Today a book came back that had been on the road 11 days.  The postmaster put stamps on the package without stamping it with the green aviation securtiy stamp (the pkg weighed more than 13 oz.).  Because of this, the book was returned to me.  Hopefully the book will arrive at it's destination before the PBS date.

So, if you mail a heavy book with stamps, make sure either the green AVSEC stamp is put on, or a printed out postage label with zeros on it, to prove it was passed over the counter.

By the way, I am a postal worker and had mailed the book on my day off.  This was my boss's doing, I'm sorry to say!  I always have my books weighed, as the suggested postage on the label has been wrong twice.

Ooh, thanks for the reminder. I'll remember to watch carefully next time. It wouldn't be good to have a book returned because the person at the post office forgot an important step.

Ummm...asked at my post office, they said the green stamp is for packages "returned to sender".  I've sent and received books over 13 oz, all without a green stamp.

Very tiny post offices that can't print out postage labels have a green rubber stamp to put on packages over 13 oz. that have regular postage stamps on them.  If your post office can print out a postage label and stick it on your package you are ok. If you bring a package with stamps already on it, the clerk is to print out a postage label with zeroes on it to prove it was passed over the counter, or stamp it with the green stamp.

This green stamp is an aviation security stamp for packages using regular postage stamps, saying that the package passed over the counter,was not mailed in a blue drop box, and can be safely put on an airplane.  If you print out your own postage at home you are ok because the postage can be traced back to you through your payment record. You wouldn't need extra labeling on the package.

The green stamp has nothing to do with return to sender.  But without it, the package may be returned to you with big sticker on it that has an airplane with a slash through it.  These packages always go by surface, so will be returned very slowly.  I can imagine many packages get let through without the clearance, but this particular book was sent back to me.  It's the first one I have seen working at a PO.

Denise, if your PO is bigger than tiny, it probably doesn't even have the green rubber stamp.  It would use the postage labeler either to print out the stamp amount or a zero amount label.

This kind of "security" is so useless as to be laughable (I can think of six ways to get around it right now - and I've not had any coffee in hours) but rules are rules.

Tina, yup my PO isn't tiny.  They tend to be very knowledgable, but may not be trained if it just doesn't apply.  Thanks!