Friggin Post Office
The Post Office’s new pricing system for larger (aka larger than a standard envelope) Priority Mail has completely baffled me. But it got even surreal this morning.
If I ship an 8 1/2” x 11” padded envelope with 2 DVDs in it, it can cost me anywhere between 6-9 dollars, depending on where it goes. However, I noticed that I can fit that entire envelope in one of their “flat rate” envelopes. I go to the postal machine this morning, and it tells me that it’s $4.60. I’m amazed- technically, this package is LARGER than if I had just shipped the envelope, and yet somehow it’s cheaper- how can this be? I feel the crazy need to go up and ask the postal drone if this can possibly be right.
I ask him the question, and he says that if it fits in the Priority flat-rate envelope, then it’s $4.60. Bingo! then he looks at my envelope and this conversation ensues:
”You taped it. You’re not supposed to tape it.”
“Yeah, I taped, it. I tape everything, out of habit and for security.”
“The flat rate is designed to cover what fits in the envelope.”
“My stuff DOES fit in the envelope. I suppose I could have not taped it, but then it might have come open in shipping, as the strip of adhesive you have on the envelope is about 1/16 of an inch thick.”
“But you’re not supposed to tape it.”
“Not even to make sure it won’t open?”
”The rate is designed to cover what fits in the envelope.”
“It does fit- I just don’t trust your envelopes when I can easily tape it.”
“But the envelope is not supposed to be bulging.”
“It’s not like it’s ROUND. There are 2 DVD cases in it, and the envelope is sealed, I just added tape for security. And is there a definition of what you mean by bulging?”
*shrug*
They took it. We’ll just see if it arrives, though…
4 years ago • Notes