So what do you say when the post office asks you what you're shipping?

RonBurgundy

Every once in awhile I get a clerk who will ask, I never tell them it's cards. It's none of their bidness and I don't trust em.

bobbyw8469

They never ask me. My GF's post office gives her a hard time about "original packaging" whenever she tries to purchase insurance. They always ask if the item is in "original packaging" and if it is not, they won't let her buy insurance!!!! One of the craziest things I have ever heard......

jeffcbay

I go to a pretty small post office, and the same two women work there every day. They know I'm shipping cards, but I'm not worried. Typically they only ask if it's hazardous, liquid, perishable or fragile, but never ask exactly WHAT I'm shipping.

gameusedhoop

They are not supposed to ask a question like that. The standard, approved question is: "is there anything liquid, fragile, or perishable in the package". Anything beyond that is prying and you can ask to see a supervisor to report them. Your answer to the standard question is "no", assuming you've packaged the stuff correctly.

itzagoner

i tell them they are seeds and they are intended to assist People Starving Allovertheplace, that usually ends the conversation right there.

slaphappy

<< <i>They never ask me. My GF's post office gives her a hard time about "original packaging" whenever she tries to purchase insurance. They always ask if the item is in "original packaging" and if it is not, they won't let her buy insurance!!!! One of the craziest things I have ever heard...... >>



That makes no difference in regards to insurance, as long as the item is not against the rules or is media mail they have no right to even know.

Aric

I have had my mailman and two different people in my building ask me why I was receiving so many packages. Kind of irks me they are being so nosey. I don't want them to know its anything of value.

slaphappy

You want to tell them they should be thankful I am recieving so many. Keeps them employeed.

Dboneesq

<< <i>I have had my mailman and two different people in my building ask me why I was receiving so many packages. Kind of irks me they are being so nosey. I don't want them to know its anything of value. >>



Tell them "My psychiatrist keeps asking me the same thing, but one day Elvis is going to accept my package."

byronscott4ever

I always get the liquid/fragile/perishable/hazardous question (I sometimes tell them the line before they say it) and then I get the insurance/proof of delivery question. They've never asked about cards but they know because of the sizes especially when I'm using the white card boxes, based on their experience.

Tabe

<< <i>They are not supposed to ask a question like that. The standard, approved question is: "is there anything liquid, fragile, or perishable in the package". Anything beyond that is prying and you can ask to see a supervisor to report them. Your answer to the standard question is "no", assuming you've packaged the stuff correctly. >>


If you're shipping media mail, the question is 100% appropriate.

Tabe

zep33

weed

hammered

I know my PO workers pretty well and they know what I ship, as I've told them
Also, all the packages I receive from cards stores, and similar places is sort of a giveaway
I trust the workers at my PO. It's the night shift guys at the sort facility in Denver I have to worry about. That's why I never include any indication on the outside of the packaging as to what is inside

ndleo

8 kilos for my friend Pablo Escobar.

drewsef

I just tell them it is photographs

SDSportsFan

Tell 'em you're working for the government and that you could tell 'em what's in the package, but if you did, you'd then have to kill 'em

Steve

Redglobe

Hello,

Couldn't help but chime in,but have any of you thought of doing your own postage?

What I have done is go to any Office Depot or similar store and buy my own postage labels (self adhesive) and then buy the correct postage with my paypal account......obviously if your selling and mailing.

It's been awhile since I've sold anything,but if I can recall when you are ready to proceed after the buyer pays you there is an option to generate your own postage.

Like I mentioned,its been a while since I mailed out packages,but if your postal workers in your area are not to friendly,or worse,busier than heck and not to crazy about waiting in line,I would recommend looking into doing your own postage.

All you then would have to do is just mail your packages,or time it to have your postal worker pick it up for when he (she) delivers your regular mail. (where applicable)

Just wanted to give you folks another option.

BTW great forum,as you can tell by my avatar I'm a coin collector...but I have a collector interest in Mr. CUB


Rob

MCMLVTopps

Any ?s beyond the "liquid, fragile or perishable" inquiry would raise a flag to me. It's none of their business what you're shipping, and I think this includes media mail.

slaphappy

<< <i>Any ?s beyond the "liquid, fragile or perishable" inquiry would raise a flag to me. It's none of their business what you're shipping, and I think this includes media mail. >>



With medial mail if they want to know bad enough they have a right to open it so might as well tell them what it is.

BunchOBull

Paraphernalia...I mean memorabilia.

In all seriousness, I've been asked, specifically while doing customs forms, and I always say "photographs" or "documents."

jradke4

well there are generally two ladies at my PO that I deal with quite a bit. they know me by name and if i have any packages waiting for me even before i get to my PO box and find the slip.

the one does ask everyonce in a while wow, whats in there when I have the insurance price on some of my larger orders to PSA. otherwise they dont really care too much. i dont tell them what is in there, wouldnt matter much anyway as when the items are that high of value i ship them by registered anyway. they would be on the ticket as taking in the package and would be the first in the line of fire for the missing items. other times i think about saying something stupid but these ladies are great and would go out of their way to help me out if i had a realy problem there so i dont want to mess with that. they do a great job on my vacation holds and catch slips left in error when i have a hold placed instead of sending it back to Newport Beach. now if i was at a PO that i do have my box at and they asked i might say something smart.

but lets be honest wouldnt we all be a little interested in someone sending and receiving lots of packages. even more so if they are large registered items, that they can barely lift. i know one time they actually brought them out to me on a dolly.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

Yep. Hazardous, Liquid etc is appropriate. Same with opening media mail as It's subject to inspection and the small town P.O. by my work opens some and catches people all the time. lol

My P.O. by work asked me. One employee and I trust her so I didn't have a problem with it. If anyone else were to ask me (a mail carrier did once) I say gold bars with a laugh. Hopefully they didn't hear that phrase "Alot of truth is said in jest", and steal my package.

MeteoriteGuy

The Post Office also has many rules on shipping certain items. It is not out of line for the clerk to ask what you are shipping.

Anyone that would create a scene, stop the line and call for the manager over such a question...is a Richard.

WalterSobchak

I have never had anyone at the PO ask anything beyond the "fragile, liquid, or perishable" question. If they ever did I guess I'd probably say photographs.