I'm a mail handler for USPS. Ask me anything!

Just figured this might help some people. I'm at work now so I might be a bit slow to respond but will be sure to cover everyone tonight. Ask me anything!


Comments


[28 Points] throwahooawayyfoe:

Why do my MDMA orders always go missing but everything else makes it through to me just fine?


[21 Points] pacodemu:

For some reason my mail man recently decided that I no longer live at my apartment and marked all of my mail as 'return to sender, no forwarding address given' despite me still living here. I called USPS and eventually got my mail to start being delivered again, but now I have a package that is stuck in limbo because the person I spoke to at the USPS told me they can't track a package without a tracking number.

Is there any way that I can get somebody to check for undelivered mail to me at my address? Or are you guys really completely lost without a tracking number?


[16 Points] morphinedreams:

Is it true that when a package is marked fragile staff are less likely to treat it kindly?


[17 Points] None:

[deleted]


[16 Points] CripVanStinkle:

What do you want for Christmas?


[13 Points] badassmthrfkr:

What, if anything, makes you suspicious that there's drugs in it? And do you report them or don't bother and pass it along?


[10 Points] BlueShadesTM:

Anyone else remember this shit? https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/22g9km/i_am_a_usps_mailhandler_ask_me_anything_part_2/

https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/22jcss/im_pretending_to_be_a_usps_mailhandler_ask_me/


[7 Points] None:

[deleted]


[6 Points] None:

Without revealing your identity, could you briefly explain your hiring process to anyone interested in a similar position and whether or not the job is worth it? Also, would you rather handle packages or carry?

thanks postal guy.


[7 Points] None:

Which countries are the "risky" ones, if there's any thought in the training?


[6 Points] None:

Do they have xray scanners in your building? There has been a lot of talk whether mylar bags block xrays or not.


[3 Points] CripVanStinkle:

Also what weird mods have you done to make straddling your console more comfortable?


[3 Points] samwhiskey:

If you don't want to deliver on a Saturday do you just save the mail for Monday?


[5 Points] Theeconomist1:

So, you see something "suspicious", what happens next? I could get if there are obvious signs of contraband (leaking package for instance), but what is the point where they can actually get a warrant to open the mail? If all they have is "excessive postage" and shitty writing, is that actually enough to open the mail? Or is it just subjective to further scrutinity where they xray and maybe use a dog? I would hope that just some "suspicious" is not enough to get a warrant to open the piece of mail.


[3 Points] animaldoxx:

So..... to settle an issue that comes up at least once a month. How would you prefer to receive your DNM orders? Would you like your vendor to use stamps and the 400 labels or online printed postage? Which would look less suspicious to you?


[3 Points] creamynebula:

I'm not from the US but very interesting thread, I hope vendors check it out, some very important info here.


[3 Points] None:

Is it safer to mail things to your house or to a P.O. Box, and is there a way to get a P.O. Box without it being tied to your name?


[3 Points] hangbellybroad:

So, if I would get a PO box using my real identity and designate 2 or 3 other names to have access to the box, then use one of those names to receive dnm orders, would that be breaking any federal or USPS laws? (Of course I would be breaking laws, but I mean only with regard to using a name that is not my own). And, if I get a package that requires a signature, should I sign with the alternate name that is on the package (for which I would have no ID, if asked) or my real name? Any laws or rules to fuck with me there (again only regarding the use of a name not my own)? Do you have any suggestions or advice to help for a fuckery-free experience in this situation? Not using my real name, that is, with a PO box registered to my real name, esp. when signing for illegal goods.

Many thanks in advance.


[2 Points] SaxonShieldwall:

Do you have a nice lemonade on hot delivering days?


[2 Points] jseanbrooks:

How often do you order from Darknet markets?


[2 Points] DrugsnAnarchy:

First of all i like to thank you for doing this man. Fuck some of these pricks here who talk shit. You are doing this community a big favour and for me all the id i need are in your answers. Fuck those idiots asking to compromize your security. You should do this every week bro. Now my question: earlier you mentioned scanners xray and sniffers/ bio sensors. 1- which type of scanners? 2- are those xrays low frequency, do they show density in colors, if yes, which colours for which density. 4- sniffers/bio sensors, you mean mass spectrometers? Do packages only pass through here when they are labelled suspicious? I.e. top much stamps, obviously bulky, obvious sense of mbb? P.s. 3m veterinary xray mylar mbb do exist. If an xray machine sees his signal being blocked is that sufficient reason to get a warrant? Hey, and thanks again for the efoort and risk you are taking in answering us all. You got my respects!


[2 Points] Hold_me_loose:

Hey man can you take a look at this post? http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2olgnt/my_neighbor_admitted_to_getting_my_car_insurance/

It's funny how your AMA and this post sit next to each other in my front page. So I thought maybe you know more about it than any other person.


[2 Points] xeddmc:

You are awesome. I hope there are /u/PostalTom 's here in Canada also.


[2 Points] ShulginsCat:

I'm late to the AMA but hopefully you can still answer this one.

