Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
#43222 09/27/01 09:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328
enthusiast
OP Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 328
Is it just me, or does anyone else find the boxed-in messages in the upper right-hand corners of business reply envelopes faintly insulting? A recent example:

PLACE FIRST
CLASS LETTER
STAMP HERE.

Without the proper
postage, the Post
Office will return
your mail.

Wonder of wonders, I actually got a reply envelope the other day that had absolutely nothing printed in the upper right-hand corner. Just white space. How refreshing!


#43223 09/27/01 11:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
Don't be insulted. Something like 25-30 years ago, the utilities began refusing to accept bill payments without postage. Seems many customers were sticking them with them cost of delivering payment.


#43224 09/27/01 11:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
J
old hand
Offline
old hand
J
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
If you find it offensive, just don't put a stamp on it. Just put the destination address in the return address spot. mail fraud be damned.


#43225 09/28/01 01:49 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
X
member
Offline
member
X
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197
>>destination address in the return address spot.

Many of the bills we get come with this already preprinted on the envelope.


Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
B
old hand
Offline
old hand
B
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
> Many of the bills we get come with this already preprinted on the envelope.

That's is pretty much the rule nowadays.
I do agree with Rapunzel though - when one does have to put a stamp in the corner that the requests it, the command is often very rude. I have the feeling this is nothing new to the philatelist and his branch, but.


#43227 09/28/01 10:51 AM
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Don't put the stamp there. Put it in the lower left corner, the lower right corner, anyplace but directly over the recipient's address. The rule is that there has to be postage on the front of the envelope, according to my USPS neighbor. Upper right is simply conventional. And NO ONE here is conventional!



TEd
#43228 09/28/01 11:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
J
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
J
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Re: Put stamp here etc....

Yes, this constant over-explaining is driving me mad.

We bought a new car the other day, the first really new one in a very long time. It is obviously built to be driven by an idiot. When you open the engine all the parts that have to be touched by the user are bright yellow, like something out of toytown, it takes all the fun out of trying to find the thick black oil coated dip stick thingy that you are supposed to check when adding oil. Much as I love the car (I really do love its retro shape) it is giving me a headache when I drive it. "Beep - You haven't touched the brake pedal to prove that you are still awake, "Beep - you can only remove the ignition key with the car in park" (learnt recently to my great embarrassement that you can't start an automatic if it isin't in park , "Beep - you've opened the door with the lights on", "Beep - you haven't fastened your seat belt yet", "Beep - the handbrake is still on" - I can work all those things out for myself without getting a headache! The other day, I wanted to listen to the radio while waiting for someone. I gave up - you are obviously not allowed to sit still - too many beeps! Aaaaargh!


#43229 09/28/01 01:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Nobody seems to have mentioned the obvious reason for the little box in the right upper corner of business envelopes. When the Post Office first started using machines to cancel the stamps, they had to have the stamps applied close to that corner. If the stamps were applied elsewhere, the letters had to be hand cancelled, which was costly.


#43230 09/28/01 01:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Beep - ...Beep - ... Beep - ...

One of my favorites was the car which, when you opened the door without removing the key from the ignition switch first, clearly and crisply stated, "A door is a jar."


#43231 09/28/01 01:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
J
jmh Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
J
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
>One of my favorites was the car which ...

Thanks Faldage. I knew that there was a word post hiding there somewhere. You also reminded me of my first joke!


Page 1 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5