USPS Media Mail (was Re: Off-topic, but interesting (Fiorina fired))

[chris]

>Who is checking and where? 

Anywhere along the lines of the package travel, someone could flag it and 
open it. The post office reserves the right to open and inspect Media 
Mail packages for compliance.

Honestly, I suspect they don't bother. I've shipped quite a number of 
things that way, and have never had a report of the package having been 
opened in transit (and I make every attempt when shipping packages via 
any carrier of putting the label across the opening of the box, so the 
label has to be cut if it is opened... I like non repairable, non hidable 
evidence that a package was opened).

My guess is, they reserve the right in case they get someone who starts 
sending lots of large clunking boxes via Media Mail and they have an 
honest reason to be suspicious.

>Now that I used computerized shipping I just pay for and print out labels. 
>Then 
>deliver sealed parcels to the Post Office and UPS. No one looks at them. 
>
>In fact the Post Office clerks complained that I chose the option not
>to list the postage on the front. The couldn't tell if it was
>accurate. Now they don't even want the boxes at the counter. I deliver
>them to the person that answers the door to the back.

The 3-D bar code postage contains the postage value, and the automated 
sorting machines read that and compare it to the weight of the package, 
and reject anything that is too far out of line.

More and more of the post office is automated these days anyway, which 
really means there is probably less and less of a chance of a media mail 
package being opened and inspected (or any other package for that 
matter). Less and less mail is even being looked at by human eyes.

-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>