Parcels to Telic

[Talking Radalt]

Apologies for the non-aviation post but the Post Office were (unsurprisinlgy) utterly useless at answering my enquiry, sticking to the default answer of "Have you tried calling our helpline?" in answer to everything...
Mrs Radalt and I are sending a Red Cross parcel to a mate in Basrah, full of festive goodies and certainly not any alcoholic beverage, "art" magazines or other such contraband. :E (Note: No goods in this parcel were purchased at Harrods)
Thing is, it weighs in at a smidge over the frankly paltry 2kg limit set by Postman Pat.
Now, the helpline/website simply says "To make use of the free postal packet service parcels must weigh less than 2kgs".
What it doesn't shed any light on is if I can pay the difference, bit like excess baggage.
Is it: first 2kg free, or: 2kg...tops? I have heard it's possible to send heavier parcels but, surprise surprise, one has to pay for the entire weight. Gits.
Any postal and courier troop folk out there before I break the contents down in to two parcels? :)

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Try looking here (http://www.rncom.mod.uk/templates/BreakingNews.cfm?id=3950&).

[airborne_artist]

TR - break it down into two and send them a day apart :ugh:
And don't forget something smutty:E

[Talking Radalt]

Thanks WEBF, It pains me to say it but, RN (website) to the rescue. :ugh:
Two parcels it is then, still, makes more of an event of it at the other end I s'pose.

[Talking Radalt]

TR - break it down into two and send them a day apart :ugh:
And don't forget something smutty:E
Any postal and courier troop folk out there before I break the contents down in to two parcels?
A simple solution yes, but it's taken me all bl00dy afternoon to source a suitable box (following the PO's total inability to furnish me with the recommended dimemsions) and then bubble-wrap the "Listerine", and pack everything so it fits with no room for stuff to shift around and get bashed up.
And AA, the BFPO rules are quite clear....no booze, no aerosols (thought it said ar$ehole$ at first on the basis there are enough out there already!), and NO publications likely to cause offence to the host nation and it even states Top Shelf magazines as an example.
Mrs Radalt's pants it is then. :E
On the other hand I guess I could show as much concern about the "host" nation as they do about us? :ooh:

[Melchett01]

TR

Based on recent experience, parcels of any weight will get there. It all depends whether you want them to get there this Christmas or next.

When we were getting stuff sent to Bastion over the summer, any parcels under 2kg went by BFPO and took a week +/- to get there (and aerosols were ruthlessly intercepted with an eagerness rivalled only by the rush for the toilets after one of the special curries). Anything over 2kg did get there eventually, having gone by sea and a lot of the parcels having been raided by the locals when the iso was off loaded where ever.

If it's a big parcel, breaking down might not be such a bad idea. And regardless of the rules - you have to send out the smut and special water - I don't think I've been to a theatre yet where it hasn't got through, you just need to be inventive!

[airborne_artist]

NO publications likely to cause offence to the host nation and it even states Top Shelf magazines as an example.

Years ago I had to visit the company that runs Ann Summers - owned by the Gold brothers. They had a workbench about 200' long with ladies standing at it putting sticky (phnaaar phnaaar) labels on the really naughty bits of Big Danish Women Monthly so they could be sold in the UK!

The solution must be a DVD or two securely wrapped in a Noddy cover....or put the magazine inside a copy of Horse and Hound :E

I can't imagine that anyone is going to break open each parcel to check.

[hobie]

did I read somewhere that in the U.S. the Postal service will deliver suitable boxes and tape and priority labels, free of charge to the senders home .... :confused:

yep .....

http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_067.htm

Now there's an idea for Tony ......

[Talking Radalt]

you just need to be inventive!
Been on the receiving end plenty enough to know most ways round the rules, or decide when not to worry about them but thanks anyway for all the tips.
At risk of being labelled a bit, well....28 Sqn-ish, I've steered clear of including any art house stuff on the basis there always seems to be tons of it on det anyway. Ignoring the "too much is never enough" maxim for a mo, I know when I'm away I sometimes yearn for something "normal" to read. Does this make me odd? :uhoh:
"But it's not for you, it's for a pal!" I hear you say. True enough, but knowing him as well as I do I'm pretty certain he might actually agree with me and appreciate more being treated as a well balanced bloke in the desert instead of a sex-starved 14 year old!
There's a couple of FHMs etc in there. That do?

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

Two parcels it is thenNot a bad idea really. It's like parking the aircraft in dispersals.

[Training Risky]

I'd be interested to know if the Scuffers check parcels for 'Listerine' and one-handed reading material. Do they check your personal baggage when you arrive in theatre too?

Any ideas?

[akula]

:suspect: TOP TIP:suspect:

If sending pornographic material or alcohol ensure you address it not to an individual but to the det, maybe even a bogus det member(suitably arranged via the interweb).
For extra bonus points, choose a SQN EXEC as the return addressee. To top it all off, place inside the parcel a taunting letter for Mr. Scuffer reminding him what a killjoy he is:ok: :ok:

ALWAYS assume NEVER check

[QFIhawkman]

I'd be interested to know if the Scuffers check parcels for 'Listerine' and one-handed reading material. Do they check your personal baggage when you arrive in theatre too?

Any ideas?

With regards to checking parcels coming in, the Police generally only check parcels when called in to do so by the Loggie Postie if he finds one that he considers suspicious, and even then it's usually only by X Ray.
Baggage coming into a theatre is not checked as it was already checked at the APOE. (Typically Brize Norton).
It's good to know a friendly Policeman! :ok:

Oh and by the way, do you not think that they know all these wheezes? They do apply an awful lot of common sense, contrary to popular belief. I'm told that a lot of Listerine and "art pamphlets" get "ignored".