Requesting suggestions in dealing with the U.S. Postal "Service"...

[Ray H]

Header says it all. Went to mail my Havoline 10w30 sample to Blackstone today after changing the oil in my car's engine. The route carrier left it in the box. (red flag #1

) Discussed the matter with better half (she's a postal employee in charge of education and training at a regional processing center in my county), who suggested taking the package to the local office so they could "put a sticker on it for transporting hazardous materials.". "Helpful" counter clerk (for whom English is a second language) insisted "No can take item. It flammable!" Pointing out that every piece of mail arriving at or departing from that office was flammable to varying degrees didn't phase her. (red flags #: 2 & 3

) Asked to speak with post master. (primary language, English; primary IQ level - right down there with the clerk's...) He confidently stated that no petroleum products have been allowed to enter the postal system of the United States of America since before Dwight David Eisenhower was elected President.

(one of the cars parked in the employee parking spaces had a "Flat Earth Society" bumper sticker. Nah, - couldn't be...) So there the matter stands. I've wasted $2.22 in stamps and the only way I see getting the sample back to Fort Wayne, Indiana is to drive it back myself.

 

[dkcase]

I have never had any difficulty with the few samples I have mailed. However, Blackstone has at their site an explanatory letter that you can take in with you.

The used oil sample is neither hazardous nor flammable under Postal Regulations.

It should not be a problem. Good luck.

I did mail my first sample padded in a box, not in their mailer, to prevent any questions.

If you live in a remote area where you don't have the option to take it to another Post Office, you may not have the option to repackage it. They'll remember you .

 

[darryld13]

Carry a copy of the Blackstone letter in with you. It describes the packaging and cites the postal regulations that allow samples to be shipped. The letter even provides a point of contact at Blackstone for the postal employee to call if there are any concerns. The letter worked great for me.

 

[Ray H]

It's infuriating to have a perfectly legal UO sample submission denied because of the suspicions of mindless gub'mnt apparatchiks in self-gratified daily awe of their presumed authority. (Never mind that, when the first documented cases of anthrax occured shortly after 9-11, the postal authorities at that facility not only refused to close the facility initially, they demanded that employees continue reporting for their scheduled shifts in spite of the clear and present risks.

)

 

[1maniac]

Here is the letter......... Blackstone USPS letter.

 

[1maniac]

Geeeeeeeese that was fast. You beat me to it

 

[Steel Blue Wind Rider]

Not to long ago I sent by priority mail a Blackstone sample in for my regular UOA. Long story, short version is after two weeks and nothing, I talked with a postal employee, whom said it should of gotten there in 5 to 10 days at the latest. Since it wasn't insured nor being tracked, all I could do is what wait to see if it eventually shows up. I sent a letter complaining and recieved a polite response telling me how unfortunate I was and how hard they work to get the mail delivered. I gave up on it, 2 months and two weeks later I get an email from Blackstone, it's my lost report. I now send it via regular mail for a lot less than priority, it still takes about two weeks average.

 

[97tbird]

I knew this was going to be a problem; what I did was put the Blackstone container in a normal mailing envelope, and just carried that to the counter. Noone asked any questions.

 

[elwaylite]

Last time I was ballzy and actually just put the stamps on the outer jar and dropped it in the box, just took 3 days.

 

[parrothead]

It must just depend on the postal clerk you happen to get. I've never had a problem mailing my samples. They usually ask me if there is anything liquid or perishible and tell them it's liquid. Then that's it, end of story, off goes my sample.

 

[Starbreaker666]

quote:

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Last time I was ballzy and actually just put the stamps on the outer jar and dropped it in the box, just took 3 days.

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Isn't this what you are supposed to do? This is how I do it every time. Stick on 5 stamps and off she goes. Never had an issue.

 

[mikep]

quote:

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Originally posted by Starbreaker666:

quote:

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Last time I was ballzy and actually just put the stamps on the outer jar and dropped it in the box, just took 3 days.

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Isn't this what you are supposed to do? This is how I do it every time. Stick on 5 stamps and off she goes. Never had an issue.

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This is exactly what I did the last time around. Results back in under a week.

 

[TallPaul]

My kit from ANA Labs was postpaid. I just flipped it into a streetcorner box and volia: it arrived at the lab the next week.

It might be worthwhile for Blackstone to offer the kits postpaid (adjust the price or whatever) because is sure is nice not having to stand in line at the post office every time you take in a sample, let alone meeting with rejection as Ray H did.

EDIT: Oh yeah, Ray is in California, the state that gets its own special carcinogen warning on every spray can in my house. Yeah, even postpaid might not work there.

[ August 13, 2004, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]

 

[Steel Blue Wind Rider]

TallPaul, I write my own stamps from Stamps.com. I haven't waited in line in over 5 years at the post office. When I mail a package I just drop it off! Slicker than (*&^%. I have my own postal digital scale. Never had a problem mailing anything anywhere in the U.S. The post office even sends me free all the slips, stickers, boxes and mailers I want just by asking.

 

[obbop]

Can't say the attitude I observed was universal but is likely not rare.

When driving semi back in the later 70's I was sent to Phoenix Arizona to haul a load of post office furnishings from the old main postal center for the area that was being relocated to a newer building.

As we loaded the various tables, chairs, sorting machines etc. I saw numerous letters etc. with stamps on them, obviously mailed by folks intending for those items to be delivered, stuck in nooks and crannies of the sorting machines and tables and saw quite a few that had fallen off and were now sitting on the floor.

Asking the head hombre of the postal "service" about those letters he told me it was none of my business.

I was there for several hours as we filled that trailer. Not one letter was picked up off the floor. Feet and dolly wheels ran over those letters that were likely swept up and thrown away.

I wondered if any of those letters had been a "final letter" to a loved one sent by someone who died afterwards in a car wreck, on the battlefield, wherever or whatever.

Were any of those letters an apology never received? Who lost out on a message the sender thought was sent? Having not received that letter thus not responding, I wondered how many sender's lives were altered in some manner, believing their message had been ignored.

Did the bureaucrats care? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

That instance, along with events elsewhere, led to my despisement of bureaucracies and bureaucrats. And, to think, those scum retired on great pensions paid for by you and me.

I did try to gather the letters as i worked so I could place them in a mail box. It took all my will to restrain myself.... and I'm a rather hefty fellow with ample military training and work-hardened muscles..... to not slap that bureaucrat when he threatened me with ARREST if I gathered those letters!!!!!!!!

BAH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[XS650]

Ray, I have had no problems mailing oil samples for Northern California. Do you have any idea why the PO person left it in your mail box?

There is nothing on the outside of the Blacksone mailing container to indicate that it is oil or liquid. If you fill the sample container completely, it doesn't even feel like a liquid if you shake it.

I put my own stamps on mine and drop it in a mail box. No problems.

 

[Ray H]

quote:

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Originally posted by obbop:
...I'm a rather hefty fellow with ample military training and work-hardened muscles..... to not slap that bureaucrat when he threatened me with ARREST if I gathered those letters...

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Though your cause was noble, your presumptions could have landed you in federal prison. Postal Inspectors are badged, carry pistolivers, and have arrest authority. They also take a very dim view of non-postal personnel rifling through mail - especially on postal property. Like their ATF counterparts, they're about as reasonable as junkyard dogs.

[ August 14, 2004, 01:37 AM: Message edited by: Ray H ]

 

[crashz]

Thank God for email.

I was going to suggest UPS or FedEx. But they can be just as bad. It seems like any shipping, wether for commercial business or personal, is a hassle and is bound to get screwed up.