USPS Did the Unthinkable - Or At Least I Thought So

[rstsco]

Went to get the mail from the community mailbox this morning, and inside was a box. Unfortunately, the box is too large and stiff to fit through the homeowner's access door, and can't be flipped, but obviously can fit in from the other side where the postal worker loads up the community mailbox.

As I'm trying to get the box out, miraculously, a USPS van came by. I stopped the person, but he said he didn't have a key, as he's a rural carrier making deliveries in town this morning. He tried to remove the box also, but was unable. He said he'd contact the supervisor, but more than likely just so they both can have a good laugh.

This, along with the recent thread of oil samples and many other things not being delivered, reinforces to never, ever, ever use USPS for anything, especially if it's important.

 

[Pablo]

Box knife time!!

 

[97prizm]

Went to get the mail from the community mailbox this morning, and inside was a box. Unfortunately, the box is too large and stiff to fit through the homeowner's access door, and can't be flipped, but obviously can fit in from the other side where the postal worker loads up the community mailbox.

As I'm trying to get the box out, miraculously, a USPS van came by. I stopped the person, but he said he didn't have a key, as he's a rural carrier making deliveries in town this morning. He tried to remove the box also, but was unable. He said he'd contact the supervisor, but more than likely just so they both can have a good laugh.

This, along with the recent thread of oil samples and many other things not being delivered, reinforces to never, ever, ever use USPS for anything, especially if it's important.

View attachment 308078

Just wow.

 

[Danno]

Box knife time!!

Yup. 3 maybe 4 minutes, its out, and no damage to the contents.

 

[IndyIan]

No offence, but you didn't grow up on a farm did you?
If its not fine china in the box, and its half empty like almost every box I get, just mash in the middle parts away from the corners until it is small enough to come out.... Or use your multi-tool in your glove box and pry/cut it until you can get out.

Being stumped by something like this, makes me fearful for western society....

 

[fozzdesy2001]

Went to get the mail from the community mailbox this morning, and inside was a box. Unfortunately, the box is too large and stiff to fit through the homeowner's access door, and can't be flipped, but obviously can fit in from the other side where the postal worker loads up the community mailbox.

As I'm trying to get the box out, miraculously, a USPS van came by. I stopped the person, but he said he didn't have a key, as he's a rural carrier making deliveries in town this morning. He tried to remove the box also, but was unable. He said he'd contact the supervisor, but more than likely just so they both can have a good laugh.

This, along with the recent thread of oil samples and many other things not being delivered, reinforces to never, ever, ever use USPS for anything, especially if it's important.

View attachment 308078

At least the box is square, no visible holes or stains. I call that a win!

 

[dogememe]

Can you not just take a box cutter, cut it open, take the contents out, then cut it in half to get the remnants of the box out?

Yea it’s kinda silly but you gotta do whatcha gotta do!

 

[wwillson]

No offence, but you didn't grow up on a farm did you?

I did and I know how to spell offense. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[JHZR2]

No offence, but you didn't grow up on a farm did you?
If its not fine china in the box, and its half empty like almost every box I get, just mash in the middle parts away from the corners until it is small enough to come out.... Or use your multi-tool in your glove box and pry/cut it until you can get out.

Being stumped by something like this, makes me fearful for western society....

One doesn’t need to grow up on a farm to have a laugh at this.

I’m sure that most usps delivery people aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer. I’m more confident that they don’t measure box dimensions or validate them against the inner dimensions of the mail box. The box was very close so they fit it. Should they have not done so unless there was a bit more wiggle room? I’d agree, but again, probably not the brightest folks.

It was a dumb/mindless/rookie mistake. I’ll give them a little grace. It’s not like ups or fedex don’t mashup boxes and damage stuff.

 

[rstsco]

Box knife time!!

Pretty sure it's against the law to attack a postal worker with a box knife!

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Had this problem with USPS also. They have a knack at squeezing things into a mailbox. I've had plenty of boxes stuck in my mailbox too. They don't care. They just want to deliver it and get it off the truck. Mash it down or cut it with a box cutter.

 

[rstsco]

No offence, but you didn't grow up on a farm did you?
If its not fine china in the box, and its half empty like almost every box I get, just mash in the middle parts away from the corners until it is small enough to come out.... Or use your multi-tool in your glove box and pry/cut it until you can get out.

Being stumped by something like this, makes me fearful for western society....

Offense taken. Who said I was stumped? No offense, but Is this the first thought of someone north of our border in response to someone south of yours? No offense, but you really typed that? (I guess you can say anything you want to, or about, anyone as long as you preface it with "No offense").

If the box needed to come out, I have box cutters and a plethora of pry bars. For now, it's the principle.

I was able to get just enough of an angle on the shipping label to take a picture. It's something my wife ordered from Nordstrom's, so it can stay in there for a long time as far as I'm concerned.

 

[The_Jeff]

in there for a long time as far as I'm concerned.

Added bonus, the mailman will then have to figure out where to put any further incoming packages.

 

[2005jettatdi]

No offence, but you didn't grow up on a farm did you?

Almost always, when someone says "No offense" the next thing is something offensive. This is a good example.

 

[rstsco]

Added bonus, the mailman will then have to figure out where to put any further incoming packages.

Probably take them home along with the other stuff they don't feel like delivering.

As I said in another thread, the day I received another person's jury duty summons in my mailbox was the day I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery.

 

[alarmguy]

I get it with USPS packages. We have mail kiosks and I cringe the way they stuff things in sometimes instead of bringing it to the house.
But I have to say, when mailing packages out USPS is boatloads less expensive to ship than UPS... not even close.

 

[Hall]

I’m more confident that they don’t measure box dimensions or validate them against the inner dimensions of the mail box. The box was very close so they fit it.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't blame the mail carrier at all. I'm confident that on the back side of the box where they open it, it doesn't have (or need) those lips where each box's door sets against. Without those, that box easily fits in on the back side and the carriers likely don't see (or pay attention to) what the fronts look like.

That said, posting this to ridicule the mail carrier is silly. First thought was take pictures to post on social media ? I would have either cut the box to get the contents out or smashed it on the side a little (99% odds I'd know what's in it) and squeezed it out.

 

[opus1]

Added bonus, the mailman will then have to figure out where to put any further incoming packages.

If he's anything like my carrier, he'll just keep cramming things into the box.

 

[BISCUT]

I did and I know how to spell offense. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Well done!

 

[Hall]

Added bonus, the mailman will then have to figure out where to put any further incoming packages.

Carrier and their boss could decide that going forward, they'll just leave a notice telling the recipient a package wouldn't fit and they need to collect it at the post office themselves.