mommacude
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posted on October 21, 2001 11:01:55 AM
I tried to mail out a small package yesterday after the PO closed and there was a sign stating that if it was over 16 ounces you had to give it to the person at the counter. anyone else have this problem?
Those lines are going to get mighty long!! And I can't leave it for my post man because my mailbox is very tiny.
What are y'all doing about this?
Christine
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commentary
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posted on October 21, 2001 11:17:42 AM
This is not a new restriction. It has been in place since the mail bomber was active years back. USPS have not change this restriction even though the guy has been caught.
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camachinist
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posted on October 21, 2001 11:26:05 AM
I think you can than Ted Kaczynski for that one....been like that for a while IIRC...
I just drop all my packages at the PO when I'm in town....it's nice to stop and chat anyways...one of the nice things about a small town...
Pat
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doninpa
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posted on October 21, 2001 11:40:21 AM
Thats been the policy for years, its even posted on all the mail boxes I've ever seen. 16 ounces and over always must be handed to a clerk, you don't have to stand in line if it is already stamped.
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mommacude
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posted on October 21, 2001 11:52:02 AM
Oh, where have I been? LOL Well I guess now that you mention it I've just never wanted to drop anything off because I had to have it weighed. So you don't have to stand in line. . .what do you do just leave it on the counter? I don't understand their logic on that, unless they just want to see your face?
Anyway, thanks again guys!
Christine
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camachinist
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posted on October 21, 2001 12:02:11 PM
Their time-stamped CCTV security system is what needs to see your face.......
I'm constantly amazed how much we're surveiled....I notice because I live near where much of the equipment for video security is manufactured and just have gotten used to recognizing the installations, whether obvious or concealed...
Now if they could install a mini bar code scanner and CCTV camera in a parcel drop....hmmm
Pat
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imariquinn
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posted on October 21, 2001 12:35:41 PM
This has been on the post boxes for some time now, but does it not say packages with STAMPS?? over 16 ozs?? I use clickstamp so my package is a metered package and I believe I CAN place items in the mailboxes. My mailman takes my packages. I leave them in a bag hanging on my "up" flag and I asked him Friday if this was STILL o.k. to do and he said as long as the return address matches the address he picked it up from, it was o.k. by him. My packages have the FREE DC labels and/or a return addy so no problems. SO FAR!
Christine (in FL)
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gr8ful2bhere
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posted on October 21, 2001 12:44:45 PM
Yes, it's ok to leave metered and pc postage items in a mailbox. That is because they come from a "known" mailer. The leaving of stamped packages for pickup by the delivery person is an informal violation of the policy - after all anyone could leave something in a mailbox with the mailbox's own address for the return.
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deanawo
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posted on October 21, 2001 12:53:18 PM
Security HAS increased......Customs called me Friday. I have been waiting for a box of cloth diapers from Canada. They wanted my SSN# & wanted to know what I was going to do with them, (duh!) & if I know what the fabric was made of! They opened the package for inspection also. They said they could not release my package without my SSN#, & I would have to show a photo ID when they delivered them.
I thought is was so strange......they said I would receive them this week. Has there been some kind of problem with people hiding things in diapers? I asked why they had to know what they were made out of, but he didn't tell me. They are NEW diapers.
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piggypoosmom
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posted on October 21, 2001 01:01:46 PM
I asked my local postal clerk how many mail bombers they thought they would stop with the handing the mail to a person thing. He said that the post office had mostly kept it out of the news, but Ted Kacinski (forgive my spelling) had frequently hitchhiked to the post office, and was often picked up by....yep, you guessed it...THE MAILMAN!!!
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camachinist
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posted on October 21, 2001 01:21:06 PM
THE MAILMAN!!!
No good deed goes unpunished....
Ever see the movie "Enemy of the State"?....some very ironic connections being played out now regarding our rights to privacy...
To that extent, the terrorists have achieved their objective, unfortunately...
And so it goes...
Pat
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rarriffle
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posted on October 21, 2001 03:28:17 PM
Our local UPS office is now requiring to see drivers license and have phone number before shipping.
