A little reminder to those of us that buy online/mail order

[Soapy Smith]

Maybe I'm being paranoid and maybe it just serves as a reminder, but I thought I'd share to remind other folks.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought a new pistol from a dealer. The dealer provided me with magazine parts kits as part of the purchase because the gun normally ships with magazines that hold more ammo than is legally allowed in Colorado. Wanting to play by the rules, I ordered plugs for the magazines online from Magblock so I could limit them to 15rd mags (and put to rest any concerns if I'm approached by the local sheriff while out shooting on public land). I bought the 10 pack and paid for priority mail shipping (2 day).

I followed the tracking number on the USPS website, the package was supposed to arrive at my house last Thursday. After tracking the package, it was marked as "delivered". When I got home, I had three letters but no package. Sometimes the postal carrier will scan stuff and leave it in his truck (because he's late and doesn't want to get into trouble for not delivering it) so I figured I'd wait until Friday, but just in case, I called the USPS and opened a "case number" with them and was told I would get a call back within 72 hours (after waiting 30 minutes on the phone to get through). Friday delivery and still no package. Saturday, when the postman came by, I told him the situation and he gave me the direct line to my local post office - which isn't published on the USPS.com website. Still no response to the case I opened up Thursday evening.

Monday comes around and I called the direct number and spoke to the manager - this is the kinda' cool part. When a mail carrier scans a package, the scanner records the GPS location of where the mail carrier scanned that package. The manager I spoke with looked up the GPS coordinates and told me the location basically giving me the address where the package had been incorrectly delivered (scanned) - same number address the next street over. He said he would send someone out there to try to get it back.

Today, (Tuesday), I got home and still no package. I walked around the block and knocked on the door and asked the folks that lived there if they had received my package. A kid answered the door and went and immediately got it and turned it over. As I'm walking around the block and back home, I notice it had been opened and re-taped up. I open the package and the product is there, but there is no paperwork. Here's where the paranoid/lesson learned part comes in....

When I got home I called Magblock and asked them what paperwork they normally send in the box. I was told they send a disclaimer, and instructions, and "no personal information". When I go back and look at the invoice they emailed me (a copy of it was probably in the box), I noticed the last 4-digits of my credit card are on it as well as my address.

So the lesson learned -

Someone a block away has my address, may have the last 4-digits of my credit card, and they know I own guns in the house (I live in Denver - it's not the best of neighborhoods). Luckily I have a couple of dogs, a nosy retired neighbor, and a good safe to keep things in the house nailed down.

Next time, I'll have parts delivered to work and keep them in a sealed box until I get home. Thinking back on what I've bought before, these were just small plastic tabs that nobody would know what they're for (without paperwork) but I can't imagine having the same thing happen with an upper receiver or a rifle barrel or even commemorative coins.

Just wish folks were more neighborly like back in the day. I mean seriously, they could have just as easily walked around the block and dropped off the package over the weekend without rummaging through it (I've done it multiple times for other neighbors).

[kidicarus13]

Better check Craigslist in case your neighbor was in need of some extra ca$h

[Great-Kazoo]

Next time tell the shipper you would like a signature required upon delivery tag.

[Soapy Smith]

Next time tell the shipper you would like a signature required upon delivery tag.

I've had the usps and ups and FedEx deliver items with signature required. The nice thing about ups and FedEx is they understand people work for a living and have hours after 8am to 5pm where you can pick items up. With the usps I'm limited to Saturday's between 11am and 2pm.




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[Irving]

If you work for a big company, they'll fire you if you send gun related packages to work. You probably don't, but just thought I'd mention something.

[Soapy Smith]

If you work for a big company, they'll fire you if you send gun related packages to work. You probably don't, but just thought I'd mention something.

Very true. I do work for a bigger company but there is no current policy (and why I mentioned I'd open the boxes later). Each company is different. When I worked at Qwest they allowed no firearm related stuff. When Centurylink bought Qwest the policy changed - upper management in Monroe, Louisiana likes to go duck hunting after work on occasion.


