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Read Thread: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....

Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Nov 1, 2007 7:36pm
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Guess who got a call today from the Department of Homeland Security?? Regarding a suspicious package... That would be me.

Turns out one of my postals was short a few cents and shot up a red flag. They didn't like the fact that the package didn't have my return address on it (they advised me that from now on I have to put it on there), it was an "old, worn envelope" (I simply call it recycled), it was short a few cents, and it apparently was "eminating heat" (enriched plutonium perhaps)!

I had to go down to the post office where they brought the package out gingerly and I had to open it in front of a supervisor with my sons (1 & 3) giggling in the background. Boy were they embarrassed when they saw the cute little pina colada stamp and logbook!

They also informed me that (somehow) they knew my trailname and had logged onto a website (letterboxing.org, I think) and had noted that I had planted a "package" in a local park and that the DHS was notified of that as well! I didn't tell them about the 8 others that I've listed on Atlasquest. ;o)

Anyway, long story short...I immediately bought a postal scale, promised to use only online postage for packages heavier than 13 oz (oops), promised to put my return address on the packages from now on, and promised not to include any plutonium in future postals.

Right before I left the postmaster said he would call off the DHS from searching for and blowing up my rubber stamp in the park. Thank goodness!

Hubbie says he feels much safer now that he knows our government is willing to "rough up" a young woman trying to enjoy a hobby with her kids. LOL

Quite an exciting morning!

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 7:42pm
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Ha! Is there a file which records your alias as ThreeBoysG?
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 7:43pm
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Oy vey! I hope they don't come looking for my "That Stamp Scared Me" stamp- it's Dick Cheney! :D

-gollygee
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 7:49pm
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Hey, we had that stamp in our possession are they going to associate us with you and send the DHS to our door thinking it is some kind of conspiracy?
Outdoor Girls
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 7:51pm
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Guess who got a call today from the Department of Homeland Security?? Regarding a suspicious package... That would be me.


The DHS, huh? I knew you were bad news when I met you. ;o)

Mandy
gj
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148480 by calcedonie
Nov 1, 2007 8:05pm
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Apparently!! They also knew I sold Discovery Toys somehow. Neither of those pieces of information were on the package in question!!

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148484 by outdoor girls
Nov 1, 2007 8:06pm
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LOL - I wouldn't put it past them! Incredible, huh?

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148485 by Geometry Junkie
Nov 1, 2007 8:07pm
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Associating with a criminal, Mandy!! LOL

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 8:08pm
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LOL... I have wondered a bit if they are watching me... I know one of my clients is on their watch list (I can vouch that he is definitely NOT a terrorist...) I figured I would be guilty by association. I wish I knew if we made the list. I think that would be funny.

So, if your postal did not have your return address, how did they know it was yours exactly? Interesting =o) I am sure it was not funny at the time, but if you are not laughing now, you soon will be... and maybe you can turn it into a postal! HA! The "I've been roughed up by homeland security postal" LLOL... I would love to see that one!

Cheers!
Rhea
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148494 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 8:11pm
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Associating with a criminal, Mandy!! LOL


A criminal mastermind, I think . . . Hiding suspicious "packages" in isolated areas, mailing off rugged looking packages, neglecting to use a return address, selling educational toys at reasonable prices. I'm shocked.

Mandy
gj
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148497 by Geometry Junkie
Nov 1, 2007 8:12pm
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ROTFL!!
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148481 by gollygee
Nov 1, 2007 8:25pm
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Quote "That Stamp Scared Me" stamp- it's Dick Cheney!


*whooping with laughter*
I've got kids trying to sleep around here. Don't do that to me! LOL

Knit wit
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 8:33pm
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Wow! That is an AWESOME story!!!! Ryan, you need to do a book of letterboxing mishapes and musings....That would have to be the first chapter!! 3BG- you need to set up a camera and tape the bomb squad coming out to the park to investigate your suspicious box! Well, I guess it just goes to show they aren't racially profiling anymore...unless of course you were wearing a burka....

Scraphappy
who's last name is Arabic for 'cross' and/or Spanish for 'spit";and who prefers the Arabic version. Had i known when i got married, and living in a very hispanic area, i would have kept my own name! (which also isn't very flattering and can be rhymed with dirty words....)
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148499 by knit wit
Nov 1, 2007 9:04pm
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Quote I've got kids trying to sleep around here. Don't do that to me! LOL


But I speak the truth!!! :D

-gollygee
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 1, 2007 11:00pm
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FUNNY!!
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148478 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 2, 2007 12:18am
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They didn't like the fact that the package didn't have my return address on it


I've always wondered about return addresses--I've always been a bit bothered by the standard to use the box owner's return address for postals. It seems like a red flag for any package being mailed if the return address is on the other side of the country, not to mention that if the box does get returned for some reason, it seems like the person who mailed the box should be the one to fix whatever is wrong with it. I could mail off a package with an incorrect address, then the owner of the box ends up being responsible for my mistake? Just doesn't seem right to me. *shrug* I'd like to propose that people start using their own return addresses for postals that get mailed off.

Using trail names on the package are fine, but I'd also include the person's real name if you know it. (Same goes for the return address label, I might add.)

