Received my first return to sender package yesterday.(6/28)  Before I knew enough about filling out customs forms I checked return to sender in the redirect box to box. 

 This package was mailed in early April to Iraq.  According to notations on the box the intended recipient was transferred, apparently left a forwarding address, and an attempt by some probably always unknown wise and wonderful militry postal person sttempted to forward the package to him despite my having checked return to sender on the customs form which was quite mashed in it's little plastic envelope and perhaps unreadable by the military postal person? ( How's that for a run on sentence?)

No postage was due for the returned package - mailed priority/air, insured - a feature of priority is no charge for forwarding or return as stated on USPS web site.

Package is in remarkably good shape considering it has been through two mail systems and made a round trip to the Iraqi desert over the course of two and a half months in the little Walmart brown box equivalent of the USPS non-shirt flat rate box.

My contact had been removed from the list -- worry time -- so now I know he was transferred - sigh of relief  --  military mail angel attempted the forward (God bless him) - and I can check out survival of package contents.

All in all some positive results.

ann

 

Ann,

I am not sure that most of them even know to check the box for instructions because we have never checked return to sender, and we have received 3 packages back overall.

In the beginning (2005), we made sure we had a full alternative address (another contact) to send the package to, but the handler paid no attention to it.  They did try to forward the first package, but sent it back to us rather than sending to the alternate address we wrote in. 

Then there's the package that followed a unit who redeployed before their posted date, and our package was actually forwarded to their base in the US.  We received an email from the recipient. That was a funny one!  At least that one was snacks they could enjoy anywhere they were.

It must have to do with the military way of doing things being different from traditional mailing situations.  That's all I can figure.

Gran

Gran:

It must have to do with the military way of doing things being different from traditional mailing situations.  That's all I can figure.

I received a brown envelope with pictures and a little souviener from a contact....three months after he had returned home! The envelope had oil or grease stains on it which had soaked through but luckily didn't ruin the pictures which were doubled wrapped. The bad thing was I had no way of letting him know I received the envelope. I think maybe the envelope must have got caught or fallen under some machinery.

We received an unusual piece of mail about two years ago. 

We had heard about a truck load of "government" mail (a contract hauler I think it was) being overturned and burned somewhere between Memphis and Little Rock, but at that time we didn't receive social security checks, so it wasn't of immediate concern to us. 

A little while later we received a letter inside a remail envelope with a window that showed the original envelope with our address.  It was clearly a letter that had been bundled in with other mail and all the edges were charred, but it got to us.  Wouldn't you know that it was a reply letter from a contact, and had gone through the inferno with only charred edges since it was protected by the other mail around it. 

 We could read all except the part where it was creased and the edge was burned.  It was dripping ash, but the mail carrier handled it with care so as to salvage it as well as they could.

That was amazing to me that they were able to salvage mail from that fire.

Gran

I regularly send out 6x9 bubble mailer packages, in between sending large packages. I sent out a lot of them in January (for Valentine's Day) and February (for Easter) with cards and a few snacks.

I got one back today that was mailed on 15 January to one of my regulars in Afghanistan. It had a few different things stamped on it, but none of them were legible. But the condition of the package really threw me for a loop: there was a hole chewed in the corner, and when I opened it up and dumped out the contents, it was obvious a rodent had gotten to it. There had been a salted nut roll candy bar which was totally gone except for the wrapper; some Lindt dark chocolate squares which were gone but for a few crumbs; a fruit leather that was half chewed; a few envelopes of hot chocolate that was turned into dust and bits of paper; even the pack of hand warmers was chewed on. The most disgusting thing was that there were actually droppings in the package!

I don't know where the package was, and why it never got delivered - the soldier was a regular and got the other all of the other things I sent over the past year - but apparently it was enjoyed! If not by someone, then by something! 

Jennifer...ewwww!!!!!!!!!....I haven't had but one package returned to me and that was because I transposed two numbers in the zip...I have however received a mailer from a contact...long after he had re-deployed...it some thank you items in it and pictures.The envelope was oil spotted and greasy feeling and smelled bad...no telling where it was but it must have gotten stuck in a truck somewhere. There were oil mark stais on the contents also...The sad part was that in my last communication with the contact I had told him I hadn't received it....and then I didn't have a way to contact him letting him know I finally did get it....about two months after it was sent!....

I actually got a pkg I sent to Chris Dunn (for Easter) returned.  It was marked RTS (return to sender...I only know that from working in the USPS for 21 years).  I was soooo mad.  The package was in good shape and I don't believe it ever left the US.  I say that, cause if it did, and it wasn't addressed correctly it would have gone to "local chaplain" (as we are instructed to put on the package).  I figure some postal clerk at the APO didn't like the "anysoldier" line and sent it back......cause that was crossed out.    I resent it and fussed........cause I refused to repay for it to get there (as there was nothing wrong with his address).  Chris got it in a week (but after Easter).