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[TheGrey]

I would go back to that house, speak with an adult and request that paperwork. I then would cancel that credit card, and get a new one issued to you.

The fact that they opened your package and have paperwork that may have compromising personal information when it was clearly addressed to you, in both name and address, is fully against the law and could be quite a persuading argument if they don't fork over what is yours.

Perhaps a better way to go forward in the future would be to have packages delivered to your nosy retired neighbor's address, having it signed upon delivery.

[dustdevil]

I would go back to that house, speak with an adult and request that paperwork. I then would cancel that credit card, and get a new one issued to you.

The fact that they opened your package and have paperwork that may have compromising personal information when it was clearly addressed to you, in both name and address, is fully against the law and could be quite a persuading argument if they don't fork over what is yours.

Perhaps a better way to go forward in the future would be to have packages delivered to your nosy retired neighbor's address, having it signed upon delivery.

This is probably the most passive aggressive thing I have read in a long time. The post office misdelivered a package. No one is going to bring up felony theft charges on an accident. Going to the neighbors and "demanding" this that and another is not smart. All they will say is I don't have it. Instead of thinking that everyone should act like Rambo in all situations be a little realistic. They could have just as easily said "we don't have your package." The USPS would tell you to suck it and file an insurance claim.

And for your link thank you for the rebutting your own argument.

"However, the law cannot be applied if you did not recognize that the mail was not yours when you opened it. For example, if you received several items in the mail and were opening all the envelopes without paying particular attention to the addressee, it is conceivable that you could open mail that was not yours. Because you did not recognize the mail as belonging to someone else before you opened it, no crime has been committed.

Law Dictionary: What Is The Federal Law For Opening Mail Not Addressed To You? "

[TheGrey]

This is probably the most passive aggressive thing I have read in a long time. The post office misdelivered a package. No one is going to bring up felony theft charges on an accident. Going to the neighbors and "demanding" this that and another is not smart. All they will say is I don't have it. Instead of thinking that everyone should act like Rambo in all situations be a little realistic. They could have just as easily said "we don't have your package." The USPS would tell you to suck it and file an insurance claim.

And for your link thank you for the rebutting your own argument.

"However, the law cannot be applied if you did not recognize that the mail was not yours when you opened it. For example, if you received several items in the mail and were opening all the envelopes without paying particular attention to the addressee, it is conceivable that you could open mail that was not yours. Because you did not recognize the mail as belonging to someone else before you opened it, no crime has been committed.

Law Dictionary: What Is The Federal Law For Opening Mail Not Addressed To You? "

You may want to check your comprehension skills. The post office delivered the package to the wrong address. The people had the package for days, and instead of putting it back in their mailbox with a "wrong address" or "not at this address" written on it, they kept the package. And they opened it. And continued to keep it, after they realized the package did not belong to them. They kept the paperwork, which contained the OP's personal information.

Yes, mistakes are possible. Yes, they may not have realized the package was not addressed to them, but they would have certainly realized it upon discovering that a) it was not something they had ordered, b) it was not addressed to them, and c) it was not their package.

Nobody is suggesting anyone "go Rambo" - frankly, I can't see where my post even suggested such a thing. In this day and age, identity theft is quite real, and is often found in our own neighborhoods. Perhaps your view from Mayberry is a bit clouded?

Had you bothered to continue reading the link that I supplied, the very next sentence explained that one's responsibility AFTER opening mail that is not addressed to you matters a great deal. Let me save you the trouble of clicking:

"Although you may have opened someone else's mail unintentionally, what you do with it afterward is what really counts. Toss the mail in the garbage, and you have intentionally obstructed the delivery of that correspondence. That is a crime, and there may be consequences. The best practice is to write Return to Sender or note Wrong Address on the envelope and pop it into a mailbox. This way the letter can still eventually reach the intended recipient.

Law Dictionary: What Is The Federal Law For Opening Mail Not Addressed To You? "

[jmg8550]

Isn't opening someone else's mail a felony?