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USPS: PSA and Vent
This morning I went to the USPS in my city to mail a gift to a friend. It just so happened that I enclosed a greeting card inside the mailing box along side the wrapped gift.
When I got to the front/counter, the USPS man started my transaction and asked me, "Do you have a card inside this box?" Never having been asked this question before, I answered, "Yes I do." He says, "That's an additional 0.46 added on top of the postage for the box itself." I was shocked, "What?! Why?!" He goes, "Because your card is an enclosure piggy-backing on the package."
I WAS LIVID. Obviously I can afford 0.46! But there is a principle here. The USPS weighed the package and charged me for it with the card's weight included in that cost. THEN, they charged me again for the card itself...the card is inside this box, the postage employees are handing ONE parcel, not two.
Additionally, as long as the contents are not hazardous or dangerous, perishable or fragile, why should they care if there's paper enclosed and it happens to be in the form of a card or letter?
I was steaming, but I wasn't going to ruin the guy's day (I know it's not his problem) and my kids were there too. I didn't want to make a scene.
But, FYI if the USPS offices are being consistent (doubtful) you may started being asked if you have enclosed correspondence inside the packages you want to mail. IF you answer "yes," they will charge you extra!
The USPS stinks. This is one more thing in my list of problems I've had doing business with this organization. I am going to take my business to UPS or FedEx.
Done venting. Thanks for reading.
Re: USPS: PSA and Vent
WTF? That is complete and total bullsh!t. I would have been extremely mad, and I can't even believe that is their policy! How crazy.
I know that I would not have mailed my package. I would have brought it back later and said "no" when asked. I already have issues with the USPS and this just makes me question them even more.
That's so weird. I heard someone asked about correspondence once at the post office but I thought it was because he was sending it internationally. I've never been asked but I haven't mailed out boxes recently, just small packages.
I wonder what would happen if you had said you had a card but it wasn't in an envelope.
I have gone to battle with them for destroying our mail box flag at our old house, for their delivery lady driving too fast in a kid-zone neighborhood and for other shipping problems.
They have lost/damaged a lot of my things.
You'd think I would have learned by now.
I kept my cool because my kids were there and the room was full of people. Plus, it's not this guy's problem - he was just doing his job.
I also just needed to get the thing mailed and had already used one of those bubble envelopes with the pretty designs on it off their shelf (not the Express or Priority type, not even a USPS brand one, just a generic one).
I have posted my story on FB and on another forum I visit and have informed some family and friends.
The USPS deserves to go awway due to crud like this.
That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Like you said, you paid the postage by weight...why do they have to charge you more because you have a card in there too?
The USPS has become a joke. I mailed a package to a customer in TX early January by Priority Mail. She still hasn't received it. The tracking has turned into a game of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? It went from Cincinnati, to Houston, then to Charlotte to somewhere in MA I have never heard of. Last I checked it was processed through the Houston sort facility (again).
How in the world can they F something up that badly?
I guess it's time to nickel and dime to stay afloat.
I looked on their FAQ- http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?session={3a1814c0-7f89-11e2-4fdd-000000000000}&event=1&view()=c%7B790f19d0-e9da-11e0-6c5a-000000000000%7D&objectId=&eksObjectId=&objectType=Case&isJumpEnabled=false&isContentJumpEnabled=false&vendorKey=&objTitle=&versionId=10323&searchProperties=undefined&naturalAdvance=false&allStr=&phraseStr=&anyStr=&noneStr=&keywordStr=&tTitle=Send
First-Class Package Service (FCPS) parcels mailed at commercial base prices may not contain documents or personal correspondence. First-Class Package Service parcels mailed at commercial plus prices have no content restrictions, other than those for nonmailable matter.I don't use the USPS if it can be avoided, and haven't for awhile now. I hate it when I order off the internet and packages get sent to me via USPS.
I have had so many packages get lost or damaged. I have had packages show delivered, and they haven't gotten to me.
Thanks for the link. I followed it and below is all the info on Packages. To say the least, it's confusing. In addition, it reads to me like the "Commercial" base seems to be discussing packages mailed for commercial (business) purposes. Maybe I'm reading that incorrectly. Who knows.
Packages
Note: First-Class Package Service parcels mailed at commercial base prices may not contain any documents or personal correspondence. First-Class Package Service parcels mailed at commercial plus prices have no content restrictions, other than those for nonmailable matter.
Note: Customers must pay an annual mailing fee at each facility where any presorted First-Class Package Service parcel is entered.
That's how I read it also, as there is a different (lesser) rate for commercial mail.
At any rate, it seems like the postal guy was following this logic whether it applied to your package or not. Very odd rule to pull out of nowhere.
And the mail has been spotty and odd here since Sandy. Some people have not gotten their mail -- I mailed somebody an item that cost me 2 bucks to send. The recipient never got it.
It's great we live in a society where you can take your business to FedEx or UPS.
Usually USPS is the cheapest option, but not the best quality. It's the Walmart of post.
That is insane! I have never heard of that before.
How would they even know if you lie and say no?
They wouldn't. But, that's the thing...I HATE doing business with organizations if I know I'm going to be put in a spot to lie or be unethical just to "prove a point" or cover my own butt.
I try my best not to lie in ANY instance...it's a personal/ethical matter, yes. But I also try my best to always be honest in front of my kids.
So, besides the principal of being double charged for the same thing, the lying factor is making me move on too.
Fair enough. It just seems like a silly policy to have when it's impossible for them to even know if anyone is actually following it.