for the day, be it good or bad!

nativetexan

yep i stopped paying for priority mail long ago. they lie!! it takes for ever to get things to Texas.

k9dancer

That's because Texas is so big!

damaquilts

I have received pkgs that have been sent UPS and then through the PO . There are sometimes I don't get the pkg in a timely manner. I order supplements by mail and have had to reorder at least once. Packages get lost . We have a mailman that doesn't like to get out of the truck to put packages on the porch so stuffs them in the mailbox. We have one of the ones that lock so where he can put the mail in is very small.
That being said I do ship packages by USPS simply because for me its cheaper than UPS or FedEX . I do it online and have never had a problem. Most times I don't use flat rate because I can send by priority by weight cheaper. I use my own envelopes and boxes for the most part or the not flat rate boxes the PO has. Rarely is flat rate cheaper. And if they are going up again!!
And the taping on of the label to make sure things are sealed is exactly what I do for the most part.

SunlitenSmiles

3 words

Double Sided Scotchtape

Neesie

Have to say I love our USPS and UPS carriers, out here. We live in rural Texas.

ptquilts

This is so WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!! If it fits, it ships, to quote the PO ads. Ask to speak to a supervisor.

Lori S

I actually did speak to a supervisor... who took great pleasure in showing me on the envelope it states
"Any amount of mailable material may be enclosed, as long as the envelope is not modified , and the contents are entirely confined within the envelope with the adhesive provided as the means of closure".

ging10ging

I guess it's ok if they tape it shut but we can't. It's getting to much to mail things out to bad because it takes the joy out of the holidays also when you want to ship to family and friends. I have an afghan to ship to my daughter and I'm trying to figure who would be cheaper. It seems to me if prices were cheaper people would ship things. They hurt themselves. Sue

Gaijin

I just want to point out that cardboard Flat Rate Priority envelopes are designed for paper, not other items, and are sorted on special large envelope sorting machines. When these envelopes are overstuffed or uneven, they get jammed in the sorting equipment and may be damaged. For bulky items, it is better to use the Flat Rate bubble envelope or a box. When items are excessively taped, they get stuck in the high-speed sorting equipment.

If you have an issue with a window clerk arbitrarily refusing your packaging, ask politely to speak to their supervisor or the Postmaster. When I worked as a window clerk, most customers with issues were sent to my window already wound up and screaming. I know long lines are frustrating, but it is demoralizing to be yelled at all day long. A lot of the problem are customers who show up with their mail completely unprepared. We always put them to the side and had them prepare the mail themselves.