Silk Road forums
Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: foxymeow on February 24, 2012, 04:15 am
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Heya,
What is the best way to drop off packages at the post office. I have been going to a post office with an APC (its so big that you can just empty out a bag) to drop off but I want to switch up post offices as I have been going to the same one. All the other post offices only have outdoor drop boxes. How do you guys get packages into the mailbox without looking like a total sketcher? I mostly deal with bubble envelopes and priority envelopes.
-Foxy
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put the envelops in a big envelop and you can slide the top of the big envelop into the mailbox and dump out the smaller ones into the box. no fingerprints, doesn't look sketchy.
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you can do DCN without actually even going into USPS. all you need to do is grab a stack of stickers next time you're in, affix as normal and place an additional 2 .44 stamps on. make sure and tear off your "receipt" end. the postman will scan it when he picks it up. works a charm for me each and every time. ;)
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put the envelops in a big envelop and you can slide the top of the big envelop into the mailbox and dump out the smaller ones into the box. no fingerprints, doesn't look sketchy.
Yeah but that doesn't really work for #0 padded envelopes. Also doesn't work for priority mail envelopes (which barely fit in the slot as it is).
you can do DCN without actually even going into USPS. all you need to do is grab a stack of stickers next time you're in, affix as normal and place an additional 2 .44 stamps on. make sure and tear off your "receipt" end. the postman will scan it when he picks it up. works a charm for me each and every time. ;)
Yeah, I put DCNs on all my packages.
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put the envelops in a big envelop and you can slide the top of the big envelop into the mailbox and dump out the smaller ones into the box. no fingerprints, doesn't look sketchy.
Yeah but that doesn't really work for #0 padded envelopes. Also doesn't work for priority mail envelopes (which barely fit in the slot as it is).
you can do DCN without actually even going into USPS. all you need to do is grab a stack of stickers next time you're in, affix as normal and place an additional 2 .44 stamps on. make sure and tear off your "receipt" end. the postman will scan it when he picks it up. works a charm for me each and every time. ;)
Yeah, I put DCNs on all my packages.
i'm not sure how big a #0 is but a 4" x 7" bubble mailer sent first class is 4x .44 stamps. add two more for DCN. you can go to the counter with what ever size envelope you have (empty of course)and they'll gladly set it against their little gauge and tell you how many stamps it will take first class. there's really no need to go into USPS ever unless you must send priority or overnight. in about 98% of cases in my experience, priority takes 3 days anyway and first class rarely takes more than 4. 1 extra day in transit for not being on camera at USPS.......priceless.
EDIT: small one for context
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put the envelops in a big envelop and you can slide the top of the big envelop into the mailbox and dump out the smaller ones into the box. no fingerprints, doesn't look sketchy.
Yeah but that doesn't really work for #0 padded envelopes. Also doesn't work for priority mail envelopes (which barely fit in the slot as it is).
you can do DCN without actually even going into USPS. all you need to do is grab a stack of stickers next time you're in, affix as normal and place an additional 2 .44 stamps on. make sure and tear off your "receipt" end. the postman will scan it when he picks it up. works a charm for me each and every time. ;)
Yeah, I put DCNs on all my packages.
i'm not sure how big a #0 is but a 4" x 7" bubble mailer sent first class is 4x .44 stamps. add two more for DCN. you can go to the counter with what ever size envelope you have (empty of course)and they'll gladly set it against their little gauge and tell you how many stamps it will take first class. there's really no need to go into USPS ever unless you must send priority or overnight. in about 98% of cases in my experience, priority takes 3 days anyway and first class rarely takes more than 4. 1 extra day in transit for not being on camera at USPS.......priceless.
EDIT: small one for context
I just throw 3 $1 stamps as that looks the most professional ($1 are pretty hard to find). I have been buying stamps from a different post office than the one I mail.
I can drop off priority in an APC or a large mail box.
What I'm asking is how do I throw bubble envelopes in the mail box without getting finger prints on it. I could wear batting gloves or winter gloves but since it's already starting to warm up that would just look really really sketch.
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Who is to tell you if youre cold or not... use the gloves
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What I'm asking is how do I throw bubble envelopes in the mail box without getting finger prints on it. I could wear batting gloves or winter gloves but since it's already starting to warm up that would just look really really sketch.
Finger cots [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_cot ] [ walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-assorted-finger-cots/ID=prod3490318-product ] maybe? They're not as fashionable as gloves, but might be less noticeable, too.
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How about liquid bandages?
