Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: CoolPizza on February 17, 2012, 12:30 am

Title: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: CoolPizza on February 17, 2012, 12:30 am
 I got a notice in the mail that there's a package waiting for me at the post office with $0.60 postage due on it. The notice says it's a letter--as opposed to a package (it's a small order)--and that I need to bring my ID to the post office in order to claim the package. There's no way the post office could do a controlled delivery to my box; Is this their way of getting me to turn myself in? The SR seller who sent this package was under considerable pressure to fill orders last week so I suppose it's possible they made an error when posting the package, but the seller's hasn't responded to messages for a week.

tl;dr: should I pick up a package with postage due on it from the post office, or do I just let it go?
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: shoosha2 on February 17, 2012, 01:30 am
I guess it would depend on the vendor. I actually almost had this happen to me last week... The vendor though contacted me ahead of time and warned me that he had not put enough postage on the last batch of deliveries due to the recent increase in stamp prices or something. He warned me that I might have to go into the PO as a result. Luckily I never did--the package was in my mailbox with no indication of extra postage due. Since he warned me ahead of time I probably would have gone into the PO had it come to that, but I would have been sweating bullets.

So for me I would ask: How valuable is the package, and how reliable is the vendor (and no contact is suspicious).

Good luck!
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: TheNewDude on February 17, 2012, 02:28 am
I would leave it there, honestly.

But I'm a bit paranoid.

You would probably be fine picking it up, but it's a risk/benefit scenario.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: anaballin on February 17, 2012, 04:12 am
yea dude... fuck that. I mean- just fuckkk that!

I could understand the payment... but you need to bring an ID? hell naww
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Thormax on February 17, 2012, 05:04 am
My guess is the package is from the Netherlands... leave it there. The vendor is not responding, you have no way of knowing, just dont risk it.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Auguest West on February 17, 2012, 05:15 am
well your guess that its .nl is wrong as that would have correct postage.    its most likely due to the change in rates for certain letters and priority rates, it happens all the time around here so if i were you i would just man up and go get your package. its gonna look worse if it gets returned to the sender, ie whichever business they put as the sender, and they open it up and find drugs with your name on it.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Thormax on February 17, 2012, 05:57 am
well your guess that its .nl is wrong as that would have correct postage.    its most likely due to the change in rates for certain letters and priority rates, it happens all the time around here so if i were you i would just man up and go get your package. its gonna look worse if it gets returned to the sender, ie whichever business they put as the sender, and they open it up and find drugs with your name on it.

Well since you arent the OP, I wont take your word for it that it isnt the netherlands. It very well could have inadequate postage, how do you know? Postage prices changed for everywhere BUT the netherlands?
You telling him to go get his package based on appearances and how it might 'look' is absurd. If no one picks up the letter, it is returned to sender. If that is not possible, it is destroyed. Im sure they will be able to determine if the address is a valid one or not before they attempt to return it. if it is international, they wont bother, they will just destroy it after a period of 30 days. Stop trying to use fear as a tactic. Very LE of you.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: CoolPizza on February 17, 2012, 12:45 pm
Thanks for replying, everyone. The package is indeed from the US, and the vendor in question is very, very highly regarded on SR. Last I checked, his vendor ranking was in the double digits. I guess I'll go to the post office and see what happens. I'll check back in later if I'm not in jail.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: sourman on February 17, 2012, 01:54 pm
I never heard of them requiring freakin ID for THAT. Lettuce know what happens...
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Auguest West on February 17, 2012, 02:18 pm
well your guess that its .nl is wrong as that would have correct postage.    its most likely due to the change in rates for certain letters and priority rates, it happens all the time around here so if i were you i would just man up and go get your package. its gonna look worse if it gets returned to the sender, ie whichever business they put as the sender, and they open it up and find drugs with your name on it.

Well since you arent the OP, I wont take your word for it that it isnt the netherlands. It very well could have inadequate postage, how do you know? Postage prices changed for everywhere BUT the netherlands?
You telling him to go get his package based on appearances and how it might 'look' is absurd. If no one picks up the letter, it is returned to sender. If that is not possible, it is destroyed. Im sure they will be able to determine if the address is a valid one or not before they attempt to return it. if it is international, they wont bother, they will just destroy it after a period of 30 days. Stop trying to use fear as a tactic. Very LE of you.

