1|1|I would call the postmaster and complain about it.|Sandy2773|sandy2773@hotmail.com|22:53:35|11/19/2008|I sold some of my stockpiles to this nice lady on here and I shipped it in a very large priority box. It wasn't a large flat rate it was bigger than that. Anyway I wrapped it in regular packaging paper and taped it really good. Paid like 1.00 on the tape--lol. Anyway she e-mailed me and told me that they charged her an extra 13.00 because they opened it and saw it was a priorioty box. My mom mails me these all the time wrapped and it has never happened to me. Can they do this? She was very nice about it too but makes me mad I will never be using a priority box again and wrap it that's for sure. Carol
1|1|I would call the postmaster and complain about it.|Sandy2773|sandy2773@hotmail.com|22:53:35|11/19/2008|
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2|1|I have heard of this many times. Someone I know got busted for using a cut up box. |RobinsCrazyWorld|robinmarie72@gmail.com|23:23:54|11/19/2008|
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I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.
3|1|isnt it a federal offense to open someone elses mail? or are po workers exempt?|BriansMommy|mommytobrian04@aol.com|23:38:29|11/19/2008|
smells funny to me. although, I think my nose might be broken, so maybe not.
:o) 5|2|my thoughts are perhaps a corner of the paper tore, they saw the box, and then decided to investigate further. The post office can open any box they choose|HONEY11|HONEY1@AMERITECH.NET|23:41:49|11/19/2008|
if they question packaging or the contents they can open it.
"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." -Willie Nelson
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4|1|I've heard this happen to others as well. They always say that the priority mailboxes are for priority mail only and aren't to be covered with any type of paper~*~|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|23:40:10|11/19/2008|
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6|2|Wow, I didn't know this, could I get in trouble because she said they wrote my name down?|slimnlady|slimnlady@aol.com|00:17:42|11/20/2008|
Posted on Nov-20-08 at 00:17 AM (Eastern) by 207.200.116.134
I know the box wasn't opened it was completely taped even the corners so they may have suspected it and just opened it themselves. That's my thoughts anyway. Thanks for all the replies. Carol
7|3|I think they open boxes that are the exact size of their boxes. I would just pay the money they charged her and not do it again. |RobinsCrazyWorld|robinmarie72@gmail.com|01:04:52|11/20/2008|
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(='.'=)
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I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.
8|1|Yes they can and it is perfectly legal|brainyblonde|brainyblonde@prodigy.net|07:29:43|11/20/2008|
Priority mail boxes can only be used for priority mail. You can't cover them or turn them inside out. The PO has every right to inspect any package. Same goes with items sent media mail - if they don't "look" like media, the PO can and does open them. They will either return as insufficient postage or send along as postage due.
Debbie 9|1|Yep..they can do that!!|shellysmsmo|jpksms@sbcglobal.net|08:58:19|11/20/2008|
sad to say.. but true 10|1|They have every right to do this.|Arizona|vbj48@cox.net|09:16:58|11/20/2008|
It is written in the United States Postal Service Domestical Mail Manual. You can always find info like this and info for packaging and postage calculations on their website. www.usps.com
11|1|Wrapped Boxes|Gail_O|gailandlarryondrej@gmail.com|10:26:10|11/20/2008|
Also, years ago, my PO would not take wrapped boxes because the wrapping could get torn, sometimes completely off, and then all the address would be lost. 12|1|i work at the po.................|athena|aburns1982@hotmail.com|11:02:03|11/20/2008|
I I think the only packages the po can open is mail marked media mail other wise i think they have to contact you if there is an issue...do you know why they tried to open it?? was there a sticker on it or did the postmaster or postal inspector try to contact you?
usually the only time they will do this is if they suspect something is harmful or if you are mailing something you shouldnt be but usually they try to contact you frist
13|1|OH AND........................|athena|aburns1982@hotmail.com|11:03:59|11/20/2008|
if you had all of the priority markings on the box covered and were not indtending on shipping it priority i dont think they should have charged you or her for that i would def call and talk to a supervisor or postmaster
call first and tell them you want to talk to a carrier supervisor 14|1|Please see inside THEY CAN open your mail & charge |Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|11:20:16|11/20/2008|
From the link below:
Can Postal Inspectors open mail?
First-Class Mail letters and parcels and Express Mail items are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant.
