My mail was opened for inspection by the USPS

rabbitt

rabbitt

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I received my 12 month XBL gold from Amazon today. On the package was this sticker:

openedbyusps.jpg

My first reaction was a blend of annoyance and frustration. The thought of someone else opening my mail makes me a little ill.

I have to ask: has this ever happened to anyone else? Is there anything I can do about this?
 
I have never had that happen before, and I don't think there is anything you can do about it.

Stuff like that is just part of living in a post 9/11 world.
 
fuckin' lame. Thing is, the 12 month subscription box wasn't even opened... if they were going through the trouble of opening up the shipping box, why wouldn't they just check 'em both?
 
Was it sent media mail? Perhaps they were trying to make sure it was, in fact, media, since a lot of people attempt to use that as the cheapest shipping method regardless of what they're shipping.
 
[quote name='darthbudge']Stuff like that is just part of living in a post 9/11 world.[/QUOTE]

I know you would be what 7 but You do know they did this before 9/11, right? Sure, I still can't get my COD orders from Far East Flix in a brown paper bag anymore but they definitely did mail inspections before 9/11
 
[quote name='WhipSmartBanky']Was it sent media mail? Perhaps they were trying to make sure it was, in fact, media, since a lot of people attempt to use that as the cheapest shipping method regardless of what they're shipping.[/QUOTE]

It is media mail. Would they really go out of their way to check that?

Reality's Fringe said:
Did you purchase it from Amazon, or an amazon seller?

You address may be flagged for some reason. I would call your post office and ask.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's from an Amazon seller. I can't imagine why my address would be flagged.
 
I would be super pissed, but maybe there was some bullshit intelligence that somehow gave them probably cause to open your stuff this one time (not to directly target you, but maybe the area or something.) It happens.

Reality's Fringe;5073524 said:
Did you purchase it from Amazon, or an amazon seller?

You address may be flagged for some reason. I would call your post office and ask.
Click to expand...

brilliant sig btw. would read again, ironic/10.
 
I don't want to sound like some kind of anti-establishment loon, but I feel violated here. It's tough to just take something like this on the chin, whether they were checking to insure that the content was classifiable as media or if it went beyond that.

Oh, and down with the Man, and all that.
 
[quote name='rabbitt']I don't want to sound like some kind of anti-establishment loon, but I feel violated here. It's tough to just take something like this on the chin, whether they were checking to insure that the content was classifiable as media or if it went beyond that.

Oh, and down with the Man, and all that.[/quote]

just be glad you didn't a fleshlight
 
Don't take it personally, they really are dicks about media mail. They would deny strategy guides because they had a page with advertisement on it.
 
It's posted in the post office that they have the right to inspect Media Mail packages, to determine that they are in fact media.

A lot of people take advantage of Media Mail. Just something you're going to have to live with. Or, get packages sent by other companies (UPS, Fed-Ex, DHL).
 
once i had to ship a box from scotland to my house because i ran out of room in my pack. when it finally arrived back home it was in a completely different box.
 
Was this the pack or just the card? If it was the card, they could've thought it was weird that a box actually weighed as much as a box. 'cause of anthrax scares. Man that's unlucky.
 
[quote name='fart_bubble']Its random[/quote]

Yep, and it almost certainly depends on the attitude of the post office.

My home is in a very small town, and I don't think the issue of Media Mail inspections has ever occurred.

When I was in college, I heard they would perform inspections almost regularly. Never did they inspect any of my packages, but I heard from others that theirs were inspected.
 
The only thing the USPS legally can't open and inspect is first class mail. I believe they'll have to get a warrant first.
 
[quote name='rabbitt']Do they check every package being shipped by Media Mail? Or is it at random?[/QUOTE]

Completely random. According to my local post office they can only ask if the contents of your media mail package qualify for the rates by reading off the guidelines. If you say yes, they process the shipment as media mail. However, at some point in the shipping process they do random media mail spot checks and if your package is pulled and inspected and it does not qualify then it gets returned to you.
 