very LE of me? you really should watch what you say on here and not throw around accusations.  i have been around here a fuckload longer than you have.  and geez funny how i knew it wasnt international, cuz an intl postage that is short wont make it out of the country, and why on earth would the us post office be collecting for the nl post office.  you say stupid shit like, oh i bet its from the netherlands without even the slightest fucking clue what you are talking about.  i dont really give a fuck if he picks up his package or not, but this mistake happens alot around here and no one has ever reported back a problem.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: CoolPizza on February 17, 2012, 09:37 pm
Went to the post office, paid the tiny sum due, got my package. Everything was cool.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: metropolitancow on February 17, 2012, 10:45 pm
A nice victory for common sense over paranoia, pleased to hear it worked out well for you!
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: anaballin on February 18, 2012, 04:20 am
Yea right, now they confirmed you picked up the package. LE is going to bust through your walls in a few seconds with m16's pointed at your face. Flush that shit and flee to mexico while you still can
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: trigger on February 18, 2012, 05:45 am
Yea right, now they confirmed you picked up the package. LE is going to bust through your walls in a few seconds with m16's pointed at your face. Flush that shit and flee to mexico while you still can

 ;D


you got balls dude, nooooo way i would've gone down there to claim it.  how much was the delivery worth?
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: yaosh on February 18, 2012, 05:51 am
They wouldn't try to execute a bust AT the post office...  They need to control the time, environment, and risk during an operation like that.  By telling you you need postage, they don't know WHEN or even what fucking day you might show up (they aren't going to post a task force at the post office for weeks... get real), the way USPS buildings are set up makes positioning officers for quick apprehension very difficult, and they put a bunch of civilians potentially in danger and could create a hostage scenario.  Use your heads...
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: F104 on February 18, 2012, 06:16 am
They wouldn't try to execute a bust AT the post office...  They need to control the time, environment, and risk during an operation like that.  By telling you you need postage, they don't know WHEN or even what fucking day you might show up (they aren't going to post a task force at the post office for weeks... get real), the way USPS buildings are set up makes positioning officers for quick apprehension very difficult, and they put a bunch of civilians potentially in danger and could create a hostage scenario.  Use your heads...

So what you're saying is, if I have to make a counter call I should take every gun I own and as much ammo as I can carry, and pick MY time to take hostages and open fire rather than wait for the cops to set me up. I understand. *I* own the moment, not The Man!
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: yaosh on February 18, 2012, 06:29 am
ROFL  yeah, that's one option I guess.  It just wouldn't make much sense to try to arrest someone by baiting them into an unsuitable environment, especially if they also need to execute a search warrant at your home.  Now we have them setting up two teams, where the entry team has to be on standby 24/7 to grab evidence before it can disappear after they arrest you at some random time, and another team posted at the USPS during all business hours just in case you show up...  What police department has the resources to dedicate a dozen officers to being paid to sit on their ass all day so they can *possibly* bust someone with 5g of RCs or something?  It just makes no sense.  That's like sending the swat team down by fast rope to write parking tickets.  They might as well lure criminals into a school playground before charging them at gunpoint, the public response to cops using post offices as places for unsafe activities would be more than elected officials could afford.

A quick check shows they have done this, but for 22 fake IDs, 5 kilos of weed, 4 kilos of weed...  big stuff.

In other news, a postal worker was arrested while delivering mail naked?  wtf... to a law firm no less.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: yaosh on February 18, 2012, 07:51 am
Upon further investigation, I see that the USPS has resources to make the arrest themselves, if considered low risk I presume.  I can't find a case where it has been done for minor possession however.  I did note some interesting things regarding penalties as well...  They define teenagers as evil-doers, ketamine is a "date rape drug" and has special and harsh penalties if mailed, and three-necked round bottom flasks are the tools of illicit drug manufacturers...(?)  It appears that they are overwhelmed by law enforcement requests and will only respond when a duly issued federal warrant exists, or in "emergency" cases.  Lots of interesting reading.  They briefly discuss the investigative methods they have available, and when they can be used.

See USPS Publication 146 and also 21 USC 841, 843, and 844.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: TheNewDude on February 18, 2012, 04:55 pm
Upon further investigation, I see that the USPS has resources to make the arrest themselves, if considered low risk I presume.  I can't find a case where it has been done for minor possession however.  I did note some interesting things regarding penalties as well...  They define teenagers as evil-doers, ketamine is a "date rape drug" and has special and harsh penalties if mailed, and three-necked round bottom flasks are the tools of illicit drug manufacturers...(?)  It appears that they are overwhelmed by law enforcement requests and will only respond when a duly issued federal warrant exists, or in "emergency" cases.  Lots of interesting reading.  They briefly discuss the investigative methods they have available, and when they can be used.

See USPS Publication 146 and also 21 USC 841, 843, and 844.

Interesting.

I would be paranoid in OP's situation because they usually just leave a small envelope in my mailbox when postage is due... They never ask for ID or a visit.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Steelydust on February 18, 2012, 07:41 pm
was the vendor dubg?
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: metaman on February 18, 2012, 07:43 pm
I always get a notice like this when I receive a package that can't fit into my mailbox. I don;t need to show any ID when picking it up, but it depends on the country.
Maybe the package was undepraid and they want you to cover the additional costs?

