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Wednesday, June 9

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There was a bit of a saga to this mailing, one of the largest I have ever done in total numbers – like more than 3,400. Most of the bulk mailings I do for TFC Global are between 200 and 600, sometimes 1,000 or more.

I received the mailing from the TFC Global Int. Office on Monday afternoon. Everything went well as I did the online preparations with Pitney Bowes and the Post Office. Addressing the envelopes also went smoothly, but when I prepared our inserter to do the work of inserting the flyer and two cards into the envelope, the inserter jammed. I spent a lot of time trying to fix the jam – by removing and opening things and returning them to their spot. I thought, how interesting that this happens with a large mailing and not a small one. 🙂

I finally gave up and called Pitney Bowes. I don’t think I have had to call them for 5-6 years. Because it can sometimes take several days for a repairmen to come, Cerwin and I began the job of inserting everything by hand because I knew the office wanted it in the mail as soon as possible.

Hand inserting flyers and cards into envelopes and sealing them is not a bad job, it just takes a while when there are so many pieces. When we have to label mail pieces or do something like this by hand, we set up a 6′ long folding table in the living room and watch TV while we work.

By Wednesday morning I learned that the same person who was installing a new postal scales that day was also going to repair our inserter. Pitney Bowes had called me several days earlier to say my current meter was outdated. I was getting a touch screen scales. 🙂 She was coming about 2 pm. We continued the hand inserting, because I was not assured that she could fix it.

I was very impressed with her expertise. She has worked for Pitney Bowes for 25 years. First she told me that our inserter was a dinosaur. I knew that. 🙂 After taking the inserter apart, she found a lever that was not in the correct position, causing the envelope to be pulled crooked.

She then inserted several envelopes successfully. We kept the last two trays of the mailing for the inserter. As she trained a new Pitney Bowes tech during the installation of the new postal scales (she also trained him in the inserter repair), I prepared to insert the last few hundred flyers and cards.

The first envelope jammed, but this time the jam was straight and not crooked. She came to the inserter and attempted the process. Another jam. She took the machine apart again to see what was wrong. Before long she began laughing, because she found a tiny (1/2″ to 3/4″) wheel where it didn’t belong.

The wheel actually belonged to the inserter slot where I place the unsealed envelopes. I knew something had caused this inserter slot to be a bit unstable a few years ago, but it still worked. 🙂 So that tiny wheel has been inside the machine for several years.

After she removed the wheel, everything worked fine and we were pleased to take the mailing to the Lititz Post Office on Thursday morning. (above photo)

The mailing was a final invitation to TFC Global’s Victory Weekend Truck Show which the International Office staff is having on June 26. We and our Truck Rally committee have retired from doing the rally, so it is nice to turn everything over to them and relax this year – while they have all the preparations and work. 🙂

If you are interested, please go to the website. Victory Weekend Truck Show – tfcglobal. When there, click on Purchase Tickets Here for more information and to choose the kind of ticket you need. I know they will be glad to see you.