Gotta love the USPS!

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 12:33AM

So an Ebay seller turned a next day air box inside out and used it for media mail for sending me two auction catalogs.

Total cost was $27 + $5 S/H = $32.00

I just get a call from my local postal inspector that this is an illegal action and as the parcel has arrived for me this morning I have two choices...

Either pay the difference in postage of $48.95 or refuse it.

Funny part is it still arrived at media mail speed

blu62vette · February 13, 2012 12:37AM

That should be rather obvious based on the print on the inside of the box....

ajman · February 13, 2012 12:38AM

That sucks, what are you going to do?

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 12:43AM

<< That sucks, what are you going to do? >>

I'll venture down there in about an hour and will most likely get no where and just have to refuse it.

In the financial state the USPS is they should just be happy that it was sent through them.

johnrav · February 13, 2012 12:43AM

pay the difference, then file a claim for late delivery? (just kidding)

sounds like the postal inspectors were asked to start justifying their wages and benefits, with um - actual work!

agentjim007 · February 13, 2012 12:46AM

I had an overnight sent last week from Florida to Chicago. Tracking shows it should show up today.

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 12:50AM

<< pay the difference, then file a claim for late delivery? >>

That's awesome as that might actually work!

19Lyds · February 13, 2012 12:51AM

<< 

<< That sucks, what are you going to do? >>

I'll venture down there in about an hour and will most likely get no where and just have to refuse it.

In the financial state the USPS is they should just be happy that it was sent through them. >>

While that sounds obvious on the surface O think there is some type of legal obligation that the USPS has regarding the "free" shipping materials that they provide to their customers which is why the "type" of mailing service the boxes are intended for have identification on the inside.

I'm half wondering if your seller didn't wrap the box in brown wrapping paper that got torn during shipment? It doesn't matter though since it sounds like the package was sent priority mail. Why the seller didn't just obtain one of the "free" boxes at the PO is the real question.

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 12:58AM

<< While that sounds obvious on the surface O think there is some type of legal obligation that the USPS has regarding the "free" shipping materials that they provide to their customers which is why the "type" of mailing service the boxes are intended for have identification on the inside.

I'm half wondering if your seller didn't wrap the box in brown wrapping paper that got torn during shipment? It doesn't matter though since it sounds like the package was sent priority mail. Why the seller didn't just obtain one of the "free" boxes at the PO is the real question. >>

It wasn't sent via priority mail as it still arrived at it's approximated media mail arrival date as per the delivery confirmation tracking status.

Member johnrav made a great point as if I'm now asked to pay for full next day air rate I should be able to file a claim for late delivery and get a full postage refund.

Worse case scenario that will make for great ammunition once I run it past the postal inspector!

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 3:23AM

Well worth a try yet it had to be refused for the sender to pay the postage, repackage properly, and reship.

As it was not initially shipped via next day air there is no guarantee of delivery and no refund of postage option.

19Lyds · February 13, 2012 3:44AM

It's definitely a goofy situation which, unfortunately, is gonna bite the seller in the butt.

I wonder if a postal clerk told him it was ok? I know I've shipped registered mail with tape other than the required "paper" tape upon advise from the postal clerk. It was delivered without question but technically could have been refused anywhere along the delivery route.

You might want to ask your seller.

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 4:06AM

<< It's definitely a goofy situation which, unfortunately, is gonna bite the seller in the butt.

I wonder if a postal clerk told him it was ok? I know I've shipped registered mail with tape other than the required "paper" tape upon advise from the postal clerk. It was delivered without question but technically could have been refused anywhere along the delivery route.

You might want to ask your seller. >>

I've sent two messages to the sender making him fully aware of the situation.

Yes it's a butt bitter as after all associated fees once I re-receive the parcel the seller will be - $25.00+ in the hole.

The main issue is that media mail is a cheap shipping method and the USPS has the right to open and inspect if they feel the contents are not media or their packaging materials are being wrongfully used.

I have however been using their small priority boxes for registered mail fully covered with wet tape for well over a decade and never questioned.

