My OWN post office rant

[Lynn LeFey]

I just had a go-around with the local post office.

They refused to allow me to ship a Leatherman PST, claiming that it was a restricted item... because it had a blade on it.

You can ship a SMURFING GUN, if you disassemble it.

Leatherman? No... too dangerous. The guy at the Post office said it was a 'restricted item'. ALL bladed objects are. Meaning, now, they won't let me ship pretty much ANY multitool from my local post office.

Here's the thing. I went on line to see what the heck a 'restricted item' is. It means there are restrictions on what needs to be done to safely ship the item. You want to guess what the restrictions ARE on a bladed item? You have to make sure sharp edges are protected from puncturing through packaging, and possibly injuring the postal carrier. You know, stuff that makes sense.

The PST itself guards the entire surface of the blade. Beyond that, it was wrapped in 2 layers of bubble-wrap, inside a package that itself had bubble wrap. There was no way any postal employee was going to get poked with this thing. However, that was me taking 5 minutes to look up the rules. As opposed to a guy who DOES THIS FOR A LIVING just sort of making up his own rules as he goes along.
 
 

[sawman]

Just don't let them know what you're shipping.  It's none of their business. 

[Taxi Dad]

we all love a 'jobsworth' 

[jerseydevil]

Just don't let them know what you're shipping.  It's none of their business. 

Yep!  They ask me if there's anything hazardous, liquid or fragile in it, I tell them no, and there it goes!  When I shipped my Christmas Pool gift the guy at the counter looked at the customs form, said, "Oh, cool", and sent it on its way. 

[airballrad]

Yup. Pretty much as the above. I've shipped many tools (including one to you, in fact) USPS. I truthfully answered the dangerous/liquid/fragile question and off it went.

If the same person is there next time and hassles you, ask for a supervisor. Postmasters are generally pretty good at customer service, and they're the boss.

[Lynn LeFey]

That's what I normally do, but I was sending this across the big pond, and on the customs form, they asked me to list contents. I, having no idea they were idiots, put 'Leatherman PST'. At which point the employee went 'Whoa... hold on there, that's RESTRICTED!'

Which, by restricted, he SHOULD have known meant 'has to be shipped in a manner where the mailman doesn't get poked', not 'that there is a murdery murder-kill piece of death steel!'

[Farmman]

If it helps I have had the same problem here sending stuff to USA. My solution ..... I went to a different post office

[nuphoria]

If it helps I have had the same problem here sending stuff to USA. My solution ..... I went to a different post office

Been there!

Sending an MT to the US last week, confronted with an idiot in the PO saying "it's a knife then", when told it was a pocket tool. "Can't ship a knife". Told him it was a tool not a knife.... he's too dumb to figure out they are not mutually exclusive and I eventually get it sent.... irritating little man.

[AimlessWanderer]

The post office near home is run by a couple of old fuddy duddies who .... well, frankly they don't get it. There's another near work and I go there if I can get the chance to sneak out, and the guy there is spot on and assists rather than hinders.

The one near home assumes that you want to go for the cheapest everything irrespective of what you actually want, and look at me as if my head buttons up the back if I ask for tracked and signed for. I remember going in once and asking for tracked and signed for and she gave me the "cretin" look and told me that option doesn't exist - then looked on the screen and told me the price for the option that "doesn't exist" - wizened hairy lipped buffoon!

The one near work will happily discuss the various options before taking your cash - he's more concerned about you getting the service you're looking for

[Lynn LeFey]

If it helps I have had the same problem here sending stuff to USA. My solution ..... I went to a different post office

Exactly my solution.

But it cost a lot more, and required another trip and many more miles round trip. Stupid crap!

[sawman]

You made the mistake of listing "Leatherman PST" on the customs form.  I would have put "used multiplier".  You don't need to list brand names for customs.  Be very vague and always say it is "used" to avoid high duties on the other end 

[AimlessWanderer]

Agreed! "Pocket tool" or "Hand Tool" seem to be fairly safe bets

[Ashley]

I always put used tool. You give them any info and it won't make it.

Ash's mobile on the move.

[bmot]

Hmm, getting a bit nervous, now.... 

[Lynn LeFey]

Fear not. I just said 'multitool' at the other office.

And yeah... this was the 'holdup' I PMed about.

[Farmman]

If it helps I have had the same problem here sending stuff to USA. My solution ..... I went to a different post office

Exactly my solution.

But it cost a lot more, and required another trip and many more miles round trip. Stupid crap!

Yep.  I was posting a pocket pal to the FIL which I had made some custom scales for. He lives in Houston. I explained politely that the blades on the item hardly passed for a knife out there and that there own rules only talk about the item not endangering while in transit (like you).
I ended up phoning the royal mail and they agreed with me.  However going to a different post office was the best option they could give.

[nuphoria]

I also had someone write "camping tool" on a packet for me which seemed to work ok.

[AimlessWanderer]

If it helps I have had the same problem here sending stuff to USA. My solution ..... I went to a different post office

Exactly my solution.

But it cost a lot more, and required another trip and many more miles round trip. Stupid crap!

Yep.  I was posting a pocket pal to the FIL which I had made some custom scales for. He lives in Houston. I explained politely that the blades on the item hardly passed for a knife out there and that there own rules only talk about the item not endangering while in transit (like you).
I ended up phoning the royal mail and they agreed with me.  However going to a different post office was the best option they could give.

  Royal Mail advised you to go and deal with a different Royal Mail person  Brilliant!

[Nhoj]

I guess post offices stir multi tool lovers up more than talking about religion or politics!

[enki_ck]

I guess post offices stir multi tool lovers up more than talking about religion or politics!

No, we love our postmen, we just wish they'd love us back and come visit more often. It's unrequited love actually.

[Landrew]

Ever since the postal service in Canada became a crown corporation, they have instituted many changes; nearly all of which have improved things.. for themselves!  And at our expense.


It's good to be a monopoly!

[Smaug]

You can ship a SMURFING GUN, if you disassemble it.

You don't have to disassemble a gun to ship it. Only make sure it is not loaded. Oh, and you have to be an FFL holder.

I can't wait to hear the follow-up to this.

 

[tattoosteve99]

My posties ask me the same thing. I always say knife, multi, etc. it's always well packaged and they have never asked me otherwise. However they did inform me today of "changes" that will happen 1/22/13. I wonder what that means???

[dks]

As said before, just wrap it well and say it is a tool...

I get many sharp objects from the US, so definitely not illegal.

[N_N_R]

Say it's a Toblerone ...



Ooops, wait, forgot your weight-loss programme     

[AHB]

I always write "small pockettool", on the customsform.. Never had any problems so far..

[Mercury]

I had my local post woman give me a sideways look for shipping a vic rambler overseas to one of our british members.  She tried to say it was restricted but let it go after asking me if I thought it was legal.  I just said that it doesn't violate any UK knife laws AFAIK and she stamped it.  Besides, it says right on the customs form that it is the responsibility of the sender to ensure the legality of their package.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[henryhcyap]

Actually, it's no fault of the postal department nor the front desk people, but it sends shivers up my spine when those people up in their ivory tower dealing in weapons that wipe towns of the map approve laws that deem a 3 inch blade a lethal weapon.   

[Essexman]

I know you shouldn't have to, but you can be creative with what you write......

Camping tool
desginer Cutlery
Folding steel sample

 

[enki_ck]

I know you shouldn't have to, but you can be creative with what you write......

Camping tool
desginer Cutlery
Folding steel sample

 

  I like that one.