Post Office Stories

Wrong Address

Leanna — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:27:41 GMT

Oh no! I totally forgot that my contact (Danny rogers) posted that their address had changed and sent off a package yesterday. I am hoping it will get forwarded - advice anyone?

Charge for Returned Boxes?

SupportTheTroopsNJ — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:56:13 GMT

Customs form says "Items returned to sender a subject to return charges at the owner's expense" Has anyone out there acutally been charged?

RE:Returned Package

ann — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:56:52 GMT

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

Leaking packages...

IamKeiserSoze — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:49:57 GMT

I sent off my first soldier boxes today, 3 in all, and had no problems with the USPS employee at all. She skimmed over the label which had ATTN: ANYSOLDIER(TM) in the attention line and said nothing. So woohoo! Small victory. I was worried about that.

The problem I ran into was completely MY FAULT! After reading so many of the lists, I decided to send my gals and guys some little CoffeeMate creamers (liquid) and I put them in a ziploc bag in case they leaked. Well... I, the genius, also put plastic forks, knives and spoons in the ziploc too. Imagine my surprise when the postal employee shows me her wet, sticky hands and says, "What do you have in here?" After turning 10 shades of red in front of a full post office at lunchtime, I cut the box open and found that the forks had punctured the ziploc, which was holding at least one crushed, leaking creamer cup. *embarrassed!!* I took the whole bag of leaky stuff out and resealed the box. The boxes are now on their way!

*Lesson Learned = no sharp things with potentially leaky things!*

Good luck and have fun everyone! Keep up the good work :)

Jenny/IamKeiserSoze

Package was delivered to wrong captain

Esmerelda — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:51:19 GMT

I just got a very nice email from a soldier yesterday thanking me for the box and how much he and his soldiers were enjoying it....some of them were playing with the dominoes even as he wrote. But I couldn't figure out who he was.. his name was not familiar. I finally realized what happened. I actually sent it to a female captain who has the same last name and somehow it got delivered to him instead! I'm guessing they're both in the same area.

I'm not saying anything to the surprise captain because I don't want him to feel bad or unwanted or whatever. As much as it sounds like they appreciated and enjoyed the box I'd rather have them think it was intended for them. The letter I wrote was to 'Captain Same-last-name' so I'm sure it looked like it was to him. So I'll just add his group to my list and send them some more. The funny thing is that since I sent it to women, it was full of tampax and finger nail polish and foofy girly stuff! ::laughs:: I'll make the next one more manly.

Now I've got to remail to that first captain. This time I'll make the first name really, really clear!

Edited to add:

I just talked to my daughter on the phone who had put a letter of her own in the box. She heard from the surprise captain, too, only he told her who he was. He's the husband of the addressee! ::laughs:: Never mind!

Edited

Great PO service

USKiwi — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:42:10 GMT

Hi,
I have a great local PO. I recently moved to a different part of the city and live a 5minute walk from the PO. I previously had bad experiences at my old PO. This new one is great. If the manager serves me he makes a big fuss over the parcels being sent and often gives me 'leftover' stamps and things. I have even been able to jump the line to be served. I have not had a problem at all. It's been a pleasure to go there.

Christmas package came back home :( :UPDATE:

kakwajeep — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:35:03 GMT

One of those days. :( One of the boxes that I sent 14 November came back to me yesterday (10 January 2009). It takes a month to get from Canada to Iraq. And that's Express post. (which cost substantially more, regular post takes 2 months to get to Iraq so Express post is the only method I use and it's trackable). I wanted to make sure that the guys and their dogs (it's a K9 unit) got Christmas this year as it is my contacts second Christmas in a row that he's been deployed.

It started with that lovely notice in the mail for a parcel. I noticed that there was a payment needed notice on it. I was wondering who sent a package collect since I've received all that was ordered for Christmas. The moment I saw the package at the post office my heart sank. I remembered that 15 days after I had mailed the packages ( I sent two that day and three the day before to his address) that my contact had been transferred to another location.

