New Government Rules, Alternative Postage Will Keep Us Safe!
Get out those postal scales, everyone! Beginning Monday, if that package you’re mailing weighs more than 13 ounces, don’t even think about grabbing that book of stamps! I don’t care how many you can lick and stick, the new rule requires that 13 ounces is the new, lower limit, requiring “alternative postage.” Which is like a stamp, only different. Different because, well, I don’t know. They both are really just stickers, applied to the same package in the same manner. But if all you have laying around are your everyday stamps, you’ll need to dash to the post office and hand your package directly to the Federal employee, the postal clerk behind the counter because, well, he or she is apparently authorized to affix the safer alternative postage. Not that it really matters what you’re mailing, I’m sure they don’t care, but apparently the process keeps us all safer, so who am I to question?
The change is part of ongoing security measures established by the Postal Service, in cooperation with other government agencies to keep the public, customers, employees and the U.S. Mail safe.
I’ll admit I didn’t realize there was already a law requiring said alternative postage for packages weighing more than 16 ounces. But lowering it to 13 ounces, I mean, what’s the point? Three ounces? How can that possibly make a difference? I wonder how many federal tax dollars went into that study. And why are regular stamps more of a risk to public safety, whether the limit is 13 ounces or 16 ounces? Remember anthrax from a few years ago? Regular envelope, a single regular stamp, mission accomplished.
Doesn’t really matter, though. I can print my own USPS acceptable alternative postage by going online, affix it myself to my 13-plus ounce package, and have it picked up by my regular mail carrier, from right here at home! No matter how nefarious the contents. Does this make sense? How does this keep the public, customers, and employees safer? Anyone?
postal changes, alternative postage, mail safety, security
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