the Post Office is apparently fucking me over...

[sarettah]

We had a package a couple of months ago just having to go to what amounts to the next town over.

1. Jen took it to the post office and used the automated stuff. Put it on the scale, punched in the address, paid, got the label, barcode and all and put it ont the package and mailed it. Package comes back to us about a week later as undeliverable as addressed (keep in mind this is with a label that they printed, with a barcode that they produced, on equipment that verified the address first)

2. So, Jen calls the lady it is going through, confirms the address, asks if she wants us to run it over there (literally a 15 minute run) she says no, just mail it.

3. Jen takes it back to the post office, this time takes it to the counter, tells the folks the story. Postal clerk checks it all out, says there is no reason it should'nt have been delivered, assures Jen ti will get there so Jen leaves it there and comes home.

4. About a week later the package comes back as undeliverable as addressed.

We called the lady and then drove the fucker over...lol..

I deal with mail on an everyday basis (not at the post office but as a direct mailer) The post office has attempted to automate everything they can about the process and the data that runs through it and while computers don't make mistakes, those that program them and use them do. Barcodes that are screwed can send your mail all to hell and highwater and back, things like that.

[MorganGrayson]

I use the "type in all caps, large font, in bold, READ THE LABEL" method to mail packages.

Most of the time, it works.

I knew that bar codes were going to be one of the slingshots that helped bring down this civilization this first time I saw one.

To err is human.

To really fuck up, you need a computer.