posted on December 9, 2002 11:16:24 AM
This has to be one of the top moron decisions they've made yet. I just went to the PO and there's a sign posted saying packages wrapped in brown paper won't be accepted...What? a payoff from the white paper industry?
Certainly they'll give a reason...but I doubt it will be truly reasonable. Is this their contribution to fighting us brown paper terrorists?
Save me from underfunded IQ's with a burning need to look busy.
posted on December 9, 2002 11:35:57 AM
I wrapped previously used boxes in brown paper to ship parcel post until the lady at the UPS store told me that the USPS won't accept that anymore!
I then asked the USPS about it and the lady said they don't care what it's wrapped in!
I figured the UPS lady was just trying to get my business. She said it's because the paper gets torn off when it goes through their conveyor system and they loose the address, etc.
Oh well! I'll have to quit being cheap!
[ edited by wendywins on Dec 10, 2002 04:01 PM ]
posted on December 9, 2002 11:53:57 AM
Could this have anything to do with getting more of to use Priority mail or maybe because many people use Priority Boxes and wrap them to ship parcel ??
Just a thought
posted on December 9, 2002 11:55:47 AM
I just went today to the post office and had a package with brown paper around it and no mention was made of it being any kind of violation. It seems like various post offices enforce various rules and ignore others.
I'll wager that Priority Mail boxes used for Media Mail would be the reason behind any major crackdown on the rule.
posted on December 9, 2002 12:05:24 PM
We mailed a box of Christmas gifts, to one of my sisters, wrapped in brown paper just last week. Nothing was said and our USPS accepted it. Shipping another one out today...we'll see if that has changed.
posted on December 9, 2002 01:49:05 PM
I stood in line for an hour and there were lots of paper wrapped packages and no one said boo. No sign anywhere. And if they had said anything, there would have been a mutiny. Space for six counter people and only two working and half the hour I was there, only one. By the time I left it was getting really, really ugly.
posted on December 9, 2002 01:52:33 PM
I was at the PO about 2 hrs ago, mailed a book wrapped in a brown grocery bag turned inside out. No problem at all.
posted on December 9, 2002 01:59:43 PM
I heard one of the clerk's at the Post Office I go to tell a woman in front of me that she would take them wrapped in paper for now but no more after the first of the year.
posted on December 9, 2002 02:29:46 PM
The package we shipped today, in brown paper, was shipped without anything being said.
toolhound has stated overhearing it's to begin AFTER the 1st of they year. That's probably where the problem is. Some post offices are starting it now...and some, I guess like ours here, don't have it posted yet.
Glad to be aware that there will be a change though....no matter when. I'll be watching for a posting of this change in our PO now. Better than standing there with wrapped box in hand and having them say it can't be sent that way. That's what's so great about AW....we're always kept abreast of new developments.
posted on December 9, 2002 02:51:02 PM
Not exactly a great time to be enforcing that rule. Fedex has the same rule but as long as you tape it up real good they will accept it.
posted on December 9, 2002 07:28:45 PM
One of the items that I sell on eBay is
video game strategy guides. I have always
wrapped them the same way, a piece of sturdy
cardboard in each side wrapped in a sheet of
newspaper followed by a paper grocery bag
cut and wrapped around and then taped VERY
well in a criss-cross pattern and covering
all seams. I have never had a clerk balk
at this, and I will be mailing one like that
this week. We will see what happens, and
I will ask about this supposed policy.
That said, someone also mentioned the fact
that the P.O.'s are understaffing, and my
local branch just cut their hours (opening
later, which totally screwed me over as I
always mailed at 7:30am when they used to
open). That branch is just down the road
from me (2 miles or so), while I'm now
driving to the branch my mail is delivered
from (yeah I know it is weird) which is
about 6 miles away, BUT they open at 7:00am!
I tried going at the later hour, but no
matter when I left home and arrived there
I was never near the front of the line! In
fact, each time when I left there were over
10 people behind me and more arriving with
only ONE clerk (and room for 3)! I filled
out a customer service card, but we all
know that won't do any good, hence my now
driving much further (especially round-trip).
Why only one clerk if they are that busy?
Because they are a monopoly and they also
know most of us are SHEEP, who will gladly
wait in huge lines.
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on December 9, 2002 09:36:14 PM
Racial overtones if you ask me. Brown paper people boycott the post office Immediately! the Old Whites only thing, Again? such a local level joke that must be, and it really is in a REAL U.S. Government Post Office? Not Some private Enterprise place?
