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Nosey post office staff!!!
 

Hi all, just been to the post office with a parcel and i had the woman behind the counter asking me what was inside!!!! I was shocked, i didn't think they are allowed to do that!!? Its been playing on my mind that if she's nosey to your face whats she going to be like when she's alone with your parcel.....??(Its a quiet post office and theres never anybody in when i go) Its a high value item i sent.. Was thinking its the perfect opportunity for her to get some ideas on what to sell! Its made me angry and i wont be using that post office in the future!
Anyone had a similar experience?

TUT TUT!

Hi

Yeah i live in a small town and this happens all the time. No point complaining as most post office staff will say they're asking for your protection so you get the right postage to cover you. Most the time i just give them one word answers and it soon shuts them up.

Re: Nosey post office staff!!!
 

Happen in every post office now m8, I think its cause they think you might be posting drugs and stuff

I have been asked a few times, and they tried to find out if i am selling on ebay as well as i bring in quite a lot of packages.

Apparently a lot of ebay sellers tell them their account names etc..

One person said she buys clothes on sale from primark and then makes a killing on ebay selling them... now why would you tell them that :doh:

Here is the conversation I have with the Post office people every time I go:

Postal Worker: "Is there anything fragile, potentially dangerous, lithium batteries, perfumes, liquids of any kind, would you like to ship this Next Day"

Me: "No"

The most asked question for me is "Who is (stealth name)?"

I don't answer 90% of the time.

^^ yea I always get the same old liquid frag..etc etc thats it

they see me so much they dont' even ask me any more, they just take my stuff and im out, my post office rocks.

Me too I tell them I have Grenades and anthrax They chuckle and say just asking.

Yes they are allowed to ask what is in the box.

They are suppose to have the post office comment down and ask it they way they were trained.

Do you have any explosives, chemicals etc etc.

As long as you answer no to their questions you will be fine.

They have an exact line they are suppose to ask you.

Small town post masters have a problem with abusing their authority but they are allowed to ask and or refuse any parcel they feel is not safe.

I used to deal with a small town girl who would go out of her way to be nosy and it was a pain.

OP Take you items to a different PO if there is one close by.

Just answer "I don't know" or "That's none of your business". They won't say much afterwards

If you guys have nothing to hide why get on those ppl nerves. If you are cool with them you will be surprised at the things you will be able to do...

They always ask me and I always tell them as what im selling it not illegal and they may actually want/need something I sell.

I've been asked this and i just said i sell something which i really dont just to keep them shut lol

why would you want to tell somebody how you are making money? po workers are people too and if they see you comming in everyday with a ton of packages and know what you are selling it may not be too long until you have more competition...

Yes I have had it, I just say items that I sell on ebay, thats all they need to know and all I will tell them.

If they have any reason for suspicion they can do whatever you want with the package.

i always get asked if there is anything of value inside the package...every time and i use a few different post offices, and when i say yes they ask me if i would like to insure it

HUGE difference between telling what you sell and where you get your items from...


I can tell you but will you be able to find it at a competitive price.

Gifts at Christmas and Easter discourage nosey Post Office workers.

Try to create a working relationship with them or be impersonal.

They are merely doing their job.

Raise above their weaknesses.

:juggle:

This is the worst thing you can say to any postal worker. They have every right in the world to search your package or any packing you bring in.

Saying "I dont know" means that you are not in control of the package or you are shipping for some else. A bigger excuse for the postal worker to get suspicious about the contents. "none of your business" is instant suspicious.

Just dont ship anything illegal and you'll never have any problems. Remember, you have a business to run and make money, the postal worker will be your biggest help to your overall success and profits.

Re: Nosey post office staff!!!
 

Yes they are people too but don't be ridiculous. They would have to know how to deal with ebay, PayPal, existing competition, they still don't know what price you paid or what you sold it for. Let's be a little realistic about the situation . If someone can steal ur business that easy then u r not very good at what u do

Not in the US since the Patriot Act was passed.

If I said either one of those things now they would cut open the box and look inside.

My BIL is a postal carrier and has told me many times they can cut open any box to inspect it and all they have to say is they were looking to see if it has proper packing.

Just be nice & friendly, once you have been a few times they are ok. I just drop mine off now and pickup my receipts next day. I have even sold items to po workers lol.
As for worrying about competition, most post office workers wouldnt be arsed being serious on ebay thats the reason they are sat behind a counter all day for a quiet life..

Always be polite to postal workers, they are always under staffed and have huge lines which make them very stressed and on edge, especially if you are bringing over 20 packages everyday adding to their work. What I do is bring them a box of donuts every few weeks now I'm in great with them and always get treated great and never problems. It's amazing in what a box of donuts can get you

I had one like that once. She knew I sold on eBay and tried to find out what so she could sell it too, because I sometimes send like 150-200 packages per day.

She asked me what I was selling because she wanted to find something good to sell and I told her white shirts. She's like .."wtf" how do so many people buy white shirts? Is there anything printed on them? Nope, I say ..just blank white shirts with nothing on them. I sell like crazy.

I bet she believed it and went on to stock hundreds of blank white shirts.

:pop2:

One postal office worker used to ask me what things I was shipping so I explained a little. She used to ALWAYS remove sales tax for me even though I did not have a registered business - was chill

Try being like a politician. Don't answer questions, and if you do, make it the ones you want. I managed a whole conversation like this last week. I was returning a boxing glove that arrived without a box!

Post office lady: I think I served you yesterday. You sent something to the USA? Do you sell on the internet? My daughter is thinking about it.
Me: Tell her to be careful. My brother had some trouble with that.
Post office lady: Really? Oh dear. Is this something you've sold? It's a very unusual shape.
Me: Yes, he paid someone for something and it didn't turn up. It happens a lot.
Post office lady: Who?
Me: My brother...

She looked confused and just carried on in silence. It was funny.

You suck!! They chose the job. Give 'em hell. Lol.

Type II diabetes?

Way to stump them

The advantage I have where I live is the vacationers and snowbirds who come in with packages from all around the world to mail so mine looks just like another box to them.

I'm still waiting for them to say why do all 10 of these boxes have different names/return addresses on them...For some reason I just hate going into the post office with a bunch of packages with different names!

Just dont think about it, just walk in, hand them the packages and walk out. If they ask just say, "i ship for (a) warehouse(s)". Just be happy they are getting packages to keep them employed.

Another tactic that keeps them quiet is if you ask all kinds of questions - only downside is they will begin talking and now work...costs you time :(

Scenario:

pack the boxes.

Load the auto.

Drive to the Post Office.

Park. Unload the boxes.

Stand in queue. Wait my turn.

Say Hello Packattack12. Here they are. What's today's damage? Sign the credit card. Wave byebye to Packattack12.
Go back to auto. Final wave for the road.
Drive off.
No correspondence entered into.
The End.

Tell them to get a life!!

I tell them that's its sex toys lol, that's because it my mates place. He let's me in before they open so I am a bit lucky that way. He's always tell me what people are selling., so don't tell them lol.

PS, I don't sell sex toys

When the post staff know you well (as in my case), I have bypassed the queue many times in the past :thumb: