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Should I change my PO addy or leave it alone?
 

With my first totally stealth account, I tried the tip of manipulating a PO addy. Instead of PO Box 123 Anytown, I added my addy as 4567 Anytown #123.

The first package arrived okay. But the other packages never came. I asked PO lady about it. She said she sent them back because they have to be addressed the proper way.

I am not sure where to go from here. The one item was something I actually needed for shipping my packages. The other items were very cheap and mainly for FB. Should I change my addy to the proper way on PP/ebay? Or is it better to just call it a loss (on the stuff I ordered) and not use this account to buy anymore.

I have sold three things on this account so far, and 7 current auctions running. Less than 10 FB.

I am not understanding what address you used as a variation so that I can chime in. Can you detail a little better?

I'd actually be pissed at the lady who sent it back. Who cares how it's addressed!? It arrived from point A to point B like it's supposed to. And so that would mean she actually paid the postage to send it back? Wow, sounds like a waste of time & money on her/the company's part. Tell her not to tamper with your mail once it arrives & that it's a federal crime if she does.

In the stealth guide, it was suggested to alter your PO addy. If mine is PO box 857, Tampa FL, on the address section of ebay/PP, I would write 5278 Main St #857, Tampa, FL for my address. The 5278 Main St being the physical addy of post office. That way, to ebay/PP, it doesn't appear to be a PO Box, rather a physical address in an apartment. But ideally it still gets delivered to your PO box since it shouldn't be to difficult for the postal employee to figure out. In my case, the first package was fine. But the rest were all returned because they were no filled out correctly. Not because they didn't know who they belonged to. At least that's what I gathered from talking to her.

She is the head lady there. I go there often to ship things, everyone else there is really very nice. Its a small home town PO, not really busy. However, she is always in a mood, and have yet to see her smile. Thankfully she hardly works the counter, but apparently is the one who intercepted the packages.

tell this head lady that you put your address this way so that you can accept fed ex and ups packages. it's called street addressing

I have the right to address it that way, its totally kosher? I want to make sure I can back up what I say before I go in there, so I don't look like a jerk lol. And if she is top dog there, who would I talk to if she still denies my packages?

Do I have any recourse for my packages that were sent back now? The smaller items are not a big deal, but I would like my scale that cost me a bit, plus shipping. The sellers should not have to (and I'm sure wouldn't offer) to resend on their dime.

She may have a loophole though. I had to put my real name on the box. But on ebay I have one letter missing. Although it shouldn't be a big deal since my married last name has two spellings, and is long. Its misspelled all the time, since the spelling I have on ebay is the more common of the two, I don't think she would have even noticed that. Unless she was looking for it.

You're paying for them to receive your packages. Bottom line. Once it gets there, it's your package. If they do anything else with it (steal it, damage it, send it back, etc) that should be considered mail tampering - a felony or federal crime. Tell her that. And say that all your incoming packages have tracking (whether they actually do or not, just say it) so that if you find out another package arrived there, but is not there when you pick it up, then you'll get authorities involved.

I'm sure you've already thought about this but...There isn't another PO nearby is there?

just tell her it's called street addressing and you were told by the 800 # that you could use it. play stupid. print out the page from the internet for her. a small town might not have heard of it, it was only created this year for the purpose of receiving ups and fed ex packages. be nice and curteous

My local one, but it's a one horse town lol. Only one person there most of the time, everyone knows everyone here. A lot of gossiping and frankly, I just don't want people in town knowing my business lol. I may just travel to the next, next PO. It's on the way home from hubby's work, so I can just have him check when I know I'll be getting a package.

I have another package that needs to be shipped out in the morning. I'll ask to speak with her then and see what she says. The missing letter in my name is my main worry, that I may not be able to argue.

Is this a USPS box?

Techincally, there are two ways of accepting addresses. Both are permitted under USPS regulations.

One is by the P.O.Box number and the other is by the street address.

Some Post Masters/Mistresses have taken it upon themselves to deny acceptance of parcels not addressed according to their brainwashed concept.

Do you know this person? Or is there another PO you could use?:deadhorse:

This is an issue of what appears to be more of an nosey Postal worker.

DMM 602 Addressing

It's laid out from their site. But this player might take exception to name variations etc.

OP will have to consider exactly how to deal with her.

:peace:

GB, I do not know her personally. I have dealt with her on a few occasions. She is just very short, like today when I asked about my packages. She would not even come all the way up front, and her attitude was arrogant. Like "Duh, you didn't put the address the right way so I sent the damn things back...muhaha" *evil* smiley ;) Of course that wasn't how she said it, but that was the attitude. It's not just me, I've seen her act crabby with the employees there a couple times. She is chronically PMS'ing and irregular...

I will ask her tomorrow about the address. If she (as I'm hoping) did not notice the last name, I will have a leg to stand on. If she brings up the name, I will let it alone, and move on. But today she said nothing about the misspelling, so I think she didn't catch it.

You may have to butter her up - explain that it`s important to you, etc. - banter with her. All the best.

This is new I believe, so if you live in the middle of nowhere, it's probably because they haven't gotten the news yet ( even thou it's been advertised for a couple of months xD )

New if the place is Hicksville USA.

Was legislated nearly 18 months ago.

Issue is small USPS offices where those in control are not in the right century yet.

:pound:

UPDATE: Stopped in to ship a package today. And talked to said lady. I asked her again about the situation, exactly what was the problem with the address. As I suspected, she never noticed the name :) She said the I HAVE to put PO Box next to my number and I also can't use the street addy of the PO. That NOBODY else there does that. I told her (nicely) the USPS website states otherwise. She looked at me like I had two heads. So I used the term 'street addressing'. She then said that is just for certain parts of the country. I pushed a little and she then said it's for big cities, but not a small PO like them.

I told her I don't recall the USPS website saying smallish towns were excluded. Went round and round for a while of her telling me many reasons why I should be able to just use it as a PO and not street address. She said Fedex and UPS is there all the time and never a problem with people using PO Box, every place online that ships accepts PO boxes, etc, etc.

One other thing she told me is the packages she rejected said 4567 Main Street APARTMENT #123. Its not listed that way on my accounts, since I don't live in an apt, and if they are shipping with a paypal label, it would be how I wrote it. If the person hand wrote them or didn't use PP, I guess they could have added that, I don't know for certain. I'm kinda doubting 4 sellers in a row would have done that though. I'll check the ones with tracking and see if I can get an answer.

I finally just said with the business I do, using PO box is not an option. So can you please make a mental note to stop sending my packages back. And even if someone does write apt #, could you just ignore it and stick it in my box anyways. She said she would.

I really think she believed what she was telling me, and like it was mentioned, they just haven't heard yet. And if she stops returning my packages, all should be well.

Just heard back from one seller. He said he did not put apt number, and that the package was returned "no such employee".