Problems at the post office !

Absolutely correct.
I once had a clerk like the one you described being quite nosy as to what I was shipping I grabbed my packages and said NUNYA walked out and went to another post office the next town over and set it up so I could print online labels.

 

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I've got to say that I don't have any idea what some of you are talking about regarding shipping problems at the Post Office. If you're shipping from ebay and you select First Class - Package/Thick Envelope there is no restriction on size/thickness/bendiness EXCEPT that you are limited to a maximum weight of 13 ounces and a maximum dimensional size of 84 inches (height, plus twice the width and thickness added). There is no too thin or too thick. It can be 1/8" thick or 3" thick. As long as you can stuff it into the envelope it'll go. This all applies to the average coin shipment in a 5x7, 6x9, 8x10 or 9x12 envelope, padded or not. I've shipped with padded envelopes and unpadded envelopes, some with nothing thicker than a coin plus a sheet of paper, some with things big enough that the envelope was deformed into cylinder and I've never had a problem with delivery.

 

Eh, actually, if you you read what you are clicking, it says package or THICK envelope. They do not clarify what is considered thick, so I do not think they have a leg to stand on if you print yourself, but in the store they do require a certain thickness. Most do not care or check, some do.

 

Thanks , since you know the whole story and have been standing next to me every single time I've tried sending packages ..
I've had problems with this lady before I ever sold items on eBay .. Matter of fact I've purachased bubble mailers off one postal worker, her explain how we can ship the package and the cost , I go home get the package ready come back an hour later and have to argue with this crazy old bat about how to ship the item .. Just how little you know of this situation , yet act like you know every detail !Ignorant

: lacking knowledge or information

: resulting from or showing a lack of knowledge

 

Simple solution priority box, then we don't have to hear how a coin got lost or stolen from a ripped open bubble mailed.

 

The 3/4" deal is to be sure it won't go thru one type of sorting machine they use. That type of machine is known to damage stuff.

 

I write "Non-Machinable" on all my packages. Answers all questions and 'It's none of her business' !

 

I buy padded mailers in bulk on eBay. CHEAP. I also print PayPal labels - $2.04 for 3oz (1 slab). Problem solved.

 

I do it every day. What are you missing?

 

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

I use this if it's outside of eBay.

 

Not sure what her problem is but you need to file a complaint. You can do that online at USPS.com, call 188-ask-usps or call that office and speak to a Supervisor or Postmaster. I'm not sure of the size of your local Post Office but with 4 different Clerks it sounds larger than most. One other option is to call the District Office for your area and speak to a member of Consumer Affairs. I can assure you that at the District level, all complaints are taken seriously. Please file a complaint as what she is doing is not authorized by Management.

The first 3 options will result in your complaint going directly to that office. Just as we are all individuals and are different, so are Post Offices. By going to that office you are giving them a chance to correct her bad behavior. You are also dealing with a government agency and a lot of employees, including managers, simply don't care so keep that in mind.

I manage a Post Office in a small town but I have a busy office because we care about the customer and we listen to them. My customers come from surrounding towns as they are not treated with respect or have an employee like you are describing in their office.

The guidelines are cut and dried for mailing anything. I have 1 customer that mails old paper money and 6 that mail coins. The coins are in rolls, plastic tubes, 2 x 2's, or professionally graded. The paper money is mailed as a flat. All other's are mailed as a parcel. From your description, you are mailing a parcel. It matters not if it's flat, square or otherwise. It's a parcel. For a parcel weighing up to 3 ounces but not over, the price is $2.54 and USPS Tracking is included. Each additional ounce is an additional $.20 up to 13 ounces. Anything over 13 ounces is converted to pounds and you're up to Priority which starts at $5.75. Priority includes $50.00 insurance. Anything over that amount will cost you extra depending on the amount you need to insure.

