Johne ([info]accept1) wrote in [info]obie_questions,
@ 2005-08-22 23:32:00
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Address
People are asking for my Oberlin address.
If they send it to:

(My Name)
Oberlin College
173 West Lorain Street
Oberlin, OH 44074

is that fine? Without dorm/box # or grade?

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[info]ladypimpernel
2005-08-23 07:14 am UTC (link)
You need to include your OCMR (Oberlin College Mail Room) box number. The only address you really need to include is:

(Your name)
OCMR (your box number)
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH, 44074

Stuff will make it to you eventually without your box number, probably, but I wouldn't count on it. You should already have that number by now, I'm pretty sure. Your box number stays the same for your whole four years at Oberlin, by the way, unless you go abroad or take a leave of absence for a year or more.

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[info]erf_
2005-08-23 10:56 am UTC (link)
The correct format, according to the Oberlin mailroom, is

OCMR (your OCMR number here)
Oberlin College
135 West Lorain St.
Oberlin, OH 44074

You're the only one who checks your OCMR mailbox, so a name is unnecessary. Other ways of writing the address will sometimes work, but this is the most reliable format.

If you're filling out your address on an online form, and it only gives you three lines for your address, you can put your OCMR and the words "Oberlin College" on the same line.

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[info]si_end_ght
2005-08-23 12:37 pm UTC (link)
No, no, no. As someone who worked in the mailroom and saw TONS of packages sent back, the safest, most reliable format is as follows:

Your Name
OCMR (your OCMR number here)
Oberlin College
135 W. Lorain St.
Oberlin, OH 44074

You CAN get away with it without the '135 W Lorain' part but that could delay mail.

If a packaged arrives in the mailroom WITHOUT a name, it is sent back. It is the duality of the name and OCMR that ensures the package is really yours--the mailroom is liable for that package, and if it lands in the wrong hands they are responsible for that mistake and can be sued.

If a package arrive in the mailroom with JUST a name (first AND last), not the OCMR, it delays the packages arrival to your OCMR box. It's put aside, other packages are attended to, and at the end of the day the name is looked up and they put it in the right OCMR box.

If a package arrives with a name THAT IS DIFFERENT than the name you have listed with the college (say your name is Suzy Hall, but everyoone you know called you Lilac Hall, and write that on the package) then the package is generally sent back, unless you either tell the mailroom that you have an official nickname or the nickname is close to your actual name (for example, my name is Jamiella, but packages that have 'Jamie' on it can get to my box).

If a package arrives WITHOUT a last name, it is generally sent back. It really sucks, I know, but again--mailroom liability. People screw up the OCMR number ALL the time, sometimes their own kids' names, or the name of the college (I saw so many variations of "Oberlin College" it made me really question of the parents even knew where their kid was at all). The mailroom, as a conduit between the official post office and Oberlin College students, is responsible for every package and letter each student on campus recieves. They function under very strict rules, but all to ensure that our mail does not land in the wrong hands.

PLEASE, PLEASE, everyone, make sure your friends and family get the above right. Delays in the mailroom affect EVERYONE and it wastes so much time.

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[info]si_end_ght
2005-08-23 12:39 pm UTC (link)
Another note--

Sometimes writing the address online can be a pain, because computers don't recognize 'OCMR' (like if you're ordering something from Tower Records). IT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE if OCMR is changed to 'P.O. #', but make sure to include that street address! As long as your name and a clear indication of your box number is on the package, it will get to where it needs to go.

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[info]dynamint
2005-08-23 04:43 pm UTC (link)
I've been wondering for awhile about this, so I hope you don't mind if I thread-hijack to ask... How do you know if the name is different than the one assigned? I assume you don't look up and/or memorize every single student's OCMR, so are there labels on the back side of the boxes (where you put the mail in) or something?

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[info]fairymay
2005-08-23 04:48 pm UTC (link)
Not a mailroom worker, but yes there are. You can see the inside of some of the mailboxes from the mailroom window.

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