Seems kinda silly to bother over a 3 oz difference, but you don't make the rules. Thx for letting us know.

Well, ppphhtt to that.  Bluebox I could deal with but I can't even give it to my carrier who I know by name (and she knows mine).  Grumble.  Thanks, Steve, for the heads-up.  Now all I need to do is convince my PO that I can use APC strips after the date of purchase.

It will be interesting to see if they give any greater detail on why.

Edited because I can't type.

Ack, I may have to reconsider using PBS. I have tons of stamps - former stamp dealer & still do some work for one so I get it at a discount. However, I'm not interested in the 1/2 hour + wait that's always at my local PO just to have them look at the package. And buying online or APC sort of defeats the purpose of having all that discount postage. Raise prices, make it harder to figure out rates, force me to come in & stand in line, no thanks.

Scott out.

thats funny because can you request a carrier pickup? for other mail as well as  media mail?

how do they think their customers will pay for the postage if its coming from a residence?

with stamps of course!

 this idea may not last

a while ago at another apartment I used to live at

the carrier was told he couldn't pick up letters left on the mailbox

slight problem everyone there has a disability and that its a violations of the ADA

result -he starting accepting mail again

so this might also be against the ADA as well

When I first started out here, I had a bunch of stamps I wanted to use up, but couldn't cover the package in them -- I printed some $1 and $2 strips from an APC and added stamps to make the 2 and 3lb rates.

Good point, Mark.  I remember a big campaign around the holidays showing carriers picking up packages from homes.  Please keep us informed, Steve.

Steve, this is the kind of stuff that drives me nuts!! How does a carrier know what a mail piece weighs?

Thanks Steve.  I guess those people at the PO are going to see even more of me now since they won't let me drop media mail in their blue boxes AT ALL (yeah, I know, don't get me started....)

Thanks Steve for the heads up!! We can always count on you having the latest scoop.     BTW - my post office told me that calling for "carrier pick up" was only for priorty mail.    Have no idea if that's right or not, but thought I'd pass along that info.

Carrier pick-up must include at least one priority mailing. And any pick-ups I've made have used on-line postage; none have used stamps.

Any idea if an exception would be made for stamped packages accompanying a premium package scheduled for pickup?

Regardless, thanks for the heads-up and for your very helpful presence here!

My post "mistress" told me yesterday that the USPS is thinking of doing away with the blue boxes completely due to the recent mailbox bombings across the country, to stop the problem before someone gets hurt. That would REALLY suck.

What recent mailbox bombings?

Wow!  This sure got a response!  Of course I expected it too.  As I said, I can't answer any questions on it yet because what I posted is all that I know.  It is possible it isn't a Postal Service thing, the 1 lb limit was from the FAA because we use commercial aircraft to transport mail.  This may have come from them.

It is also very possible that I will get no further explination on it.  All they really have to tell me is to do it and I have to.  Security is a very real issue with us and the FAA and they may feel that is enough explination.  I'll admit the elimination of the "Known Customer" designation is a surprise and that makes me suspect an agency outside of the PO.

If I find out more that I can pass along I will.

I was thinking on it last night and realized that I can see their point of veiw....whoever 'they' are in this case.  I'm a 'Known Customer' for my carrier and as a result she has picked packages that I put out that weigh up to 3.5 pounds.  (That wieght has to do with what I can get my mailbox to support.)  But if I lived on a straight street (I'm on a cul-de-sac), a quick pause in the car and - voila! - there's mail in my box that I didn't put there and likely no one sees a thing.  I hate having a mind that will work in a devious fashion.

I have to say that I agree with Connie...How are the carriers suppose to know the difference between a 12 ounce envelope and a 13 ounce one?  That's rhetorical, btw, Steve.

Off to figure out online postage.

There is an APC feature to add "additional" postage if the stamps don't make enough after weighing the (otherwise postage-stamp'ed) package. If one buys a bunch of small APC add-ons (say 8 cents each), and uses one for a package with the balance being actual postage stamps, is the (mixed postage) package then "legit" for a mailbox? The Post Office can track the package via small value APC sticker in those cases as easily as if it were entirely APC covered. Just a thought.

Do you ,by any chance, know if the new carrier pick up rule is just for residential or does it include businesses? 

If it includes businesses  all I can say is ACK!  How is a small business that can't afford postage machines supposed to mail something... since we have the same business hours as the PO?  

I can jsut see it now: "I'm sorry sir, I have to close for 1/2 hour each day to take my mail to the PO to hand a pre-weighed, pre-stamped package to some one that doesn't know me or my business, because the mail carrier that comes into my store each day and knows everything we mail out is a media mail book, is no longer allowed to accept them.. You'll have to ry again another day to buy a book. Try not to come during my PO time again"

..... Yeah, I see that really working for small businesses!  ACK! again :)

according to my mail man he can't pick up any packages unless I call ahead....even if they weigh less then a pound and have postage paid lables like from paypal?! sounds like a lose/lose situation in my case....right now it is OK cause I am busy selling stuff on ebay so I have priority mail packages going out several times a week and I can just arrange for a pick up and have him pick up all my media mail and first class mail but if you don't have something going priority then you have to pay for a pick up....The last thing I want to do is drag 3 kids to the Post Office UGH!

Gee, this is really going to mess me up. I'm a disabled individual, so going to the post office is a problem. I don't send out packages over 13 oz. very often, but every now and then I'll get an order on PBS that will tip the scale that way.

And...I didn't know about the priority mail thing having to be there for a carrier pickup. Hmm.

:(

Natalie, the priority mail requirement for pickup is a requirement only if you schedule a carrier pickup through usps.com. Carriers can pick up media mail parcels along with your other outgoing mail......well, until this regulation goes into effect, I guess.

Toni, I don't know if it will do you any good but you might try calling your PO and asking about what your mail carrier told you.  Even when I wasn't a 'known customer' they still picked up the smaller (under a pound) packages.  However, I think willingness to do that varies a bit depending on the route and PO.

It's true that they won't come to your door to pick it up but I think they should/are suppose to take it if it is in your mailbox.  Maybe one of the route carriers can shed some more light on this.

My mail carrier will not pick up ANY package regardless of the size.  When I asked at the post office about this I was told it was up to the carrier if they did or did not pick up packages.   Of course, my carrier resents picking up a letter, so of course a book would break his back!    I normally have great respect for those who deliver our mail and I think the USPO is one of the best values around,  BUT we have the grumpiest mail carrier in the nation!!