USPS knife freakout

fishface5

fishface5

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
9,611
I went to the USPS to mail a knife Priority to another forumite today, as I have done many times before. This was a big'un. The clerk eyed ithe package with outright hostility (imagine that from USPS) and demanded "what's that?" I hesitated, and said "it's a tool." "What kind?" he demanded. I thought about lying, but then wondered if there was some new security thing happening & I might find myself in trouble. So I said "It's a large brush-knife." He said "I don't think we can send that," checked a booklet, and then said "after 9/11 you can't mail weapons priority, gotta be by truck, takes 2 weeks."

I took the package away, went down the street to another post office, & mailed it Priority w/o questioning or hassle. but has anyone else run into this?
 
Don't worry the guy working there had a meltdown and took it out on you is my guess! I would say he went postal on you, but with over 750,000 workers at the USPS thier share of troubles are to be expected.

I never had any trouble myself shipping priority mail, but i always pack them like there going around the world, without a sign of what's in the package.

James
 
I have been told that Canada Post has a rule against shipping anything that could cause injury to one of their employees. Knives are one of the things listed in this category. So far I have never been given a hard time. Not one person behind the counter has ever even blinked when I told them that I was shipping a knife.
 
Just tell him "no wonder you guys are losing money", then ask for directions to the nearest UPS or FedEx.
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
I have been told that Canada Post has a rule against shipping anything that could cause injury to one of their employees. Knives are one of the things listed in this category. So far I have never been given a hard time. Not one person behind the counter has ever even blinked when I told them that I was shipping a knife.
Click to expand...
Keith: the local office knows that I collect knives enough that they don't really blink. Plus I told them that Canada customs don't even care whether your knife is so call 6" or more.... they can't do anything to me now when I ship a knife.
 
About a year before 9/11, I tried to mail a kitchen knife to my mother and the local post master refused me, stating that it was against government rules to mail knives. I demanded to see the regulation manual. The relevant section stated that the post Office banned mailing switchblades, dirks, and stilletos, or something to that affect. The rules went on to say that these rules did not apply to "common pocket knives and kitchen knives." The post master then got very mad and refused to let me mail the knife claiming that I did not have in a secure enough box to prevent injury to mail handlers! Needless to say, I just don't use that post office anymore. I have heard nothing about the rules changing in thepost office since 9/11, I use the mails pretty regularly and I think I would have been told about such a change or read it on poster at a post office.
 
"after 9/11 you can't mail weapons priority, gotta be by truck, takes 2 weeks."
Click to expand...

Thats BS, I have mailed knives and swords Priority Mail hundreds of times since 9/11. I think if there really is such a rule, He was the first to enforce it. I have bought boxes at the Post Office several time and they would put the knives/swords/weapons in there and tape it up themselves
 
Do a little search on the forum here for UPS and you'll find out that you're not the first to encounter problems with them.

My advice is to write them a letter (address is on their website). Explain that if well-packed as your's was, the knife poses no danger to anyone. There is no reason it can't be shipped by land or air.

Somethings are dangerous. If a flamable liquid was to leak out and catch fire in the hold of an airplane, the results could be quite dangerous. But knives don't jump up and attack pilots by themselves.

Tell UPS that you felt very insulted by not only their policy but also by their clerk and that you'll be taking your future business elsewhere.
Be sure to mention that when you mail-order stuff in the future, you'll be very careful to specify that it NOT be shipped to you via UPS. To tell you the truth, UPS doesn't much care about your personal business. The fact that you might take one or two packages a month to a compeditor really doesn't bother them. You see, UPS makes its money from the big mail-order houses. So, they don't want people to start insisting that these mail-order companies use a different shipper. This is a way that you can help UPS's compeditors get their foot in the door with UPS's largest and most lucative accounts. And THAT is something that UPS IS concerned about. Hit 'em where it hurts.
 
Do the postal employees really have the right to know what's in the box? Of course they always ask you if it's there is any dangerous, flammable, toxic etc....material to which we answer no. But beyond that can they demand to know what is in the box?
 
