Well, that's not true.

The U.S. government uses Fedex all of the time, probably UPS and DHL as well.

Why else would we have a shipping document called a "government bill of lading"?

Personally, I would never entrust anything important to the Postal Service. No matter what service you pay for, the bottom line is that there is NO accountabilty and they just do not give a crap. Signatures? Who cares? Screw you.

Like that.

No offense to you postal carriers out there, but you know it's true.

Bottom line is that you assume a certain amount of risk in shipping anything with anyone, so assume the worst and pack everything securely.

 

Registered mail is NOT handled by FedEx or UPS. Priority and first class are. Registereds must be checked out and released by the Register clerk at every stop along its path. Naturally, this takes it longer to reach its destination but there is accountability. You can also ship weapons via registered mail (without ammo).

The worst packages are those from China that smell like rotten fish. But you would be surprised what people put in packages to throw off the dogs (detergent, perfume, etc.).

As far as the USPS opening packages at our discretion... never have heard of it in 21 years. Unless of course you want to lose your job. The Postal Inspection Service does utilize equipment to check suspicious packages though.

 

Well hell.. I must be the only one who reads the fine print.. LOL

USPS.gov as well as any postal service document you fill out states that they may open and inspect any shipment at their discretion. Same as any other carrier.

Are you saying that when a postal service worker comes accross a package reeking of marijuana, for instance, that it won't be opened by a member of management?

We at fedex, the couriers, cannot open any packages, yes that would lose ya your job. Managers however can open any package at any time if there is a reason to suspect it, or if there is missing address information on the airbill, or if there is NO airbill. That happens every day.

So don't try to say that your "mail" won't be opened for cause. It will.

 

If there is cause, the Inspection Service will be notified and they handle it. When it comes to suspected drug shipments, I think that they x-ray the packages and can open them if they choose. Normally they will work with local law enforcement to identify and track shipments. Once they've built a case, they bust the dealer. I would think opening these packages would tip the people off but I am not an Inspector and don't know their procedures. Those guys operate in their own little world. But as far as local members of management (supervisors and such), they do not open it.

 

4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?
First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

 

Quesiton...... SO if the "manager" opens someones package for a reason he might deem suspiscious. Does he not place a sticker or tag on the package to let the recipient know someone with "authority" opened the package for inspection and not some disgruntled driver-for-hire looking for valuable items or personal information for theft?. I know NOW by reading the fine print that opening the packages is in the terms and conditions, BUT my main concern is where are the checks and balances? with so many hubs and sorting facilites where the packages are handled, how do we know it was not opened by every manager at every facility because the package "looked" suspiscious. And if the first "manager" opened it when it was received for shipment, and did not place a sticker or tag; Who is to stop the every manager receiving the package for forwarding from opening what now IS a suspiscious package torn and taped-up? Jut curious. Thanks

 

That is correct. If a package is opened for inspection there is a scan done to the package that notes that it was inspected. This is not a common occurence, btw. It's rare for anything to be opened.

I one yesterday. Picked up a package from a dropbox (it was a Fedex Pak), that was emitting a flashing light, kind of like an ultraviolet type of light. Very weird!! LOL.. Called my manager, he asked if I thought it was dangerous, I did not, just weird, and he told me to bring him the package when I got back to the station. He opened it in front of me and it was probably the coolest ball point pen I've ever seen.. LOL.. the cap was flashing the light and showed a hologram of a DNA strand.. very cool looking, but you can understand how a flashing UV light would be suspicious..
He then scanned the package with comments "opened for inspection, suspicious contents, re-packaged."