The Things We Mail

I was in the post office last Friday to pick up a parcel. From the counter, I could see back into the loading dock and sorting area. While I was waiting on the clerk to find my package, I heard birds chirping. I thought that one or more birds must have flown in the garage bay doors. I looked around at the ceiling, but didn't see any. But I could still hear the chirping.

Then, I noticed a box on a table behind the counter area; it had holes and on the side was printed, "Live Baby Chicks"

When the clerk returned, I asked what kind of stamp was on the box, but he thought I was just kidding and laughed. I didn't pursue it.

KirkS

Yep, I've seen that.

At one time, long ago, you could actually mail people. I seem to recall a story about a woman who mailed her son out to where his father was.

You can still mail people, but only after they've been cremated, and as I recall, they must go by Registered Mail, so the package can be tracked.

really? iphones and other appliances used to be freely mailed in the Philippines from the US and other countries by their relatives but the Philippine Customs Office in coordination with the post office now refuses to release the mail unless taxes are first paid based on the "estimated value" of the package

I just bought an iphone from China. I'm not sure how the taxes with customs were declared or paid. I kept the whole package. It didn't have stamps, but a label.

KirkS,
I have a similar story. A few years ago I was at the postal annex a few blocks from my house to pick up a package that was too large for my mailbox. When the clerk went to get the package I was hearing chirping and sure enough on the other side of the service door was a carton of live chicks. I just had to laugh because I hadn't thought about live things being able to be shipped via USPS. I wonder if it was near Easter then?

The couple of times I saw it, they were stock for a chicken farm.

One of those times, the chicks arrived on a Saturday morning off the truck, and there was no Saturday delivery. The Assistant Postmaster had to come in a few times over the next couple of days to feed and water them.