Delivering and Reciving Packages

[mtbat]

Late yesterday afternoon, my doorbell rings-I got to the door just in time to see a man in a green shirt and what looked a heck of a lot like a bullet proof vest hop into a big yellow Ryder truck and take off.

Sitting on my doorstep was a large package-

Darned good thing I was expecting a package to be delivered by FedEx. Otherwise, I'd probably have called the police!

I tried calling FedEx and telling them, that basicly, with everything else that's going on, having packages delivered in rental trucks might not be the best idea-esp. when they are delivering packages and doing the dump and run style delivery.



For all the good it did me-the woman told me that when they have more packages than they have trucks, they rent trucks. I tried to explain that having a package dumped on my doorstep by someone wearing an unmarked shirt, driving a rental truck was-well a bit disconcerting-

"Well, we have to deliver the packages" Yes, I know that but I'd have been glad to wait a day or two extra so that I could identify who was delivering what!

nothing I said made any difference to her, the only thing I came away with was the knowlage that -FedEx Ground Delivery people wear green shirts-

I don't think I'll be using FedEx again anytime soon-at least UPS and the USPS are easily identifiable!

Now, I know that I'm being a bit paranoid-but I think I have the right to be, I'm not going to go buy that spray on disinfectant, I might not open every envelope I get in the mail(esp. the ones from New Jersey).

I don't think it would take much for someone to cause chaos by way of mail. think of all those mail order lists of names we are all on. the ones we can buy for $20 or so from so many different places-what's to stop some nutcase from buying a list, filling up some envelopes with anthrax or whatever and mailing them off?

Just out of curiosity-how is everyone else dealing with their mail? normally? like nothing was wrong-since the chances of anything being wrong are like one in a billion?

or are you being ultra careful? and worried about weird green shirted men in yellow rental trucks dropping packages on your doorsteps?

Fridai

[argonut]

I've never heard of that FedEx story before today. Here in Israel it is much more difficult to receive packages of any kind. Anything that comes in the regular mail and is larger than a regular envelope comes with a large sticker that tells you in four languages that if you do not know the sender or are suspicious of the package in any way to please return it to the delivery person. We have to pick up all packages at the post office.

Receiving things via FedEx is even more challenging. The one time we received something that way, we received a telegram asking us to call the FedEx office in Tel Aviv. Only once we called were we able to get any information about the package. (In all fairness to FedEx, the latest example was due mostly to tax/tariff issues than those of safety.)

Nonetheless, I've noticed that people take packages very very seriously in a land where bags left unattended for more than a few minutes are routinely imploded by the police.

-J

[poseidon]

Sounds like something great to share over on Epinions. FedEx is in the system -- I know because I've written my review on them!

[hadassahchana[$]]

Here in Canada, the post office is being really cautious. Yesterday, my mailman knocekd on my door, which is unusual. He asked if I had ordered anything from amazon.co.uk. He hadn't remembered delivering anything from them to my house before, and was told to ask before just dumping it into my box.

I, of course, had not ordered anything from them. So, he and I discussed whether to call the police, or to open it and then decide. Then, he asked if I had any family in England who might be sending me a book. Of course, my husband is a Brit, and all of his family still live there. So, he stood back, I herded the children into the house, and held the package over the lawn and opened it - flinging my book out into a bush.



Afterwards, I felt like a total idiot. IMO, this has gone too far, as to my knowledge, amazon.com as well as amzon.co.uk haven't been mailing out single-serving packages of anthrax. However, I admit that I was really nervous before I opened it.

Since 9/11, the UPS and Fed-Ex guys have opened packages on the porch for me, even without my asking. They just tell me to come outside and watch my package being opened. I assume it's a new security procedure.


Cindy

[sylvanb]

I am at this moment overhearing a conversation between the Mail Lady and my boss, in which she is complaining that people are questioning inter-office mail. Please! A little common sense....She's the one taking all the risk, and she is perfectly calm -- and cautious.

Anyway, I just went through the picky process of preparing some garden soil samples for the University Extension to test (before I pour any more money into the ground). At first, I wrapped the baggies up in one of those Priority Mail Tyvec envelopes, but realized it was too obviously "powder." I'm sending it off in a hard box instead, but it wouldn't surprise me if they don't want it.

Come to think of it, I believe I will make a phone call to U.Mass. first.

Isn't this tiresome....

[poseidon]

Hmmmm... I suppose that's okay to have them open your packages on the porch unless of course they're a suicide bomber thinking that as they blow themselves up and you up that they're going to paradise...

Seriously, this anthrax thing is getting out of hand. If you were a CEO of a large and world-wide company, I could understand your trepidation. But they're idiots -- they sent a package to Microsoft's Nevada office instead of the compound in Washington State. If you were some important government official, I'd be worried. If you were working for the headquarters of a media outlet, I'd be worried.

The average Joe and Jane in America (and Canada) is unlikely to receive a package of anthrax. Sending it to you won't instill fear in the nation. Sending it to Daschle does and obviously has.

