[pct-l] Bounced packages--no "free lunch"?

[Ken Powers]

You needed to add the words Priority Mail to your question. You can forward 
a Priority Mail box if you do not open it. NOTE that one postal employee 
refused to let us forward a Priority Mail box because we had "taken 
delivery" of it at the Post Office. Every other postal employee has let us 
forward unopened boxes not removed from the Post Office. Several postal 
employees have let us forward opened and resealed boxes with out paying 
postage again, but I don't think that is the intent of the postal 
regulations.

See http://www.gottawalk.com/shipping_fuel.htm about mailing fuel. The PO 
has not changed their regulations even though DOT has made it difficult for 
non-PO truckers to carry fuel. If your box is labeled "ORM-D Consumer 
Commodity" the postal regulations still allow you to ship small amounts of 
fuel. The DOT regulations have essentially stopped retailers from shipping 
fuels.

Another consideration is that  Priority Mail means travel by air and fuel 
cannot be sent by air. Fuel must travel by "Surface Mail Only" - by truck. 
Remember to allow sufficient time for your box to travel by ground.

Regarding mailing boxes: We have started using the Flat Rate Priority Mail 
boxes from the Post office. The boxes are free, postage is a flat rate based 
on the box size, and as the commercial says "If it fits, it ships". You can 
cut costs a little more by printing your own postage from the USPS website.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Yanasak" <amuddler2 at gmail.com>
To: <Pct-L at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 11:00 AM
Subject: [pct-l] Bounced packages--no "free lunch"?


Hi,

I just today phoned the USPO (national office) with a question and was
surprised at the answer.  My question was:
Hypothetically, if I were to take delivery of a package at a USPO in San
Francisco and, not immediately needing the contents, could I forward said
package, unopened, to myself at a USPO in Portland, free of charge?".  The
answer was "Yes, but only if you re-package the box and pay postage on it
(again)".

This is not consistent with the information I thought I had been hearing on
this site and elsewhere.  Did I ask the wrong question, word it incorrectly,
misunderstand the nature of "bounce box" mailing, or was the USPO official
with whom I spoke uninformed?

Also, which might be the better and cheaper options for mailing (box sizes,
weights, etc.) and is it a hassle to mail butane canisters?  Any other
mailing advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Amuddler
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