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jubilee333
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posted on October 21, 2001 03:40:34 PM
deanawo - U.S. customs is VERY particular about ANY textiles going into the USA. Cloth diapers seem complicated, but try shipping say, a shirt to the USA. You have to have customs paperwork with the package that answers the following questions:
1. Is it a men's or women's shirt?
2. Is it long sleeve or short sleeve?
3. What is the material composition? (as in 50% polyester, 50% cotton??)
4. Where was the material made? And where was the item manufactured? (2 different things, the cotton could be made in the usa but the garment manufactured in canada!)
5. Is it knit or woven??
Now if it's knit, then you're in even more trouble and they want to know how many stitches per inch!
I kid you not... I work for a courier company and do package tracking, and if this information is not included on the customs paperwork of any textile shipments going to the USA there's a good chance that U.S. customs will hold the package and we have to call the customer for this info. I don't know why, but the USA has been very picky about textile shipments for a very long time.
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deanawo
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posted on October 21, 2001 03:55:21 PM
Thanks for the info Jubilee- That is so odd! Is that true for sending to any other country? I have a pallet of NWT clothing I will be listing soon, & I will have to change my TOS to US only if I have to do all of that for each item. My baby boy is due soon, & my family will have to take over the post office trips for a few weeks. I would hate to make them fill out forms that extensive.
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labrat4gmos
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posted on October 21, 2001 04:00:24 PM
I think it definitely depends on where you live.
Our post office has a sign that states all packages must be handed to the clerks, not just left in an area where companies used to pile them. Doesn't matter about the size.
Our clerks are very worried about handling mail. One of the head clerks commented to another that she was worried about what customers would think when they see gloves being worn. I hugged her and said they should do whatever they feel comfortable in doing.
We have some really nice po clerks and I would hate to see them leave. Friday I noticed gloves were being worn at the counters. I suspect we will see more gloves, maybe even masks now that the Brentwood facility in DC has a positive inhalation case
this weekend.
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jubilee333
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posted on October 21, 2001 04:17:42 PM
deanawo - No, don't worry... It is only U.S. customs that has these crazy requirements about textiles. You can ship to any other country without all these textile forms.
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packer
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posted on October 21, 2001 04:56:55 PM
I'll tell you what I know about it.
If someone leaves a package in the drop box and it weighs over 16 oz., the only way it can travel is by LAND(it does not matter that its priority). IT CANNOT GO BY AIR. We have to mark it as GROUND DELIVERY.
In addition to that the PO has added that ANY metered mail(letter or package) that comes through our PO has to be Round Dated.
That is to show that we have visually inspected the piece.
So for all of you that are just dropping your metered packages at a drop, might be wondering why it is taking so long for it to get to its destination.
packer
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wildanteeker
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posted on October 21, 2001 05:11:41 PM
I live in Canada and have shipped many clothing and textile items to the U.S.Mind you this was one item at a time type thing but I never had a problem on this end or any word of problems from buyers.I could see if you are shipping large quantities of well say "anything" you would need proper documentation with your shipments.A shirt though?I normally would write on the customs sticker "shirt".Works for me unless something has changed in the last week or two?
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eleanordew
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posted on October 21, 2001 06:15:40 PM
I think that these high tariffs on textile products entering the U.S. are meant to protect the U.S. textile industry. I'm told by my contacts in the textile industry here that the tariffs will "go away" in 2006, leaving U.S. textile companies at the mercy of offshore factories.
--
El
"The customer may not always be right, but she is always the customer."
(edited to add that I don't mean the above to sympathize with the U.S. textile industry, because they've known that the tariffs will cease for the past 25 years -- it was only meant to be a temporary thing -- and they've been living in la-la land trying to ignore what that deadline means! - El)
[ edited by eleanordew on Oct 21, 2001 06:42 PM ]
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naru
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posted on October 21, 2001 10:47:51 PM
"U.S. customs is VERY particular about ANY textiles going into the USA"
I learned long ago: cloth/textile is a red flag.
They want to know all the minute details
If it's wool they want to know the location of the field the sheep #4%@ in.
Describe it as anything but:
Table Cloth: Table cover
Cloth Diaper: Anti-baby mess device.
Cloth Hanky: Sneeze protector
Cloth T-Shirt:Torso covering device
just DO Not mention cloth.
It is by the way a very poorly disguised trade barrier (free trade my ...)
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