Thread: Rejected by U.S.P.S.

I have sent and received straight razors thru the USPS to and from individuals since 2009. No problems.

Of course I do what the previous posts advise. I get a small Priority Mail box from the post office, wrap my razor with newspaper or bubble wrap, place it in the box, seal it, attach the shipping label on it and take it to the post office for mailing.

When the clerk asks if there are any dangerous or hazardous items in the box, I say, "No." That's the truth. Its not smoking, ticking, explosive, or emitting poisonous gases.

Then I insure it and get delivery confirmation, along with postage and off she goes.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

The clerk may be fundamentally correct concerning the rule, I dont know, BUT I do this all of the time and the clerks KNOW what I am shipping and I have NEVER encountered any kind of problem. I use the USPS Priority boxes provided by them, quick shipping and a box too.

Ditto! Heck, my postal lady wants to know "what do you have this time?". I typically show her...she loves it! She's amazed how some rocks are worth so much, loves to see the old razors come in and then what they look like going out. I also assisted her on purchasing a brush and shave soap for her hubby for Christmas. She looked it up the first time and her regulations...or the part she reviewed, only mentioned switchblades. No shaving stuff is mentioned in the postal regs that I am aware of...it's just an ignorant clerks interpretation of a regulation.

It sounds to me like someone was either having a bad day or is just on a power trip.
When I ship, my post woman wants to see them, because she is interested. Mostly now I use a local shipping service that is inexpensive, open late and just bills me after the items have shipped.

Straight Razors can be shipped via USPS as long as they are packaged in a manner that prevents them from coming open and injuring someone.

USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 601.12.6:

Knives and Sharp Instruments
12.6.1 Mailability
Knives (including sharp-pointed instruments such as stilettos that lack cutting edges) with a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle, or by operations of inertia, gravity, or both, or with a detachable blade propelled by a spring-operated mechanism, are mailable only when sent to:

a. The respective government’s or organization’s designated supply or procurement officers and employees ordering, procuring, or buying such knives for use with the activities of the federal government; the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or the militia of a state, territory, or the District of Columbia; or the municipal government of the District of Columbia or of the government of any state or territory, or of any county, city, or other political subdivision of a state or territory.

b. Manufacturers of such knives, or bona fide dealers of such knives, in connection with a shipment made under an order from any person designated in 12.6.1a.
12.6.2 Addressee Identification

Before delivering a shipment (or parcel) that contains an article or articles described in 12.6.1, a USPS employee may require that the recipient identify himself or herself as in one of the categories in 12.6.1a.

12.6.3 Wrapping
Sharp-pointed or sharp-edged instruments such as knives, tools, ice picks, and razor blades, that are otherwise mailable, must be wrapped to protect their points and edges from cutting through the outer carton in which they are mailed.

Your postmaster must have been thinking of the regs. about switchblade knives - 601.12.6.1. The next time this happens, refer them to regulation 601.12.6.3 and tell them that the razor is safely packaged.

Yea, I was going to say there should be no problem as long as well packaged.

I can't tell you how many arguments I've gotten into with Postal Employees who don't have a clue about their jobs.

I use a local grocery store with a post office inside, never once have I been asked what I'm shipping. Don't ask, don't tell I guess!! The only time I use a real post office is when I'm shipping overseas, where I write on the package what's inside, still no problem so far.

I use the P.O and all they ask is: Is there anything hazardous, dangerous, liquid, flammable, I think the dude is 44 and still lives with his mummy! No worries! Sending a razor is fine and legal!

Shipped it today!

This time I, as suggested by VeeDubb65, shipped it in a Small Flat Rate Priority Box. I got frustrated trying to figure the print-it-yourself-label on usps.com (wayyyyyy too many details, options and things to click on that web site), so I said what the heck and just walked in the post office again today (this time my package pre packed), asked them to label it and all, and shipped it.

There was a lady there who had helped take part with my "package rejection" yesterday, and I noticed she kept looking over and eyeballing me as I handed the other clerk (who was not there yesterday) this small package. I sort of wonder whether she was thinking "haha I can't believe this guy had the balls to come back the next day and try again, more power to him" or "we better run this package through the x-ray and drug dogs before we ship it".

I've always disclosed the contents of my packages as "shaving supplies."

I'm not lying and the majority of the population would never jump to the conclusion that it's a straight razor and a violation of the no sharp objects policy. May help in the future if they question you again