Realize this is not quite on topic, but such a weird story I have to share:
Sold a book on eBay in December. Tracking showed it arrived, buyer said they never got it. It was only $20, so I just refunded rather than argue with them.
So, today it came back marked return to sender. Box had been opened and retaped. Still wrapped in my bubble wrap but probably resealed as Dust jacket was now on upside down and backwards. Instead of the peanuts I packed it in, the box was packed with newspaper -- from what seemed to be some sort of shopper in Washington. D.C. -- even though the package was sent to Texas (and supposedly delivered there).
So I wonder just where my little book went on its adventure ...
Now that is a strange story.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
Yeah, it just seemed so strange that somebody obviously took the time to open it, examine it and then repackage it. If it somehow got delivered to the wrong person -- which seemed to be what the postal clerk thought from what she could tell -- did they open it and decide it wasn't worth keeping? I guess I should be happy I got it back, but just weird
Have a new low to share from my local post office. It was raining all day on Thursday. My mailbox lets in a little water, so when I saw the mailman, I immediately ran out to get the package. He was a few doors down, so the mail wasn't in my box for more than 5 minutes. Regardless, as the book was on it's side, no way this happened in my little mailbox:
The idiot driver must have had it sitting in a tub of water. Luckily, the guy that sent it put several layers of bubble wrap around the proof, so it arrived as advertised. I was FURIOUS though. I am now keeping a file.
This is why I always ship books in taped bags. Not fool proof, but helps.
With your history of bad USPS deliveries, I must ask, have you ever been part of an anti-government group? Radical left/right wing tendencies? Outspoken opponent of The Establishment? Ever attend any meetings of "like-minded" individules? (not here of course, we are all perfectly safe). Ever had repeated sightings of people wearing any light-gold shaded coats?
Of course....it could all just be a coincidence..........
"Thanks, but no, it isn't a cowboy hat. It's a fedora. And yes, Indianna Jones is still socially relevant."
While I am pro "no bra" at home, I have never burned one (they are expensive!) and definitely prefer to shave. And while I firmly believe that somewhere in the depths of the FBI there is a file on me, it is not due to anti-government groups but rather my weird and varied interests. So no reason I can think of for them to destroy my boxes, save for the fact that I am what is referred to as a "package heavy" address (otherwise known as I buy a lot of stuff!). Oh well.
But thanks for the laugh, guys!
This is a first. At least for me it is. Got some books delivered in a cereal box... good for a laugh of two... Luckily the books weren't damaged.
do they smell like cereal?
Yeah, mixed berry! Naw, just your standard paperback smell.
Shipped a package from NYC to Tennessee
Wanted:
Michael Whelan & DT Original Art
I once had someone open a case in eBay against me because USPS sent the package from SC, to NC, to Montana. He lived in NC, and wanted to know what I did!
Eventually, though, it made it back. I guess the post office wanted to take it on a little sightseeing across the country first!
I have a package I am currently trying to track down that according to the USPS was delivered to my house on Feb. 16. I did not get it and have my doubts as the tracking shows it went from New York to New Jersey to Bell Gardens, CA, to Federal Way, WA, to St. Paul, MN, before finally arriving at my local post office outside Minneapolis Feb. 10. USPS then claims it sat at my post office for 6 days until being delivered on Feb. 16. Very weird.
And it was priority mail!
Glad to hear I'm not alone! Have another package that's on it's way back to me now. It was delivered to the recipient's PO Box and then an hour later was marked return to sender. I contacted the buyer and he said that was not his doing, he wants the book, and was going to ask USPS why they sent it back after only being available to pick up for one hour.
Good luck everyone!
Edit: Well, I actually wish I was alone in having issues. When things go wrong it's somewhat reassuring to know others are in the same boat though.
Wanted:
Michael Whelan & DT Original Art
Well, my package was returned to sender because I used a USPS Priority Mail box and paid for USPS Media Mail postage. The wrote "Postage For Priority Required", "Priority supplies are free, but require priority postage." and "Must pay priority postage when using priority supplies" on the box. I've sent things Media Mail using priority supplies a number of times in the past and this is the first time I've encountered this issue. Of cause they sent it all the way to the destination before sending it back to me.
Wanted:
Michael Whelan & DT Original Art
Sending it all the way to the destination before sending it back with those notes sounds like a classic USPS maneuver. It was probably some hard-on at the destination post office that got his or her panties in a twist about a Priority box with media mail postage and sent it back just to be an asshole. On a somewhat related note, I've been told before at my post office that I can't use liquor store boxes to ship stuff, but just the other day I received some books through the same post office in a cut up Bacardi rum box. It all depends on whose behind the counter sometimes.