10 things that will disappear in your lifetime

[David Whatley]

Originally Posted by TheFantasticG

So, was this your list of predictions David?

Nope, was just passing it along, I saw it somewhere and found it interesting. Had no idea it would get this much feedback.

[TheFantasticG]

Originally Posted by Ahh!

Google is your friend.

Meh.

Certainly though it's written as fact which is what stirred my interest. My interest went as far as if David wrote it or not. Didn't care to Google it.

[78novacaine]

Originally Posted by wclavey

I'm completely on board with your assertion that it works and that they should continue doing it... I would simply suggest that they could make even more money by offering to recycle the junk mail for people who do not actually want to receive it... They are actually already set up to bypass home delivery based on vacation holds... and junk mail is delivered bundled and pre-sized to the sorting stations or the route carrier, so it would not be necessary for them to have to "think" about what is junk and what is not... it is identified for them. All they would need to do is provide a place to sign-up for the exemption and establish a fee for the service.

Here is your problem with that, the companies sending out the junk mail are paying the USPS for a service, and that service is to deliver that junk to your mailbox. Charging you to not do so, yet still charging them for the delivery service would not only be highly unethical, but more than likely highly illegal as well.

[wclavey]

Originally Posted by 78novacaine

Here is your problem with that, the companies sending out the junk mail are paying the USPS for a service, and that service is to deliver that junk to your mailbox. Charging you to not do so, yet still charging them for the delivery service would not only be highly unethical, but more than likely highly illegal as well.

Good point... is there any law that says that I have to accept mail delivery?

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by wclavey

Good point... is there any law that says that I have to accept mail delivery?

Apparently, you've never heard of mail jail.

[78novacaine]

Originally Posted by wclavey

Good point... is there any law that says that I have to accept mail delivery?

Hmmmm, that's getting way out of my range of knowledge, you would probably have to do some research into that. But if I get what you are saying correctly, you are referring to not receiving ANY mail whatsoever? Does your family ever send you greeting cards or invitations via mail? DO you receive ANY of your bills via mail? What about insurance cards, debit/credit card replacements, etc?

[tomdrink]

You can "refuse" mail, according to the Domestic Mail Manual:

Recipient Options
1.1
Basic Recipient Concerns
1.1.1 Delivery to Addressee
Addressees may control delivery of their mail. Without a contrary order, the mail is delivered as addressed. Mail addressed to several persons may be delivered to any one of them.

1.1.2 Refusal at Delivery
The addressee may refuse to accept a mailpiece when it is offered for delivery.

"1.1.3 Refusal After Delivery
After delivery, an addressee may mark a mailpiece “Refused” and return it within a reasonable time, if the piece or any attachment is not opened. Mail that may not be refused and returned unopened under this provision may be returned to the sender only if it is enclosed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage."

[TheFantasticG]

Originally Posted by tomdrink

You can "refuse" mail, according to the Domestic Mail Manual:

"1.1.3 Refusal After Delivery
After delivery, an addressee may mark a mailpiece “Refused” and return it within a reasonable time, if the piece or any attachment is not opened. Mail that may not be refused and returned unopened under this provision may be returned to the sender only if it is enclosed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage."

Oh, I'm taking a big ol' magic marker with me to the mailbox today!!!

So, knowledge is power...

*EDIT: took a marker out to the mailbox and wrote REFUSED in big letters, stuck it back in the box, and put the flag up.

[wclavey]

Originally Posted by tomdrink

You can "refuse" mail, according to the Domestic Mail Manual:

"1.1.3 Refusal After Delivery
After delivery, an addressee may mark a mailpiece “Refused” and return it within a reasonable time, if the piece or any attachment is not opened. Mail that may not be refused and returned unopened under this provision may be returned to the sender only if it is enclosed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage."

Just speculating here, but it sounds like I cannot refuse my junk mail.

Even setting catalogs aside, our little mailboxes at our centralized mail stop are crammed full of circulars, ads, coupons, etc. - - so much so that there is barely room for the first class mail.

[rab3rd]

I wish there was a way to opt out of junkmail like there is pre approved credit cards... Bills and junk mail are the only things that come to me via USPS... I could stop the bills and go paperless and never miss the postal service.

All my family/friends comms are via email or text messages at this point. If they got rid of the post office, people would adjust...

[DigiSLR]

Originally Posted by brad

... I have a general policy that if the number isn't already in my phone book, is an 800 number or out of town or blocked/unknown - it goes to voice mail.

Exactly what I do. Many times it's hours or days later until I listen to some of those voicemails.

[brad]

Originally Posted by DigiSLR

Exactly what I do. Many times it's hours or days later until I listen to some of those voicemails.

I've found that often, they don't even leave one. If you don't leave one, then I guess it wasn't that important.

(Of course, on the other side of that coin.. I have a friend who NEVER checks her voicemails, only the missed calls list.. and she assumes everyone else does the same - so she doesn't leave voicemails, either... then she gets mad at me when I don't return her call... I've told her that I didn't think it was important since she didn't leave a message, but she hasn't gotten it yet.)

[DigiSLR]

I can honestly say I can get a bit testy at times when I do call someone and I leave a voicemail. If they call me back sometime later and say, "I see you called me, sorry I missed you're call, what can I do for you"... I always ask.. Did you LISTEN to the voicemail I left for you? I told you exactly why I was calling ans what I wanted.

Frequently I get the, "No, I didn't listen to the VM, I just saw the missed call."

[RexGig]

Sometimes, Verizon does not "deliver" a voice mail for a couple of days. For that reason, and the excessive time I was spending listening to voice mail, much of it wrong numbers, prompted me to call one of my mobile phones enough times to fill the voice mail box, so callers cannot leave voice mail anymore on that line. I do have a second mobile phone, with a number I keep much more private, that still has room in the voice mail box.

[rab3rd]

ordering some stuff online and this is what they had to say in the shipping selection section. Mademe think of this thread.

"Note: The USPS does not guarantee delivery times. A 1 or 2 day estimate may turn into 1 or 2 weeks or may not arrive at all. If you must have your package in a timely manner, we recommend using Fed-Ex. It has also been our experience that packages shipped via the USPS are much more likely to arrive damaged than packages shipped via Fed-Ex. If you choose a USPS shipping method and your package arrives damaged, we will not be responsible for replacing any missing or damaged product. If you need your packages insured against damage, please use Fed-Ex."