Do not bend

[rr03ct]

According to the mail count guide, any article that is labeled do not bend should be credited as a parcel if it causes any damage to that particular article in the casing process.  Our management has decided that this only applies to 1st and 2nd class mail, since 3rd class mail has "no obvious value".  Any comment would be welcomed.

[steve]

do not bend means just that. doesn't matter what class.

[Mrpoint]

Do not bend was a crime committed in our last count. I personally lost 213 DO NOT BENDS. Easter seals, samples products and Kodak Photographs, Diploma certificates. I was so disgusted. I stopped from joining my union cause of it. They brought up some manual that says it must have a support and must be 1st and 2nd class.

[bob1]

I believe the article has to contain a proper "stiffener", along with the endorsement of "Do Not Bend"  Most bulk rate articles do NOT contain this.

[wave]

I was told by our State Steward at Steward Training and at Mail Count Training that "Do Not Bend" means do not bend.  We are to follow customer endorsements even if the mailing does not comply with the DMM.  The mailing made it this far to us, so we follow the endorsement.  Our State Steward says he has won these before (with proper documentation), and that he will go to the mat for us.  He also told us that Management is changing the DMM so that next count we will not get these as easily.

[....]

yes it s going to be changed to say in order to be do not bend it will have to have a stiffner in it, in reality most carriers case anything that is bulk without regard to whether its bent or not all year long, im not saying you shouldnt get the credit , what i am saying if you fight for the credit , they will be watching you like a hawk to make sure these articles are not bent or folded all year long, dont put your job on the line by not doing something you fought to get credit for

[scola]

just came from meeting with Ronnie Stutts at SAC - gave instructions regarding Do Not Bend - said even though it is no longer a legitamate endorsement since the DMM is changed, PO has agreed to treat it as we always have.... if it can fit in the 2 inch case with other mail without being damaged, it is a flat.   Last year we got credit as parcels for Easter seals at last minute as parcels,,,, this year they are giving us parcel credit for all medicine packages because they WILL get damaged while casing (caps can come off and pills loose in package).... giving more leeway there but will be much tougher on the do not bend stuff like mentioned above.... be careful, they will be watching all year.... if you get credit as a parcel, you better not be caught casing it or curling it.

[Tired]

Just remember, if it is "Do Not Bend" in the office it is "Do Not Bend" on the street. If it can't be bent to fit in the case it can't be bent to fit in the box. Do you really want to dismount for all of these "Parcels"? Make sure & get what is due you but be careful how far you push this issue. This was pushed rather hard in our office last year by one of the carriers & about 2 months after count a customer brings in WalMart photos that the carrier had bent to put in the mailbox. The photos only had a crinkle & were ruined. Of course the postmaster said "if you are bending photos marked "Do Not Bend" what in the world are you doing to the BBM marked "Do Not Bend"?"

[gjtrisa]

In addition, any nonrigid article that does not fit in the letter or flat

separations (where flat separations are used) with other mail is

considered a parcel. (This includes articles that have not been

prepared in accordance with DMM C010.8.2c, even though the

mailer has endorsed them Do Not Fold or Bend. These nonrigid

articles should be carried and credited as parcels, provided that

they do not fit in the letter or flat separation (where flat

separations are used) with other mail without damage to the

article).

The revisions in the DMM are to make it so we don't have to guess what could be damaged by testing it.  If it is marked DO NOT BEND it is because it is fragile and was accepted that way, we are to honor that endorsement.  It is actually not supposed to be accepted unless it is packaged as a parcel.  You can find this by going to www.usps.gov and search for the Postal Bulletin dated August 16, 2007.  It has several references to in in the DMM or I would have added it for your ease since I already found it.  What if it is a picture of your favorite politician and that person calls their congressman to complain you crumpled their picture, or, it is labels from Easter Seals that would be destroyed if they are folded, or.... you get the idea.  If they insist I would grieve it but I would also request a letter stating this policy in case I ruin someones item and I am held liable later.


