Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Michael Czeiszperger <michael AT czeiszperger.org>]

On Apr 21, 2004, at 3:08 PM, K. Jo Garner wrote:

> On Wed, 21 Apr 2004, matusiak wrote:
> ->counter top.  It clearly stated that ANY MEDIA (incl. books, tapes,
> ->CD-ROMs, magazines, etc) being sent in the mail had to come to the PO
> ->in an UNOPENED package that MUST BE inspected before postage is sold.
>
> Well I know that if you are going to send something book rate the going
> theory is that all contents should indeed be books. But, I have never 
> had
> anyone ask to open my packages to verify their contents.

I've had this happen before recently, and send media rate frequently.  
They made me cut my box open so they could inspect it, and then I had 
to tape it up again.  First I had to explain that it wasn't a computer 
game (which doesn't qualify for media rate) and that it was a BOOK, 
just in CD-ROM format, which was quite confusing. OBVIOUSLY if its on a 
computer disc it must be a computer program!  (The item was a 
collection of the 1st year of some famous Marvel comic lines on a 
CD-ROM.)

My understanding is there's been a large increase in the number of 
people sending stuff media rate because of all the individuals buying 
and selling books, DVDs, and tapes on Amazon.com and eBay.  With boxed 
sets of DVDs, for example, its much cheaper to buy 'em and then resell 
'em on eBay as compared to going to a video store.  On Amazon 
practically every title for sale has used items available from 
individuals who use media rate.

The post office's reaction obviously is this huge increase in media 
rate volume must be due to people abusing the system, hence they're 
inspecting every package.

The other hassle I had at the post office was they didn't want to let 
me ship in a mineral water box, explaining that they don't allow people 
to use alcoholic beverage boxes.  It was a german brand of mineral 
water, and the box said "Mineral Wasser", and the clerk was sure that 
was some sort of alcohol!  The line was backed up out the door while we 
argued about it.   Actually it took a while before I figured out she 
wasn't going to ship my package.  I kept thinking "why is she talking 
about alcohol boxes?"

___________________________________________________________________
michael at czeiszperger dot org
Chapel Hill, NC