She has no business doing what you describe. She is not required to know what you are mailing. You are responsible to pack it as per Postal regulations and to answer the Hazmat question. I would suggest that all coins are mailed so they do not rattle as coins make a distinctive sound. I would also suggest that that are wrapped with plastic bags or bubble wrap and placed between 2 pieces of cardboard if they are flat. The mail handling process is mostly machines and you would be surprised to see what can happen when a customer tries to get something for nothing, if you understand what I'm saying. It jams up the machine and mail gets damaged in the handling process.

If your parcel is lost, stolen or damaged, you have NO recourse if it's not insured. A receipt is required and the eBay listing and sale is acceptable.

Again, this person should not be handling your parcels as per your description. As a Manager, I would want to hear from my customers if this was the case. I can not correct the problem if I do not know it exist. I've laid out several options, so please choose the one you feel is best suited to your problem. I've also provided some mailing information. I hope this also helps. An educated customer can be more prepared to deal with an employee like this than a customer who does not understand mailing standards, the process or who to go to in order to correct the problem.

Best wishes.

 

Apparently I'm missing the First Class option! Here is a screen shot of my options. They include Priority Mail and Express Mail and no option for First Class. Again this is on USPS.com and not stamps.com which is completely different and you must subscribe to.

 

Thank you !
I appreciate you posting .
Ya know I didn't have a clue as to what USPS required or even what it would cost when I first started selling on eBay .. Untill I took my first package to the post , 1 of the nicer postal workers explained how I could ship and she made some suggestion as how I should package the items. She seemed happy to help me , I've been shipping the items just as she advised ever since with no problem from her or the other 2 workers !
Despite this one lady giving me a hard time , Im still aways friendly with her . I don't know her outside of the post and really don't understand why she wants to be this way .
She's the only one that pushes and bends my packages asking, well what is it?
I well tell her it's an item I sold on eBay .
It's been a on going thing , way before I ever started selling on eBay, just nit picking with every package I send ..
It didn't bother me as much then as I wasn't having to deal with her as often , now that I'm sending more packages its getting to be a headach not to mention The amount I would be paying extra in shipping if I didn't argue that I havnt been paying that much!
I feel like the packages I'm sending are fine , I'm doing everything as the one postal worker told me and there just as every item I receive when buying on eBay!
I really appreciate your advise and I'm going to do as you suggest and contact her superviser or someone a little higer up !

 

Why are you going there. Either PayPal or eBay have at least the same pricing as USPS.com and you get free tracking. And it automatically lists your item as sent. And it automatically notifies the buyer. You are making work for yourself and causing problems for yourself. When you use either PP or eBay, all you have to do is put it out for your postal carrier to take (or drop it in the nearest box).

 

USPS cannot according to law have all of the services they offer, including but not limited to Parcel or 1st Class on line postage on their web site. To do so places the Postal Service in violation of advertising and trade laws for the selling of a service which is in direct competition with USPS. Other online postage vendors charge for their services and USPS does not. That's why it's not offered. Your Federal Government is at work.

 

That was a real pleasant response.

Next time, I'll ask you for any info that I need, never mind the encyclopedia, or on line research.

You'll be there for us!

So, members!

Ask away!

 

Yes and no. It's protected better in theory, but the flatter the envelope is, the less likely it is to get caught up and damaged.

 

Glad to hear that. The Postal Service tracks complaints and complements, by office. I forgot to mention that on your receipt is a link to a survey. This is another way to register you dissatisfaction. Sounds like you have 3 good clerks and 1 problem. At least your office is batting 75% but it's the other 25% that's killing you.

 

I disagree. I do not want my coins going through automatic sorters, which is why I do not make it thin. If you have it thin enough to go through the machine, it could get damaged. Have it fat enough not to go through, and you have better protection.

 

I see what you're saying. For raw coins I put them in a flip, put the flip in one of those folding cardboard mailers, and put the mailer inside a media envelope. The media envelopes are designed for mailing loose CD/DVDs, they are cardboard with a thin layer of dense foam on the inside. They are also super flat. I've never had a problem using this method.

For slabbed coins I mail them in a small priority mail box in bubble wrap. I don't believe they should ever be mailed in a way where they can be stressed through the packaging.