There is always the hope that if our contacts are relocated that someone .....Attn: AnyMarine.......can use the box and it hasn't made the trip unnecessarily. The box had FWD and some other writing on it I didn't understand but it still came back to me. I guess the sadest thing about the situation is the box contains the guys Christmas stockings and their gifts. That means they didn't get them for Christmas.

The ladies at the post office couldn't figure out either why the box was returned when the Attn:AnyMarine was on it under my contacts name. To top it off the post office charged me $69.80 to get this box back. It cost $66.48 to send this one box. Total for the one box comes out to $136.28. I left fuming. There's no sense in yelling at the ladies at the post office b/c it's not their fault. One of the postal ladies gave me the customer service number and told me to call them to get my money back.

Question: The box is starting to fall apart. Should I repackage the Christmas stockings and their gifts and send it to his new address or just select the stuff that isn't Christmas, eg: hand warmers, wool socks, toques, etc and send those?

This is the only box out of those 5 boxes sent that has returned. (so far) (This is actually my first box in 4 1/2 years that has ever returned). If the box is repackaged and mailed on Monday it will be Valentines Day before they get it. I guess I could change the Christmas stuff and put in candy hearts etc..............that sounds like a good idea. Send the gifts and the stocking stuffers with Valentines gift bags and explain to my contact what has happened. (I've mentioned the parcels since in letters to him).

You all are so great to talk to. Thank you for helping me try to figure this out. Thank you for setting such great examples of giving and support.

Any ideas, suggestions or comments greatly appreciated. :)

:UPDATE:

All the parcels that I sent for Christmas on 13, 14 November 2008 have returned home. I used the motomail method to send a note to our contact and it says, no such address listed (same as his old address when I tried writing him). I'm not sure whether his address is correct or not. Or whether the 9 was supposed to be a 6 instead at his new address. (There is a place with the 6 in the address instead of a 9 - as listed on the AS). I might be having another couple of boxes returned if the new address is not correct. This is frustrating......on the positive side...I have everything to send for next years Christmas contacts (I'll put in fresh Gingerbread house kits, cookies, candies and chocolates though). ;)

The post office only charged me $8.00 per box this time to take them back instead of $69.80. That was better. I'll look for another small unit while I wait to find out what his address really is.

Is there a way to send magazines or newspapers cheaply?

ReadingRabbit — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:22:42 GMT

If it has advertising, the p.o. says it isn't media??! ONLY the p.o. would claim that a newspaper or magazine isn't media! You think we could do anything to get them to change that??

I used to be able to send magazines cheaper, at least, by using "bound printed matter" (newspapers didn't qualify because they're not "bound") but with the last (March 2008?) rate change they changed the rules so only institutions can use that. So now all that's left is priority mail??! I read you all extolling the virtues of flat rate boxes, but being in CT, I'm so close to the NY APO that they are NOT usually cheaper than using the NON-flat-rate boxes. However I saw someone mentioned something about a military discount which I did NOT know about, I guess I'll have to check that out. I did email the postmaster (my local one, I think) about allowing newspapers and magazines to go media mail if it's to a military address, as a way of supporting the troops, and I got a response that I'd describe as "open to the idea but don't hold my breath." They've kinda forced me into just occasionally slipping one or 2 magazines into a box of books & not writing it on the customs form (& hoping they don't pick that one to open & check or that they let it go because it's only a magazine & it's going to the troops). I used to subscribe to a bunch of magazines JUST to send to the troops (you can get some REALLY cheaply at www.magazinepricesearch.com) but I can't afford to keep sending heavy priority boxes.

Funny PO story, especially if you're a crafter

colourful — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:21:06 GMT

So, yesterday I went to the PO with a dolly-full of boxes. Just as I get to the front of the line, one of the 2 clerks goes on break, but no biggie, I'm the only one in line. The guy waiting on me is just Mr Chatty lately----I think he finally figured out what I'm doing! He's Asian and has a heavy accent, I wonder sometimes if he understood when I told him what was in all my boxes.

