Mistake By The USPS!

I received this in the mail yesterday and thinking it was from someone on the forum, I hurriedly opened it. I looked at the return address and realized I didn't know who it was from. Then I looked at the address and realized the USPS had made a mistake.

Note the address: NEW TO YOU
(street address)
Manchester, IOWA 52057

I live in Okawville, Illinois 62271
Note the auto zip at the bottom (circled)mistakenly was put in as 62271. No big deal, right?

I open the envelope and inside was covers with the US FLAGS 24/7 stamps on them. The envelope had been delivered to the wrong address but to the right philatelic interested house!

Now, I know you all are thinking, "Will she do the right thing and return the envelope with the covers to the USPS for correct delivery??" I am tempted to keep them, especially since I saw someone trying to sell the one US Flag 24/7 night stamp on ebay for $49.99! (Remember Linn's printed the article about the night stamp having 14 stripes instead of the 13 like it's supposed to have!) Also, you have to buy the coil of 100 stamps right now at our post office to get the US FLAGS 24/7.

Yep, I'll do the right thing! But the USPS really made a gross error in zips on this one. I only hope this time they don't accidentally send it to amitvyas03 in India! OR maybe I should say Londonbus ,because he collects flag stamps!

Gussyboy1

You mean the USPS makes mistakes?? Say it isn't so....

Londonbus, I have a few of the used, or do you want the mint?? BTW, they're the self adhesive. And the USPS doesn't charge for re-sending something they delivered by mistake-you just take it to them and annoyingly and loudly (with others standing in line) point out their mistake! ha:)

Gussyboy1

gussyboy1 - You've earned a halo!

Judybug

The USPS discovered numbers of misprogrammed address' when the barcodes first started up.

Or, if the sender is one who preprints their barcodes then it may not have been the USPS who printed it on incorrectly. That would make sense considering that you are a stamp collector..the sender could have your address on file.

Also wrong barcodes can get printed when one letter sticks to another. One letter will get it's address read and then short letter in front or the long one in back will be the one to actually get the barcode printed on it. Half sealed letters that can get another stuck into it's flap are great candidates for this and also they get stuck together if a letter has part showing of the selfstickied stamps/return address labels..like if the corner is not flat or folded back then the stickiness can catch another letter. Also do not let your child with the jelly sandwich mail the letter; I swear many letters that are stuck appear to get that way with jelly.

But in this case, without being able to confirm it with the street address', it appears the letter got the wrong barcode due to the return address label is too low AND got misread. The OCR appeared to pick up the small 5 as a 6 and then skipped one of the 2s due to they are so small and close together. probably the 1 at the end is from the end of the sticker; the line where it goes from the swirly pink to white the machine saw a 1.

The sender should switch the placement/style of their return address label and the Cedar Rapids main facility should be notified, you might email them both this image. The one who really pulled the boner was your neighborhood carrier..that guy had to have this letter in his hand when he sorted that morning due to the barcode is not a zip+4+2 it is only zip+4. so I am guessing you did get this due to your stamp collecting. the carrier probably felt it and recognized the feel of it and that it had stamps in it and automatically tossed it to yur box. they do sometimes missort if the name or address is very close though.

If ever forwarding a letter, then of course the old barcode nneds to be lined out with magic marker.