Any postal employees here? How does this make sense?

[Danny_Ocean]

I bought some (2) rebuilt rear calipers from a guy in PR. He sent them via Priority Mail = $9.60.

I went to the post office today to return one (1) to him (he sent two right-hand calipers). Priority mail = $ 17.69?

How does this happen? Are there different rates coming/going to PR?

[legion]

I know that if I send packages from work, it is significantly cheaper than going to the Post Office or UPS store, or Kinko's.

Then again, USPS, FedEx, and UPS all back trucks right up to my building.

Does the USPS do business accounts?

[Rick Lee]

What kind of box did you use ot ship? I ran into this last week when I used the wrong Priority Mail box, which was a flat rate regardless of weight or destination. The postal clerk set me straight with a different box and saved me $5.

BTW, I sold a set of 993 factory workshop manuals and sent them media mail. What a mistake. Took 8 weeks from VA to NY and the buyer had to pay an additional $8 when they arrived, as the Postal Service opened the box and decided manuals weren't media mail. WTF?

[alf]

In Cliff's voice...

Well it is rudimentary really, you see PR is uphill from where you are and therfore requires greater use of natural and human resources to send from the SW to PR.

[Gogar]

+1 did you use the USPS box?

[JayG]

Maybe the embedded taxes? They don't pay federal taxes I think and since the mail is....I don't know.

[peppy]

Didn't postage rates go up today?

[Rick Lee]

Oh man, I mailed some really important stuff today with $.41 stamps. What's gonna happen?

[Danny_Ocean]

I re-used the same box. It was a Priority Mail box with Priority Mail markings. I didn't go to the clerk, I used the ATM in the lobby. The machine doesn't know which box you are using...strictly weight/zip code.

Hmm...I'll have to step down and talk to a human the next time I go.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by peppy

Didn't postage rates go up today?

Yeah, but they didn't double.

[peppy]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Oh man, I mailed some really important stuff today with $.41 stamps. What's gonna happen?

I think there is a grace period.

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

I re-used the same box. It was a Priority Mail box with Priority Mail markings. I didn't go to the clerk, I used the ATM in the lobby. The machine doesn't know which box you are using...strictly weight/zip code.

Hmm...I'll have to step down and talk to a human the next time I go.

The Self Serve machine asks you if you are using pre-printed boxes, then if they are a flat rate box.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

The Self Serve machine asks you if you are using pre-printed boxes, then if they are a flat rate box.

Correct. But it doesn't tell you you'll be paying thru the azz if you use the "wrong" box.

One more reason to hate the Post Office...

[LakeCleElum]

Danny - I have a part time job as a "courier" of "high security" shipments. I've spent a lot of time inside Postal facilities dealing with their supervisors and managers. I've never seen a more disfunctional group in all my life. I'm amazed anything gets accomplished.

Managers and supervisors are trained to not make a decision and if the shipment is something out of the norm, just refuse it and turn the customer away. You only get their attention by telling them you will return the shipment across the country and the head Postal Inspector will be on the phone to their boss in the morning asking why they got a bill for and $8,000 air shipment?

Another observation, if you work for the post office, are white and speak fluent English, you will never be promoted!!!!

I often walked out the door shaking my head.....

[Hugh R]

A friend of mine uses the flat rate thin box no weight limit deal from USPS to ship flywheels that he makes. He sends 40 lbs flywheels across the country for under $10, IIRC.