Anyhow---he starts getting yakky with me, and I'm straining to understand what he's saying through the heavy accent. He kept saying something about crickets that would help me with my cards. I thought maybe he really WAS still confused about the cards or something. But it turns out he got his wife a Cricut for Christmas and HE has been playing with it. He thinks it's the coolest thing!! ROFL! "You need one, make more cards, you gotta get cricket!!!" (For non-crafters reading this, it's a die-cutting machine!)

By the time we were done and he finished chatting, we had 5 angry people behind me...lol....so I yelled a hearty thank you from the troops as I left so people would at least maybe show the guy a little grace when they got to the counter. :)

Very quick Delivery!!!!

USKiwi — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:57:10 GMT

Last weekend (Saturday after the last pickup for delivery) I sent a parcel to a Marine who was requesting specific Christmas gifts for his sailors and marines. I got an email Tuesday morning to say he had received the parcel. Three days!!!!
My parcels don't get to my family in New Zealand that quick.

It is a small world, after all!

Heidi — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:46:46 GMT

Ok, it is a post office story. I run in to my local and usual post office, to mail off my quilt squares, feeling odd at not having any boxes or customs forms. What do I see in front of me-except for an endless line? A woman with one of the new APO flat rate boxes. I wasn't looking-really! But I saw Anysoldier written on her box. I HAD to say something! How ironic, I had just thought about seeing how much a table and tent would cost at our Springtime festival, and now I have a partner in plotting! How fun is that!!

SO Hi! You know who you are!

So you never know who you are going to meet at the post office! And we have a mutual friend too! Life is too funny!

Heidi

How to make friends and influence clerks (lol)

colourful — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:33:32 GMT

My own PO has been, for the most part, fabulous. Many times I've gone in with a lot of boxes, held up lines, etc, but clerks have not bugged me. I feel SO blessed given the struggles some others have.

I've been conscious of how much work I make for them, though; I know when I come in with a dolly-full, the line piles up behind me, then they have a pile of unhappy campers behind me, etc. So a couple things I do extra-consciously:

Smile and say hello. I'm aware that sometimes my 'nonexpression' on my face---or what I think is no expression---can come across grumbly or irritated. So I pull pollyanna out of my pocket!
Greet the clerk by name. They wear nametags, so I use them! I chat a little, and jot a note to myself about anything they say---if they talk about their kids, I can ask how Josh did in the football game, etc.
Have allllll my paperwork complete before going in. I know the junkies probably all do that already!
Acknowledge their job is tough and I appreciate them. Today I treated the clerks to 2dozen cookies and a thank you card. They barely looked at the card and dove into the sweets, lol. One of them looked across at me and said, "You're a real nice American. You even care about us." I'm not sure if that's true, but a little quasi-bribery goes a long way to soften a heart to help us in what we do!
Order my supplies online when I can. They always offer me boxes and forms and labels, but I try to keep up with my needs by ordering online. And I let them know I do that to make their day go easier.
Have some blank cards on hand so they can write to the troops too. I often tell them I'll pick theirs up next week when I'm in, and they sometimes do come through---and they are more 'invested' in what I do since their notes go in them too.
Share a huge and hearty thank you FROM THE TROOPS. I remind them that they're not helping me, they're helping our nation's heroes. And I try to do so loudly enough that the people in line behind me hear that it's for the troops. It engenders a lot of patience! And often a conversation or two as I'm leaving, as well.

This kind of stuff can be really hard if you have a grumpy PO to deal with, and if you've had bad experiences with them in the past....but a good relationship is hard to beat. My clerks go the extra mile for me, regularly making recommendatinos and offering help, etc. Try to pick one thing (or come up with something that works for you) and give it a shot next time you go in! Even if it's just a thankyou card for them to post on the breakroom bulletin board.

(I'm considering asking the supervisor there if I can have a table there some Saturday to have customers sign cards...another way to build a bridge so they know what I'm doing and for whom!)

Norm the postal clerk

colourful — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:57:58 GMT

Norm made me cry today.