I got a notice in the mail that there's a package waiting for me at the post office with $0.60 postage due on it. The notice says it's a letter--as opposed to a package (it's a small order)--and that I need to bring my ID to the post office in order to claim the package. There's no way the post office could do a controlled delivery to my box; Is this their way of getting me to turn myself in? The SR seller who sent this package was under considerable pressure to fill orders last week so I suppose it's possible they made an error when posting the package, but the seller's hasn't responded to messages for a week.

tl;dr: should I pick up a package with postage due on it from the post office, or do I just let it go?
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: xboxdude on February 19, 2012, 03:00 am
I got a notice in the mail that there's a package waiting for me at the post office with $0.60 postage due on it. The notice says it's a letter--as opposed to a package (it's a small order)--and that I need to bring my ID to the post office in order to claim the package. There's no way the post office could do a controlled delivery to my box; Is this their way of getting me to turn myself in? The SR seller who sent this package was under considerable pressure to fill orders last week so I suppose it's possible they made an error when posting the package, but the seller's hasn't responded to messages for a week.

tl;dr: should I pick up a package with postage due on it from the post office, or do I just let it go?

What about trying this, I see no reason why this wouldn't work:
Put the the little piece of paper showing postage due and 60 cents in envelope address it to post office manager and address of post office that gave you the little slip. go to that post office after hours and drop in mailbox. write on slip. please deliver as normal or something to that effect. they deliver like normal you don't have to sign.

From my perspective paying for postage even if you have to sign is the no brainer decision here. Why? If this was a small amount & the package was not leaking or fit the red flag criteria they look for then nearly 100% probability that this is exactly what it seems. Mistake made on postage, they want their money. You go on your merry way.

Other choice you do nothing, well 100% probability it goes to return address, 80-90% probability drugs are found, 50% probability they contact LEO, 100% chance person it was addressed to is contacted in some fashion.



Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Steelydust on February 19, 2012, 04:19 am
Well, I had a package from DubG today to my P.O Box also give me a postage due slip of .60, so I assumed that the OP used the same vendor. Now that the OP has signed for his package, and has his problem solved, he likely won't be back to say which vendor it was.

It frightened me when I saw the slip. First time something like this has happened to me, so I didn't know what to think. I'll try the method of addressing a letter to the Post Office with the slip and the required amount of money. I just don't feel comfortable signing for anything, I can't do it. Everyone here says not to do it. It's kind of frustrating, because I have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday now to receive the package, if the Post Office accepts the letter I make them, so that'll put me on 11 or 12 days of waiting for the package. I'm not going to come on here and prematurely start bashing DubG, though, he's offered to rectify the situation. Some people would be flipping out all over the forums about waiting this long, but not me.

A bit more stress than half a gram of meth is worth, really. I remain patient, however, and view this as a learning experience. I'm glad this happened to me on a small order and not on one of my 1oz of weed orders. I'll keep this updated, and come back to let everyone know if this method of getting the package without signing works. For science.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: chronicpain on February 19, 2012, 04:34 pm
I was wondering when I would start hearing about this. The USPS just raised their prices and luckily I found out just before sending.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: F104 on February 19, 2012, 10:11 pm
I see that the USPS has resources to make the arrest themselves

Yes, the Postal Inspection Service. I hope no one thinks some clerk finds drugs then dials 911. That's not how it works at all.

No doubt there are interagency rules about when they hand off to the DEA or ICE or some other agency but if the contraband is found in the post office, the investigation starts with the PIS. It is routine for them to do all the police work, get the warrant and make the arrest alone, and be the sole agency feeding evidence to the prosecutor.

I think the PIS could be the oldest national police agency in the U.S. if you exclude the Treasury Department's former roles enforcing customs laws and alcohol & tobacco taxes. The PIS is much older than the DEA, and maybe under a different name older than the FBI too.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: F104 on February 19, 2012, 10:17 pm
apples and oranges
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: vipxtrmn8r on February 20, 2012, 01:59 am
You could just act oblivious anyways and deny knowledge of what was in it. It would be insanely hard to bust you for that.
Title: Re: Notice of Postage Due--should I pick the package up?
Post by: Steelydust on February 22, 2012, 09:42 am
Alright guys, here's my update.

I didn't fill out the postage due slip, or sign the back of it, I just left everything blank. I then took the slip along with .60 cents, and handed it to the postal worker. They got my package, and handed it to me without checking to see if I filled out the slip. Then, I got out the hell out of dodge.

The post office was really busy when I went, I don't know if that has anything to do with it.