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For those of you who are familiar with my Friday's post concerning the busted 68# package of pennies, I am happy to say that my mail lady knocked on my door today and offered a sincere apology for her "rude" attitude and her spewing dirt from her tires after she sped off on Friday. Said it was her fault that the box broke because she was sliding the box from a height of 5 feet and once it neared the edge of the stack of boxes the weight suddenly pulled it crashing to the concrete. I told her it was "not" her fault because the post office shouldn't require a 56 year old, 125 pound woman to be handling 70# packages and especially when at a height near the top of her head. She said it was in her job description and that she was required to be able to move 70# boxes.

So both the mail carrier and the seller were in my opinion not at fault here. You can't expect a 56 year old 125 pound woman to handle 70# boxes nor can you expect a highly concentrated 70# box to survive a 5 foot drop onto concrete without some sort of damage.

So in conclusion I feel that fault lies with the "brass" at USPS who came up with the 70 pound limit. I'm sure it was a PR move for more business and they really didn't expect people would pack these flat rate boxes with 70#'s. Seriously though did the "brass" at USPS really expect their female carriers to walk up ice covered steps carrying a 70# box somewhere in New England on a January day???

Damn straight! I can understand that it would be difficult to expect a woman, in those conditions, to lift a package, in those conditions. Her apology should be tallied onto the "Good Things Pennypicker's Local PO Has Done For Him" board. However, all together, the USPS is still a flailing and failing institution, eager to grasp onto any straw that provides them the slightest assistance.

Wait...how do you know her weight? I thought that was one of those things you weren't supposed to ask/guess about.

Nice to see that you two kissed and made up though.

Like I said twice before, USPS is stupid for allowing 70 lbs in that box. Limit should be 30-40 lbs.

Its the Post Office, what did you expect? They only lost 2.5 billion dollars last year...

When she is holding that box she becomes a 195 pound woman....or as I like to call it....just right

There's the effects of mandatory minimum political correctness, imo.

I would not blame the box. We clearly do it all the time. Some people have described a method where one flat rate is "shrunk" a hair then 68lbs put in it, then double tape sealed, then slid into ANOTHER flate rate box and packaged double tape layer outside as well. The security can be had.

The logistics says for the amount of people sending ultra light, less than the average they can afford the occasional heavy ones like we send and still do ok financialy.

The problem is requiring a 56 year old 125lb woman to lift a 70lb package near head level to make it look like equility is a scientific certainty, and that men and women, young and old, are all "equal" and pretend discrimination of ANY kind is not a quality of hiring.

I see the failed effects of administrative policy that killed your box.

Kurr wrote:There's the effects of mandatory minimum political correctness, imo.

I would not blame the box. We clearly do it all the time. Some people have described a method where one flat rate is "shrunk" a hair then 68lbs put in it, then double tape sealed, then slid into ANOTHER flate rate box and packaged double tape layer outside as well. The security can be had.

The logistics says for the amount of people sending ultra light, less than the average they can afford the occasional heavy ones like we send and still do ok financialy.

The problem is requiring a 56 year old 125lb woman to lift a 70lb package near head level to make it look like equility is a scientific certainty, and that men and women, young and old, are all "equal" and pretend discrimination of ANY kind is not a quality of hiring.

I see the failed effects of administrative policy that killed your box.

How about putting a 70 lb. box on a shelf five feet off the ground?

Kurr wrote:There's the effects of mandatory minimum political correctness, imo.

I would not blame the box. We clearly do it all the time. Some people have described a method where one flat rate is "shrunk" a hair then 68lbs put in it, then double tape sealed, then slid into ANOTHER flate rate box and packaged double tape layer outside as well. The security can be had.

The logistics says for the amount of people sending ultra light, less than the average they can afford the occasional heavy ones like we send and still do ok financialy.

The problem is requiring a 56 year old 125lb woman to lift a 70lb package near head level to make it look like equility is a scientific certainty, and that men and women, young and old, are all "equal" and pretend discrimination of ANY kind is not a quality of hiring.

I see the failed effects of administrative policy that killed your box.

Kurr, I agree with every point you made. And you said it very well I might add.

It could be worse. You could try using Canada Post. Not only will they charge a crazy amount, loose your mail, and have stuff delivered weeks late, they also will leave your valuable package on your front step in the Canadian winter in a "rough" neighbourhood

order a few more boxes!!!

Corsair wrote:
How about putting a 70 lb. box on a shelf five feet off the ground?

ya just dont bitch when it becomes a $30 flat rate for the same weight. blame the person who puts the box there on a high shelf to begin with. based on her behavior, she prob put it on the shelf herself and it was prob half the height she claimed. some people are just full of excuses. we essentially are paying the PO for service through our tax dollars (hopefully not for long) so enjoy it while it lasts.

USPS probably instituted the 70 lbs weight to compete with UPS, who used to have a corner on the market in that category.

I admire her for 'fessing up and apologizing.

Did you manage to convince her to start hoarding CU ?

its big of her to admit all three of her mistakes - damaging your package, being hostile to you, and lying about it.

I believe i was correct in predicting she was the cause in the original thread.

you have a very generous perspective. i applaud you for your forgiveness but disagree with you re who is at fault. i buy pennies all the time. is part of the risk that i'll get a mailcarrier who can't do their job? she knew the job description and ignored it. i'm glad this person did not decide to become a firefighter.

Its nobody's fault except political correctness - they can't pull a man from office work and trade places with her because that would be "sexist" even though she obviously is not the best person suited for lifting heavy weights.