Gone Postal

I could never understand the connection between the Postal Service and the mayhem that has been engendered in association with it. But this week I experienced the kind of frustration that makes your ears burn.

Three weeks ago I mailed a package to Serena in California. I opted for parcel post for half the price of Priority even though they said it could take 6-12 days. When Serena told me it had not arrived yet I called the Post office to see what happened. It had come back undeliverable because I missed one number in the address which is bad enough because to resend it I would have to pay that other half I'de saved the first time. But that wasn't the worst of it.

Since parcel post is so "cheap" I would have to pay the return postage before they would give up the package. I interpret this as a hostage situation for my package. This also means that to re-send it will end up with a total cost of three times the original!

I called 1-800-USPS (twice) just to find out if this could be the case. Both times they reassured me that if the package was unopened I need not pay the return fare. The online site was impossible to navigate on the topic.

So I go to the Post office to tell them of their error and suggest that they call and find out for themselves. I waited 10 minutes to speak to the superintendent then When she made the call I waited another 15 minutes. With "my" package sitting there right in front of me I felt sure that it would be mine again without a penalty fee. As the attending clerk finally left the room I liberated my package and headed out to resend it UPS, which by the way was less than parcel post, 2-3 day delivery including twice the insurance.

I kept looking over my shoulder as I ran errands that afternoon. When I arrived home there was a message on the phone. They had indeed verified their stand and would be holding my mail at the post office until the postage was recouped. Yet another hostage situation!

Text and pictures © 2008 Mona E. Dunn