And as for not enough postage.... how exactly does this happen anyhow? I know it's not the first time a postal didn't get enough postage slapped on it--I can't count the number of the times I've heard about a postal arriving postal due. If it were me, I'd be horribly embarrassed about that. I'd rather have a package come back to me for re-mailing than have it arrive postage due, but really, how does this happen in the first place? Are people just guessing how much a package weighs? Or do they assume it should be the same rate going out as it comes in? (If you reuse a package and add more and more layers of tape with each mailing, the package will get heavier!)

Just like you shouldn't be hiding letterboxes that look like pipe bombs, you should also be careful about mailing postals that could be mistaken for something sinister. It won't do anyone good if they start blowing up postals that look too suspicious.

-- Ryan
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148521 by Green Tortuga
Nov 2, 2007 5:11am
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The ladies in our post office have known me for years. I told them flat out I was doing a scavenger hunt thru the mail not going into much detail. They thought it was so cool.
They love it when I come to the PO with 4 or 5 and they have to ask all 4 times....
Is there anything liquid, fragil, or potintially hazardous?
We laugh everytime!! I don't think anyone has ever died from being attacked by a rubber stamp has there?????
As for the postage I personally don't go off what the package says because there has been times that the package weight has sometimes been heavier and sometimes even lighter than the way it was sent to me.
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148521 by Green Tortuga
Nov 2, 2007 5:13am
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And as for not enough postage.... how exactly does this happen anyhow?


If someone is using the self serve mailing center and select "envelope" rather than package...it won't charge enough postage.

Here's a weird one..I rec'd a package (I don't think it was a PLB) that had "postage due" on it...but it came right to me. I didn't pay the extra postage and it was delivered ok.
How does THAT happen??
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148521 by Green Tortuga
Nov 2, 2007 5:26am
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The "sinister" package was actually a really cute, stamped and decorated white postal envelope with stickers of tropical drinks. I honestly think they were looking for some excitement in our little town and they got a bit carried away.

~ 3BG (who has bought a postal scale so short postage doesn't happen again)
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148541 by Pasta Mom
Nov 2, 2007 5:27am
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That happens to me sometimes with and without postals. I even got a stamped note on one that said "paid by carrier"!!

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148547 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 2, 2007 5:29am
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Oh my gosh...I know that postal! It was great, too! Wow, I had a suspicious package in my possession for a short time...does that make me an accomplice to your naferious doings?? :)

Pasta Mom
who has seriously worried about being questioned about all the packages she's sending
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148539 by Pastry Princess
Nov 2, 2007 5:49am
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I don't think anyone has ever died from being attacked by a rubber stamp has there?


Not yet...

I'm waiting for one of the 99 Bottles: Flying Dogs to bite somebody on the @#$ if they don't rehide properly. Ha! :-D

*S
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148539 by Pastry Princess
Nov 2, 2007 6:05am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote they have to ask all 4 times....
Is there anything liquid, fragil, or potintially hazardous?


I don't give my postal clerks a chance to even ask!
I just plop the PLB on the scale and say "Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable or potential hazardous. First-class. With Delivery Confirmation. No insurance. And I don't need any addittional stamps or supplies. Thanks."

Ok, I'm not that abrupt, but after 2 years and over 500 PLBs, I've pretty much got the routine down!
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148563 by Mn8X
Nov 2, 2007 6:07am
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I just plop the PLB on the scale and say "Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable or potential hazardous. First-class. With Delivery Confirmation. No insurance. And I don't need any addittional stamps or supplies. Thanks."


LOL...that sounds a lot like my routine, but if I don't say my usual spill, my postal worker just gives me a sideways glance and says, "The usual?"
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148563 by Mn8X
Nov 2, 2007 6:12am
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"Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable or potential hazardous. First-class. With Delivery Confirmation. No insurance. And I don't need any addittional stamps or supplies. Thanks."


You should make a tee-shirt with that printed on the front!

*S
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148567 by BrewHiker
Nov 2, 2007 6:15am
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Quote "Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable or potential hazardous. First-class. With Delivery Confirmation. No insurance. And I don't need any addittional stamps or supplies. Thanks."
Quote
You should make a tee-shirt with that printed on the front!



Dixie? Are you reading this?
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148550 by Pasta Mom
Nov 2, 2007 6:22am
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Not to mention that we all use wonderful aliases like ThreeBoysG, Pasta Mom, and Green Tortuga - lol!

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148569 by Mn8X
Nov 2, 2007 6:24am
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OMGoodness! I would SO buy that one!! I'd wear it everytime I went to the post office!! Awesome!

~ 3BG
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148577 by peaceful Warrior
Nov 2, 2007 6:26am
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lmao, i would buy one too, its okay my family friends co workers and residents all think im crazy anyways! One of the girls who works in the mail room and fetches my packages actually thinks my name is Maya, Rama, lol

<3 MayaRama
my name is maya by the way!
Re: Uh-Oh - America's Most Wanted here I come....
Board: Postals
Reply to: #148578 by MayaRama
Nov 2, 2007 6:29am
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The back could read:

Letterboxing, Hobby or Obsession?

(I've always loved that quote)

~ 3BG