My 87-year-old mom sent her 83-year-old cousin in Alaska a box of used paperbacks to get her through the winter, as she's been doing for several years. We pick up books at garage sales and at the library sale because her cousin is very low income and can't get out in winter.
After filling the box with books, Mom filled the remaining space with candy and socks. Mom had her home aide take the box to the post office to mail media rate, just as she had the past two years. She was shocked to receive a letter stating the Postal Service had opened the box and found more than media (socks and candy) and sent the package on postage-due. Mom
wasn't so much shocked at receiving the letter as she was that the box was sent postage-due. How would her cousin be able to afford the postage? She told me the story and was terribly upset.
The letter explained she
shouldn't have included the candy and socks, and she understood that. But why didn't postal workers check the box when it was mailed, hold the box for more postage, return it to her or call her? Why did they send it postage-due? The letter could as easily have said the box was held for postage.
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Shame on the Postal Service for picking the worst option to deal with the problem and for causing my mom to be stressed and embarrassed. The box probably will be returned because her cousin can't afford the postage due.
Mom has learned her lesson: Don't put anything else in a media-rate box except books -- and don't use the post office for mailing packages!
Kathy Dockter
Duluth