BAJJERFAN · February 13, 2012 4:10AM

<< 

<< It's definitely a goofy situation which, unfortunately, is gonna bite the seller in the butt.

I wonder if a postal clerk told him it was ok? I know I've shipped registered mail with tape other than the required "paper" tape upon advise from the postal clerk. It was delivered without question but technically could have been refused anywhere along the delivery route.

You might want to ask your seller. >>

I've sent two messages to the sender making him fully aware of the situation.

Yes it's a butt bitter as after all associated fees once I re-receive the parcel the seller will be - $25.00+ in the hole.

The main issue is that media mail is a cheap shipping method and the USPS has the right to open and inspect if they feel the contents are not media or their packaging materials are being wrongfully used.

I have however been using their small priority boxes for registered mail fully covered with wet tape for well over a decade and never questioned. >>

You can use and get flat rate for registered too, however you can't cover up the words flat rate. You really only need to cover the seams.

TwoSides2aCoin · February 13, 2012 4:13AM

The problem with bureaucracy is that it gets in the way of progress.

MsMorrisine · February 13, 2012 4:14AM

and the person should have known better to try to turn it inside out.

that's the whole reason why they pre-print "EM" and "PM" on the inside of their boxes.

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 4:20AM

<< You can use and get flat rate for registered too, however you can't cover up the words flat rate. You really only need to cover the seams. >>

Is that what they consider Registered Priority... As that terms been mentioned to me over the years but the clerks normally give me a deer in the headlight look when I've asked what that was

ColonialCoinUnion · February 13, 2012 4:24AM

<< I just get a call from my local postal inspector that this is an illegal action and as the parcel has arrived for me this morning I have two choices... >>

How did the postal inspector know? And if someone knew, how did they allow it to happen in the first place?

JA

drwstr123 · February 13, 2012 4:31AM

<< 

<< I just get a call from my local postal inspector that this is an illegal action and as the parcel has arrived for me this morning I have two choices... >>

How did the postal inspector know? And if someone knew, how did they allow it to happen in the first place?

JA >>

Could have been a drop-off at the PO.
The PO provides boxes free with the stipulation they are used accordingly.
Now, if you take those boxes, and ship UPS????

Broadstruck · February 13, 2012 4:32AM

<< How did the postal inspector know? And if someone knew, how did they allow it to happen in the first place? >>

Do to cutbacks our regional postal inspector has been tossed back into the trenches and is often running one of the counter registers if short handed.

The sender pasted a pitney bowes computer generated postage label on the box and just dropped it off for shipping.

19Lyds · February 13, 2012 4:43AM

<< 

<< It's definitely a goofy situation which, unfortunately, is gonna bite the seller in the butt.

I wonder if a postal clerk told him it was ok? I know I've shipped registered mail with tape other than the required "paper" tape upon advise from the postal clerk. It was delivered without question but technically could have been refused anywhere along the delivery route.

You might want to ask your seller. >>

I've sent two messages to the sender making him fully aware of the situation.

Yes it's a butt bitter as after all associated fees once I re-receive the parcel the seller will be - $25.00+ in the hole.

The main issue is that media mail is a cheap shipping method and the USPS has the right to open and inspect if they feel the contents are not media or their packaging materials are being wrongfully used.

I have however been using their small priority boxes for registered mail fully covered with wet tape for well over a decade and never questioned. >>

Any 1st Class package that exceeds 13 oz automatically gets charged at the priority mail rate and shipping registered Priority Mail is fully acceptable. If you got a cheaper rate then I suppose they could have questioned it but then it was completely sealed and Registered. I think you were safe.

Having said that, they do get a bit touchy over Media Mail since I believe that its at a really cheap rate and its not beyond "human decency" to ship a box of merchandise and claim it was books.

The weird part of the story is that the contents fully qualified as Media Mail. Right?

messydesk · February 13, 2012 5:14AM

<< How did the postal inspector know? And if someone knew, how did they allow it to happen in the first place? >>

By "they," do you mean the clerk accepting the package at the window for initial mailing? If so, does this question need to be answered further?

notwilight · February 13, 2012 5:20AM

Most likely the seller did not present it to a window but printed the postage out himself and dropped it in the package box at the post office. that is what I do.

