$%(#in' post office

So I go in today to mail out God Of War 3 for a deal here on CAG. I decided to use my usual method of shipping(flat rate Priority Mail envelope with the game inside a bubble mailer in the envelope).

So I go to pay and I'm told 'that can't ship like that, it's too bulky'. What?! What do you mean it's too bulky?

Apparently the USPS has been 'cracking down' on people sending bulky items flat rate, yet I've never had an issue with that at this post office....until today.

So they're like 'well you could use this envelope here and mail it for another nickel'. That would be fine, had I actually brought more than the exact amount to pay to ship it out with me. I didn't feel like breaking another bill I had for the stupid nickel.

So now the waiting game begins. Do I get the package back(and if I do they will hear from me, perhaps in expletives)or does it make it to its destination like always in 2-3 days max?

I fuckin' hate the post office and these idiots wonder why no one wants to use their services when they make up their own rules as they go.
 
Gotta love em lol. I usually only have problems with the USPS when the postmaster is working the counters at mine. When it's my favorite guy he will slip my stuff that is just over the 1st class weight limit through :).
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Apparently the USPS has been 'cracking down' on people sending bulky items flat rate, yet I've never had an issue with that at this post office....until today.o.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that generally what "cracking down" means?
 
My local post office doesn't give a dam about overflowing flat rate boxes, one time the lady at the counter put two small flat rates together for me with tape to make my item fit and just charged for the one flat rate.
 
I say you should send 1st class next time, priority isn't really that much faster and 1st class is just as fast half the time, a few years ago I sent something 1st class from here in PA and it got to FL the next day!

Also you should be ashamed of yourself :D You'd be saving yourself $2 or more each game doing 1st class vs priority. Going priority over 1st class for 1 game seems like something that would be sacrilegious for you ;).

The post office does have some funny little rules to trip over that can be a pain when you learn about them the hard way.
 
If they sent it i will definitely make it, I send out many many packages and one guy told me if the box is deformed then they can't ship it, so i went to the cashier next to him and she didn't say anything about it.

I have never had a problem with USPS
 
[quote name='slidecage']well they need to make up money for all of those people sending games Media when your not allowed too :)[/QUOTE]

You can actually send games via media mail, but they must be in CD/DVD format. No NES games ect.
 
[quote name='Ash Burton']You can actually send games via media mail, but they must be in CD/DVD format. No NES games ect.[/QUOTE]
No you can't, not "officially" anyways. They're not officially covered but it doesn't mean you wouldn't be able to get postal workers that don't know better.
Because I don't feel like looking up the official statement right now, you show me your proof and I'll show you mine.
 
[quote name='FOnewearl']I say you should send 1st class next time, priority isn't really that much faster and 1st class is just as fast half the time, a few years ago I sent something 1st class from here in PA and it got to FL the next day!

Also you should be ashamed of yourself :D You'd be saving yourself $2 or more each game doing 1st class vs priority. Going priority over 1st class for 1 game seems like something that would be sacrilegious for you ;).

The post office does have some funny little rules to trip over that can be a pain when you learn about them the hard way.[/QUOTE]

The last time I sent a game first class(and I ship it at the post office, so it's still $3-4-ish, so what's an extra buck or so), I also sent another one going further via first class as well. The one going further made it to it's destination before the one going 1-3 states away(PA to MA, other one was PA to TN and got there FIRST). The closer one ended up bouncing around the Boston post office being sorted, re-sorted and re-re-sorted for nearly TWO WEEKS before being delivered.

So that's why I ship flat rate priority anymore. It's damn near guaranteed to be delivered in 2-3 days MAX most times.

And don't even get me started on the media mail package a few years ago that went from PA to NC/SC and then made a two week trek up the coast to its destination in VA. Yet the PO wonders why they're hemorrhaging money?:roll:

[quote name='phantasyx']only a bitch would complain about a nickel[/QUOTE]

If they had a sign up saying 'no more deformed flat rate packages will be allowed', I wouldn't have cared. Plus, if I had the extra nickel on me, I wouldn't have cared and re-wrote the package out AGAIN in this soft bag-like flat rate/Priority mailer they were about to hand me.

