Could it be that they just print that on every receipt?

I think this is the yet to be completed plan of their new delivery zone system they have been rolling out in their effort to save $$$. Their POS systems have yet to be updated fully with the information.

@samurailynn: Yeah....

It's obvious that Steve's packages were going to enter the Twilight Zone or the Outer Limits. Please stand by (as your packages enter the vortex that is the USPS system).

@samurailynn: I'm inclined to agree with you that it's just 'fine print' this post office in particular is tacking on to each item

uhh... nowhere on that receipt does it suggest that the destinations are not in the contiguous US. True, it (gratuitously) makes note of delivery issues relating to such destinations, but it does not say that the listed destinationns are among them.

@samurailynn: But not on the package going to Minnesota.

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): Which is a First Class package. The VA and WA packages are Media Mail

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): That was also sent by a different method, though--maybe it's just Media Mail, for some reason, that gets that announcement? Does it go by surface?

Notice that it only has that disclaimer under the WA and PA shipments, not the one to MN...

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): That one is a different type of package. The ones with the note are "Media Mail". Dunno why that type needs the disclaimer, though, but it doesn't imply that those destinations aren't in the US.

@Don Roberto: I don't think the post was put up just to get clicks. The Consumerist does funny "faux-assumption" headlines all the time. It's up to the reader to actually read the post to get the meaning.

@DaBull: The one to MN is first class, WA & PA are Media Mail.

Just a generic statement

One thought is the possibility that the destination is on an island that needs a ferry for final delivery. That isn't outside the realm of possibility for Washington State.

I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missour-ah as a state!

- Grampa Simpson

This could also be construed as media mail now all goes out of state since that is also something with the 2 notes and not the MN one.

I see this message everytime when I use media mail even when it is in my home state. Its just a generic message, I'm not sure what the big deal here is.

@Wheeldog: out of the the contiguous US not out of state

Media mail goes wherever there is room on a truck or plane. It can take a couple days or a couple months to get there. Most people don't realize this. Media mail to Washington (or anywhere) could theoretically travel outside CONUS, but this might just be generic info as others have stated.

@pecan 3.14159265:

But that's how you do click-farming: you put up a headline saying something outrageous to get the click, and then you actually read it to find out it's completely false. I certainly think it should be up to the headline -writer to, I dunno, actuallycapture the sense of the story (or, in this case, non-story).

@valthun:
it's just a generic disclaimer for media mail--it's printed on all the receipts for media mail, regardless of destination.

@pecan 3.14159265: Re-ad? Post--posts? What does that mean?

@treimel: I know the USPS can't actually be redefining what contiguous United States means for mail. It's just logic. But it's funny, and therefore I click, and make my witty banter with other posters.

The bigger picture, to me, is that even though USPS isn't redefining borders, it still warrants an explanation rather than a shrug. Someone posed a question, and now it has an answer. Nothing wrong with that.

@Don Roberto: for those clicks on Ads for Consumer Reports. Not exactly making money off those ads there.

@pecan 3.14159265: I'm not here to read posts, I'm here to complain about posts.

yh t's gnrc sttmnt. Ths pst s srs wst f pxls.

@smrlynn: 'm wth y n ths n. Tht, nd th hdln sggsts n ctl plcy chng. Smn's jst lkng fr clcks.

@pecan 3.14159265:
I never claimed anybody (except the headline writer) thought the USPS could redefine the border.
Moreover... what's funnny about it? it's a generic disclaimer--the thing about generic disclaimers is... sometimes they'll apply and sometimes they won't. This time it didn't. Where's the humor in that?

Warrants an explanation? Okay: Media mail is twhat they used to call book rate. If you send book rate to, say, the Ivory Coast--it's going to be put on "next available" transport--that could take months and months. People complain. Therefore USPA puts out a disclaimer on all media mail receipts. Then, Consumerist puts up a meaningless post. I'm sorry but the post is completely lame and the headline promised something amusing. It didn't deliver. Yeah, there *is* something wrong with that.

@hypnotik_jello:
You think Consumer Reports doesn't want click-through? Of course they do--people are employed even at non-profits, you know. And page views matter there, too.

My guess is that the key here are the zones listed. Zone 6 including Minnesota must be completely within the contiguous states whereas Zones 8 and 2 may have overlapping areas outside of the 48 states thus requiring the notice...

@floraposte: Media mail is ground shipping because it's supposed to be "heavy" paper products and such which would be expensive to ship by air. I think it's basically SAL shipping specifically for paper media products.

Yea, I think this is just a general line item disclaimer.... not related to the packages on the receipt.

@fantomesq:

No, it's a disclaimer put on all media mail purchases regardless of destination. The class of service, not the destination, is the distinction.

This is a non-story...

@pecan 3.14159265: The Internet is serious business. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE OFFBEAT POSTS OF ANY KIND EVER!!11!EXCLAMATIONABUSE!!1!

@pecan 3.14159265: I like this explanation.

@Wheeldog: So they're sending all media mail through Hawaii or Alaska? Hmm, new vacation idea: ship myself somewhere via media mail. I like it.

@renegadebarista: Yup - I see nothing wrong. Just a "fine print" thing for media mail.

You will get the same message if you are shipping something media mail 5 blocks away also.

@pecan 3.14159265: Sounds like Washington to me.

Psst! Mdrtr--in yr xbrnc t dsmvwl, y drw m ttntn t smnk's snrky cmmnt.

@DaBull: Look at the type of shipment the packages to WA and PA are Media Mail vs the shipment to MN is 1st Class.

@xthexlanternx: Maybe, but why would it? Seems like mail that got routed somewhere outside the US would have to deal with the hassle of customs and the like (even if only to seal the shipment so it wouldn't be opened until it got back to the US).

Excellent use of the word "circuitous" by the OP.

@fantomesq: Parts of Zone 8 certainly are (specifically Point Roberts, zip code 98281).

@ogsoleysol: This is a non-comment...

@xthexlanternx: Now that would nicely answer why it took almost a month for a book order to arrive at my home via media mail (from one state to a directly adjacent state, no less!)

It seems like there'd be a ton less consumer complaints if people had a ounce of reading comprehension.

This is a just a disclaimer that only applies to media mail/bulk mail packages shipped to anywhere outside the 48 contiguous states, such as HI, AK or PR. Media mail is usually shipped via boat to these destinations, and as such can take 4-6 weeks to be delivered.

@Nighthawke: Is it wrong that everytime I see "point of sale" abbreviated in this way, I immediately read it as "piece of sh*t?"