The 'Zaan is off to Idaho ... and USPS troubles!

M

mmike87

Joined
Jan 6, 2009
Messages
37
Somehow, while moving into our new house this past spring I broke a TINY bit of tip off my umumzaan. Maybe 1/32 of an inch, almost barely noticeable. I am not sure how it happend ... I never pry with knives. I think someone else in the house borrowed it and did something they shouldn't have - but they are not talking.

Anne said they can probably re-grind it for such a small amount, so I probably won't need a new blade.

However, the damn USPS wouldn't ship the darn thing! It's a really long story, but it shipped private carrier today. The witch at the post office wouldn't believe me that it was not a switch blade and demanded that I be in the National Guard to ship it. I am not making this up. I tried to explain it was a regular folding pocket knife, but she said that if you apply "pressure" to the blade it opens (no kidding?) and that makes it a switch blade.

The local post master backed her up, so we filed a complaint with the USPS main office. However, I doubt that it will do any good. Idiots.
 
How did they know it was a knife in the box?

Next time, just ship to:

Chris Reeve
2949 S. Victory View Way
Boise, Idaho 83709

And, if they ask, tell 'em the box contains computer parts. If you don't like to "lie," then tell them the box contains steel screws (which, technically speaking, it does). In reality, the only things prohibited (that I know of) are perishable items, alcoholic beverages, and:

Perfumes
Nail polish
Flea collars or flea sprays
Aerosols
Bleach
Pool chemicals
Paints
Matches
Batteries
Fuels or gasoline
Airbags
Dry ice
Mercury thermometers
Cleaning supplies
Items previously containing fuel
Glues
Fireworks

Source: http://www.usps.com/aviationsecurity/

Nowhere on there does it say anything about knives.

I agree that many (not all, just many) postal folk are idiots (I hope I don't offend anyone here, but it's a fact). To wit, I recently purchased a postal money order from my local post office for $700 to buy a watch, and then my seller backed out on me. So the next day, I took my USPS money order back to the same post office to cash it and get my money back. The same woman who sold me the MO (who was the freakin' Postmaster!) told me that they could not cash that large of a MO (with a totally straight face, as if she had never seen me before) -- a MO that she issued to me 20 hours earlier! Her explanation was that they don't keep that kind of cash on hand -- even though I gave them that much cash the day before, and USPS money orders state right on them that they are good up to $1000. WTF is that?!? Idiots -- that's what.

So now when I have to ship from that PO (they're my only local PO), I tell her that my package contains tampons, condoms, and steel screws.
 
Thats pretty crazy, I had a postal worker try to tell me I couldn't ship knives once, but we got that straightened out real quick. If it were me I would have shown here the difference between a switchblade and a CRK, by pulling out my MT Scarab, like Crocodile Dundee. "Thats not a switchblade....this is a switchblade"
 
If they ask, just tell them its machined parts. Or I have used "pieces of titanium and steel " . I usually dont even get a look and the best part is I am not lying.
As a side note, sorry zackfraser. You would have went to jail for entering a goverment building in possession of a automatic knife. Actually where I live, just carring an auto is a no no. I hope you are just kidding, but if not you dont really want to advertise that you are carrying a auto.
 
The trick with any government flunky is to tell them as little as possible. The less the better. I get along well with the people in my post office (I have to, given the amount of time I spend there) but I still tell them as little as possible.
 
I agree, I don't tell them anything. That's not lying, its just being smart. The only question that I EVER get is it flameable, hazardous, breakable, or perishable. Nope to all and thank you have a nice day.

your not shipping any of those 4, so your FINE....
 
Highpower1 said:
I agree, I don't tell them anything. That's not lying, its just being smart. The only question that I EVER get is it flameable, hazardous, breakable, or perishable. Nope to all and thank you have a nice day.

your not shipping any of those 4, so your FINE....
Click to expand...

I shipped one yesterday and got the same question. I answered "no" and sent it on its way.
 
I just use UPS. I shipped a knife back to the dealer due to a flaw in it and when they asked what it was i just said pocket knife and off it went. UPS also offers better tracking than the post office does.
 
red1965 said:
If they ask, just tell them its machined parts. Or I have used "pieces of titanium and steel ". I usually dont even get a look and the best part is I am not lying.
Click to expand...
I do something similar. I tell them the package contains tools. That way I'm not lying either. And so far they've never questioned it.

.
 
I have mailed knives all over the world and never had an issue. I have quit offering international shipping just because of the customs as they have made it more difficult, and the fact that I cant insure for full value. I cant see shipping a $600 XM-18 and only being able to insure it for $200. Just not worth it to me or the individual getting it. I have done so, but will not do so again. Even then, I just wrote folding knife on the customs form and that was that. Never a questions. The people at the post office used to ask what I was shipping, but havent done so in quite awhile. I am there several times a week selling stuff from ebay, that they have gotten to know me. I get the same thing all the time, it is liquid, perishable, fragile, or hazzardous. I just say no and off it goes.
 
red1965 said:
If they ask, just tell them its machined parts. Or I have used "pieces of titanium and steel " . I usually dont even get a look and the best part is I am not lying.
As a side note, sorry zackfraser. You would have went to jail for entering a goverment building in possession of a automatic knife. Actually where I live, just carring an auto is a no no. I hope you are just kidding, but if not you dont really want to advertise that you are carrying a auto.
Click to expand...

It was mainly in jest, but I have carried my Scarab into the post office on many occasions. I don't use it there, and to them its just another clip on a pocket. No one bats an eye, or cares. Of course I use a very small post office and they all know me and my kid by name.
 
I addressed it to "Chris Reeve Knives" which was my first mistake. I really, seriously, EVER thought it would be an issue.
 
Give a retarded gov't schlep an ounce of decision making ability and you're gonna get these kinda problems. There really should be an IQ test administered as part of the hiring process.
 
everything I ship its machined parts.....and I pre-box everything all they have to do is slap on a sticker.
 
I shipped many knives, and they only ask me if it is something fragile or not. That's about it. Most cops don't know knife laws either, what makes you think a postal worker would? hahaha
 
fionafa said:
Give a retarded gov't schlep an ounce of decision making ability and you're gonna get these kinda problems. There really should be an IQ test administered as part of the hiring process.
Click to expand...

There is, they start hiring from the bottom of the list up.;)
In my local PO there are 4 different clerks. Three of them are OK with shipping knives, one is not OK with it despite the fact that his colleagues told him it was legit.
 
I know that the local post master has discretion when the "mailability" of something is in question. I'm OK with that ... but when an item CLEARLY is considered "mailable" one jackass shouldn't be able to refuse to ship it based on their own personal views.

How about a Republican postmaster refusing to ship Democratic literature claiming it's hazardous? Or an atheist refusing to ship Christmas cards? I'm just saying ...
 
Typical federal government BS... I swear, Idaho is an awesome state as far as state laws and government in general-but the federal government stuff that's here is the biggest pain in the ass... I have never had more USPS issues in my entire life as I have had in the last six months.
 
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