Can you just imagine the porn pushers stating your delivery will be discretly wrapped in a plain white paper wrapper?? they always say brown paper..
Oh my God!!!! This will disrupt so many industries,,,,this is truely frightening!! You can't say Brown bag it anymore,,,,no more brown bags at the store,,,,plastic only,,,that's great save a tree and use more oil.......white trees only for grocery bags,,,
I just bought a 200 pound brown roll!!!!! recalls!!!
Someone,,,anyone!! Get on the horn and Call the WHITE HOUSE immediately!!!! nothing, nothing is more URGENT!!!! this is a terroist act! for sure....What will I ever do with all this Brown paper......
Noooooooo,,worse!!!! it has to be plain white????? whatabout the millions of multicolored (integrated Christmas paper!!)Noooooooooooo. this could not of come at a worse time,,,,christmas!!!! Santa!!!! stop!!!! white only!!!!!!
someone, Anyone!!!! contact the North Pole immediatly!!!! someone must know his address! Ah,,,,,Santa Must have an e mail address by Now......
Please!!!!! Please!!!! for the sake of on time delivery for the Children,contact Santa,a.s.a.p. It's not too late....Shees, the elves will now have to work DOUBLE TIME!!!!! Unwrapping and re wrapping!!!
You know what I say to all this,,,,,,,
Wraaaaaaap it! Wrap it GOOD.
Whhhhhhiiiiiiip It,,,,,,Whip it GOOD!
[ edited by fetish128 on Dec 9, 2002 09:38 PM ]
posted on December 10, 2002 10:29:56 AM
While standing in line at my local PO .....many boxes being shipped with brown paper ..asked clerk and she said yes, you can mail with the paper! Go figure
posted on December 10, 2002 10:38:54 AM
I've never heard of a post office opening at 7:30 am, let alone 7:00!
Our little hole in the wall doesn't open until 9:30am and I wouldn't DARE going at that time: so many people begin waiting at 9:00am for some odd reason?!
Lately I've taken to printing my postage label on the USPS website, going at 4:55pm, and passing up the line to hand it over to my FAVORITE clerk as I get NASTY looks from all the sheep in line!
It's quite a racket!
I rarely ship Parcel Post(the only time I use brown paper) but will continue to use brown paper until I'm told no!
posted on December 10, 2002 03:09:15 PM
This thread reminds me of the scare there was about a year ago about the post office possibly starting to charge for the free Priority Mail boxes. Many postal employees in rural America were saying that the fees for boxes was a done deal and a certainty. That never materialized either.
posted on December 11, 2002 05:42:42 PM
I used to live in the boomdocks too. ;^)
I am now in a suburb of Cleveland, OH.
The branch near me used to open at 8:00 am,
them switched to 7:30 am for a few years,
and now they have switched back. Since
then I found out the branch I actually
get my mail from opens at 7:00 am, so I've
been going there. They told me they were
considering opening later, but with my
added business, I hope they keep it the
way it is. Each day I have to mail I'm
there by 6:45, so I can get it over with!
It is bad enough having to do it, but having
to wait in a long line... ain't gonna happen!
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on December 11, 2002 11:23:48 PM
Yesterday I had three pkgs to mail. I was in the area of the main PO so thought I would go there. Well, the line was clear out the main door. I remembered that they had opened a branch in the mall downtown. Went there, no onein line was in & out in less than 5 minutes. They ought to advertise it more. Of course if they did, I wouldn't be able to get in & out so fast. LOL
posted on December 12, 2002 06:36:25 PM
It all depends on the paper that you use to wrap in. I asked the Assistant Post Master today about this & his reply was. " It nust be of 60 pound strength. Which is about the same as a heavy Kraft paper grocery bag. Too many people are bringing in light weight wrapping paper that will almost certainly tear before it leaves our PO.
As to Express Mail, I don't know what API stands for, but there is NO directive to stop Express Mail as a regular item.
posted on December 13, 2002 11:56:58 PM
I thought paper wrapping had been a "no no" for years, I haven't shipped using such in many years, nor received such in years - to easy to have it torn off, and they are right, torn off and address lost....
posted on December 14, 2002 04:12:09 AM
I tried to mail a package yesterday using a recycled fatwood box. I'd Xed out the ususal stuff but they wouldn't take it. The flammable issue. Anyway, I asked if I could wrap it in brown paper and the guy said yes as long as they couldn't see the words firestarter.