If you received a pink slip for an order because it required a signature, how would you go about getting it? Or an easier case, if the package just didn't fit in your mailbox (or mailslot) - is there an easy way to get that redelivered without going to the PO?


[1 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] Phexord:

Are you on USPS's network doing this AMA?


[1 Points] pm_me_cool_plants:

can you tell when people are getting illegal packages? what are some telltale signs?


[1 Points] l0c0d0g:

I'm interested in how exactly mail travels (as far as you know). Does all mail that comes from Europe arrive in one processing plant and than sorted to state sorting plants? Like there is a big airplane that brings all mail from Europe once a day in for example NY and there is sorted by state. Or there are many plants that receive post from all kinds European countries?


[1 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] Chilupabatman:

How many times can you use express a month without causing attention?


[1 Points] TheColorExchanges:

I'm in a unique position where I live in a house that my aunt passed away in. She still often gets junkmail here as well as the occasional bill that was never settled. I'm certain that no one will be forwarding her mail elsewhere.

Do you think using her name on DNM orders would be a good or bad idea? I like the idea that it distances myself from being on the package, but the name is actually one that still receives mail on a regular basis at this address so it hopefully shouldn't look suspicious.


[1 Points] throwahooawayyfoe:

How often does stuff really get ripped open by the automated sorting machines? Are we all just paranoid when we find a tear or a hole in a package, or should we be worried that somebody was actually taking a peek inside?


[1 Points] FuriousFister:

Do you even lift, brah? That is the question. Seriously though, my grandma she was like a stamp fanatic. Anything she sent that was under the allowed limit was like plastered with stamps. I was thinking that is a common old person MO, is that not the case?


[1 Points] DumbAssFeedback:

Is it common for Priority Mail to just "go misssing"? On a recent order that failed to show up after two weeks, the vendor informed me that I should consider the pack lost.When I asked for more detail, he said he'd misplaced the tracking number but knew for certain he shipped. (Since I FE'ed (vendors of the product are generally FE only) and the vendor otherwise has a fairly pristine record, I'm SOL. Lesson (re)learned...)

Personal misfortune aside: it possible/common for tracked priority mail to just get lost in limbo? Or is there a point where, if you were a vendor keeping an eye on tracking and it just stopped updating, that might be worrisome enough that it's safer to keep your distance and consider the pack MIA?

And is there any reason for me to hold out hope that the pack might still turn up, 3 weeks later and counting?


[1 Points] GrandWizardsLair:

Some advise buyers to use their real name and address when ordering on the darknet. Others recommend using a fake name, a variant on your real name, or a mail drop (abandoned house, etc.) for security reasons. Any thoughts on the subject from a USPS mail handler?


[1 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] goodluckbrah:

Is there any benefit to those "test envelopes" that some vendors offer to send to your house before you order/ship? Or will a letter from any place always get far less notice than a package?


[1 Points] tacalacataca:

For p.o. boxes if something doesn't show up in the morning is it possible for it to show up later that day?


[1 Points] sinned_:

Non-DNM related question, but, I've been in the mailing industry for about 5 years now... everything from small corporate mailrooms, huge mailrooms at the world HQ of a very well known bank, to supervising/operating a presorting department for a bulk mailer. Currently I'm the Mailing Coordinator for a nationwide printing company, submitting about 500,000 mailpieces worth of mailings a day to a USPS business mail entry unit.

My question is, why does every USPS employee I encounter completely contradicts the DMM or other employees? (whether it be professionally, retail, or DNM related) `

Is knowing the DMM (Domestic Mail Manual) not a part of any USPS employee's job description?


[1 Points] honestasianman:

Hopefully you can answer this question, but how does usps catch people sending counterfeits? I like to buy 'replica sneakers' and I've heard on the news of people being caught, especially for sports jerseys.


[1 Points] doingalittlesomethin:

so i ordered something that made it to a sorting facilty twenty mins up the road and it still hasnt delivered. it went to the sort faciltity at 1am and departed at 6am and the tracking leaves it in limbo from that point, the sorting facility is notriously horrible yet it says it was there from 1-6am when it departed. it was a priority box, when called in they said maybe the apt wasnt listed but reviews of label say it was. now no one answers facility phone and trackings last update states it departed the sorting center. how can i tell if they lost it or if it was flagged and if it was lost will i be sought after they realize its contents and my address is still there.?? im very confused two weeks in and im starting to susepct the worst.


[0 Points] None:

[deleted]


[-2 Points] UTF64:

Have you ever dicked a duck?


[-1 Points] None:

Ever get a DICK IN THE BOX!?


[-1 Points] Southsideswinger:

Is it pretty easy to order drugs from places like Silk Road and get them without being caught by the people handling the mail? I have always hesitated to use online orders because I'm worried they will catch me somehow.


[-2 Points] None:

Do you guys realize how fucked you are for Amazon at Christmas week?

You really don't know. You guys will learn


[-4 Points] None:

Do u even DNM brah?


[-26 Points] galaxyandspace:

Its customary for AMAs to be accompanied with proof of your position.