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put the envelops in a big envelop and you can slide the top of the big envelop into the mailbox and dump out the smaller ones into the box. no fingerprints, doesn't look sketchy.
Yeah but that doesn't really work for #0 padded envelopes. Also doesn't work for priority mail envelopes (which barely fit in the slot as it is).
you can do DCN without actually even going into USPS. all you need to do is grab a stack of stickers next time you're in, affix as normal and place an additional 2 .44 stamps on. make sure and tear off your "receipt" end. the postman will scan it when he picks it up. works a charm for me each and every time. ;)
Yeah, I put DCNs on all my packages.
i'm not sure how big a #0 is but a 4" x 7" bubble mailer sent first class is 4x .44 stamps. add two more for DCN. you can go to the counter with what ever size envelope you have (empty of course)and they'll gladly set it against their little gauge and tell you how many stamps it will take first class. there's really no need to go into USPS ever unless you must send priority or overnight. in about 98% of cases in my experience, priority takes 3 days anyway and first class rarely takes more than 4. 1 extra day in transit for not being on camera at USPS.......priceless.
EDIT: small one for context
I just throw 3 $1 stamps as that looks the most professional ($1 are pretty hard to find). I have been buying stamps from a different post office than the one I mail.
I can drop off priority in an APC or a large mail box.
What I'm asking is how do I throw bubble envelopes in the mail box without getting finger prints on it. I could wear batting gloves or winter gloves but since it's already starting to warm up that would just look really really sketch.
I generally have my sweet, innocent, totally straight looking sister who has no criminal record of any kind (not even traffic) pick them up from me and drop it all in a rotating series of USPS "blue boxes". That's really the best option i could come up with. i suppose any straight person with no criminal record should do though.
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What I'm asking is how do I throw bubble envelopes in the mail box without getting finger prints on it. I could wear batting gloves or winter gloves but since it's already starting to warm up that would just look really really sketch.
Finger cots [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_cot ] [ walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-assorted-finger-cots/ID=prod3490318-product ] maybe? They're not as fashionable as gloves, but might be less noticeable, too.
if you've ever been arrested for a felony in the United States then the FBI has a palm print and hand edge print. finger cots won't quite give you the prophylaxis you desire
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How do most of you guys drop packages off in blue boxes. I am having so much trouble figuring this out. Maybe I'll just get a pair of a driving gloves.
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The answer is easy to me.....Elmer's glue dried on your finger tips. Brush on then blow dry. After dirty work...peels right off
Fast dry version ...and it dries clear.
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http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=7828.msg70787#msg70787
Product handling - fingerprints
"Icare wrote:
How do the vendors transport the parcel to the post office or postbox? Do they wear gloves?
As long as there isn't any fingerprint inside the pack, you're good to go. Too many people touch the box during the shipping process, it'd make it completely useless in an investigation.
macdrizzle: Not true my friend. The first thing postal inspectors do is take pictures of the the seized pack and then dust it for fingerprints all over the inside and outside. It's not to be taken lightly.
for grabbing postal supplies and stamps, handling things while INSIDE the post office, liquid band aid or just don't use the ones you touch... example, grab a stack of DCN stickers, don't use the top and bottom ones that get touched. Don't get your palm prints on anything either. Even if you haven't had your fingerpints ever taken, you may at some point in the future, then they could link you to the old packs and charge you over them or investigate more. and these days if you get arrested in a large enough populated area, they scan your entire hands, palm and everything. That goes to the FBI and prolly homeland security. Maybe non-US vendors don't have to care so much, but one day you will. Better to start best practices now.
for stamps, it you're buying say Priority Mail $4.95 stamps, buy 20 or more at a time. Usually the PO employee will give them to you a wax paper envelope. I guess cuz they're collectors items? dunno. For first class stamps, you can usually buy them at a drug store or grocery store. Buy something else and have a bag for your other stuff. Ask for stamps and just hold the bag out. The clerk will drop them in your bag. ;)
for packaging... form fitting gloves, many a folk likes the blue nitrile ones with bumps on the fingertips. multi-layers is better of course.
for dropping off, put the stamped packs all in a LARGE envelope, those brown ones are good. stick the envelope half way into the collection box with the open end down in there. Shake. Stamped packs fall out of your large envelope into the blue bin. Keep hold of the large brown envelope until all packs fall out. Don't drop that in. Then pull it out and put it back in bag / backpack / car / whatevs and save it for next time. This way you don't look shady as fuck walking up to a mail collection box wearing gloves and you don't have irritating liquid bandage crap on your hands."