My postal clerks are, as I know, a rarity. They are SO nice, uber-helpful, never a word of complaint about my boxes. And ALL of them are nice, so it's a culture they have going. We even have people from neighboring areas who come to our PO to do business because their own are not too kindly.

Well today Norm surprised me even more. He processed my two LFRBs, did all the paperwork, stamped it all, etc, and as I was reaching for the debit machine---he grabbed the machine, turned it to face himself, and swiped his OWN card. "I've been wanting to help for some time, and today's the day. I watch you ship out so many boxes every week...and this is the least I can do." I was so caught off guard I started crying!

The man being waited on next to me was a man I know, or should I say I know who he is but he doesn't know me. His son was KIA earlier this summer, and I've been in Bible study with his wife for a couple years. And I started sending LOTS of care packages to his son's unit in the last couple months. Well, when he looked over at me with tears in my eyes over what Norm had done, he noticed the "Cards for Heroes" stickers on my boxes----and HE thanked ME. Fercryingoutloud, I was already a wreck, now to have a retired Marine thank me and shake MY hand when HE is the one I should be tripping over myself to help?

To say the least...this was a banner day for me. I've never been more motivated to keep on going.

I Need To Move

purgatory263 — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:39:51 GMT

I need to move to a different zip code, because my stories about the post office are mostly bad. One postal employee, who has repeatedly been inconsiderate with the public, for whatever reason measured one of my boxes. The dimensions printed on the box were within spec but the box actually measured 1/4" too much overall (not each side but all three sides total) and I was charged extra for shipping an oversize package.

At one time it was believed some packages to one unit or area were being stolen. One soldier wasn't even getting packages from her mom. It was recommended that boxes be shipped "Insured". I subsequently sent four boxes insured, one to that unit. Yep. It worked. It insured all four packages were lost/stolen. They were mailed on four different days to four different addresses and there was absolutely no record of where any of them went after I dropped them off.

New Post Office

Mags — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:09:45 GMT

I must admit that I had been spoiled by my previous post office employees. When I walked in they knew my name and were so helpful, even when I had several boxes they would come out to the car and help me carry them in. Unfortunatly, we moved for my husbands job, the new employees are hateful and as robotic as can be. One of them even questioned what I had in the package. That went through me like a slap in the face. So I ask him if he would like to open it up and check it out, but after it was opened he would have to repack it. Of course he declined. I was sympathic to all who had encountered such acts but never really understood. Now I do. My biggest problem is keeping my mouth shut, which we know will only make matters worse.

Another day at the PO

colourful — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 03:00:39 GMT

Sometimes I feel like I could tell a post office story every day. (Coz it feels like I go there every day!)

Today I actually wasn't mailing boxes---I was mailing out cardmaking supplies donated by companies for our efforts. Anyway. Loonnngggg line ahead of me. I suddenly realised that I am now thinking like a postal worker....is that a side effect of being an AS junkie?

I noticed two people ahead of me with slips to pick up mail. I directed them to the willcall window.
A lady was reading the display showing a large FRB, which oddly didnt list the shipping price. Seeing her puzzled look, I told her $12.95 except for military addresses which are $2 less. She asked what the boxes cost, etc, and I gave her the website to order online since our PO can't seem to keep the large ones in stock. Happy camper, left the line in front of me.
A lady from my church was ahead of me in line too - happens to be prepping for our church's mlitary care package packing day - and needed customs forms. I directed her to just ask my friend Norm and not wait in line. She asked which forms, and I pointed to Norm's stack, and he gave her what she needed. She came over to me to ask questions about the form. She left. Another happy camper.
By now the lady in front of me in line had a puzzled look on her face. She noticed I was slowly picking off everyone in front of us, and was quite pleased. She asked further questions about military packages, and I gave her a brochure for my org (note to self, insert an AS card in each one I keep in my purse!!)....we chatted til it was our turns in line.

I left the PO and all of these ladies were standing outside. And the lady who had been right in front of me was talking and laughing with them all. She motioned me over.

