posted on December 17, 2000 01:25:36 PM new
Aargh! How long have they been doing this?! You can't just stamp something and drop it in the mailbox anymore, apparently, if it weighs a pound or more. You have to hand it to a clerk during counter hours.
This could force me to stop selling books over Half.com. It's one thing to stamp and mail something, quite another to have to hand it over at the post office during counter hours. Especially for people who aren't pros and just want to clean out a few items.
How are other sellers handling this? Do you have to wait in the line, or do you just leave it at the counter? Any ways to get around this?
I don't see why they don't just x-ray the stuff at the airport or somewhere. Why is this such an essential security measure vs. the alternatives? It makes selling already low-margin items that much more of a pain.
posted on December 17, 2000 01:41:24 PM new
I don't think this is a new law. I believe it came about with the Uni-Bomber activities etc.
Edited to add, I think you can hand them to your carrier, since they know you and can vouch for the packages.
[ edited by Meya on Dec 17, 2000 01:53 PM ]
posted on December 17, 2000 02:14:16 PM new
When the line is long at my post office and all I have is packages to be mailed I use stamps from the stamp machine. I place the stamped package(s) on the counter and say "Package Drop". As soon as the clerk give me a nod agnowledging the drop I leave.
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Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
posted on December 17, 2000 02:15:00 PM new
I think that's been in place about 2 years now.
Keep in mind that if you have a regular postage meter or use electronic postage the 1lb mailing limit does not apply to you. You can mail whatever you want with a meter because you are then considered a "known mailer". This is one of the reasons I use electronic postage.
posted on December 17, 2000 03:09:45 PM new
Maybe they just started enforcing it around here, as I'm sure I've sent stuff in the recent past that would get returned if they did it by the book.
posted on December 17, 2000 06:44:13 PM new
I believe this actually came about around the time of (and because of) the Gulf War.
The way around it is to print your own postage (clickstamp, e-stamp, etc). Then your mail is considered metered and you can just drop it in a box, PO loading dock, etc.
[ edited by borgt on Dec 17, 2000 06:46 PM ] - because my fingers aren't as smart as the brain...
[ edited by borgt on Dec 17, 2000 06:47 PM ]
posted on December 17, 2000 11:47:20 PM new
Thank God for small towns! My post office is in Quaketown NJ it is the size of a 2 car garage..maybe smaller..most of the time whne I go there ..which is almost everyday ...I am the only one there..if not maybe on or two peopl...I would not deal wiht ebay and this life we have of online auction selling if I had to go to a big post office...dont have the time or the patience.
posted on December 18, 2000 12:31:20 AM new
The stupid thing about it is - believe me - you don't want to be in a room or on a plane where 9/10 of a pound of C-4 goes off.
posted on December 18, 2000 06:56:56 AM new
ploughman, if you have your packages weighed, stamped, marked properly, you should be able to just hand them over to someone at the counter and walk away. No standing in line, if they know you. (Of course this does not apply if you need insurance, etc.)
I know they call it a security measure, and it probably is to degree, but I'll bet someone decided they could cut down on the number/size of packages picked up by carriers and get away with it by CALLING it a security measure. I'm sure it would not take a rocket scientist to make a nifty little bomb that would weigh in under 16 ounces.
posted on December 18, 2000 07:47:41 AM new
You can also hand them directly to your mail carrier when he/she delivers your mail. As long as they "know" you, i.e. can see that you live at the address, they can take your boxes for you. At first, I would listen for the mail truck, and run out there with my boxes to catch my mail carrier. After a few weeks of this, he told me to just leave him a note and he would COME TO THE DOOR AND GET THEM!! I give him as many as 15 boxes a day, and he graciously takes them and THANKS me for using USPS. It's truly fabulous customer service, and I've filled out a compliment card for him with the USPS as well. It has saved me HOURS of time at the post office. Of course, when I need insurance or proof of delivery, I'm back in line...
posted on December 18, 2000 10:15:21 AM new
I hit my post office at 7AM when the counters open up. They weigh 'em and I pay 'em. Rarely spend more than five minutes and everything goes out the door early. I sell mostly books.
posted on December 18, 2000 11:07:21 AM new
The word I got from the Gang of Three at my PO (great mail clerks, 2 are ebay sellers) is that the rule is not from USPS but FTC, and that it actually refers to packages that use regular stamps, the idea apparently being that if you either use some form of postal meter, either at the PO or home, the package can somehow be traced to you.
posted on December 18, 2000 12:33:00 PM new
Hart... they are correct. The postage meter label has the license number on it. That number is assigned to my meter account which has my address. Thus, I am a "known" sender.
