We are having snow here (as many are).  I went out yesterday to mail out books, opened mailbox and then realized mail would not run.  We probably have 6 inches by now, there was 4 yesterday.  and it snowed all night and still snowing.  We are supposed to have snow for the next three days.  Weather man seems to have called it right this time *sigh*

Took the books back inside and hubby this morning put them in the mail box.  Problem  -- I must not have shut the door all the way on the box, there was some snow inside. There was very much and just at entrance; snow was blowing to the side, not the front of box.  He wiped it all out and put books in.

They are wrapped in plastic inside, well wrapped, so I doubt very much the snow could get to the books, but I am getting paranoid.  The books were put into manila envelopes (not PBS paper) but it is not the thick type.   

Should I tell the receivers that the outer wrappers may be wet?  I double wrapped the books, so I don't see how they could get wet especially from such a small amount of snow.

Am I just being paranoid and it won't hurt, I don't want to get a RWP on these books, there are five of them.

Janette

Has the mailman already picked them up yet? You could always rewrap just to be safe. I wouldn't worry too much since you said you used plastic. I think it should be ok.

This is all really a moot point though. You wrapped the books very well it sounds. And if they are already out of your hands, there is nothing you can do. The receiver could mark it damaged by USPS at most.

I would have tried to rewrap any that got really damp. But it sounds like they were well wrapped and I think PMing someone is just opening up a can of worms.  If someone complains about a book arriving wet then maybe concede and refund the credit.  But if you mention it ahead of time it might make a less than honest member fabricate damage to get their credit back. And there are people who would do that.  I would let it alone. 

I agree that PM'ing them would open a can of worms.  Since you wrapped them in plastic (yeah!!) they should be just fine. 

I agree with Kate  

Unless there's a chance they will get wet enough to damage the address ink there's no need to change or do anything.  I cover the important parts of mailing label with very clear packing tape, being careful there's only one layer (no wrinkles) over the barcodes to protect them from the weather.

Last week I rec'd a book in same condition as the ones you mailed. I let the sender know that the outside wrapping got

damp--PBS printing ran on the paper-- and thanked her for wrapping book in plastic, thus preventing damage.

Thanks everyone for the help.

I hadn't take a shower at the time I posted and was worried the carrier would get here before I could check, fortunately (for me at this time), due to the weather she was running late.  I was able to check and they were fine, no snow at all in the box.

Glad to know though what to do in case this happens in the future.  I now know not to PM so that can of worms will stay sealed.

Thanks again for the info.

Janette

I cover the important parts of mailing label with very clear packing tape, being careful there's only one layer (no wrinkles) over the barcodes to protect them from the weather.

I cover both my return address and the ship to address, and the barcode numbers under the barcode with clear tape so that if the package gets wet, the important parts of the label will be readable.  I was told by my carrier not to cover the actual bar code.  She said that interfers with the scanner.  That's why she told me to cover the numbers under the bar code with clear tape.  If the barcode gets smeared, they can enter the numbers instead to scan the package.

I print PBS DC, and then purchase actual postage at the USPS counter Kate.  A clerk once mentioned taping over the barcodes can be a scanning problem, but I've watched them scan well over a hundred and there's never been a problem...ok, one had to be scanned a second time but that's it for any sign of problems.  Although, as previously mentioned I purchase very clear (not cloudy) packing tape for this usage.  So go with what works for you    I live in a very wet climate (three seasons minimum) and have found this works for my circumstances.

I also cover the barcode with tape and have never had a problem - app. 200 books sent.  I think only one didn't get scanned.

You learn new things every day! I was told too not to tape over the barcode so I never do it. I tape over the addys JIC, though. :)

Another one here that was told not to put tape over the bar code so I don't do it. 

But then I don't tape over the name on the label either. It's never been an issue either coming to me, or going anywhere else. 

I protect the entire shipping label with clear packing tape...but then again, I live near a town nicknamed 'drizzle city' lol

The second time I took books to the po I had covered the bar code with tape and asked the clerk there if it would cause a problem. She said as long as the scanner can read it, no problem.  It is if there are wrinkles in the tape that creates a problem, or the person pulls the tape up and tears the paper.  That can mess up the bar code and make it unreadable.

I never though of covering the name with tape to protect it.  I have the name and address inside the plastic wrapping in case the wrapper gets torn, that way they still know who to send it to.

Janette

It's so easy to just cover the address part of the printed label with a single piece of Scotch tape, and it's the perfect width to cover the addy but not the bar code, for those who are afraid it would mess up a scan. 

Yay Janette!  I also enclose the addy inside the plastic underwrap...JIC!  I use the second sheet, or bottom half of bulk mailing label and highlight the address.  If using the standard two sheet wrap, I replace the second sheet with scratch or blank paper to complete the outer wrap :-)

I wrap the whole darn package in packing tape!  I've never had a problem with a DC not being scanned.  I just make sure that I only use one strip of tape to cover the DC scan area, and line up the rest of my tape around it.