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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you found a stamped addressed envelope, would you post it?

71 replies

Thealarmhasgoneoffagain · 03/10/2022 09:17

I left an envelope on a shop till which had an address and a stamp on. It was very thin and slightly see through so obviously no cash or anything worth stealing.

The shop said they haven't seen it so I guess someone picked it up with their shopping.

Would you post it, if you found it? In all honesty, I'm not sure if I would because it seems somehow wrong to, as if I'm taking responsibility for someone else's decision.

In my case, it doesn't matter if they do or don't but the recipient and me are curious to see if it turns up.

YANBU - I would NOT post it.
YANU - I would post it.

OP posts:
PixellatedPixie · 03/10/2022 09:18

I would hand it in to the person behind the till.

YellowTreeHouse · 03/10/2022 09:19

No I wouldn’t post it.

stuntbubbles · 03/10/2022 09:20

Yes, I’d post it. Wouldn’t think twice.

ATwirlADay · 03/10/2022 09:21

I would definitely post it

NoraEphronsNeck · 03/10/2022 09:21

I'd post it too.

eosmum · 03/10/2022 09:22

Yes and I have done it a couple of times. Couldn't think of any reason not to.

Hymnulop · 03/10/2022 09:23

Course you'd post it. Why wouldn't you post it? Genuinely can't see why someone wouldn't post it.

Bimblybomeyelash · 03/10/2022 09:24

100% I’d post it.

StrawberryPot · 03/10/2022 09:24

Of course

JudgeRindersMinder · 03/10/2022 09:24

I would post it.

For those saying they wouldn’t, why not?

skgnome · 03/10/2022 09:24

How far is the postbox from the shop? Is a postbox on my route?
if there’s a postbox on the entrance of the shop or I know there’s one on my tour I would post it
if not I would just hand it to the shop

spanktastic · 03/10/2022 09:25

Yes I would post it.

MrsEricBana · 03/10/2022 09:26

I would post too

IglesiasPiggl · 03/10/2022 09:26

I would post it, especially because there is a postbox about ten metres from my front door!

SacredDeer · 03/10/2022 09:28

I would post it. I have no idea why some people wouldn't.

Mail once stamped belongs to the crown until it has been safely delivered, so yes I would post it.

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 03/10/2022 09:43

In a shop, I’d probably hand it in at the till in case the owner came back. If I found it on the street, I’d pop it in the postbox.

My friend once got two birthday cards from me - I’d left one on the bus and had to buy another one. So obviously someone had found the first one and posted it. My friend thought I was losing my marbles 😁

honeylulu · 03/10/2022 09:52

Yes I would. I certainly wouldn't have picked it up if I wasn't intending to post it. (Though I'd be more likely to bring it to the shopkeepers attention in case it had been left there for a reason.)

Though it did call to mind the bit in Adrian Mole's Diary where he finds a letter and SAE in Mr Brathwaite's study when he us housesitting and helpfully posts it ... then Mr B returns from holiday and is horrified that his resignation is accepted as he actually changed his mind!

I'm not sure stamped post is property of the Crown. I think it's once it has been posted/enters the Royal Mail system.

StarlightLady · 03/10/2022 09:55

I would post it and if l found one fully addressed but unstamped, l would put a stamp on it.

maddy68 · 03/10/2022 09:58

I would post it. And tell the person behind the counter that I had done it if anyone asked about it

SuperCamp · 03/10/2022 10:00

In a shop: no o would give it to the assistant in case the person comes looking.
On the pavement near a post box: probably. If near a post office I would give it to them.

ColonelNobbyNobbs · 03/10/2022 10:00

honeylulu I thought of that exact thing too!

GeorgiaGirl52 · 03/10/2022 10:06

Back in my college days we did a Psychology experiment about just this. Scattered 100 stamped, addressed envelopes around the city. Half were addressed to "Planned Parenthood" and half to "Community Christian Church".
80% of the church envelopes were received, but only 21% of the Planned Parenthood ones.

AmberGer · 03/10/2022 10:09

GeorgiaGirl52 · 03/10/2022 10:06

Back in my college days we did a Psychology experiment about just this. Scattered 100 stamped, addressed envelopes around the city. Half were addressed to "Planned Parenthood" and half to "Community Christian Church".
80% of the church envelopes were received, but only 21% of the Planned Parenthood ones.

Wow that's interesting!

CluelessHamster · 03/10/2022 10:22

I would post it but, if I'd accidentally picked it up with my shopping, it might end up sitting on the table for a few days until I remembered to post it 😳

NiqueNique · 03/10/2022 10:28

Yes of course I’d post it. Why on earth wouldn’t you??