If you can't fit a priority pack into the blue collection box slot, either the boxes in your area are seriously out of line with the rest of the USA or you're not looking in the right places. Go to the business districts where there is a lot with a bunch of businesses, office buildings are a sign you're on the right track usually. Usually you can find a area around these spots that has a row of large blue collection boxes with all the biz mail that the adjacent businesses use every day. They will have the little hanging door things on one end so you can drop bulk mail in the box and thinner slots for smaller mail on the other side.
http://www.payphone-project.com/mailboxes/
might help you
the USPS website also at least used to have a collection box locator.
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For girls, just use stupidly elaborate looking fashion gloves. Ideally pink with a floral pattern.
Apparently only people who wear black leather jackets and black leather gloves are drug dealers you see... (I kid you not, thank-you television for providing the world's most ideal smokescreen possible)
For the boys, an idea is to buy a pair of wellingtons i.e. farming/gardening boots (only if you're using car, not walking all the way to post box!).
Wellingtons allow you to wear gardening/farming gloves without being a terrorist. The rest of your attire should also appear appropriate to the perception of you e.g. jeans with soiling from mowing the lawn. Lots of people mow the lawn in summer. Sometimes they are too busy to remove their stuff. Awesomesauce!
Generally in winter you don't need to explain a glove to the eyes of a watcher. Spring/Summer is the real issue.
You could always wear a hi-viability jacket. >implying you are riding a bike, which is socially acceptable and therefore you should wear hi-viability bicycle gloves. Safety first!
To be honest, it depends on how busy you are. If you just want to post a couple of packages, then really who cares. But if you're posting thousands of packages, which some of us are, then you need a game plan for each and every step.
tldr; always wear gloves, never wear black leather ones because only terrorists and drug dealers wear those (protip!).
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I generally have my sweet, innocent, totally straight looking sister who has no criminal record of any kind (not even traffic) pick them up from me and drop it all in a rotating series of USPS "blue boxes". That's really the best option i could come up with. i suppose any straight person with no criminal record should do though.
Then you need to think harder. Are you really going to assume your sister is going to remain criminal record free for her entire life? What if LEO starts collecting your packages, dusts them, finds consistently appearing prints, and then 5 years later your sister is in an ambiguous traffic accident so the police take her prints? What then? You're fucked then, that's what. I suggest you change your MO.
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I generally have my sweet, innocent, totally straight looking sister who has no criminal record of any kind (not even traffic) pick them up from me and drop it all in a rotating series of USPS "blue boxes". That's really the best option i could come up with. i suppose any straight person with no criminal record should do though.
Then you need to think harder. Are you really going to assume your sister is going to remain criminal record free for her entire life? What if LEO starts collecting your packages, dusts them, finds consistently appearing prints, and then 5 years later your sister is in an ambiguous traffic accident so the police take her prints? What then? You're fucked then, that's what. I suggest you change your MO.
Agreed, she's your Sister so it obviously ties back to you. If she gets finger printed than both of you will be at risk and she will be just as much guilty of the crime as you are.
Seriously.
I bought some driving gloves on Amazon. Maybe I'll just drive around with driving gloves on all the time just to be a fucking bad ass.
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haha Foxy, that made me laugh.
funny mental image - picturing you driving around in the hot months with gloves!
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has any vendor tried putting a different state address for the return info and send it off? obviously not like washington to jersey but something like a state away from where your actually shipping from, would this raise any flags?
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haha Foxy, that made me laugh.
funny mental image - picturing you driving around in the hot months with gloves!
Well driving gloves are too avoid touching a hot steering wheel during the peak of summer. I knew someone who used driving gloves because of that. They aren't really for extreme cold considering you would probably have winter gloves on anyways.
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I generally have my sweet, innocent, totally straight looking sister who has no criminal record of any kind (not even traffic) pick them up from me and drop it all in a rotating series of USPS "blue boxes". That's really the best option i could come up with. i suppose any straight person with no criminal record should do though.
Then you need to think harder. Are you really going to assume your sister is going to remain criminal record free for her entire life? What if LEO starts collecting your packages, dusts them, finds consistently appearing prints, and then 5 years later your sister is in an ambiguous traffic accident so the police take her prints? What then? You're fucked then, that's what. I suggest you change your MO.
