Hi, everyone! I recently sent out packages of wool to some of the folks here at FAOL. Some of you got them and some of you did not. My postmaster is trying to find out what happened, but I don’t hold out much hope that they will find anything. I will be heading to town later this week and will mail new packages to those who have let me know. If you expected a package from me and didn’t get it, e-mail me and I will try again.
Sorry for the posting instead of personal e-mails. All of a sudden we’re up to our elbows in snow and ice and up to our armpits in sheep. Five lambs this morning and more coming!
I may have a clue as to what happened to the ‘lost’ packages. No, unfortunately I did not receive them all, but a couple of days after I DID get mine, the address label came off. Not sure why. I blamed the 2-year-old, as he was playing with it, but it had not been torn off, just dropped off. Bad glue or something.
I hope you can get it worked out!
I really gotta get some time to use soe of it and get something off to you! You truly went above and beyond in getting us the wool!
File a Tracer Form with the Post Office. Package labels get damage and become unreadable, and end up at the Mail Recovery Centers. There are two Mail Recovery Centers that handle all lost mail (undeliverable - unreturnable) for all of the USPS Delievery Area (including APO’s, FPO’s and USA Territories and Trusts). That is where all lost mail goes. You have 90 days from mailing for them to look for the missing articles, otherwise the USPS sells them in bulk auctions.
I wrongly used to think that the USPS was the safest and easiest way to send things, but I have been proven wrong recently. I have had more problems with them than I care to talk about. I recently received a letter, actually half an envelope from them. Another FAOL member had sent me an envelope and it never made it. The USPS packaged what was left in a larger envelope and attached some sort of half-hearted apology.
Just before that I sent a bundle of envelopes (Bills and such) and not a single one of them made it to their destination. I have made multiple inquires and filled out a few forms and all to no avail. It feels like the USPS has followed the rest of the government and went to crap.
Have a break in the action down in the barn, beautiful clear sky and lots of cold sunshine, so new packages will be going out when I cross the ice this morning.
Don, two-year olds are handy for excuses, but save the blame for sometime you really need someone else to take the heat! I’ll take the blame for thinking that self-adhesive stickers would stay on even if they are called “mailing labels”.
Parnelli, thanks for the tip on tracing. Our Postmaster said she’d do what she could, but it’s not a big deal. I would like to see someone’s face when they try to figure out why they bought a baggie full of wool at auction. Stranger things have probably shown up, eh?
So do you tell the lambs when they first com out that they are going to the market for dinner or do you wait awhile so they don’t try and crawl back into mommy? Good luck
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
Second attempt at getting packages where they are supposed to be was successful…at least my part of it. No sticky labels this time, though. I scrawled right on the package.
Much craziness going on and I’m glad to have a few minutes to sit down and check in on FAOL. Thanks to everyone for making it a great place to take a break.
Nick, I believe in full disclosure and each lamb is informed of its destiny. Of course, they have no idea what I’m talking about so it’s kind of a moot point. The mamas, however get a stern talking to regarding proper behavior and how much time and effort I’m putting forth for their benefit.
So far there has only been one disaster and most of the girls are doing what they should. It’s going to be a long couple of weeks, though.
Tup,
There was no advisory posted to suggest opening the packages in a well ventilated area! A friend brought some wool from their sheep (one bag named Twinkle the other named Stardust), and unless you washed it real good…the suggestion to open it in a well aired area would be good to remember!!
Betty
In an effort make new friends I washed the wool well before sending it off so ventilation shouldn’t be an issue. I even had a couple of people who said not to worry about it because it couldn’t possibly be worse than roadkill and other fun things they bring home. I will admit that the house smelled a little funky while I had the fleece soaking, though!
Personally, I like the smell of sheep. That is a good thing right now during lambing, although everyone at the post office and market gave me wide berth as I stood in line in my barn clothes.
Three more e-mails telling me everyone got their wool! I’m glad it ended up working out. I think I have one more day of decently safe crossing so tomorrow I’ll head to the feed store for lambing supplies, liquor outlet for medicinal supplies and then one more trip to the Post Office for mail (assuming there’s a slowdown in births). After I get back here, the ice can go away and I won’t care any more. We’ll be stuck for another six to eight weeks before the ice clears out enough to launch a boat. See? I get several opportunities a year to experience shack nasties!
Robin, if you really want to see how you can’t get here from there, try to find Savage Island. That’s the little chunk of rock I’m on in Lake Champlain. Drop dead gorgeous any day of the year but a very difficult place to live. Complications abound!
Time for a quick nap and then back to the barn. Thirty lambs so far with another couple dozen ewes left. Had a good, solid run of twins over the last couple of days so it may end up being a decent lamb crop!
Happy tying, fishing and everything else to everyone!
Glad the mail got through, usually does, but sometimes “Murphy’s Law” is in action. Here is how you can prevent lost packages.
On the inside of the box, have a manifest of all articles, and include the “From” and “To” Addresses. If there are packages inside the shipping box, paste a return address label to those packages if the box break open in shipping.
Outside of the box, either write on the box using a “Sharpie” pen, or other permanent marker. All other inks will run and become illegible if they get wet. Include a “From” and “To” Address. Most important please PRINT the address in CAPITAL LETTERING.
Seal the all box flaps (don’t forget the edges) with Sealing Tape.
Then Band the box on all three axis with Strapping Tape.
You can also either INSURE the Package, if so use the NUMBERED INSURED, this will give the package a NUMBER that can be refered to if trying to trace it if lost. Numbered Insured are stored for 1 year at the Mail Recovery Centers.
Otherwise you can purchase CONFIRMATION MAILING, where the package gets a CONFIRMATION NUMBER, and you can track it at [url=http://www.usps.gov:a0a00]http://www.usps.gov[/url:a0a00] You can also find the correct Zip Code at the above site, and other useful information.
~ Parnelli
“I spent my time in Hell, now I am spending what time that remains, going Fly Fishing!”