@myst4au wrote:

I beg to differ. Anything containing metcury is forbidden to be shipped by any USPS method, that includes Ground Advantage.

"Key Guidelines for Shipping Thermometers via USPS:
Mercury Thermometers: Forbidden. Mercury is a liquid metal, and if a thermometer breaks, it releases toxic vapors, making them hazardous to mail.
Allowed Thermometers: Digital thermometers, fever thermometers without mercury, and thermometers using red-colored alcohol are generally acceptable.
Prohibited Items: Antique thermometers, barometers, and blood pressure monitors that contain visible silver-colored liquid mercury are prohibited."

@Rho wrote:

thermometer scenario should be straightforward; but not all Postal workers understand they can be sent Ground. Batteries are entirely formulaic. I have been asked to ship a battery to my son with his written instructions thus I have a list I can look at to review what I put in the box *~) when asked by a clerk.

@gene wrote:

per my understading the old MSC subcontracted the current one and that is why such low fee.

@sestrahelena wrote:

The original MSC, in the days when they mailed you the pre-packed boxes to send out, was the one that no longer does mystery shopping and forum members would often joke about their office staff being elderly.

@MsJudi wrote:

I remember the days of receiving the oversized boxes...and they weighed like "0" pounds. It was so dumb to mail them, but I was a newbie back then and tried everything. Plus, they took up so much room while waiting to be sent. I also remember doing the shops for the current company long ago also. I just checked my history on the Apollo site and that was in the 2010's. I think the current MSC subbed them out to the company with the sweet elderly ladies and now they are back there. I used to do a lot with the Apollo company back then. I was surprised when I checked my history that it went back that far. It's sort of neat to see all the places that I did, but sad that so many are gone or not shopped any longer....golf courses, airport retail, Gucci, Vera Bradley, Modell's, "Gotta go to Mo's", Bob's Discount Furniture, man, I did a ton of post offices too..2010-2014.

@amberelliott wrote:

Been mystery shopping before a postmaster, and still MS.
What I learned working for USPS, was so insulting, harassing superiors NEVER FOLLOWED UP.

NOW, that i no longer work for them, I'm going in full throttle on USPS.

@jewel1233 wrote:

I was surprised to see the quarterly rotation today! I tried to assign a shop and it showed a message of one shop per location from January 1 - March 31. Wow, that seems surprising since they call frequently for shoppers to fill these jobs.

@Insight wrote:

I still have not seen that rotation information. I have had no issue self scheduling.

@Cassiespark wrote:

USPS is very unhappy with the current MSC…
You can find all this info with a FOIA request, btw.

@gene wrote:

I did one shop sending package from NYC (not my area of residence) to Pittsburgh. The employee picked up kind library mail and included it to my receipt. I said him stop it and do the right things: I need just a priority mail only. He did not listen and continue his wrong way. Finaly the receipt was shown both with his library mail. I knew from the past MSC did not accept such shop I asked him to redo the receipt. He complained and fixed only when I spoke with his supervisor. Finaly at the end I was charged twice for the same package. But I disputed the extra charge with my credit card issuer and the returned me money. I explained the whole story with MSC and the shop was accepted.

@ShoppingDad wrote:

WOW! Took some time off from shopping. Came back to a new MSC paying $5 fees for postal shops. NO WAY!

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

@gene wrote:

I did one shop sending package from NYC (not my area of residence) to Pittsburgh. The employee picked up kind library mail and included it to my receipt. I said him stop it and do the right things: I need just a priority mail only. He did not listen and continue his wrong way. Finaly the receipt was shown both with his library mail. I knew from the past MSC did not accept such shop I asked him to redo the receipt. He complained and fixed only when I spoke with his supervisor. Finaly at the end I was charged twice for the same package. But I disputed the extra charge with my credit card issuer and the returned me money. I explained the whole story with MSC and the shop was accepted.

A lot of hassle considering what they pay...

I had one who made all choices for me and just gave me a price after I handed him the box. I had to ask him what he did and then make him pull the box back out of the bin he'd.thrown it in and start over. He was angry but I needed priority and he didn't ask. Also, too much hassle for the paycheck.