WE need MAJOR HELP! Please, we need your INPUT!

[diane {Shawns mom}]

~Shipping~

Unfortuantley the Post Office site requires the Credit Card address to match the shipping "FROM" address!

So all the work that Pat:) and I have done with the site over the past 3 days is a Wash!

Does anyone have any advice on HOW we are going to SHIP boxes.

At this time Colorado and Illinois both have boxes ready to ship and it isn't an option for Molly nor I to fly to either one of those states and go to the Post Office with Chris and Pat!!...I know it would be fun but NOT doable!

these are some guidelines:

~Shipping MUST BE PAID for by Molly's Adopt a Sailor Bank Account

~We CANNOT, write anyone a check for shipping!

~NO checks can be issued to anyone personally!

~all funds for shipping MUST come from Adopt A Sailor

(get the idea?)

The post office has suggested "Shipping Assistant" or a 3rd Party!

That would involve, possibly paying MORE for shipping, is that an option, YES, quite possibly!

Does anyone know of a 3rd party that MAS can work with?

Ok let the HASHING begin Girls!

 

We truly need all Moms to help, any ideas?

[Sue]

Why can't Molly's Adopt-A-Sailor get pre-paid debit cards and send them to the hostess?

I always put "Molly's Adopt-A-Sailor" on my customs forms. Today I received 10 copies of the forms for packages I just sent, and it was addressed to Sue XXXXX, Molly's Adopt-A-Sailor, and my address!

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

NO pre paid debit cards that MAS is buying ???? Ummmm thats not MAS paying the Post Office ---we HAVE TO HAVE PROOF That (((((MAS)))))) paid shipping , I dont care how many custom forms we collect that says MOLLY paid herself ---thats means nothing to pepsi or the IRS. MAS has to pay

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

1) My Hubby worked for the USPS for 4 years while he was in college. I'll have him look at this when he gets home. In the meantime you'll probably hear from at least a few people who work in a post office.
2) Could N4M help in some way? I know it is separate, but they might have ideas.
3) Why don't we call one of our Senators or Congressmen who are NOT running for office and try and get their help.
4) The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff is from the Navy ??
I will do some goggling and try to get contact info. I know that Sen. John Kerry always wants to make a big splash in the press by saying how he's so pro military. Let's see if we can put some pressure on him to actually come out and DO something! He's not running for re-election.
Also our Congressman Barney Frank is in a TOUGH fight for his job ` maybe this is up his alley.
I'll do my best and I'll let you know if I can find any help,
Donna

[Lynda]

why not have a check sent to the packing party leader made out to USPS after the number of boxes are determined. Since they are flat rate boxes it should be easy enough to determine the amount of postage needed. This would only require some advance planning on the packing end to enable "Molly" to send enough money. Just a thought

[diane {Shawns mom}]

Molly nor I can send $, we have to pay the post office directly! keep thinking!!!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

Count up all the boxes after they're packed. Have a group member be in charge of getting the check and taking the boxes to the post office. Tell Molly the count, and she or Diane can priority-mail a check made out to USPS ($12.50 x #) to her. Means a delay of a day or so between packing and mailing, that's all. A priority mail flat envelope costs $4.75.
Obviously more than two can use their cars and meet at the PO but you get my drift.
I've stashed boxes (my own) in my car for a day, no big deal. People have been happy to help carry them in when they know what it's for!

[diane {Shawns mom}]

Love the ideas...
remember MAS cannot issue a check to a party HOST for shipping, all funds need to be issued to the Post office!
Marcy, I don't quite understand what you are saying, The USPS wont' accept a check from Pat in IL written by Molly nor I!.
the post office will also pick up the boxes, so that is not an issue..The real issue is payment for shipping!
remember girls, payment needs to be made "BY MOLLY's ADOPT a SAILOR" (accountablity)...We can't send checks issued to the post office cause the person with the check needs to show DL and be on the checking account!...
We need away-whether is be a 3rd party-to pay for shipping. Maybe the answer is NOT the USPS maybe its elsewhere!?...So trying to talk this through!
YOU ladies ROCK, thanks for helping to talk this out!♥


PS.... Marcy GREAT PIC! ♥!!!!

[Marcy ~ Corpsman Mom]

I would test it, perhaps with an accompanying letter on MAS letterhead authorizing the shipper as able to present the check made out to USPS. Geez, with every box headed to an FPO it's hard to believe they'd turn it away - the likelihood of an organization taking such trouble to scam the PO to send care packages to troops seems pretty low :) Again, it would be worth testing. I'll ask at our main branch in Phoenix tomorrow.

[diane {Shawns mom}]

Marcy, thank you dear! PLEASE go and ask...ask lots and lots of questions....I have asked my fair share over the past few weeks, got lots of different answers! Not the same answers to any question I have asked....circles...circles..ok..burnt out! nite nite

[NitaBee]

your idea has potential.. And once we have Molly chapter is the various states, it will work better. in the MEANTIME When you send out out a package, you get a receipt. It would have a senders address on it.. I don't know how this would work, I know the bases don't allow Fedex on them , but this is what Fedex does...On the shipping airbill, there is a spot that says Bill to: can't they send the bill to Molly'sAdopt a sailor
ICan't the frigging post office, send the packages and Bill it to Molly's adopt a sailor.. then Molly sends a check directly to the post office to pay for the shipping.. thus Molly is PAyING Have Mollys Adopt aSailor set up an acc't with the post office, where by it can be billed directly to molly's HAve an letterhead made up authorizing this. sounds rather radical, but could work.

[Brenda Sue]

I have a friend (I used to babysit him) - that owns a little "postal service". It is run just like the post office but he charges a little more for everything. (worth it because it is faster, closer and easier). I called him and he said that he would accept a check from "Molly" since he knows me.

So . . . . check around and see if there are any privately owned postal services and bake them some cookies and make friends FAST!!!

[Gloria "Corpsman's Mom"]

Marcy you are everywhere!!! lol I wish I had the answer but I do like the debit card thing or Marcy's. I have an Army soldier from COJ (CupofJoe) who said they would love to have some warm socks and such as it is getting quite cold already in Afghanistan. Do we do Army? lol Sounds funny.