Whenever I recieve something from a seller who has abused free Prioity mail materials like this is tells me that they don't respect rules and aren't bound by strong ethics.

--Jerry

Res · February 13, 2012 5:27AM

<< 

<< I just get a call from my local postal inspector that this is an illegal action and as the parcel has arrived for me this morning I have two choices... >>

How did the postal inspector know? And if someone knew, how did they allow it to happen in the first place?

JA >>

The P.O. checks media mail shipments every once in awhile. Maybe more often now than before.

Though I am surprised the postal inspectors were involved, especially on the delivery end. Sounds like something the post master or clerk could talk to the OP about, especially since he did nothing wrong.

BryceM · February 13, 2012 8:04AM

Hmmm. I'm glad I read this thread. I've used USPS boxes before and covered them up with brown paper, turned them inside-out, and all sorts of things. I assumed they didn't care since they got my business either way.

Guess I've been lucky. I sure won't do it again!

TwoSides2aCoin · February 13, 2012 8:07AM

<< Most likely the seller did not present it to a window but printed the postage out himself and dropped it in the package box at the post office. that is what I do.

Whenever I recieve something from a seller who has abused free Prioity mail materials like this is tells me that they don't respect rules and aren't bound by strong ethics.

--Jerry >>

WOW

You obviously have zero respect for us tree huggers.

Res · February 13, 2012 8:30AM

I wonder what the rule is if the box has already been sent once. Can you turn it inside out and resend media mail? I would vote yes.

coindeuce · February 13, 2012 8:36AM

If anything, the PI's should be hounding the clerk at the shipper's end for accepting the box to begin with. I wouldn't want to be in that clerk's shoes right now, cause it will catch up to them if it was physically accepted by a counter clerk.

TwoSides2aCoin · February 13, 2012 8:40AM

Well maybe I missed something. I read the seller recycled a box by turning it inside out. Maybe he should have covered any USPS markings. Is this what we're talking about or did the person shipping the item attempt to circumvent costs ?

drwstr123 · February 13, 2012 8:45AM

<< If anything, the PI's should be hounding the clerk at the shipper's end for accepting the box to begin with. I wouldn't want to be in that clerk's shoes right now, cause it will catch up to them if it was physically accepted by a counter clerk.

>>

If the item has insufficient postage, it is forwarded to the destination as 'postage due'.
At that point, it may be 'refused'.

Dollar2007 · February 13, 2012 9:07AM

<< I wonder what the rule is if the box has already been sent once. Can you turn it inside out and resend media mail? I would vote yes. >>

I have heard you can't, the USPS's free packaging can only ever be used for the level of service intended.

I'm surprised this is making people so surprised here. I have heard this happening on eBay message boards for years. Albeit no postal inspectors being involved, just postage due for the priority or express rate on the receiving end.

Lakesammman · February 13, 2012 10:25AM

I did the same thing this AM - noticed the stamp they apply now says, "Media Mail, Subject to inspection".

Just a coincidence that it's the same size as their box now wrapped in craft paper.

coindeuce · February 13, 2012 11:57AM

I tried to use a Priority Mail box that had been inverted at a show once. As soon as the clerk at the temporary Postal Station saw me constructing the box inside out, they said don't bother, "as I will refuse it at any rate applied for less than Priority rates".

Note to drwstr123 - "If the item has insufficient postage, it is forwarded to the destination as 'postage due'.
At that point, it may be 'refused'.
Except in the case of misuse of Postal issued packaging, which can and should be refused at the point of acceptance.

azxc · February 13, 2012 1:37PM

Pretty lame that the seller didn't know you can't use other materials to ship out media mail. I would refuse the package and tell the seller to re-send the item.

On a side note. Whenever I buy art I get at least three priority mail boxes switched inside out to cover them, yet the PO employees never said a thing to me... yet

Gotta love the USPS!

Comments

Leave a Comment