"Lesson Learned": Man Shares Unbelievable Way USPS Delivered His Package

I saw this article online.
I have a jumbo mailbox to fit larger packages.
And the local mail carriers will bring them to my door if they are to big,
but I know this can and does happen in some situations.


https://www.newsweek.com/usps-deliv...rned-1730146

Exactly!
If one collects larger items like mint sheets (or vinyl records), the hobbyist should accept some responsibility and erect a box large enough to handle the expected package size without bending - or if the neighborhood or apartment restricts such, to get a P.O. box. Yes, it may happen once, but the lesson should create action to minimize a repeat.

Here, in a land of letter-boxes, not mail-boxes, there's no scope for that. Parcels are usually left with neighbours (and sometimes behind dustbins and flowerpots).

I am tempted to lay blame with the shipper. It was sent Media Mail, per the photos, and nowhere did it say "Do Not Bend" I receive all kinds of auction catalogs via Media Mail and they are invariably folded so they fit into the box. Without any indication on the package, I would expect the deliverer would think there is a book/catalog (printed matter) in the package. Sending a vinyl record via Media Mail is simply cheaping-out.

I won't lay ALL the blame on the sender - the delivery person should not fold such a cardboard 'box', irrespective of how it was sent. But still, sending something fragile, like a record, without indicating that it is fragile or that it shouldn't be bent??? Toopid.

I just received an eBay bought PS5, a Plate Strip of 5. It was in a marked envelope, with cardboard stiffener in a proper stamp envelope. Everything by the book, except for the staple to hold the small envelope to the stiffener. Why are these folks afraid that the stamp is going to walk away?


Peter

I wouldn't call this "unbelievable" since it happens all the time. The package needed to be (a) stiffer so it was difficult to bend and (b) clearly marked as "Fragile: Do NOT bend". Small, normal-sized mailboxes get stuffed with all sorts of mail of different sizes, and some of it is rolled up or folded to fit. Maybe use a larger mailbox?

How the heck can an album from 1985 which sold 2,000,000 copies be worth $60? That is just nuts.

I agree with mootermutt about Media Mail. Priority Mail would have been treated much better. I do not collect vinyl records, but I wonder if that is standard for the industry? I know vinyl records have their own type of mailer and I don't think USPS has a Priority Mail box suitable for vinyl. Putting something of actual collectible value in Media Mail seems abusive. Can media Mail be insured? Since vinyl records are now more about collecting than actually an efficient medium of audio transmission, seems like they should be removed from media mail eligibility. Or maybe they would be eligible but only if the title is not available for streaming on spotify. Something like that.

My wife had some photos enlarged to be frameable wall hangings two years ago in the Winter. I arrived home in a snowstorm to find the cardboard package "secured" to the top of the mailbox by a jumbo red rubber band and covered in slush from the plow going by.

On the other hand, my FedEx driver has thrown deliveries of food over my fence into a yard which contains three German Shepherds. Not a pretty picture after a GSD consumes three packages of Chorizo soup with peppers, and poops.... everywhere.

That video "Video Shows Historical Mail Operations" was fabulous
Sadly unable to capture the video.

Having the package marked do not bend or fragile doesn't help. They still cram it in the mail box. Our solution was to have the PO hold any packages or letters that won't fit in a mail box at the PO. Yea we have to drive to pick up the items, but haven't had an issue since.