I tried to send my m-i-l a box of chocolates for Thanksgiving, but made the mistake of putting actual stamps on the package and leaving it for my carrier to pick up from my home via a note in the mailbox.

He took the package, but it was brought back to me two days later by a different postal employee who brought it to my door, rang the bell, and handed it to me with a sticker on it that said that packages over 13 ounces must be handed to a postal employee at the counter or they can not be placed on a plane -- because they don't know who I am. (Despite ringing my bell and having me answer my door,... )

Never fear -- Mr. Lupine was able to take the package into the post office near his office and hand it in over the counter -- no id required -- and don't we all feel safer now?

I'm not sure what seems more absurd: the notion that an anonymous person handing a package over the counter adds to flight security more than the local carrier picking the package up from a customer on his everyday route, or the strange logic that sends packages over 13 ounces (weird number) to special handling when the bulk of people killed through stuff sent via the mail were killed with anthrax poisoned mail that weighed under an ounce.

Not directly related to your situation but I was reading an article about "Trusted Shippers" who can have truck traffic from Mexico into the US expedited. The problem is that the drug dealers are placing their drugs on these trucks.

TSA has trusted shippers for cargo that is loaded onto aircraft.

Emm.

The added security of handing it to an employee is they have video of the person sending the package. Won't stop a bomb or anthrax but it will help find the culprit after.

I still think they're not clear on the concept: after-the-explosion video of who anonymously dropped the package off at the post office may help the FBI find the perpetrator, but it doesn't do diddly-poop to actually protect the passengers and the plane. A carrier taking a package from a known customer seems to be inherently a stronger level of security.

And video of bundled up people in queue at the post office in frigid weather isn't likely to be any too helpful anyway.

Did the original carrier take it from your hand or did you leave it on the porch?

If they took it from your hand I agree that is a bit more secure unless you move and nobody has video of your face.

What happened is your carrier broke the rules by taking the package from you. Most likely they got chewed pretty good so be sure to leave them a nice Christmas tip.

Seems dumb that you couldn't have just handed it back to the employee bringing it to you.

I have an account where I print out US Mail labels all the time, and just leave them in my mailbox. I guess this gets around the stamp requirement.

1. Our local P.O. does not have a video camera; I have also handed packages directly to the mail carrier and have never had anything returned.

2. I also mail packages directly from work and have never had anything returned. Business mail goes out in bins and the P.O. doesn't have a clue as to who is mailing the package.

You're traceable by the credit card used to buy the postage. So they say. Bad guys would never go to the trouble to set up an account. Never.

However, that's purely reactionary. That video wouldn't be looked up unless something went kaboom.

There IS a big hole in this medium (something that's been discussed several times on this board in the past). Having someone at the Post Office ask if there's anything "liquid, fragile or perishable" doesn't seem like an effective way to secure cargo.


I didn't see where the OP said he/she bought the stamps with a credit card. It also reads to me the postage was self-administered, bot via someone at the PO.

I am not aware of any serial numbers on stamps, anyway (the ones you stick on yourself, I mean).

He was making the point that any mail that has postage paid by meter or postage paid online is not subject to the rule since you know who applied the postage. The rule only applies to stamps.

When he pays online, he can leave the package wherever.

And no criminal would ever use a stolen credit card number. Oh, no, certainly not. Nothing to see here. Anyone who uses a credit card is clearly an upstanding right-thinking citizen.

Of course you could subscribe to stamps.com or purchase a Dymo label printer, and mail anything of any weight from anywhere.

Not that you can go to a Jiffy-Mart and buy a prepaid credit card that is untraceable, either.

It comes down to the accepting employee having the official "suspicious package" training. Window clerks get it, carriers do not so only one group is certified to handle the package. Stupid, very much so. It is followed stictly though, I am an administative employee of USPS and my carrier knows me well and what my position is and I still have to use the counter.

I wonder about the weight difference between TSA and the USPS. Up to 13 oz is safe without inspection (according to an organization that has delivered letter bombs) vs 3 (or is it 3.4) oz for an organization which delivers zip.