First time my postal carrier asked me this......................
1630Boston
Posts: 14,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
I knew a package was arriving today and waited for it.
He handed me the regular mail and started to hand me the small box and then almost yelled
"whoa, this one needs a signature, what's in it?"
Parts for my Jeep I said, and that was it.
A bit odd though in my opinion 
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I tell them my business is Comprehensive Stool Analysis
It's hard to believe they would be unprofessional and actually ask that.
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LOL....I think by the time he left your property he forgot you even signed for a package.
At least I was prepared, same answer I was giving the wife if she asked
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I have been lucky to have long term mailman that know what is in the packages. Occasional fill ins though get sloppy with the high value packages. That is never good.
Our awesome Mail Lady for over 15 years just retired. They keep switching new carries on our route because it is a difficult route. I make eye contact and look at the each new carries face when I hand over a valued package. I then check tracking.
That explains it
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I have a decent carrier now, but still not ready to hand over a package in excess of $100. I take them to the PO. Good excuse for a brisk walk!
Insure the parcels to the max. and write "extremely rare and valuable gold" on the package.
I do the opposite, I mix rare valuable packages with much less rare valuable packages, I make the (extremely rare) postal thief guess on which packages he want to commit a felony on .......
Being that I am a retired Mailman.............I find that totally unprofessional.
It is none of their business.......you could report it and complain, but I doubt if anything would happen.
The Supervisors in the USPS are just as bad (if not WORSE) than some of the Letter Carriers out there today.
And just note..........I said "Some".
Pete
Twice I've been asked, once at the box and once at the counter.....replied Galina sample.
Got stares both times.
bob
A few times at the postal counter I had a new clerk confirm the insured amount on registered. "Is that $1000 or $10,000"? Always at 120 decibels.
I learned to back up in line and wait for an experienced employee.
I got that last week when I was shipping shoe-box size package to our host. I asked for $4500 insurance and he said, "I'm not supposed to ask but what's in it? I was caught off guard and just blurted out "just collectible junk I flip off eBay." Not the best answer but I think my mind was telling me to say anything but coins.
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Just tell them it's nothing hazardous, perishable, etc.
Or sometimes I say it's hazardous - you might get a paper cut. They typically laugh.
Easier (and a lot cheaper) to use a third party insurance, skip the line and just drop it off at random post offices - I use 3 of them.
happens to me all the time. They are just people. Sometimes they get curious. Since I know all of my postal clerks, I don't really worry about it. I mean, especially if its insured, does it matter if you tell them what's worth $5000?
"Keys to the car I just sold (/bought). I'm shipping it out (shipping it in) one piece at a time."
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]
The guy at 55 Old Mill Lane is unhappy because we asked about the multitude of certified packages he receives!
Stuff my son sends me from Iraq.
A way to avoid that is to have the package go key to key. It's the same way they handle forensic material. At each hand-off someone has to sign for the package. Desk to carrier to delivery truck to plane to receiving station to delivery person to destination. Package automatically insured but absolutely traceable at each change of hands and is a lot cheaper and you can almost guarantee delivery.
Bob Sr CEO Fieldtechs
really? I think it is hard to believe that they would be professional and mind their own business. USPS has always pried too much in my experience
That same strategy is used to transport gold from at least one of the major Northern Nevada gold mining operations to Salt Lake City where it is refined. Multiple Brinks trucks leave the mine, but only one is loaded with the gold.
When asked a question like this, silence can be quite instructive.
"it belongs to Mr. Wallace and I don't think Mr. Wallace would appreciate you asking about his business."
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]
Was asked years ago, is it a business or a hobby?
I gave her a long stern glare, was never asked again!
I usually have a short answer prepared should I be asked - which has happened twice. I do like the stool sample answer though, will have to try that one...hmmm well, would that be considered hazardous material?
OK... My last prepared answer was "My DNA sample - tracing my heritage." She said "It is heavy." I said "I have a very long heritage." 
The look on her face was priceless.... Cheers, RickO
The Hobbits at the gate to Bree, en route to the Prancing Pony (where they meet 'Strider' aka Aragorn for the first time):
"Our business is our own."
Kind regards,
George
I had to go pick up a sig package last year with a roll of something from apmex in them and the lady at the counter said 'what's in this, silver or coins'. I said plumbing supplies but nonya, nonya business.
