the first person who makes something neat of styrofoam peanuts wins a prize
Before long, everyone who doesn’t already have one will buy a scale. Even a precise, digital bathroom scale would do the trick. One caveat, though: it must measure in English weight units - ounces, pounds, so forth. The USPS only accepts data in that form. No Newtons allowed, despite his gravitating and convenient units of measure.
I mention this necessity because I just discovered the USPS’s Click-N-Ship service, which allows me to purchase and print package shipping labels online. A previous attempt at doing this, some time ago, was met with the warning that it was for commercial/business use only. But, now, I can bypass the truly insane lunchtime lines at the post office and instead use that time to write my pleasant regards about the digitally-revamped postal service. Huzzah!
My adoration for the USPS has grown as of late, even to the point of buying bundles of stamps (when the lines are not so strenuous). Did you know that you can send practically any physical object through the USPS if you put enough (or more than enough) postage stamps on it? Really. Try it. Just remember that the USPS has rules against liquids and explosives, and that there are some girth restrictions (you don’t want to find out that your item is deemed “freight”). Just remember.
One, important caveat: if the object is shaped in some awkward fashion, it will take much longer for it to arrive. This is because you are stretching the patience of the USPS conveyor belt workers when your object jams all of their productivity. However, if your item is some clearly comical gesture, I’m sure they won’t mind the break in monotony.
Try it. Remember that you must have clear Send to and Return addresses, otherwise it will get the boot.