Posted on 02/23/2010 4:50:10 PM PST by Whenifhow
I've got one of those curbside post mailboxes with two doors--one streetside and one in the rear. I rarely-- if ever-- use the street side door--the one used by the mailman--to retrieve my mail. The other day the mailman and I arrived at the box at the same time. I watched him use a bar code reader and then put my mail in the box. I checked the inside of the street side mailbox door and sure enough--there was a bar code. Here is the info I found on this postal innovation at http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs04/chp2_015.html:
I was behind the counter at my post office the other day. All the boxes have a tab with a bar code. It makes things a lot speedier and more acurate this way.
The reason I was behind the counter was because the code scanner was on its charger and the postmistress needed to get the code off the package to get it into the computer as delivered.
They use a scanner to update packages for their Delivery Confirmation option. The sender is able to use USPS.com to see if the item was delivered to the addressee.
Mine too. I just hope it helps get mail intended for me to the right address.
I had a mouse nest in my mailbox once. Mouse must have built it overnight. Mouse looked really surprised when I opened the mailbox.
Watch your step...they know where you live.
I live in Southern CA & we had a bar code on our box for years. The mail man scans it every day - he said so management know the time he arrived at our location.
Same thing my mail man friend told me.
I checked the inside of the street side mailbox door and sure enough—there was a bar code.
Be on the look out... You maybe getting one of those long census forms. Beware, ever aware............
Stop terrorizing, deport!
It only looks like a bar code, it’s really detects who picks up the mail! “THEY” are watching.
I had a spider in mine the other day.
Remove it. :-)
Yes. If we like you, we use a broad tipped magic marker. If we use sharpies, we hate you.
Not only that but most of the routes are exactly the same as they were 20 years ago. They haven't really changed much since the neighborhood was built.
My carrier in Ohio was a pretty good guy. Always timely and friendly. One day, he had a woman following him with a clipboard writing down notes as he carried and delivered the mail. I asked him about it the next day - turns out that she was a supervisor, doing a study to see how long it took him to perform the various tasks involved with delivering the mail. They wanted to see how long it took to complete the route.
Now, since that neighborhood was built in the 1950's, you would think that they had some idea by this time as to the amount of time a carrier might take to complete the task.
I hope they’re using this in my area. Four years ago 8 carriers were caught at a local bowling alley in the middle of the day using their slack time for fun and games. They all received severe slaps on the wrist
Thank you for this information.
I will pass it along to the person who posted it on As a Mom.
Most likely your house number is not clearly visible (to USPS) and the mail carrier is helping his subs deliver accurately.
They do know where you live. A simple wave and smile and thankyou! and you have a mail carrier who will remember you and strive to give you excellent delivery!!
It is standard, yes. USPS has only a couple “zero-tolerance” policies: driving without a seat belt and stealing. Bowling on the clock probably could be defined as stealing, but more likely they were given a disciplinary letter of warning...definitely a strike against them...pun intended.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.