-----Original Message-----
From: rr03ct (via Nabble) - No Reply <[hidden email]>
To: gjtrisa <[hidden email]>
Sent: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:47 am
Subject: Do not bend

According to the mail count guide, any article that is labeled do not bend should be credited as a parcel if it causes any damage to that particular article in the casing process.  Our management has decided that this only applies to 1st and 2nd class mail, since 3rd class mail has "no obvious value".  Any comment would be welcomed.

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[carrier87]

Our PM has pretty much come up with the same idea - Do Not Bend, 3rd class, she will decide on a case by case basis if it will be damaged by bending it or not (how, I don't know).  
I will be filling out the dispute forms for any Do Not Bends that we do not get parcel credit for & sending them to the SS.

[VAX]

     There is a difference between bending it and bowing it to fit in a box, as long as you dont crease it, you dont have to go to the door with parcels that fit in a box, to get parcel credit!

[VAX]

    Our super says if you put it in case first, no damage it will be a flat, suggested keep all for the end and then they will count as parcel, according to him then if you case them they would be damaged< so now its a parcel doesnt matter what class of mail it is!    Last year had a counter from postal operations, didnt want to give us credit for anything, what the hell do postal ops folks do that they can be spared for 2 or 4 weeks to count us, seems like their jobs not needed!

[rr2bob]

These items are sent out by the thousands every year. If the PO does not want us to treat them as parcels they should not accept any more of these mailings until they remove the "do not bend" from the article. Since they haven't had any of them removed they must want them treated as parcels.

[tar804]

     Maybe you can help me.  The PM and the union are telling me that "flexible" items that can fit in a 2" slot (with other mail) are flats.  They say, for example, when folded tight, a 1" thick catalog can fit in a 2" slot and is therefore a flat--  but that leaves no room for other mail.  Shouldn't the max thickness of all flexible be the same as ridged items  1 9/16 ",  the agreed upon limit,  thereby allowing room for other mail?  Why should flexible items be allowed to stuff the case? To say that something must fit in a 2"slot (with other mail ) and not specify how much "other mail" means we are meant to use the limits currently in place.........no?  
 

[tar804]

I was told bulk mail only becomes of "no obvious value" if it can't be delivered!

[gottaflynow]

Don't forget about comic books and the pages sent from MAYO Clinic. They both are do not bend items but the Do Not Bend is printed very small so look for it. We got credit for these. The DMM will change to have mailers include a stiffener in their mailings if they are requiring it as Do Not Bend. Document any disputed Do Not Bend mail pieces.

[HelloKitty]

I dont understand why it has to have a stiffiner in it to be considered a parcel.  Alot of these "do not bend" items are pictures or labels that are flexible but will be ruined none the less if bent?  Where is the documentation for this stiffener rule?  Trust me i'm not trying to be argumentative, I just want information because I cant even get my post office to count "do not bend" x-rays as parcels.

[gjtrisa]

PO 603 535.d.2 Parcels

"I dont understand why it has to have a stiffiner in it to be considered a parcel.  Alot of these "do not bend" items are pictures or labels that are flexible but will be ruined none the less if bent?  Where is the documentation for this stiffener rule?  Trust me i'm not trying to be argumentative, I just want information because I cant even get my post office to count "do not bend" x-rays as parcels. "

[HelloKitty]

That is the basic vague definition we are all familiar with, it doesn't address rigidness in "do not bend" articels, just regular letters/flats.  Is there anything in writing that clarifies the issue of "do not bend" articles

[gjtrisa]

It specifically addresses "do not bend" items but you have to use the logic that it will damage the item to case it.  I also tell them that I know what the DMM says but my customers know what do not bend is and when they find it bent and damaged that is not good customer service.

That is the basic vague definition we are all familiar with, it doesn't address rigidness in "do not bend" articels, just regular letters/flats.  Is there anything in writing that clarifies the issue of "do not bend" articles

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