It's "that time" again. a few friendly reminders.....

Hi everyone!

Since the Holiday mailing season is upon us, I would like to remind everyone who will be sending cards and packages through the mail to BE SURE TO PUT YOUR FULL RETURN ADDRESS ON THE BOX OR ENVELOPE.

This is so important as every years thousands and thousands of cards and packages end up in the dead letter office because they are undeliverable.

If you are one of the many people who like to give your letter carrier a "little something", put a return address on that, too. Letter Carriers are not supposed to look at the mail that they take out of your mailbox - just collect it - toss it in the tray and move on. SO, if it only says "to our Mailman" on the front, it will not get to him/her. So much cash, gift cards, etc that do not get to the ones who it is intended for.

Here is a rerun from a post to the SS Swap about mailing parcels:

I posted a lot of these suggestions just before Christmas, but thought I would refresh everyone's memories and will again when it is closer to time.

As a postal worker now on a special assignment to help out in the "Nixie" section of the Tampa main office, I can tell you there is nothing I see at work more heartbreaking than having beautiful cards, letters and gifts that are not going to make it to their intended destination. We always get excited when we are able to match up items with the shipper or addressee and get the mail in the right mailbox. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen as often as it could.

Whether it be cards or parcels:
*PLEASE, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE, double and even triple check that you have put a LEGIBLE, CORRECT, COMPLETE address on it. This includes apartment/suite#.

*Double and triple check that YOUR return address is on it. "Grandma" , "The Jones'" or "Guess Who" won't help us find you to return the mailpiece to you in the event the other address is incorrect or insufficient.

*If mailing to a foreign country, The WHOLE name of that country should be spelled out on the bottom line of the address. Many countries have the same initials and even names. Here in Florida, we get mail intended for Florida, South Africa, all the time.

*Make sure you have sufficient postage. Flat rate priority is a great way to ship to take away that worry and can be done online which also includes tracking and delivery confirmation.

*IF THERE IS SOMETHING OF VALUE INSIDE- whether it be pictures or gift cards, stick one of those little sticky return address stickers everyone has a gazillion of on it. This will get it back to you should it become detached from it's envelope/box for any reason.
(So, each month, when you add your goodie to the box, attach a sticker to it somehow should the box come open.)

*Be sure your package is sealed properly. We have been on the lookout for a KING SIZED knitted coverlet that did not arrive with the box shipped from the north. I kid you not, the very large box was sealed with four little pieces of scotch tape!

Also, anyone who did not receive something that was sent to them, should always inquire at their post office. The clerk can then forward a message to the local nixie area. Give as complete a description as possible. This should be done by both the sender and the addressee. Local nixies hold items for 30 day before sending to the Mail Recovery Center in Atlanta. I can't speak for everywhere, but I know that here we really try to find where a piece of mail is going and locate lost items.

Hoping all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I may not be around very much for the next month as the 12 hour days will be starting soon. Very soon.

Mail those cards and letters early!

Donna - thank you for these very helpful tips. I'm one of those who tends toward overkill in the tape department. Better safe than sorry. And I definitely appreciate my mail carrier. We have become great friends over the years.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year.

GREAT hints, tips and general mailing info. Thanks Donna!

Great write-up and share! Thank you!

Huggers, Ruby

Thanks for the reminder, Donna. I definitely overdo the whole tape thing. Have a great Thanksgiving and good luck during the hectic holiday mail season. Check in when you can.

Thank you for all of these wonderful tips! I do a lot of mailing, so this is really helpful!

Susan

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Oh I'm sure anyone opening my presents think (a) I have a tape fetish :icon_rolleyes:, and (b) I've no clue how to decently wrap a present, but I read all this in the SS group and I'm THRILLED you posted it here too!!! It is that time of year when we all are running often to the Post Office

***TIPS*** everyone and say that really careful

:D

My son's BIG box of Christmas is ready to go! My other son's family box is next to get packed, then my few small gifts to send away to friends or family go out... along with Christmas cards. All by the 10th of Dec. I'm on top of it this year. I bought packing tape, giant bubble wraps and I have packing paper for filling, I Have my own BIG return labels, not those small ones you see everyone use. I have my stamps for my cards. I like Priority mail, it is only a few cents difference when going by weight, and it comes with tracking and insurance now. I think I am ready!! I'm excited!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kensington

My son's BIG box of Christmas is ready to go! My other son's family box is next to get packed, then my few small gifts to send away to friends or family go out... along with Christmas cards. All by the 10th of Dec. I'm on top of it this year. I bought packing tape, giant bubble wraps and I have packing paper for filling, I Have my own BIG return labels, not those small ones you see everyone use. I have my stamps for my cards. I like Priority mail, it is only a few cents difference when going by weight, and it comes with tracking and insurance now. I think I am ready!! I'm excited!

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Yay! Go Kensington!

Priority mail really is a great deal - very little difference in price, and really great if it fits in a flat rate box. We have people ship up to 70 pounds in a flat rate box. Of course, we have names for those people:icon_heh:

:icon_hi::icon_bump:

Bumping again - :icon_wave:

Today will be the biggest mailing day of the year!

Time to get those cards and packages on their way.

Remember - RETURN ADDRESS on everything.

-- just an added tip . . . . with winter weather - package tend to get wet one way or another . . I always put a piece of clear packing tape over the return and ship to address . . at least if the e'lope or package get a tad wet . . postal workers can still see/read the to and from address

I, for one - do an over kill with the clear packing tape and weather protect the packages I ship out . . *orange peel smiles*~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CountryHut

-- just an added tip . . . . with winter weather - package tend to get wet one way or another . . I always put a piece of clear packing tape over the return and ship to address . . at least if the e'lope or package get a tad wet . . postal workers can still see/read the to and from address

I, for one - do an over kill with the clear packing tape and weather protect the packages I ship out . . *orange peel smiles*~

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Good Advice, Diane! When I shipped my SS Swap box, I knew it was going to a state that was getting a lot of rain. On top of the clear tape, I put everything in the box inside a big plastic garbage bag, just in case it got wet in transit or left at the door and then rained on.

Thanks for the timely reminder. Didn't know I should put my add label on card for our mail carrier, Thanks excellent idea.

What eventually happens to the parcels and envelopes that NEVER reach their destination?