As online auction sellers, we have a lot more contact with the Post Office than your average civilian. As such, we are bound to have some experiences that push the "envelope" of patience.

Now, I know our postal workers have been the butt of many jokes and some frustration (the expression "going postal" comes to mind). But I feel blessed to have some very nice postal workers, from the lady who picks up my domestic uninsured packages right from my front door to spare me the dreary chore of lugging 'em to the P.O., to the friendly chap in a Looney Tunes tie who gives me patient advice on the nuances of our fine nation's postal code. (Well, usually it's patient.)

The funny thing about Mr. Looney Tunes is that no matter how many trips I make to the P.O., or how much I think I've mastered the postal rules and regulations, Mr. Tunes always has to give me advice. (And correct something I've done).

The last time I straggled in there, I was lugging an eight-pound package, with my (BIG) customs form filled out, including a list of the contents of the package. (This is the form for packages of four pounds or more, as opposed to the smaller customs form for packages four pounds or less, NONE of which is noted on either form, of course!)

My box edges were taped up like King Tut's mummy, and Mr. Looney Tunes took a look at the form. "You know, if you don't want to give away the fact that it's a gift, you can just write "gift" on the form?" he said.

"Well, uh, no, I didn't. OK, thanks!" I mumbled. (The package was a gift to a friend in Holland). He proceeded to give me a nice, friendly lecture on how I could save the element of surprise for my friend overseas, while I felt twelve pairs of eyes from the long line behind me burning laser-like stares of impatience through my back.

It wasn't until later when was driving in my car that I realized what I could have said to look like less of a fool.

Like, why doesn't the form simply TELL you that if it's a gift, you don't have to list the contents? As I recall, the form simply instructs, "list contents." In this day and age, when little old ladies and toddlers are getting frisked at the airport, it wouldn't occur to me to not be pretty darn specific on an international mail form.

It's nice to know I'm not alone dealing with the nuances of sending many objects through the mail. In chatting with other sellers, I hear plenty of other "postal experiences."

Like the woman who was desperate for Priority Mail tube mailers when her order hadn't yet arrived by mail. She drove to the Post Office and asked the clerk behind the counter if there were any other priority boxes besides what was out front. The clerk made the woman wait in line, only to tell her 5 minutes later when it was her turn that no, she did not have any other priority supplies in back!

Another seller was missing her online order from USPS (must have been something in the air that week).

So she walked into the P.O. in the next town over, where her daughter attends school. She arrived at 4:25. The clerk was casually chatting with a man about a dinner date, etc., etc., while she waited in line. At 4:30 the second clerk came out from behind the counter to inform her that they close at 4:30, and that she was keeping them from getting home on time.

"I don't think I have to say much more than that," says the seller. "It wasn't until I was in the car that I thought of a great comeback, of course."

Looks like I am not the only one with that problem!