Mail Service – Part Two: Packages

 

Before Amazon packages were delivered within 12 hours of ordering, families depended on the Wells Fargo Wagon, which dropped off packages at the stagecoach station.

These horse-drawn delivery wagons brought excitement to communities with the promise of mail-order items like sawblades, sugar, and bathtubs. In Meredith Williams show, “The Music Man,” the instruments were coming by Wells Fargo, and a lively song was included with townspeople dancing and singing as they waited in line. If you click the link below, you can see that clip, and if you stay to the end, you will catch a solo by Ron Howard.

Wells Fargo Wagon

During the holidays I managed to bumble through the simple 4-step process for mailing a letter. Then came the Wells Fargo/Amazon challenge.

My family often sends Amazon packages to me for delivery to other family members. Readers who have done this know that once you change the delivery address, you must remember to change it back to your own address for the next order.

Savana sent a toy for Evan. But Savana did not remember to change the address back to herself, and the following week, I received a package of facial cream and containers. We wisely decided that I would do a simple Amazon return, and she could re-order her items.

Please note the words ‘simple return’. That information sets the stage for the rest of the story.

My preferred returns are through UPS (United Parcel Service) because I can walk into any location, give them the box, give them the label, and they do the rest. This vendor used USPS (United States Postal Service), which is a bit more labor-intensive.

But I pride myself on understanding all things postal (UPS or USPS). The important thing to remember is to print the label provided by Amazon and follow the instructions provided.

I began by packaging the box. After taping it closed, I printed the label.  The one with instructions. The instructions that said “Cut the bar code off and put it in the box with the return item.”

I chuckled at my oversight, carefully untaped the box, and started over

I went to my desk, got scissors, and cut the barcode off as instructed. After a quick break to answer a phone call, I retaped the box, then taped the label to the front of the box. But when I picked up the package to head to the post office, I saw that pesky barcode still resting on the table.

I did not chuckle as untaped the box. Again.

I ripped the tape off the box, made sure the return item was secure, and added the barcode before taping the box shut for the third time. Sighing heavily, I added the address label.

Then, chuckling and sighing completed, I headed to the post office. After which, I stopped by the dollar store to buy more tape.

 

PS – Just learned that you can send a “thanks” to your Amazon driver, and it will include a $5.00 tip paid by Amazon. Watch this clip.

Thanks Driver