[quote name='fart_bubble']I know you would be what 7 but You do know they did this before 9/11, right? Sure, I still can't get my COD orders from Far East Flix in a brown paper bag anymore but they definitely did mail inspections before 9/11[/quote]

I still get various "DVDs" and "Books" from Japan in unlabeled brown packaging that just says "gift" on it. Among other things...

I know for a fact I've had some stuff of... questionable legality shipped to me via USPS before.
 
[quote name='georox']I still get various "DVDs" and "Books" from Japan in unlabeled brown packaging that just says "gift" on it. Among other things...[/QUOTE]

Are you talking about brown wrapping paper?

I was talking about an actual brown paper bags that you get from grocery stores
 
Media mail is subject to random searches, due to its low cost rate. Book rate is another one with that restriction, also due to cost.

The seller from Amazon.com is sending that stuff media mail, and by the restrictions of media mail, he shouldn't have sent it that way.

Media mail shippable items:
[quote name='From USPS website']Generally used for books (at least eight pages), film (16 mm or narrower), printed music, printed test materials, video and sound recordings, playscripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Sound recordings may include incidental announcements of recordings and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such recordings. Books may contain no advertising other than incidental announcements of other books.[/quote]

There's nothing in the 12-month XBL kit or a 12-month XBL card that would be shippable via media mail. If it was a game, then it would be OK to ship media mail, as it's computer-readable media.

I'm sure his local PO has seen hundreds of media mail shipments coming from him, and probably picked a few random ones to open and check for contents.
 
I used to buy a lot of comics on ebay and I had at least 3 boxes opened with a letter in them saying comics do not qualify for media mail and that I would have to pay the post office for the rest of the shipping cost. I went to the PO and they said the letter is more of an advisory and that they don't try to collect the extra postage.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']Media mail is subject to random searches, due to its low cost rate. Book rate is another one with that restriction, also due to cost.

The seller from Amazon.com is sending that stuff media mail, and by the restrictions of media mail, he shouldn't have sent it that way.

Media mail shippable items:


There's nothing in the 12-month XBL kit or a 12-month XBL card that would be shippable via media mail. If it was a game, then it would be OK to ship media mail, as it's computer-readable media.

I'm sure his local PO has seen hundreds of media mail shipments coming from him, and probably picked a few random ones to open and check for contents.[/QUOTE]

Bankshot Billiards is included in the 12 month Gold pack. That counts, right?
 
[quote name='rabbitt']Bankshot Billiards is included in the 12 month Gold pack. That counts, right?[/quote]It's a XBLM card, not an included game on DVD. So, no, it doesn't count.
 
[quote name='fart_bubble']Are you talking about brown wrapping paper?

I was talking about an actual brown paper bags that you get from grocery stores[/quote]

I've seen both used. Both brown wrapping paper and hastily-taped shut bags.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']If it was a game, then it would be OK to ship media mail, as it's computer-readable media. [/QUOTE]

Boy, you wouldn't believe the fights I, and other shippers, have had with our local grumpy postal employees about differing interpretations of whether games qualify as "computer-readable media". I actually avoid my closest P.O. in order to spare myself the "this doesn't qualify!" harangue I used to get every time.
 
[quote name='georox']I've seen both used. Both brown wrapping paper and hastily-taped shut bags.[/QUOTE]

wow, didn't know you could still use regular brown paper bags to ship stuff anymore
 
[quote name='Fanboy']Boy, you wouldn't believe the fights I, and other shippers, have had with our local grumpy postal employees about differing interpretations of whether games qualify as "computer-readable media". I actually avoid my closest P.O. in order to spare myself the "this doesn't qualify!" harangue I used to get every time.[/QUOTE]

I just say DVD's if they ask. Technically it's not a lie if it is a PS2, XBox, Wii or 360 game.
 
[quote name='DestroVega']and i know a kid who gets weed fedex'd to him.... scary[/QUOTE]

Bury it in a coffee can full of coffee....
 
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