pelorus
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posted on May 31, 2004 11:39:03 AM
My local PO said that from now on they have to examine the contents of every media mail package before it is sealed, so they can be sure the contents are legit. Has anyone else had this happen.
You can imagine the feeling of multiple pairs of eyes boring in from behind as other customers in line watch me tape up 15 boxes.
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 31, 2004 12:13:23 PM
Hasn't happened here yet. I can't believe they really mean it, pelorus! Does the P.O. really have that kind of money to waste on staff?
___________________________________
As I've Matured...
1. I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in...
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fenix03
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posted on May 31, 2004 12:14:53 PM
Yes - your post office is whacky. Teach them a lesson - don't ship oir a few days them instead of taking 15 packages in, take 50... an d do it around 3 on a Friday. Then talk to the clerk and see if they now believe that your shipments qualify for media and can we now do without this little excercise in stupidity from now on. In the future, just try to stick with that clerk. If it is slow, chat up the clerk next to them a few times while you are wating for your total so that you have an alternate.
I have two clerks that I use and I know both of their schedules so that I know the best time to go in .
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
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bunnicula
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posted on May 31, 2004 12:15:41 PM
my post office told me they do random searches of media mail.
As to its being worth it tothem--depends how much revenue they're losing, I guess.
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
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jackswebb
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posted on May 31, 2004 01:00:01 PM
I thought your PROBATION OFFICER had gone Whacky.....
Correct me if I am wrong please But I do believe the Gov. sold the Post Office to private enterprise and they are under the Guise of being Gov. Property. Seems I heard of that move many Years ago. ?????
Fenix,,,,,,PERFECT!
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minniestuff
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posted on May 31, 2004 03:49:08 PM
Right On Fenix!
I will file that suggestion in the back of my mind just in case it ever happens to me.
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stonecold613
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posted on May 31, 2004 04:22:59 PM
My local PO said that from now on they have to examine the contents of every media mail package before it is sealed, so they can be sure the contents are legit. Has anyone else had this happen.
It's been that way at most of the PO's around here. There is even a posted notice to bring in your media mail in an unsealed package. Too many ebay sellers have abused the media rate and they now inspect all parcels marked media rate. If you bring one in sealed, they will make you open them all. And to top it off, if there is a line of people, they will send you to the end of the line for you to open the packages so they can help the others in line.
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bob9585
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posted on May 31, 2004 06:43:41 PM
They started that here a while back - but after a few times they told me I didn't need to- I'm a reg there and most of what I ship is Media or BPM.
All the clerks know me and they say it's on a case by case basis.
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EstateSaleStuff
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posted on May 31, 2004 07:40:39 PM
Oh Lord ... it seems that every single CLERK at every single Post Office across the U.S. of A. has a different way doing things .. ... overall, I think that they are still in the dark ages compared to the 'online real-time world' .... never know when WHICH post office you visit will say somthing else entirely different than the last post office you went to...
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sanmar
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posted on May 31, 2004 07:47:28 PM
There is a posting at every window in our PO that states "We have the right to inspect all Media Mail" I rarely use it so hasn't been a problem for me. There are a few that can screw it up for all.
[ edited by sanmar on May 31, 2004 07:49 PM ]
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ewora
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posted on May 31, 2004 07:55:04 PM
I have one particular clerk who I knows I sell on ebay but always asks about my media mail. "Is it only books??", "You know you can't have any notes or letters in there". He's such an a**. I try not to go to his window as he's the only one who gives you a hard time.
Try a different clerk or postoffice.
I like the idea of showing up just before closing with 50 packages for them to inspect.
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Roadsmith
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posted on May 31, 2004 09:24:27 PM
I talked to my favorite clerk about the media mail thing, and he said this is a small town and we know who our shippers are. If we ever had a question, we'd open and inspect, but not for some of you regulars who use a lot of media mail. We trust you.
I love that. One of the great things about living in a small town. One of the MANY great things. . . .
___________________________________
As I've Matured...
1. I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in...
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alldings
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posted on June 1, 2004 05:55:01 AM
Same old story those us who follow the rules get punished for those who don't. The brown stuff runs down hill!! Postmaster spots suspious media mail package that looks like a right fender for a Buick.
Who let that through?" PO Master growls.
Tells clerks, "Check Media mail closely I don't want to see any more packages like this in my PO." Goes in office closes door writes report to make self look good.
Poor clerks have to face public, including grizzled eBay seller with left Buick fender under arm!
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lindajean
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posted on June 1, 2004 08:25:23 AM
Maybe it is their way of proving to the powers that be that it is impossible to "police" the media mail packages....so the next postal hike will just eliminate that category altogether.
That would be disastrous for some of us! But, I wouldn't be at all surprised. They can just show proof of how many man hours it is taking and how expensive it is to keep the media mail shipments.
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ebayvet
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posted on June 1, 2004 10:06:26 AM
Luckily I ship from a small post office, they couldn't pull that if they wanted to! Checking my stats, I shipped 1284 packages in May, and probably had 12 postal visits, so that is 100 per visit. It could take hours, and with only a couple of clerks, the line would be out the door. As it is now, most of the work is already done on my end, I just hand them most of the packages across the counter. I do agree that abuse of media mail is a problem, and I want them to crack down because it affects legitimate users of that rate. I've received all sorts of things via media mail. What they need to do is make the penalty more than just having to make up the postal rate. It would be in their best interest to get more revenue...
Friends don't let Friends say stupid things like Friends don't let friends vote Republican!
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KATIYANA
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posted on June 1, 2004 10:51:37 AM
They've been doing that at my PO for awhile now.. fortunately there are very few items I ship Media Mail....
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toolhound
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posted on June 1, 2004 10:55:14 AM
I noticed at the small Post Office that I use the other day the clerk was asking an eBay seller is it just books? Went on to tell them all the rules of media mail and said in the future they will be checking some media packages.
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