Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: HumbleKoi on October 29, 2011, 07:49 pm

Title: Postage due
Post by: HumbleKoi on October 29, 2011, 07:49 pm
If I get a notice of postage due on my shipment, do I go to the post office to pick it up or is this potentially a trap?  I know first class mail is protected from unlawful searches or seizures but I'm paranoid that it could have been damaged during shipment and this is their way to get me in person and arrest me.  Am I being to paranoid?
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: vanilla on October 29, 2011, 08:45 pm
Interesting situation. I have not heard of the post office being so sneaky. They have your address if they wanted to arrest you they would probably conduct a controlled delivery. If it is a small amount it still might be better off to leave it be. I wouldn't say you would be in danger to pick it up if you leave it there for a few days, just in case.
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: HumbleKoi on October 30, 2011, 12:14 am
I think I'll take my chances and pick it up.  I've read about controlled deliveries and it seems like they would have done that if they really wanted to get me.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I see that another buyer had postage due from the same seller but their mailman was kind enough to ring their doorbell to ask for it. 

I'll let y'all know how it goes, unless I'm thrown in the slammer.
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: zefka on October 30, 2011, 12:41 am
If it was a package from [seller name removed since it may not be his fault at all] it seems he's had a few that have had that problem the last couple  reviews. So if it's from him it's probably ok - as everyone else seemed to have gotten theirs just fine (though goodness I really wouldn't want to have to march in there for that reason - really hope he fixes what ever happened - cause it looks like he's otherwise awesome and I'd love to order from him)
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: CaptainSensible on October 30, 2011, 05:21 am
I had this exact same thing happen to me.   An order arrived with "Postage Due" stamped on the top of the letter.  I couldn't figure it out -- the letter weighed far less than one ounce and the First Class postage stamp on it was enough for letters weighing one ounce or less. 

Here's what happened: because of the bumpy shape of the letter it apparently went through the automated USPS machinery to process First Class envelopes and got stuck in the machinery.  It had to be pulled out by hand and processed by hand.  Because of this the letter was given what's called a "non-machinable surcharge."  (Be sure to look that term up)

Essentially, you owe more postage because the letter addressed to you required more effort to deliver.  It couldn't be quickly processed by USPS machinery and thus cost the Post Office more money -- therefore the original stamp is insufficient postage.
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: vanilla on October 30, 2011, 06:43 am
That's bad news man. Any vendor should know in advance how much it is going to cost to mail their product. Obviously they're not going to take it to the post office and ask how much to mail it, so they need to get it right so it gets delivered without showing face on camera at the post office during business hours.
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: CaptainSensible on October 30, 2011, 06:11 pm
I want to make it clear I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular.  This "non-machinable surcharge" issue is a really obscure policy that I've never heard of, and I don't think the vendor who sent this package knew about it either.  Chances are, the USPS machine processing that package *just happened* to choke.  On another day, or with another letter processing machine, the package may have sailed right through. 

Sending contraband through the USPS is sometimes harder than we realize.
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: zefka on October 30, 2011, 11:24 pm
I want to make it clear I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular.  This "non-machinable surcharge" issue is a really obscure policy that I've never heard of, and I don't think the vendor who sent this package knew about it either.  Chances are, the USPS machine processing that package *just happened* to choke.  On another day, or with another letter processing machine, the package may have sailed right through. 

Sending contraband through the USPS is sometimes harder than we realize.

That is a really good point. There are a few reasons I'm aware of that will cause a letter to go to hand sorting (format, thickness, other bits that make it not processable by machine) but there is also a chance that it just hit a bad machine that didn't like it. As such I removed the seller's name from my post in good faith since he seems to be remarkably stand up and it's very possible the letters hit a snag at a local station and may never have another problem. (not to mention it seems like they still made it to their recipents safe and sound :D )
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: HumbleKoi on November 01, 2011, 05:39 pm
Just want to let everyone know that I went to the post office yesterday morning and picked it up without issue. 
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: alchemy809 on November 01, 2011, 08:31 pm
I am so effing sick of paying postage for these people...it is sketchy as can be man....

I owed $1.46 yesterday and the lady at the post office asked me "what do you do"

she knew my name man....SHE KNEW MY NAME. i'm paranoid though...
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: zefka on November 01, 2011, 09:34 pm
I am so effing sick of paying postage for these people...it is sketchy as can be man....

I owed $1.46 yesterday and the lady at the post office asked me "what do you do"

she knew my name man....SHE KNEW MY NAME. i'm paranoid though...

Has this happened a lot to you?
Title: Re: Postage due
Post by: zefka on November 01, 2011, 09:35 pm
Just want to let everyone know that I went to the post office yesterday morning and picked it up without issue.

Nice! Thanks for the update. Was curious how it went.