[Scriptoris] Fwd: Re: [Scribes] Introduction and Mailing scrolls

[Hillary Greenslade]

Pulled this off the SCA-wide scribes list.  Thought it may be of interest to
a few of you, who may do mailing of scrolls.
Cheers, Hillary

> As a recovering mail carrier, this is something I feel I can speak of with
> some clarity.
>
> Two points: anything you mail...   anything at all....  should be packaged
> in such a way as you could drop it from sholder height and feel confident
> that no harm would come to the contents. If you wish it to be free from
> possible water damage you might want to pack it with a heavy black plastic
> bag over the main protection. (cardboard, bubble wrap, etc.) Seal the bag
> with a layer of good packing tape. Then place it in your shipping
> container.
> Insurance won't help you, since a scroll would be considered artwork, and
> unless you are a professional and you can show a piece of comparable
> value,
> good luck trying to collect on it. Remember that mail is mostly processed
> by
> machine, and they can - and will - chew up the occasional piece for a
> snack.
> The machines also routinely drop packages from a HUGE conveyor belt into
> an
> identically HUGE shipping container (think single wide mobile home sized),
> with subsequent packages dropping on top.  When it finally DOES get into
> the
> hands of an actual human being, it is highly likely that human will be
> overworked and underpaid (USPS uses alot of subcontractors) and they will
> be
> in a rush to get out and done from the route on time. Sometimes things get
> dropped in the mud....  or worse.
>
> Lesson? Pack it well and cross your fingers. And don't take it out on the
> poor mailman if it gets screwed up unless you personally saw them do it.
> (Not at all unheard of. Don't piss off your mailcarrier, and do leave them
> a
> nice Christmas treat!)
>
> Point the second: Sometimes your mail carrier IS an idiot and not worthy
> of
> a nice Christmas treat. One way to tell is if you get packages delivered
> by
> having them dumped by the roadside at the botttom of your mailbox post.
> Rules are, each and every package must have delivery attempted if your
> mailbox is within a mile of your house. (if there is a dog who is
> percieved
> to be a possible threat, they may just stay in their vehicle and blow
> their
> horn a few times)  The mailman *may not* just drop the package off without
> specific written instructions from either the sender or the addressee.
> Many
> buisnesses have such permission written on their shipping boxes. Anyone
> can
> write delivery instructions on a package they send. And....   As the owner
> of a particular mailbox, you may leave permanent written instructions with
> your mailman for package delivery. If no such permission is given, the
> mail
> carrier must leave a notice in your box and take the package back to the
> post office. Many people in rural areas allow packages to be left by the
> mail box or by their front door. Some even have a RubberMaid box by the
> door
> specificly for packages. Many Post Offices provide plastic bags to protect
> packages.
>
> So, with this knowlege you may now freely mail scrolls with confidence.
>
> I will now return you to your regularly scheduled scribal chatter.
> Bethel Allen


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