[emeleel]

Fridai, that's kind of scary - I was saying the exact same thing about the bulk mailing lists to my husband the other day! I won't tell the exact scenario I had in my mind, no sense in giving people ideas, but it did involve bulk mailing lists.

I'm telling myself that "they haven't done this yet because they don't have enough powder - so they're just targeting high-visibility people and places". That's what I'm telling myself and daggum, I'm gonna believe it!

[realtraveller]

I agree with Jeff. Unless you are incredibly high profile, you aren't going to be receiving anthrax in the mail.

However, if you are the paranoid, I heard that you can kill anthrax by ironing your mail with a hot steam iron.

[CeeJay62]

Originally posted by realtraveller
I agree with Jeff. Unless you are incredibly high profile, you aren't going to be receiving anthrax in the mail.

The real threat is to the poor soul who opens the mail for the incredibly high profile person. Bad time to be a secretary or personal assistant to someone famous.

[Blackelve]

Hubby and I have personally stopped all auction transcations right now. (I am a big buyer at GothicAuctions and him Ebay) First of all, we don't really know those people we were buying from and best to be safe than sorry..ya know, too many weirdos out there. (Heck, some ass send us dogshit one time!)

And since I do work with the media, I have been extra careful. I have told publishing houses and authors, that before they send out packages, to please notify me and also to send a thingie I have to sign. This way I am protecting myself by having to sign only a package I know is arriving from a safe place.

I received a package two days a go from someone in Australia. I didn't request package or knew it was coming, so I told PO to return it. They understood why.

Yep, in this here house, I am super cautious. I even got to asked to review a book pertaining to terrorists, I turned it down and that was when I switched email addies again. (I turned it down and oh my, same person tried to send me virus's via email)

Nell

[kurt_messick]

Actually, I'm more worried about copy-cat people sending talcum powder and flour through the mail to people or organisations they don't like.

Michael resents the late charge on his last bill, so he gives a little dusting of Johnson's Baby Powder on his next Visa payment...

Marcy doesn't like the grade her English teacher gave her last week, so she sends him an anonymous note sprinkled with flour....

These could be easily passed off as poor cleanliness/hygiene rather than deliberate pranks if an investigation got back that far, but in the meantime it could disrupt work, classes, lives...


On the other hand, we had a professor here at the seminary who wrote a letter to the editor that was not the knee-jerk patriotic kind (okay, so it was critical of the US, but don't we all have a right to free speech?) -- we've been getting hate mail and phone calls, and I wouldn't doubt that we'll get one or two pranks of this nature.

We already had to call police and fire departments to deal with a suspicious package on Tuesday.

[mtbat]

One of the reasons I'm a bit utlra paranoid is because my husband is a photojournalist and a member of the NPPA-the NPPA sent out a huge member directory a couple of years ago, basicly with names, cities and TV/Newspapers that every member worked for-if someone had a copy of the NPPA membership list-they could concivably send out lots of little letters-hoax or not.

those really paranoid can buy this stuff
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/den/...17-221016.html

Jeff-I am going to write a review of FedEx and it isn't going to be a nice one, this isn't the first problem I've had with Fedex just the worst!

They are saying on the news, that they are going to really procsecute those who pull these hoaxs-like the guy who put paper towels under his desk w/ ANTHRAX written on them-all his coworkers had to be decontaminated(there is a feed to video of a decontamination shower on the story above-doesn't look fun)

Fridai

[AdaDavis]

I'm not too thrilled with FedEx right now, either. I have a neighbor who lives about a mile from me up a winding dirt road. Although both UPS and USPS take packages to his door, the FedEx guys balk. I understood it last winter when there was ice on the road, but I came home yesterday to find a FedEx package on my porch addressed to my neighbor. I carried it up to his house this morning. Good thing he knows who I am. I would hate to take a package to someone who didn't know me.

What next - delivery guys in hazmat suits? That should be a real confidence builder.

[AuntieEmma[$]]

This is weird, considering that I'm so paranoid that I have recurring worries about the world coming to an end, but I'm actually not at all worried about my mail. The mail attacks seem to be specifically targeted to high-profile media and government offices. If the terrorists were going to do a mass attack, it seems really unlikely to me they would do it by sending out millions of individual pieces of mail to people's homes -- if nothing else, it would be an awful lot of tedious work to stuff all those envelopes and boxes.

[jgibson2[$]]

realtraveller

However, if you are the paranoid, I heard that you can kill anthrax by ironing your mail with a hot steam iron.

1. The CDC declined to comment on "unproven" methods of sterilizing mail. They strongly recommend that you dispose of any suspicious mail -- DO NOT OPEN IT!

2. Anthrax is a spore-forming bacteria. Spores are inactive bacteria which have formed a protective coating. Steam autoclaving and gas autoclaving are the ONLY approved methods of sterilizing which have been proven to sterilize spores.

3. Even if steam ironing DID kill anthrax spores, you'd have to be absolutely certain that you got the entire piece of mail to an appropriate temperature.

4. Think what those little windows are going to do to your iron.

5. It's going to take one heck of a long time to do all the mail I get. Junk mail is going right into the recycle bin here. Unopened.