"One blessing leads to another!" she shouted. "Get over here, girlfriend!"

It turns out an elderly lady was just getting to the PO and only wanted one stamp, and asked this lady if she could buy one from her. She gave them one for free, she said since I cleared out the line in front of us, she saw that as me doing a favor for her and was paying it forward. And ended up chatting with all these ladies about what a friendly post office we have, and that they should each go out and do something unexpectedly nice for someone else. None of them knew each other except me and the woman from my church....til today. :)

It might not have been a postal worker story, but man. I left that place feeling so darned good!! Gotta love America.

Address oops!

luckypennies — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:52:24 GMT

I just had to share with you all my silliness, I'm laughing over this to myself at my computer. I sent a parcel by Canada Post to a soldier about 2 weeks ago, and heard back a couple days ago saying they had received it. I had a great e-mail from them, and I was amazed that it took only 12 days to get a parcel through customs, into another country and then all the way to Iraq. I got a call today from a friend thanking me for a card I sent at the same time - it just arrived today. The card was in the same province and usually only takes one day to arrive, but because I put the wrong postal code on it, it was delayed two weeks. My absentmindedness somehow made a parcel travelling a few thousand miles arrive sooner than a card only going about a hundred miles. Oops! I had a good laugh about it though.

"Local Chaplain" on Customs Form

Dawn in Maryland — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 02:33:11 GMT

For those of you that have actually wondered if putting "Local Chaplain" in the "Sender's Instructions in Case of Nondelivery" box of the Customs form actually works....

I had my first evidence that is DOES work this week! I sent a last minute package about a month and a half ago to a contact, knowing that I was taking my chances about whether or not the package would get there before they left. Well, I did find out that the package DID NOT get to the contact there in time.

Since I knew there was a chance it might not get to the original contact, I put a self addressed card in the box with a sticky note telling whoever got the box to enjoy the contents, but asking that they put my card in the mail so I would know if SOMEONE got the box.

Well...I got the card back this week, so that means that someone did get the box and enjoy it. I remember I actually put the words "Local Chaplain" and the zip code in that box.

Has anyone else ever had luck with this?

An awesome show of American spirit at the PO

colourful — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:47:16 GMT

The postal clerks have started asking me about each of the boxes I send, what branch each is going to, what country, etc, and I try to have a little tidbit to share about each hero represented by a box. I send out enough that it really helps "secure" them in my mind more to tell someone else about them.

So I was once again at the PO today, and was mailing two boxes to the former unit of a deceased marine from my town. The clerk asked who they were for, and I told her, and she said, "Oh, for Michael's unit???" It turns out he was well known there, since during HS he had helped his mom with her business and came to the PO a lot. They know his mom and dad by name too. The clerk said she's had a flag flying at her house in Michael's honor every day since he was lost. And as everyone started talking about it, someone in line piped up that they went to high school with him. And it just felt like one giant love-fest for one of our brave young men!

It made the long line WELL worth waiting in. :)

a nice post office employee

ABCgal — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:44:45 GMT

Today I went to a post office near work, to send off a large but light package to a contact (chips). The post office employee was really knowledgeable and helpful. He inquired whether my contact was on active duty and where this APO address was. I told him it's in Iraq. The employee got really concerned looking, so I mentioned that actually they'll be home soon. He then smiled and said, "oh, then that is good."

A Post Office Funny...I guess you had to be there!

Dawn in Maryland — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:58:11 GMT

This was to funny, I had to share. I'm also wondering if any of you have had similar experiences.