Your story is a lot "yuckier" than mine..........It does make you wonder where things end up.   And trust me....all those years at the USPS.........I can certainly share some "yucky" details toooooo............but I'll spare all of you.   

Love peace and blessings............Anne Marie

I went to the PO today to mail some more packages and the clerk saw me in line and said "I'm glad your here.  A package got returned to you."  When it was my turn she talked with some of the other clerks and was told to have me write a new address label to redirect it to my alternate contact that was listed on the customs form.  I hope this was an okay thing to do.  They were trying to be helpful in not having to recharge me to send the box.  I didn't get to inspect it much other than to ask them to retape a corner that was splitting open.  Do you think it will make it to my alternate?  My concern is that the customs form is made out to the first contact and is probably already missing some of its sheets from its first try, but to put a new customs form on it would require me to be charged as sending a new package.  Good thing it was only hygeine items.

What happens to the package if the box "Treat as Abandon" is checked?

 

I do not want any packages coming back to me so I just check treat as abandon and under instructions I write

"Give to Any Soldier".   Do you think my instructions will be followed?

 

"GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA"

Since the post office doesn't accept mail sent to anysolder, I wouldn't put that in the redirect address.  

 It is better to put "Chaplain or Commander" and the same address in the redirect.  I also look up someone with the same zip code that is looking for similar items and use them for the redirect.

I have no idea what happens to it if you put abandon.  Maybe the postal workers take it and use it or give it to someone who doesn't get packages.

In the past, I have written on the box and said.  "Do not return to sender. If soldier has redeployed, please give to commander to redistribute." 

If you mail priority mail, they will not charge you to return it, but if it is parcel post, they will charge you, so this makes it doubly important to put a redirect address on it.

For what's it's worth....when I send boxes (always flat rate/priority mail) I mark them 'return to sender'. That way I will get it back (not that I want it!) but at least I will then have an idea WHY it didn't make it to the contact (wrong address, customs form filled out wrong etc). Out of many dozens of boxes I have sent, only 3 came back and in every case it was my mistake (I forgot a line on either the box or the customs form).

As to 'redirecting' the package...I was told by my local post office that I have to write an entire address with a specific name (not just 'chaplain' or 'commander') in the 'redirect to address below' spot on the form. Since I don't know who that would be I always check 'return to sender'. Of course if you can get your post office to accept the form with just 'chaplain or commander', well, more power to you! It's clear the individual post offices sometimes apply the rules differently.

zippy:

For what's it's worth....when I send boxes (always flat rate/priority mail) I mark them 'return to sender'. That way I will get it back (not that I want it!) but at least I will then have an idea WHY it didn't make it to the contact (wrong address, customs form filled out wrong etc).

 

That's why I check 'Return to Sender' as well.  I've had 2 packages returned about 3 months after they were sent.

Now I am moving. If another package is returned to my old address, will it get forwarded to my new address?

Also, I never check 'Abandon' because the package then has no chance of getting to someone who could use it.

zippy:

As to 'redirecting' the package...I was told by my local post office that I have to write an entire address with a specific name (not just 'chaplain' or 'commander') in the 'redirect to address below' spot on the form.

 

that's what i was told on monday when i mailed out 3 boxes.  of course, this guy wasnt the guy who is normally there so i think i go back and ask the regular guy how to handle it. 

amelia

Yesterday a soldier told me to try "give to the new unit at this address".  My contact told me they weren't allowed to open packages not addressed to them.

 I had 30 boxes come back from Afghanistan...you should see the pile.  Somewhere in their travels some got "re wrapped"  by the Navy in Bahrain.    They all indicated to go to the chaplain but since the entire unit got moved early somehow they went to Camp Lejuene before coming back.  I have no understanding of why they came back.  I dont know if I really want to start checking return to sender especially with all the sudden troops movements going on.

 

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Class: Priority Mail^®
Service(s): Delivery Confirmation^™
Status: Delivered

  Detailed Results:

	Delivered, July 31, 2009, 8:48 am, RICHLAND, NJ 08350
	Forwarded, July 28, 2009, 9:25 am, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
	Arrival at Unit, July 07, 2009, 12:18 pm, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC 28547
	Notice Left, July 07, 2009, 5:52 am, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC 28542
	Processed through Sort Facility, July 02, 2009, 11:11 am, BETHPAGE, NY 11714
	Processed through Sort Facility, June 17, 2009, 5:57 am, KEARNY, NJ 07032
	Processed through Sort Facility, June 15, 2009, 4:22 pm, BETHPAGE, NY 11714
	Processed through Sort Facility, June 04, 2009, 7:27 am, KEARNY, NJ 07032
	Processed through Sort Facility, June 02, 2009, 2:14 pm, BETHPAGE, NY 11714
	Processed through Sort Facility, May 09, 2009, 4:28 am, KEARNY, NJ 07032
	Processed through Sort Facility, May 08, 2009, 9:48 pm, SWEDESBORO, NJ 08085
	Electronic Shipping Info Received, May 07, 2009