http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/04/23/auctioned.mail.ap/index.html BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- A German postal worker admitted auctioning packages over the Internet after a search of his apartment turned up a hoard of missing deliveries, police said Thursday. The 37-year-old letter carrier, whose identity was not released, started keeping packages and offering their contents on online auction site eBay last summer, police said. In all, more than 100 went missing, and police estimated the value at $23,700. While the German post office noticed that packages frequently went missing on his route, it was unable to prove what was happening until there was a complaint from a musician whose awaited clarinet mouthpiece never showed. After the package failed to arrive, he found an identical item on eBay -- offered by the postman, from the western town of Gelsenkirchen. He bought it, but also informed police. Police found the missing mouthpiece at the apartment of the postman's girlfriend and then searched his flat -- turning up piles of missing packages.
And yes, the one reason, and ONLY reason I am posting this, is so I can make a blatant Seinfeld reference:
Maybe that German guy didn't get his transfer to Hawaii?? JERRY: Listen, I want you to get the mail outta my storage unit. NEWMAN: Sometimes we don't get what we want. JERRY: (Confused) What are you talking about? NEWMAN: I didn't get my transfer. JERRY: "Transfer"? NEWMAN: To Hawaii. The most sought-after postal route of them all. The air is so dewy-sweet you don't even have to like the stamps.. But it's not to be - So, I'm hanging it up. JERRY: You quit the post office? NEWMAN: Kind of. I'm still collecting checks, I'm just not delivering mail. ------------------------------------------- JERRY: What? NEWMAN: That was the Vice President of the post office. I didn't get the transfer.. They knew it wasn't me doing my route! JERRY: How did they know?! NEWMAN: (Stands up) Too many people go their mail! Close to 80%. No body from the post office has ever cracked the 50% barrier! It's like the 3-minute mile! JERRY: (Pleading) I tried my best! NEWMAN: Exactly. You're a disgrace to the uniform. (Newman takes off Jerry's mailman hat. Jerry turns his head in shame. Newman then tears the post office badge from Jerry's coat) JERRY: You know, this is your coat. NEWMAN: (Realizing) Damn! ----------------------------------------------------------- Maybe it was raining????????? George : .... Um shouldn't you be at work by now ? Newman : Work ? It's raining . George : Soooooo Newman : I called in sick . I don't work in the rain . George : You don't work in the rain ? Your a mailman . " Neither rain nor sleet nor snow ....." It's the first one . Newman : I was never that big on creeds .
something happened to a friend at bed bath and beyond where i use to work. he was stealing knives and selling them on ebay. they added up to about $20, 000. just happened about 3 months ago. stuff turns into a federal offense on ebay; because it goes over state lines.
