Hi,
I was wondering if anyone had any good advise for me regarding a box that I shopped out and has been returned to me (with postage due!)

I am in NH and mailed my SIL/BIL in NYC a large box for Christmas with boy scout popcorn and some letterboxing starting out stuff (I carved them a personal stamp!)

Anyway I mailed this out way before Christmas and it never got to them ($100 insurance). They went out of town for the Christmas holiday and we visited them just this Friday. Still no box. On Saturday here in NH the mailman left me a note about a package (with the same insurance number) due the amount I had paid to mail it out.

My feelings are that the USPS will mail it back to NYC for no charge and I am not paying the cost for it to be shipped back up here. Does anyone have any experience with the PO to say that I have a leg to stand on?

Six Stars

You know ethically you have a good leg to stand on, logically you are standing firm, but realistically you are fallen flat. Remember, we are talking about the U.S. Government postal service. If you don't pay the postage due on it it will find it's way into a wearhouse for a couple of years and then to a public auction if it doesn't get incinerated. Sorry. I wish I could pay it for you.

You can explain it to them, but I would expect you would have to pay the postage again anyway. It's possible the postage fell off or got munged up in a machine. I'm not sure how you would prove you paid the postage even with a receipt; how would you prove the postage went on that particular box?

What a lousy screw up. At least the box was found and not lost forever.

good luck and happy new year!
MB

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I'm not sure how you would prove you paid the postage even with a receipt;

I do have the receipt for the box's postage and the insurance and the little insurance claim check.
I may also have to wait to wednesday since Tuesday is a national day of mourning and I think the PO is closed.
I am so mad. Especially since I could have brought it with to be hand delivered a few days after Christmas. Argh!
SS

well, the insurance number will match, so that is proof that you already paid for the box...not sure if it will make a huge difference, but good luck

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good luck

Yes, thanks! I appreciate that everyone here knows and understands (the $100 wouldn't have covered the emotional loss of the stamp!) boo-hoo!
SS

I am retired from the Post Office after 34 years. If the recipient was out of town and did not pick the package up, it is returned to the sender after 14 days. If you sent it parcel post it would be postage due. If you sent it Priority it should come back for free. Usually they will not resend it for free if it was Parcel Post. If you get a really nice clerk, they will fix it up and resend it for you, but it is against regulations, so don't expect them to do it. Go in being nice and friendly, it will get you a lot farther than being upset and nasty with them. If you insured the package for $100. I think it would be worth paying the postage to get it back, but that is up to you. If you don't claim it, it will be sent to dead letter where they will open it and sell the goods at auction. I know this doesn't help the fact that you already spent money to mail it and then have to pay again to get it back. Sorry, but I hope the info will help. Hales Angels

For all of you who helped me with the wording and attitude (I know about the more flies with honey attitude but when you are mad...). My post office gave me back the package with out charging me the return postage after the explanation of how my BIL/SIL are not even getting the notices of something waiting for them at the PO and the general attitude of the NYC letter carrier who delivers to my SIL/BIL's building (or not). Now I have to resend it via UPS or FEDEX and pay again. Argh, but at least it is back where it is safe and I did not have to pay a ransom to get it back.

I am not sure if the $100 would have covered my emotional pain of loosing that cool sig. stamp. I told the clerk at my PO that included in that package was some 'origional artwork'.


Thank you again for all of those who helped me, even if it was just the moral support and a shoulder to cry on!
Six stars

Glad to hear you got the box back without paying additional postage. I know I was always more willing to work with someone if they had a good reason and a good attitude. Hales Angels