But I didn't have the extra change on me and I wasn't about break a dollar to pay the extra nickel. Like I said, up until today I had NO PROBLEMS mailing severely deformed flat rate packages out from this very post office.

But we shall see....
 
Whoa, whoa, whoa...a dollar? When you said "break a bill" I assumed you had like a ten or a twenty on you, but a dollar? Are you kidding? Who complains about breaking a dollar?
 
[quote name='SEH']Whoa, whoa, whoa...a dollar? When you said "break a bill" I assumed you had like a ten or a twenty on you, but a dollar? Are you kidding? Who complains about breaking a dollar?[/QUOTE]

I did actually. I paid $5 out of the $20 I had on me and exactly $.60 out of pocket change, since I knew the flat rate mailer was exactly $5.60 for the postage and delivery confirmation combined.

Like I said, up until today I had no problems sending packages that looked 'bloated' via flat rate Priority. But as someone else said, maybe their postmaster was milling about the backroom or whatever.

But it's always been 'as long as it closes with the glue strip on the package, then it can ship like that'. Then again, it seems like most of the employees working this mall post office have attitude problems and always want to bitch at customers for whatever. If they don't like their job, I'll gladly take their place.
 
Damn right I am, especially when I already had the game packaged and ready to ship out. That would've required me wasting more time and energy repacking it, since I don't think the other Priority package they tried handing me was big enough to just put the other mailer inside of.

Although I HAVE done that before with the flat rate boxes. LMAO The one time after they pointed out I had only a Priority Mail(non flat rate) one, I then proceeded to layer 4 of the motherfuckers one inside the other to be a douchebag.

It easily added a half pound to a pound to the weight, which was already pretty heavy cuz I had like 15 guides stuffed in the original one. LOL
 
Idk if you detected sarcasm in my post but it's true. My brother and sister hate me for it. I'll be paying for something at the store and I'll ask them to borrow some change so I dont have to break a buck.
 
[quote name='JUDOHAWK']Idk if you detected sarcasm in my post but it's true. My brother and sister hate me for it. I'll be paying for something at the store and I'll ask them to borrow some change so I dont have to break a buck.[/QUOTE]
My sarcasm detector must be broken tonight. But I won't replace it till I can find another one cheap on clearance.:lol::booty:
[quote name='FrankTheFrowner']I'm confused -- aren't they running that whole "If it fits, it ships" advertising campaign?[/QUOTE]
Yeah. That's what irked me about them saying I 'can't send a package that looks like that'. Speaking of which, I'm supposed to be checking on whether or not I have the 10-11 guides someone asked me about the other day(that I planned on sending out in a flat rate medium sized box lol).
 
That's why you print out labels from PayPal / USPS.com and stick the packages that don't fit in your mailbox in the automatic postal system box in the front. Don't have to deal with anal post office workers.
 
[quote name='rainking187']Don't you people have debit/credit cards? Who actually carries cash around anymore?[/QUOTE]

Johns like myself, a prostitutes ass doesn't accept credit/debit cards. I wish I could swipe my debit card in between her cheeks and pay her that way but it doesn't work like that, I have to pay her cash or I will get beat up by her pimp (which isn't a fun experience believe me).
 
[quote name='JUDOHAWK']Idk if you detected sarcasm in my post but it's true. My brother and sister hate me for it. I'll be paying for something at the store and I'll ask them to borrow some change so I dont have to break a buck.[/QUOTE]

I draw the line at a dollar, but I think it's psychologically true that you're more likely to spend currency of a smaller denomination than you would of larger.

Think about it... Unless you're playing Pac-Man or doing laundry, anything under a $1 is worthless. You keep it in your car's console or in a big bucket at home, and one day, when you have a hankering for a Coke, you whip it out, grab $1.25 and get what feels like a "free" soda.

If you have a wad of $1s in your wallet, you're more likely to try that wad of chicken "sandwich" that KFC is pushing right now.

But if it's a $5, a $10, or a $20 that you'd be handing over to the cashier, you're more likely to feel the gravity of what you're buying. It's not "I used to have a $20 bill, and now I have $17.50 and a sandwich." It's "I used to have a $20 bill, and now I don't."
 
