Learned a Lesson at the Post Office

[Travelover]

This is somewhere between a rant and a public service announcement. :laughing:

I try to printout postage labels at home, then just take the package to the post office. There is a shipping discount and it saves some hassle. So, today I weigh a package on my handy dandy HF scale (which has in the past been pretty accurate), bump up the weight a few ounces to an even 11 pounds to account for any error and print the postage label. At the post office, they say "you underpaid by one ounce". "OK", I say, and reach for some change. "Not so fast - you owe an additional $4.50". It seems that if you are short, you lose any discount, plus have to pay the extra shipping. So my $3.50 discount evaporated and I got bumped up to the next increment, 12 pounds for an extra buck.

I don't know if my scale is off or theirs, but it I guess it doesn't matter.

Bottom line, add a little extra to the weight if you are weighing a package yourself (or maybe ship UPS :laughing

 

[jeff9366]

The Lord giveth and The Lord taketh away.

 

[Gunny]

Sounds like to me that the Lord giveth, but USPS taketh away.

 

[kennyd]

At that weight, why aren't you using a flat rate box? Then as long as your under 70 pounds it's only $11.30 for a medium flat rate box for priority mail.

 

[Travelover]

At that weight, why aren't you using a flat rate box? Then as long as your under 70 pounds it's only $11.30 for a medium flat rate box for priority mail.

I didn't use a flat rate box because the item that I was shipping just fit into a 14 inch on each side, box. The flat rate boxes are small - I've used them to ship steel tools before.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Take your scale to the PO and run a calibration check.

 

[LJH]

Or move to BFE, Utah.

When we screw up postage on a package or letter the postmistress just puts the correct postage on and leaves a note our PO box.

 

[bandaidmd]

next time your at the po take something in and have them weigh it than take it home and compare the results.

 

[groundcover]

LJH FYI they are all postmasters ! Had to do with a post that the mail bag hung on or some such thing.

 

[Travelover]

next time your at the po take something in and have them weigh it than take it home and compare the results.

Good idea.