I don't get any questions since the last rifle I bought was just shipped in a gun case with tape around it.
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I remember decades ago, getting out
of a Taxi on my way to a show, and
the driver, trying to be nice, grabbed
my heavy briefcase - he said to me
"Whatcha got in there, Gold?", and I
quickly replied "No, I'm a brick salesman,
and I have three samples inside".
That seemed to keep him happy.
Automated machine in the lobby asked me today, "Is there anything thick in the envelope like a coin"??
You don't benefit from widely disseminating the knowledge you've got coins, instead you'll increase the chance of becoming a target for criminals, aside from it being a privacy issue. That also goes for telling postal employees about your coins, the main subject of this thread. Even if totally innocent themselves, postal employees are often chatty, at the counter, in the back rooms, and when not at work.
But the US mint is flagrantly guilty of betraying its customers in that regard. If you order anything from the mint, you'll receive their flyers in the mail, announcing to postal employees you're a coin collector.
It doesn't matter if you've called the Mint repeatedly over the years, as I've done, and also emailed them many times to stop all mailings. It doesn't matter if you already receive their advertisements by email a couple times a week. They will still continue to send out their lousy flyers by regular mail no matter what you do.
It also doesn't matter they are wasting paper, printing costs and postage, then passing those extra costs onto their customers.
We need to confront the incompetent US Mint bureaucracy on this issue. Incompetent is a mild word for them.
Our new mail carrier is very nice, but is as old as Mr. Magoo and unfortunately shares the same quality of eyesight.
I'll usa a fictitious address...........if mine is 2135 pine street, I always get the mail going to 2315 pine street.
Also, I was asked to sign for two packages once, that had the incorrect address and name!!
A call to my local post office was in order where the misdeed was duly noted.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
I have the same carrier 90% of the time. Have for years. At Christmas I give him a card with money for a nice lunch. I've talked coins with him and even evaluated his coin folders from years ago. I've opened PCGS, CAC and NGC boxes he's delivered to share the experience.
If push came to shove and he saw someone unfamiliar running out my back door, I'm certain he has my back.
You gotta trust someone.
No ya don’t!
Trust no one
TDN's carrier also "carries" a UZI.
As well as a MAGA cap.
Make America Gem Again?
I have been asked a couple of times when stuff has showed up and I just tell them geologic samples as a standard answer. Easy enough and not something that a dishonest person would pine for I think.
K
Diamonds. Noooo, don't tell them that one. Bad answer....in fact there are lots of bad answers. Gold, Platinum, Silver, Palladium, all bad bad answers. The stool sample is a good answer! Car parts is another good answer!! Yep, finally got my 2.5 dual carburetor ring lift !!!!!
All those cute excuses flop when your gaudy coin catalog arrives from the Mint.
Probably a good time to look into a UPS Store Postal Box. They take deliveries from all carriers including the US Postal Service plus you get a street address and not a PO Box address like the post office offers. I don't use one currently but my wife has been bugging me to get one if I start seeing off my coins.
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That's what it's all about. I delivered to the same route for 20 years. Saw the kids grow up. Went to funerals, wakes, etc. Looked out for the older people. Bought stamps for shut ins.
That is what I consider to be the LEAST a good Mailman should do for his customers.
I can not say that is the same today. Probably for the older Carriers. Now, it's just bid on or bid off routes depending on the best "deal".
Sad.
Pete
I’ve been asked a few times when shipping insured packages. Very annoying. I just say ‘electronics’.
Dave
And you said, "No, I'm just extra happy today"?
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
This thread turned out funny! I Absolutley Love my mailman...I treat him like he’s part of the family...Ice cold Gatorade on overly hot days and always an envelope on Christmas for him
Always an envelope for him?? Soooo, what's in the envelope?
Anything thick, like a coin?......couldn't resist.
My mail carrier is a good egg. My dog likes her and she likes my dog. As part of her route, she drives by my street twice after she delivers on it. If she had a package that needed to be signed for, and I wasn't home from work when she delivered, she will look to see if my car is in the driveway as she passes. If it is, she will come back around to get me to sign. Has saved me about 2 dozen trips to the PO. I imagine she is aware of what is in the packages and I am not concerned. She gets a gift card at Christmas for her good work.