On Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 6:45:16 PM UTC-5, micky wrote:
Today I got an unexpected package. It's an 8x10x2" soft-sided black
bag, with a zipper main compartment, a small velcro side pocket for
pencils, and a latching flap front pocket where the inside of the large
flap say AARP thirty three times in bright white letters on black.

I guess AARP sent it to me because I renewed, which I only did to keep
my supplemental insurance.

I don't see how to look at this except to say that I bought myself a
bag, even though I probably have no use for it.

But what gets me is that it came with tracking! A $10 bag, probably 5
when they buy 40 mililion every five years. Or more like 5 or 6
million a year, since probably people who renew for less than 5 get
different so-called gifts. And for that they pay for tracking!! Do
you think they get a volume discount from the USPS?

According to this site, USPS trackng is included with every shipment except
for First Class *letters*.

http://faq.usps.com/?articleId=220900

What is USPS Tracking®?
USPS Tracking® is the only USPS mechanism that provides end-to-end item
tracking and is automatically included with all USPS domestic shipping
products €“ except commercial Standard Mail parcels. For Standard Mail
parcels, the tracking feature can be added as an Extra Service, for an
additional fee. USPS Tracking® does not expedite or guarantee delivery..




The new passport also came with tracking, priority mail, and that I
heartily approve, because I don't want my passport to get lost. There
are a lot of people who look like me who are just dying to use it. Even
though I wasn't in a hurry to need priority mail, tracking can't be used
with plain first class. Plus it's one part of the federal govt.
buying from another so it's like it's all one pocket, even though it's
not like that.

See above.


The return address on the passport was S. Carolina, but the tracking
shows Tuczon. It took 15 minutes shy of 48 hours to get to its next
recorded stop (and afaik they record every stop), the main post office
in Baltimore. Somehow that seems very fast for by truck, but slow if by
plane. So how does that happen?

Most mapping sites show 1 Day 9 Hours from Tucson to Baltimore. Easily
done by multiple drivers.

As far as recording every stop, that would depend on what you call a "stop"..
Unless the mail is actually handled, i.e. taken off of the vehicle and
scanned, it won't show up a recorded stop. If the truck pulls into a USPS depot
or other transfer point just to change drivers, that's not a trackable stop..