I know people who work at the post and there have been injuries because of nobs who shipped knives without a sheath, just in a cardborad box. The knife can come through the cardboard quite easily and jab you nicely. Have that happen to you or a friend and you could get a little edgy. The first time I shipped a knife I showed them how it was packaged so there was no danger of it poking anyone, and many years later I have yet to be asked about it again.

-Cliff
 
I always answer "no" when they ask if it is anything flammable, dangerous, toxic, etc. I have yet to be asked specifically what is in there, and usually give an evasively vague answer. I figure that I do not want anybody helping themselves to my goodies. I usually get an arched eyebrow or two when I insure the package for $300 or so though. I figure it is none of their business what is in my package as long as I am doing nothing illegal. I have had more nosiness at the local UPS outlet than at the post office though. So much that I usually try to ship through the USPS. Can and/or do the USPS x-ray or somehow scan the packages?
Disturbed,
Mongo
 
Where I live (NYC)...you would think, they would run the boxes through freakin x-ray machines!...but i never get asked anything when i ship a package...:rolleyes:
 
I received a knife I purchased on E-bay through the mail. When it arrived the tip of the knife and several inches of blade were sticking through the package. I believe carriers concerns about poorly packaged sharp objects are justified.

This does not appear related to post 9/11 concerns, but it is an important issue upon which reasonable regulations might be based.

On our part we can make sure anything we ship is packaged in such a manner that it does not pose a danger to persons handling the package.
 
Gollnick

Just to make sure that everybody is talking about the same thing, I think that the post is about the United States Postal Service (USPS), and not United Parcel Service (UPS). Sorry if your earlier post was just a typo.
 
just mark whatever you send:
"Hand Tool" , and check off 'gift'... nothing asked...

My last package from the states was $190USD... Marked in that manner, and they opened at customs... let it through(it was wrapped securely enough, they wouldn't have been able to open it, each knife wrapped in about a mile of bubble wrap)... and I only payed taxes on the total... no duty as it was a 'gift'...

so, from that experience... wrap them up in a mile of bubble wrap, tape the sucker up with clear tape, and mail it... no problems.
 
USPS is good for only 2 things delivering bills and junk mail . Other than that go to UPS or FedEx. Get real service with out the dumb*ss rules.

Gadgetman7
Just tell him "no wonder you guys are losing money", then ask for directions to the nearest UPS or FedEx.
Click to expand...

Now that would have been pretty damn funny!!:D
 
USPS is good for only 2 things delivering bills and junk mail . Other than that go to UPS or FedEx. Get real service with out the dumb*ss rules.
Click to expand...

It is actually UPS that has all of the "dumb*ss" rules. Do a search here on bladeforums.com for UPS. I've explained their inspection policy as it was explained by their customer service people to me here on the forum many times.

When USPS asks their question about "is there anything hazardous in the package" just say no. They have to ask the question. You're not being dishonest. If it's properly packed, there is nothing hazardous about a knife in a box at all.

Because of the shear volume of packages they handle, the USPS does not x-ray or otherwise inspect virtually any mail. Mail going to some sensitive addresses, the Capital Building, for example, does get scrutinized. But the vast majority of us will never face that. It is illegal for any USPS employee to open a package except in case of obvious emergency (smoke coming out of the package, etc.) except a US Postal Inspector, and they have to get a warrant.

IMHO, the best way to go is FedEx. You really can't beat their service and their customer-oriented attitude.
 
"It is illegal for any USPS employee to open a package except in case of obvious emergency (smoke coming out of the package, etc.) except a US Postal Inspector, and they have to get a warrant."

Well, that's nice to know. I think the guy I was dealing with wazs just a jerk. Next time I'll make his life miserable by insisting that he show me every regulation, pulling his supervisor over, etc. etc. If he's right he better prove it, and if he's wrong I'll enjoy making his life difficult. Can't let these "bullies" get away with their little tricks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top