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In reply to the discussion: Is the US Postal Service Biased Against Atheists? Check Out This Study [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)98. You mean my first hand story
From an actual mail handler
Here is the USPS mailing requirements. This time the whole page.
Careful preparation of your package helps to ensure safe delivery.
Preparing packages
The Box
Choose a box with enough room for cushioning material around the contents. Sturdy paperboard or corrugated fiberboard boxes are best for weights up to 10 pounds. If you are reusing a box, totally remove or obliterate all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker.
Where to Find Boxes
You can purchase boxes and tubes of various sizes at most Post Offices. Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes are available free at the Post Office for items sent using either of these services. While you are not required to use the free packaging for these services, you must use the USPS-produced address label provided by the Post Office for Express Mail. To order Express Mail or Priority Mail boxes at no extra charge, call 1·800·222·1811 or visit www.usps.com and click on Shop.
Cushioning
Place the cushioning all around your item or items. You can use newspaper, foam peanuts, or shredded paper. Close and shake the box to see if you have enough cushioning. If you hear items shifting, add more cushioning.
Placing an extra address label with the delivery and return addresses inside the package will ensure that the item can be delivered in case the outside label becomes damaged or falls off.
Mailing Fragile Items
Use foamed plastic or padding to protect your items, placing the cushioning inside hollow items as well. Mark the package Fragile or mark Perishable on packages that contain food or other items that can spoil. Careful packaging is the best way to safeguard your valuable items against damage.
Mailing Heavy Items
If you are mailing a very heavy or very dense item, start with a sturdy box, pack the contents securely with a strong material for bracing to prevent shifting, and tape all the edges with reinforced tape. Packages heavier than 70 pounds cannot be mailed.
Sealing
Tape the opening of your box and reinforce all seams with 2-inch-wide tape. Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape. Do not use cord, string, twine, masking or cellophane tape. Place a strip of clear packaging tape over your label to prevent the address from smearing.
Return Address
Print or type your address in the upper left corner on the same side of the package as the delivery address.
Extra Services
Place labels for extra services above the delivery address and to the right of the return address, or to the left of the delivery address.
Postage
Use stamps, a postage meter, or a PC Postage system to affix the correct amount. You can calculate and purchase postage online at www.usps.com.
Delivery Address
Print or type the delivery address parallel to the longest side of the package. Type or print clearly with a pen so that your address is legible from an arms length away. Do not use commas or periods.
Confirmation Services
Labels for Delivery Confirmation or Signature Confirmation are placed to the left of the address label.
City, State, and ZIP Code
To find the correct spelling of a city name and state abbreviation or to find a ZIP Code, visit www.usps.com or call 1·800·ASK·USPS. Using the correct ZIP Code helps direct your mail more efficiently and accurately.
Drop Off
If your mail item weighs 13 ounces or less, and you have affixed correct postage, you can drop it into a blue collection box. If your item weighs more than 13 ounces, and you have affixed postage stamps, you must take it to an employee at the retail counter of a Post Office.
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/preparing-packages.htm
Now you explain how affixing tape that is not clear or brown meets USPS regulations.
Yup, confirmation bias, on steroids.
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Is the US Postal Service Biased Against Atheists? Check Out This Study [View all]
DavidDvorkin
Mar 2013
OP
Didnt you know that the Post Office is funding HARP to target Atheist Shoemakers???? Come on!!
Katashi_itto
Mar 2013
#8
You saw post #15, or the same illustration in the link in the OP, correct?
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#61
The evidence shows that mail marked "ATHEIST" gets handled differently than normal mail.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#69
I don't think it's most postal/DHL workers - it'd likely a small subset of felonious bad apples.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#119
You'd have a point, except that they sent "plain wrap" packages to the same people
jeff47
Mar 2013
#51
The shoes are being sent to younger people, identifying the product, against USPS rules.
TheBlackAdder
Mar 2013
#83
I would roll my eyes at a package covered with 'Atheist' just much as 'Christian.'
onehandle
Mar 2013
#2
Yes - clearly, some fundies are letting their religious beliefs interfere with their jobs.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#28
I have no idea how often packages from other German companies go missing
My Good Babushka
Mar 2013
#33
This atheist needs a little more proof before he'll have faith in the assertion. nt
Poll_Blind
Mar 2013
#10
Oh, like good atheists they performed a carefully conducted experiment after they wondered
Fumesucker
Mar 2013
#15
Carefully Constructed Experiement would have included tape that said SOMETHING inoffensive
AtheistCrusader
Mar 2013
#142
The study in the OP show numbers comparing ATHEIST-marked packages with unmarked packages.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#46
You just "shoved it down people's throats" more than a strip of tape on a package.
jeff47
Mar 2013
#54
It's not bias, the US postal service really sucks when it comes to international packages.
JVS
Mar 2013
#21
But given the abominably slow nature of the postal service's handling of international packages is..
JVS
Mar 2013
#32
Is the fact that ATHEIST-marked packages were ten times more likely to be lost significant? n/t
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#38
The 4th group would probably be prone to being blown up in controlled explosions (nt)
muriel_volestrangler
Mar 2013
#72
One cannot create a good statistical analysis from such a small sample size.
NCTraveler
Mar 2013
#41
I've seen studies with this kind of size that show statistical significance.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#44
Scratch that, the atheist folks from Berlin DID run a statistical analysis.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#47
wow the attempts to weasel out of statistical analysis here are telling.
Phillip McCleod
Mar 2013
#42
Evidently Amazon dot com is not aware of this problem with the USPS machines..
Fumesucker
Mar 2013
#131
If the mail scanning machines automatically kick out packages with printed tapes
djean111
Mar 2013
#77
So, they think the overworked and harried package sorters have special corner for "atheist" stuff?
bhikkhu
Mar 2013
#107
I suspect all the worker has to do is put the package that offends him in the wrong bin.
backscatter712
Mar 2013
#122
oh! sure yah! them postal employees is got nothin on their mind cept whether th'sender
struggle4progress
Mar 2013
#137