The ordering and sending of stuff by mail is getting crazy.
There used to be a rule of thumb with a care package. If the post cost more
than the contents then that was a cool thing. Nowadays there’s almost no danger
of it being anything else.
I no longer send anything like the amount of packages I used
to and that’s probably a good thing because if I did, then I’d likely be
bankrupt. I don’t mind shelling out to bring joy to others but what I really do
get into a kerfuffle about is when ordering from these fulfilment places that
the post and handling amounts to more than the band or artist will get.
It doesn’t cost $20 to mail a record from the USA to Europe.
It might be $12. Maybe, but even worse is the cost PER item. “That’s the way
the system works”, I’ve been told but that’s simply robbery. Tempered with
laziness. Post at cost with a wee bit on top would be fine but lining the halls
of the postage service is not in my remit.
It’s pretty rough sending things out too. Since they started
going by bulk rather than weight sometimes the costs can be eye-watering when
you get to the “window”. It’s at least twice the price that it used to be and
there’s been no improvement in the service. Indeed postal workers across the
planet are being squeezed by the system. I don’t mind shelling for something
that appears to work. However, when it takes 4 weeks for something to reach its
destination when it’s alleged to be a 5 (working) day delivery then I get a
little pissed off. With the advent of budget flights, it might be worth
considering personal delivery.
The reason I bring this up is that I’ve been considering
selling up the archive. Maybe via e-bag, maybe not. I tend to actively dislike
the type of individual they’ve come to attract. And I don’t like getting stuck
behind one of the entrepreneurs they’ve encouraged in the post office.
