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

["Colleen McCarthy" <cmccarthy1 AT nc.rr.com>]

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.

I had the same problem trying to mail Christmas gifts in a Bacardi box.  I
thought at first that it was because I was shipping wine.  No, the contents
of the box were not the problem-- it was the labeling on the box.  Oh well,
it made for a good "Box-belated Christmas greetings from North Carolina"
story.

Colleen McCarthy, MT(ASCP), BSEE, MBA, PMP
LIS Administrator
Laboratory Information Services
UNC Hospitals/McLendon Clinical Labs
1106 East Wing
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
email: camccart AT unch.unc.edu
phone: 919-966-2059 beeper 216-1995
fax: 919-966-6407
home phone 919-460-0641




-----Original Message-----
From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Michael
Czeiszperger
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:29 PM
To: Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Outgoing Package Inspections at Post
Office



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

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