If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class Mail letter or parcel or an Express Mail piece violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?session={d2777950-b71e-11dd-7799-000000000000}&event=1&view()=c%7Bfea84150-57e1-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D&objectId=&eksObjectId=&objectType=Case&isJumpEnabled=false&isContentJumpEnabled=false&vendorKey=&objTitle=&versionId=1442&searchProperties=type:natural&naturalAdvance=false&allStr=&phraseStr=&anyStr=&noneStr=&keywordStr=&tTitle=&topicFromSub=&topicsORSubUrl=&report(0000)=p{871070a0-6973-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&bcobjectId={c5b75ea0-6972-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&search=open%20mail&topicAndSubtopic=Buying$ALL
It is AGAINST the law to use the priority flat rate mailers as anythign BUT flat rate mailers. As soon as I find the link I'll post it here!! They had every right to open it!
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!)
15|1|I just called USPS she said there is nothing that says that on the website |Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|11:33:56|11/20/2008|
That regulation. She did say however that I am correct they are property of the USPS and are not to be used but for what they are intended for.
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 16|1|it says on the boxes....|ptmama525|ptmama525@aol.com|11:35:35|11/20/2008|
this packaging is the property of the u.s. postal service and is provided solely for the use in sending priority mail. misuse may be a violation of federal law.
now as far as the PO opening a package, I'm not for sure the legality of that, but would think they would not jeopordize their jobs to open a pacakge since they are not benefiting from it...kwim ??
JMO 18|2|To clarify she said the wrap had been taken off, the actual package I don't think was opened|slimnlady|slimnlady@aol.com|12:57:39|11/20/2008|
It was a priority box(not flat rate). Well I will certainly not do this again. Thanks so much for all the great info. Carol
17|1|yes if you use the priority box for mailing in any way you pay priority|glennie58|glenn_scott@alumni.ksg.harvard.edu|12:52:42|11/20/2008|
my po told me this when I used a priority box last year I guess they recognized the shape and have been trained to do this. 19|2|I sure feel lucky because I sent others like this and they went through fine.|slimnlady|slimnlady@aol.com|12:59:32|11/20/2008|
But definitely won't do it again. Carol
20|1|Yes, they do ask at our POs about boxes that are the same size as theirs|sheliar|sandk95@embarqmail.com|15:01:22|11/20/2008|
Here if they see a box the same size as one of theirs, they flat out ask if it is a priority box rewrapped, or reused. I was behind a lady and she said that she was reusing a priority box that was sent to her, so recycling it, but they told her she couldn't do that, either.
I've known for a while that you are not supposed to do this, and it actually irritates me when I find out that people are using them for parcel post and such--since those boxes are given free, but people are not paying the proper rate, the PO is not getting the proper money for them. I feel that if this is continually abused this way, we may end up having to pay for those boxes at some point or will have to find your own box to mail things in.
This goes double for people who mail stuff media mail that doesn't qualify. Only books, CDs, DVDs, and other bound media qualifies for media mail. One media item in a box of other stuff does NOT qualify it for media. In fact, for media mail, nothing but the media is supposed to be included--not even a packing slip (since the packing slip does not qualify as media). I've seen people on here having auctions for various items, then offer media mail for shipping. To me, that's cheating the system, and just causes the rest of us to have to pay higher postage rates.
JMO,
Shelia
"They say that we are better educated than our parents' generation. What they mean is that we go to school longer. They are not the same thing."---Douglas Yates
21|2|Because of my book sets I send MANY media mail boxes|Kristy|mi3zons1@yahoo.com|15:38:04|11/20/2008|
The post office tells me all the time they have the right to pop to boxes open and I always invite them to. I have nothing to hide and would rather them look. Now that I've been going a while they know me and anticipate it. But they also know time to time I send stuff not media.
"Women should not have children after 35. Thirty-five children are enough." - anonymous (Only 28 to GO!) 23|2|Media mail --- I have told them what is inside and asked just to be sure I could mail media mail. I was also told that the P.O. does spot checks and will open packages to see if it really is media mail. I have heard of others having this problem when they reused a box. I would reuse only if mailing priority. |Sara_s_Mom|IClipCoupons@gmail.com|15:47:28|11/20/2008|
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22|1|That is a definate NO NO|disneymom|litteones3@gmail.com|15:38:24|11/20/2008|
YOu can only use postal shipping materials at the rate they are intended for!! You could get into HEAPS of trouble
Thank you!
Nicole
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