How long do you wait?

What's really funny is that sometime recently - I dunno, sometime in the last 3 weeks. I've had to ship a bunch of crap for work. I ended up with 2 boxes that went out at the same time. 1 box left that night. The second waited 2 or 3 days before moving. Only difference was that they went to different places (and ultimately different distribution centers, but both went to the same main hub in Cincinnati first). All I could think was, "Yea, that's par."

Neither would have went through Chicago, either.

 

Unless things have changed in the past few years since I retired from USPS, any alcohol that is detected either from leakage or a broken package is confiscated. My facility would collect it until the lockable bin was full then they’d pour it all out. Picture me watching this with tears.

 

It seems to really vary from one region to another. I’ve had a few boxes show up wet from breakage.
I had one that was saturated bad enough that they rebagged it and added an apology note. Still delivered.
The weirdest one was the box disappeared for several months. I had already replaced and written it off. Then the recipient and I both got semi-threatening formal letters from the postmaster at their local hub. He went in and they let him pick up the beer in person. They were apparently very polite, and just said “use ups next time.”

 

I got one of these Letters today From USPS Hazmat regarding a box

 

Ruh roh...
If they try to escalate things just plead ignorance.
Otherwise you or recipient might be able to pick up at the post office IP.

* side note: I always try to waterproof things one way or another. Leaking boxes is pretty much the only way usps investigates such things.

 

I received a certified letter from Postmaster today. I can call and have them hold for IP pickup for up to two business days or say i want them to discard package but i have to pay a disposal fee.
Ill see tomorrow what they say on phone

 

I’ll try to lighten the mood...

 

Had a problem with a shipment to Norway recently via USPS.(apparently Fedex or UPS isn't safe internationally from my partners experience) I've sent a bunch of times, with no issues.

The shipment arrived in Norway in a week, but was stuck in Customs for several weeks. In the end, my partner had to pay $250 to get them "out" of customs. Basically sounded like exhortation. Could of been worse, but a bad break for sure.