The other afternoon I told my co-workers that I was going to run out to the Post Office "really" quick. The post office is only 5 minutes away, and since I took a very short lunch, I decided to wait until late afternoon when I knew that the post office wouldn't be busy. So...I hop in my car and off to the post office I go. Well, I get to the post office and the first thing I do is try to grab my purse from the seat next to me and noticed that it wasn't there. Oops! forgot it at the office. Well, one of the guys I work with had handed me some money going out the door for one of our work "collections", so I had that. I scrounged around my car, and along with my little change purse I keep in the door of the car, I was pretty sure that I had enough money to send the box. So. I put all the money I had into the little change purse and gathered up the box, tape, customs form and label. I hadn't sealed the box earlier because there was something I needed to put in the box. Instead of sealing the box in my car, I figured it would be easier to take it in and seal it. So, carrying the box, and balancing everything else, I headed into the post office. Since the box was a "used" box,and not one of the priority boxes I normally use, I spent a little extra time putting extra tape all over the box to make sure it was sealed. Needless to say, I sealed it good!!! Then, since I forgot my priority labels as well, I asked the postal guy if he had some I could use to put on my "non" priority box. Well, he gave me a "hard time" ... and then finally GAVE me a whole roll of priority label stickers!! So...I put priority label stickers all over my box. THEN... I went to gather my stuff up and take the box to the counter...and...oops!! I forgot the change purse in my car. So I asked "my friend" the postal guy if I could leave my box on the counter and go to my car to get my change purse... You GUESSED IT! The change purse wasn't in my car! Oh no!! So...hanging my head real low...I had to go back in the post office to ask my favorite postal clerk if he had a pair of scissors I could borrow. Once I had the scissors I neatly cut through all of my beautiful layers of packing tape to open the box and find my change purse neatly bubble wrapped and perfectly fit into the open space in the top of my box!!! I'm sure that my postal guy had a fun story to tell his co-workers...

Delivery times

RGG — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:59:14 GMT

Hi Ya'll!!!

I just had to share this with you...I talked with my son yesterday. Ok, instant messaged but that's perfectly wonderful when he's in Iraq...I'd be thrilled to hear from him by carrier pigeon.

ANYWAY...the reason I wanted to tell you this was because he had received a box from his grandmother. That's nothing new but I was trying to remember when she had mailed it to check on "mail times" these days. I discovered when she mailed the package...THAT PACKAGE HAD ARRIVED IN SIX DAYS!!! No, not kidding. I couldn't believe it!! With all the mail hitting that area right now, I thought that was amazing. Actually it's amazing at any time. It takes that long for mail to get from Tennessee to Texas...

Just wanted to share!!!

Oh, and Nathan says Merry Christmas to you all and thanks for your continued support of our military personnel!!

Merry Christmas from me, too!!!

Reta

Lemme See What You Pack!

timjm_82 — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:36:01 GMT

Well, I come from a very, very small town (pop. 250ish) with a small PO, and my church youth group kids are supporting 6 troops through AnySoldier. The first time I took our packages to the Post Office, our then-Postmaster, was so fascinated in this effort she wanted to see what kind of things we packaged up for them and asked if I would be kind enough to open a box for her just to see what sort of things we put in, even though the customs form clearly stated it. Well, at first I was a little upset in this, but then I figured it was harmless, so I ripped one open and dumped it all out for her "inspection". Id rather me doing it instead of her "sneaking" while just sitting there for the day before mail went out. She was so impressed with the contents it made her cry! I thought I shouldn't be doing this, but after I did I was happy I allowed her to see. Afterward, she gave me $20 to help with our next care packages we sent. She was transferred to another PO closer to her home after getting sick, but she always calls me to ask how everything is going with the care packages and since has been sending items through a contact of her own. She was the most AWESOME postmaster ever.

Extreme details on customs form

zoanna — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:53:26 GMT

Yesterday I took a package to the PO. Nothing new. It had lots of different items. Nothing new. I had filled out the customs form in detail. Again, nothing new. This particular PO is a "test site" for the Dept of Homeland Security and wants extreme details on the customs form.

This is new.

And irritating.

