Special Handling Fragile USPS Label 875 Just a tip.

[anasazirose]

The short of it:  USPS Label 875 costs $12.15 to use.  If you use it and do not pay the fee upfront, you or the recipient will be billed for it if the package is checked.

The long of it:

I just started listing after a long while away.  I used to write 'fragile' on fragile items, but saw the the post office provides sticky labels free of charge.  Awesome!!  Right?? Wrong. 

I sold 3 items this week and used those free stickers and bought my labels through ebay and THANKFULLY didn't schedule a pickup.  I drove to the post office and waited to have the packages scanned. 

The absolute angel of a clerk asked me if I paid for special handling, explained that the label is usually reserved for live animals.  She said that anything with this sticker is separated from the rest of the mail.  The current fee is $12.  Since I had taped over the stickers, she used a sharpie to line through the words, 'special handling'  and said that would be fine.  I asked if I could do that on all 3 packages and she said she would take care of it.  She also said she knows ebay shipping has different rules, as does click n ship, and suggested I confirm this info on my own.

I came home and did a bit of research and it didn't take me long to see that she was absolutely correct. I took a look at the label and realized that her striking through the 'special handling' may not be sufficient.  The label, the word Fragile, and the label number was still visible.  I grabbed some white labels and returned to the post office.  I explained to the new clerk the issue, he must be new because he said I wouldn't be charged for using the label since I wasn't charged when she took the package.  I relayed that the previous clerk had said that the receiver could be billed a special handling charge if the package is checked again before delivery. 

The new white pain labels I took to the post office were applied over every label 875 so that even 'fragile' was covered.   I'm so glad I returned because the 1st clerk must have gotten busy, as the majority of the labels still did not have 'special handling' blacked out. 

My slightly sarcastic take away:  If something is free upfront, there's usually a cost for it later. 

I hope this helps someone, even if the only help you received was that it made you smile!

[wastingtime101]

Where did you get the fragile labels? I'm only asking because the USPS website makes it pretty clear with yellow highlighting that even though they're free to order, there's an extra fee to actually use them.

Great that you caught those packages before they left your PO!

[a_c_green]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

Where did you get the fragile labels? I'm only asking because the USPS website makes it pretty clear with yellow highlighting that even though they're free to order, there's an extra fee to actually use them.

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Har! Yes, I well remember when those labels first appeared, free to obtain but with no special warnings about the expense you would incur by using them. Lot of hue and cry went up back then from either sellers or buyers who'd gotten burned. It was as if the USPS had suddenly put everyone into Managed Payments and was sending out 1099s. 😁

[anasazirose]

The labels were on the shipping station located at the post office.  The postal clerk did tell me that they're not typically left out.

[wastingtime101]

I had a feeling you were going to say something like that. Yeah, the post office needs to keep those behind the counter and not out in the self service area. Could be that a customer had extras at home and brought them in leaving them in the self service area instead of handing them to a clerk.

[collectorsworldtoys · Accepted solution]

Wow, Thanks for the information, I need to start reading more before I order freebies from the post office

[lajoieartgallery2]

Exactly!! I have used those "free" stickers for shipping my artwork in Regional Boxes A or B for many years. Until I sent a pkg to Orange, CT!!  Since my work ships free I was shocked to hear they wanted $12.15 from my buyer for postage due. I would never knowingly cheat anyone including  the post office. When you order these "free" stickers they don't mention there would be a cost when you place them on your pkg. Bait and trap or simply being grubby? I was so upset. The Orange, CT branch could have overlooked it one time and be assured I would never use them again after learning that those stickers carried an extra charge even though I had not ordered that service when I purchased the label.  

[lajoieartgallery2]

I never read that part when I ordered them. I just lost $12.15 because of those things. I guess I have only myself to blame for not reading it more carefully. Thanks for the heads up!

[lajoieartgallery2]

I just read a post from wastingtime101 that there is a notice on the order form when you order these stickers. So I guess I can't get mad at the po when they've made it clear there would be a service charge for using these sticks but I was too busy to read the notice. It was supposedly highlighted in yellow even!! Lesson learned!!

[pargran3]

Reading is a wonderful thing. Saves a lot of headaches

Radine

[a_c_green]

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@lajoieartgallery2 wrote:

I just read a post from wastingtime101 that there is a notice on the order form when you order these stickers. So I guess I can't get mad at the po when they've made it clear there would be a service charge for using these stickers

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Well, yeah... it's not too far removed from the purpose of the free Priority Mail boxes themselves: they're free to order, but you must pay to use them.

I received a purchase the other day with one of those yellow stickers on the outside. The entire Shipping charge I paid for the item wasn't more than 8 or 9 bucks, so either the seller's post office missed it or they dinged him for the extra cash at dropoff time, perhaps.

[monica-sells]

@lajoieartgallery2 

".... I guess I have only myself to blame for not reading it more carefully....."

I just fell of my chair in shock.....

someone actually stepped up and took responsibility for their action instead of blaming someone else.....

kudos to you.....