I can understand if someone tried to jam a ton of stuff into the box and big bends and line showed up on the box but a small bulge shouldn't be a big deal and would clearly mean that there is bubble wrap. What happened to "if it fits, it ships" hmmmmmm?
 
I know you explained your reasons already, but you are getting raped sending games Priority. $5.60 to mail out a game and you're having an issue with an extra nickle and breaking a dollar? That's not including what you spent on the extra bubble mailer the actual game is in when you put in in the flat rate envelope.

I've sent out over 150 games from my massive ebay auction the last 3 months using first class paypal shipping. It costs roughly $2.60 with delivery confirmation. And out of 150 games, probably 100 got there in 3 days, 40 got there in 2 days and the rest no more than 4, going all over the country, mainly on the east coast (I am on the west coast). I am using no. 1 (7.25 x 12 inch) bubble mailers made specifically for DVD cases (game cases). I bought 100 of them on amazon marketplace for $19. You can buy fewer quantities like 20 or 50 for even less if you don't need that many. They are lightweight which helps the shipping stay low and protect the game very well.

Just seems weird you're upset about breaking a dollar and an extra nickle, but cool with spending $5.60 to ship a single game out.
 
[quote name='scsg75']I know you explained your reasons already, but you are getting raped sending games Priority. $5.60 to mail out a game and you're having an issue with an extra nickle and breaking a dollar? That's not including what you spent on the extra bubble mailer the actual game is in when you put in in the flat rate envelope.

I've sent out over 150 games from my massive ebay auction the last 3 months using first class paypal shipping. It costs roughly $2.60 with delivery confirmation. And out of 150 games, probably 100 got there in 3 days, 40 got there in 2 days and the rest no more than 4, going all over the country, mainly on the east coast (I am on the west coast). I am using no. 1 (7.25 x 12 inch) bubble mailers made specifically for DVD cases (game cases). I bought 100 of them on amazon marketplace for $19. You can buy fewer quantities like 20 or 50 for even less if you don't need that many. They are lightweight which helps the shipping stay low and protect the game very well.

Just seems weird you're upset about breaking a dollar and an extra nickle, but cool with spending $5.60 to ship a single game out.[/QUOTE]

Extra bubble mailer? I used the mailer the other person sent me their end of the trade deal in. As for the lower shipping, I already explained this. After watching a package bounce around a sorting facility for two fuckin' weeks, I got more than a little annoyed, so from then on I've sent Priority.

I don't use Paypal or have a printer, so printing up my own postage is outta the question and having excess(since I rarely do deals unless they're pretty good for me)mailers lying around just wastes money and space for me.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']As for the lower shipping, I already explained this. [/QUOTE]

I know, that's why I said I know you already explained it at the beginning of my original post. Just pointing out it's odd to me that an extra nickle pisses you off and paying $5.60 to ship a single game out doesn't. Just an observation really.
 
I just have to say one thing. Package services is the biggest rip off. It is slightly cheaper then priority mail but don't expect to get your package for about 2 weeks. It takes so damn long. And then the one I got the one time went back and forth from Pennsylvania to Des Moines, Iowa about 5 times. It was ridiculous
 
[quote name='darkslime']That's why you print out labels from PayPal / USPS.com and stick the packages that don't fit in your mailbox in the automatic postal system box in the front. Don't have to deal with anal post office workers.[/QUOTE]

I did this the other day mailing some stuff left behind by an employee. Plus, it has built in delivery confirmation.

[quote name='FrankTheFrowner']I'm confused -- aren't they running that whole "If it fits, it ships" advertising campaign?[/QUOTE]

I hadn't heard of this campaign. This explains why the people at the post office section of my local grocery store are giving me weird looks over envelopes with like 6 pieces of paper in them (which puts it just over the one stamp mark and should be plenty below the 1/4" thickness requirement). They get all huffy over envelopes that aren't very big that they took before no problem and mumble stuff about how the post office might reject it because it's so big.

Postal employees are morons though. Last week I was mailing a letter certified, return receipt requested that should have been $0.61 cents in postage plus the cost of certification and the return receipt. They tried saying that they could only ship it priority and that it'd be almost $11. I was like, "Uh, excuse me? It's normally five something." and was thinking "Fine, I'll just go use your damn automated machine."
 