Let me explain. I must have had 13 different kinds of things, from candy to magazines to Dominoes. I wrote those things on the form. Clerk asks, "want insurance?" I say yes. "Want delivery confirmation?" I say no. She hits the wrong button by mistake, thinking I had said "no" on insurance. The computer didn't ask for any more details. But then I corrected her and said I wanted insurance. So she went back and punched in "yes." The computer than asks for the weight of every single item. "How much does a magazine weigh, about 2 ounces?" she asks. "The Dominoes, heavy? A pounnd?" Probably. And so it went for almost a half hour on my ONE box. Thankfully that's all I had!

She said next time I might want to go to the PO in the next town. They aren't a test site. I say I probably will but it's discouraging, I tell her, to have to go thru this much to get a package to a soldier.

"I agree," she said. "What'll happen is people will stop sending things, or at least so frequently. Why don't you call the 800 number and express your dislike for the extreme details?"

"I will," I said. "This won't stop me from sending packages, but I hate to make eye contact with anyone behind me in line!"

It's only till May 10th, this testing, she said. "Next time I come here it'll just be with two sets of twin sheets and some beef jerky," I joked, "after weighing each item on my own postal scale."

I could hear other customers tittering.

A nasty postal employee

Diana — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:04:35 GMT

Hi All,

Yesterday I made my weekly trip into my normal post office lugging my 2 boxes which were very light (9 pounds and 11 pounds) in comparison with some others I have sent. Before I even sat it on the counter, the woman postal clerk told me I need to start coming later in the day, not to come in the mornings anymore. I asked why and she said because NORMALLY I have more than 2 packages. I said yes I do but this is a light trip all the while trying to keep things light because two hot heads lead to trouble. She also stated that my packages are way too heavy. That it takes 2 to 3 of them to lift my packages I bring in. Now mind you, I have sent some packages that were 50 pounds BUT they were mailed from the big main post office which has about 80 employees and truck dollies etc. Not mailed at that post office. So I am very considerate when mailing my heavier packages it's not like I go and expect them to lift alot of heavy boxes at all I go out of my way to the main branch to mail the heavier ones as there are alot more employees and dollies available. I lift them all the time and believe me MOST are NOT in excess of 20 pounds,I just looked at all my receipts and the heaviest box I have ever sent from that post office was 24 pounds.so she is going on about how heavy my packages are all the time and how it takes a crew and a half to lift them, which is total nonsense, and she even stated that the driver who takes the packages to the main post office was complaining. Then she proceeded to make the comment " I don't know why you do this "poop" ( edited for the post but she said the "s" word) anyway the government takes care of them and you don't even know them you just waste your money". I said what did you say? And she repeated it again!!!! All the while the post office is filling up with people and she is standing there going on and on about an 11 pound package and how dumb it is for me to support these deployed men, and telling everyone in line about all the packages I send and how excruciatingly heavy they are and that I do it 2 or more times a week, for people I don't even know. And how they ( the postal workers) HAVE to send them because the post office says they do.Talk about making some one real uncomfortable, that she did to me! I just didn't even have the energy to defend myself I have been going there with packages and letters for years and over the past month I notice when I come in she is very nasty with looks and little comments but today was just enough. The other guy that works up front is a veteran so he supports all I do and thinks it's great and he asked me how I got involved and things and we talk about AS all the time when I go in, but he didn't say a word when she was going on and on today. I just couldn't believe her. This happened at the Edgewater Branch of the Cleveland Post Office on W. 117th st. Her name is Beverly. So if anyone here is from Cleveland don't go there because I sure won't go back there! It is going to be a pain to go out of my way to other post offices, but it's better than me having to feel bad or ashamed when I go in there wondering what she is going to say next. I cannot avoid her she is ALWAYS there as I am limited to Mon and Tues shipping(my schedule) and even in the past if she is not taking care of me she is popping off at the beak in the background.

I always thought the post office was there to send the mail and that packages can be UP TO 70 pounds. I didn't think a 9 and 11 pound package would warrant all that humiliation and goings on! And I surely don't send packages that are that heavy from there. Sorry just had to tell that as I thought it was so unwarranted and belittling towards me on her part.

Hmmm...wonder how she would like to mail a 70 pound package since she HAS to mail it cause the post office says they HAVE to