I agree with what you're saying in theory but I'm not sure it actually works like that in practice. The number of people who handle any first class envelope once it's hit the USPS shipping system would, IMO, preclude getting any decent set of prints from the outside of the package with the required number of comparison points.I believe that number is 6 but don't quote me. It's touched by many, MANY people once picked up from the blue box. Hundreds at least. I'm in a major metropolitan area, not mayberry.
Any sort of express mail is just asking for troubles if you ask me. Especially considering it saves a day, perhaps two and at a huge increase in exposure for both vendor and customer. USPS Office has camera's everywhere. I'm not in the habit of stacking evidence, in the form of pictures, against myself. I very, VERY rarely ship priority and a customer couldn't pay me enough to walk into a USPS Office with an overnight filled with illegal drugs.
First Class for the EPIC win. It's just my two cents... but we've been doing mail order since the mid 80's and have never had an interception or arrest.
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I generally have my sweet, innocent, totally straight looking sister who has no criminal record of any kind (not even traffic) pick them up from me and drop it all in a rotating series of USPS "blue boxes". That's really the best option i could come up with. i suppose any straight person with no criminal record should do though.
Then you need to think harder. Are you really going to assume your sister is going to remain criminal record free for her entire life? What if LEO starts collecting your packages, dusts them, finds consistently appearing prints, and then 5 years later your sister is in an ambiguous traffic accident so the police take her prints? What then? You're fucked then, that's what. I suggest you change your MO.
I agree with what you're saying in theory but I'm not sure it actually works like that in practice. The number of people who handle any first class envelope once it's hit the USPS shipping system would, IMO, preclude getting any decent set of prints from the outside of the package with the required number of comparison points.I believe that number is 6 but don't quote me. It's touched by many, MANY people once picked up from the blue box. Hundreds at least. I'm in a major metropolitan area, not mayberry.
Any sort of express mail is just asking for troubles if you ask me. Especially considering it saves a day, perhaps two and at a huge increase in exposure for both vendor and customer. USPS Office has camera's everywhere. I'm not in the habit of stacking evidence, in the form of pictures, against myself. I very, VERY rarely ship priority and a customer couldn't pay me enough to walk into a USPS Office with an overnight filled with illegal drugs.
First Class for the EPIC win. It's just my two cents... but we've been doing mail order since the mid 80's and have never had an interception or arrest.
You are probably right, I am starting to think that dropping it off at random blue boxes with no gloves is less risky than emptying a bag of mail into an APC inside a post office.
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The problem with these threads is that if we give away all our methods then LE knows the deal.
But, I have 2 methods which are completely unnoticeable for dropping off letters/parcels into the mailing boxes:
1. (the best) go to the supermarket and buy a pack of invisible band-aids, you know the type when you cut yourself and then apply them. Wrap each fingertip with one of these babies and your set. Totally unnoticeable by anyone plus if you are ever questioned you can easily say you cut your fingers doing manual work.
2. (2nd best) we also have invisible plastic gloves for cleaning, etc. If you are wearing a long sleeved jumper put one of these invisible plastic gloves on the hand that is carrying the mail and just post it. No fuss, no muss.
There ya go LEO's you better outlaw band-aids and plastic gloves now!
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Funny thing this thread....today I was at the post. In line I saw an old lady wearing a surgical mask. At the store, the teller was wearing latex gloves. At the mall I saw someone wearing both. I thought it was off.....mentioned it to my girlfriend. She laughed at me....said "flu season silly"
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it's really not too complicated. this is what pockets are for. like on a hoodie or light jacket. to put ur hands in. while you walk down the street with a backpack on. really not too suspicious. oversized hoodies with longer than normal sleeves can cover ur hands very easily too. i know people who swear by "liquid bandaids", but of course if ur prints are on file these days, you'd need to cover your palm, side of hands, ect since it seems more commonplace these days for those parts to also get printed during booking/arrest, in the US at least. and that stuff ain't cheap. i find it a kinda messy method personally.
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has any vendor tried putting a different state address for the return info and send it off? obviously not like washington to jersey but something like a state away from where your actually shipping from, would this raise any flags?
This is a very bad idea. It is a definite red flag. Generally, and to draw the least scrutiny...mail ought to be shipped from close proximity to the return address. I'm not saying it's a deal breaker...but it's always best to blend your pkg in with the majority of others. Obviously, always avoid having anything about them stand out.
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Put a bike in the car and park it from a safe distance (no cameras). Use biker clothes (like a parcel worker) wearing helmet, sunglasses and GLOVES.
About using your sister; That's dumb. It's worst than going yourself.