6. A more reliable method, if you insist on sterilizing your mail is to heat it thoroughly for at least 20 minutes in your oven. Single layer. Just remember, paper burns at 451 degrees fahrenheit. Plastic bubble wrap doubtless melts a much lower temperature.

7. If you're that worried, buy yourself some latex gloves and masks, for pete's sake!

8. Home anthrax test kids will be on the market by Thanksgiving. Really.

[emeleel]

8. Home anthrax test kids will be on the market by Thanksgiving. Really.

Oh, really? Who volunteered, pray tell?

[pluckyduck]

True story:

Coworker's husband owns a Remax Real Estate agency. Not exactly a high profile target.

Agency secretary gets mail the other day, including an envelope from Pakistan. Real estate agents in suburban South Jersey do not receive envelopes from Pakistan on a regular basis.

Secretary freaks and calls police department. Suburban police are probably happy to "rush to the scene".

By this time, coworker's husband arrives at his agency which has several cop cars out front. After going inside, he helps the assembled figure out that it must be for a guy who worked for him a couple of years back, a Pakistani native who now owns his own agency.

Long story short, yes it was. Cops deliver it to the right guy, and watch while he opens it.

Excitement in South Jersey!

Andrea
who requests you not confuse sleepy South Jersey with the North Jersey, the hotbed of terrorism

[adonna]

Here I'm going to be terribly frustrated, because I have two stories to tell related to this. Which to tell? Do I relate how two fire engines and several police cars showed up to contain and test a suspicious pile of white substance left on a sidewalk in town here (in front of a laundrymat) which turned out to be, you guessed it, detergent, or do I tell about my ex-client, a former inmate of the mental hospital for criminally insane, who, when released, went out and gut stabbed a guy who had the nerve to pass him on the freeway? Well, this ex-client, when I was representing him, decided that I was actually a mafia hit woman out to kill him (with the poison from my green ink). After his complaints to the Supreme Court about my murderous attempts got him no relief, he decided the best defense was a good offense. Believe me, this guy could be offensive! Then, during the entire course of several years I got death threats from this guy. He was in jail, writing to an attorney, so his mail wasn't examined, and was paid for by the state. He promised me he'd kill me soon as he was released.

My, embedded mail threats and potential fatalities. Here he was afraid I was killing him with my mail, then he started telling me that he'd kill me with his, and that he'd catch me at my PO Box.

There's always a chance of death, guys. I guess that's the point. And we can check every spill of detergent in front of the laundrymat, or we can always wait till the Post Office is filled with people, or empty, imagining that either one would provide safety against the madman stalking us, or we can worry about that damned green ink. I don't know if it'll do any good.

I doubt if I'll ever get an anthrax post card, but I may get killed by a psycho ex client. Should I lose sleep over it? Don't think so.

[queenofallevil]

Mail is getting harder and harder to get lately.

My parents sent me a package from the US (First class) almost 3 weeks ago. Still haven't seen it.

The contents?
A webcam
A PC microphone
2 outfits for Dolph
1 bottle vanilla extract
1 package food coloring
1 ziploc full of brown sugar

(I have a feeling the brown sugar is holding this all up.......I didn't ask my mom to send that to me, she was just trying to be nice....sigh)

Packages usually take a week, almost 2 weeks if they were opened and inspected by Swedish Customs. This is the longest I've ever waited. Ugh.

Val

[mtbat]

Originally posted by queenofallevil
Mail is getting harder and harder to get lately.

My parents sent me a package from the US (First class) almost 3 weeks ago. Still haven't seen it.

The contents?
A webcam
A PC microphone
2 outfits for Dolph
1 bottle vanilla extract
1 package food coloring
1 ziploc full of brown sugar

(I have a feeling the brown sugar is holding this all up.......I didn't ask my mom to send that to me, she was just trying to be nice....sigh)

Packages usually take a week, almost 2 weeks if they were opened and inspected by Swedish Customs. This is the longest I've ever waited. Ugh.

Val

soooo, I guess you can't buy brown sugar in sweden?

oh well, you will likely get the pkg-someday!

the weatherman my husband works with got a letter this week that looked "odd". it was from a school out of state, and handwriten on the outside-they called the cops, who came and got the letter-of course, it turned out to be 100% legit-but the paranoia runs high-

guess the terrorists are going after weathermen on a regular basis right?

[sylvanb]

Originally posted by adonna

There's always a chance of death, guys. I guess that's the point. And we can check every spill of detergent in front of the laundrymat, or we can always wait till the Post Office is filled with people, or empty, imagining that either one would provide safety against the madman stalking us, or we can worry about that damned green ink. I don't know if it'll do any good.

I doubt if I'll ever get an anthrax post card, but I may get killed by a psycho ex client. Should I lose sleep over it? Don't think so.

I like your attitude. In fact, the chance of death is 100%. Have we forgotten that? I would rather be dead than spend my life looking over my shoulder.

Some fear is useful; teaches us prudence and caution, and can't be helped anyway. Living in fear of death is a good way to waste a life.

Americans think we can fix everything.