[quote name='scsg75']I know, that's why I said I know you already explained it at the beginning of my original post. Just pointing out it's odd to me that an extra nickle pisses you off and paying $5.60 to ship a single game out doesn't. Just an observation really.[/QUOTE]

If I want stuff to make it to the intended destination and not risk the two week sorting nightmare or the three week media mail slow crawl that two packages I've sent have experienced before, then I suck it up and pay the additional $2-3.

Then again, when I sent that two week package I think it was close to either Thanksgiving, Christmas or some other holiday where it probably just got unceremoniously chucked back in with the tons of holiday mail.
 
LOL I walked into the post office this morning half asleep.... walked over and stuck Delivery confirm on my package and walked over and handed the item to the worker .... Worker took my package and goes


Worker : you took my spot ....

I just looked at them sort of werid and went What?

Worker: You took my spot

Me: So you want me to move over or something (thinking i was standing in their way to see something)

Worker: No i mean you put the delivery confirm thing over the spot where the Shipping price sticker goes


Then we laugh about it... I had no clue what they were talking about i took their spot ...... What a goofy day :)
 
Today they were upset with me for mailing an item with a shipping label that I printed out a week prior. They said it made them look bad. I get where there are coming from, but I am their customer, they should never disrespect a paying customer. I also had delivery confirmation or whatever so the receiver of the item would be able to tell when I brought the game in to mail it.
 
Has anyone else experienced this? I am thinking it's one of those deals where you run into a postal worker that simply doesn't know the rules or has decided to just enforce their own set. As someone else pointed out, they are running the whole "if it fits, it ships" marketing campaign into the ground, so I don't see why they would want to crack down on something like this. I mean, it's not even like this is a gray area. A game clearly fits inside the envelope without modifying it or having to use extra tape to seal it (though I've used extra in the past without anyone saying anything to me). I mean, what if I wanted to send a large document that made the envelope "puffy?"

[quote name='Ash Burton']You can actually send games via media mail, but they must be in CD/DVD format. No NES games ect.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='mguiddy']No you can't, not "officially" anyways. They're not officially covered but it doesn't mean you wouldn't be able to get postal workers that don't know better.
Because I don't feel like looking up the official statement right now, you show me your proof and I'll show you mine.[/QUOTE]

Indeed. The old "rules" about media mail were very ambiguous, but not anymore. No real reason to send a game or two media mail, anyway. The price difference with first-class is very minimal, and your stuff will obviously arrive slower.

[quote name='hockeyfun66@']Today they were upset with me for mailing an item with a shipping label that I printed out a week prior. They said it made them look bad. I get where there are coming from, but I am their customer, they should never disrespect a paying customer. I also had delivery confirmation or whatever so the receiver of the item would be able to tell when I brought the game in to mail it.[/QUOTE]

You're 100% correct. If they do their job and scan the item in (so many don't, unfortunately), it will clearly show the item as being accepted on whatever date you brought it in. The USPS won't look back.
 
Hasn't happened to me and I shipped some DVD box sets in the flat rate envelopes. They were pretty deformed in terms of dimensions but the postal clerk didn't say anything about it.
 
[quote name='hockeyfun66@']Today they were upset with me for mailing an item with a shipping label that I printed out a week prior. They said it made them look bad. I get where there are coming from, but I am their customer, they should never disrespect a paying customer. I also had delivery confirmation or whatever so the receiver of the item would be able to tell when I brought the game in to mail it.[/QUOTE]
From what I've heard it can make that specific PO look bad because it can make it seem like they "lost"/forgot about the package for a few days before scanning/shipping it. It's also not about looking bad to the person receiving the package, it's about looking bad to their superiors.
Imagine if you worked in a office and someone sent you a memo with last weeks date on it asking you to do something. You do what's requested as soon as you get the memo, but your boss looks over what you've done and the memo and thinks you sat on your ass for a week before doing it. Makes you look bad, no?
They will also complain if you drop off a package at a PO in a different originating zip, but for a different reason. POs gets credit for any packages shipped from their office, if you have the wrong zip on the package they won't get the credit (whatever the originating zip is will) but they're the ones actually shipping it.

Hope all that makes sense, I'm crazy tired right now. :lol:
 
bread's done
Back
Top