PO9 Postie Info

Recommended 2023 stamp buy:

STAMPS (but we should be ordering in bulk from Gerlach)


40-300x postcard
20-150x 5c (important stamp this year; builds 15c)
20-40x 15c (non-machineable surcharge; if you buy more of these, don't max 5c)
100x 19c (builds international (if available))
Letters - have not increased as much as postcards, only 15c difference now.

Internationals - Whatever you can afford, as foreigners never have US postage.
This is not considered a camp expense, otherwise our dues would be astronomical. We could easily spend $20,000+ on stamps, if we were to give out free stamps to everyone who comes to our windows.

These are your personal stamps. If you wish to buy from your local USPS, you can - however, each USPS branch is judged on its volume. Gerlach does over 70% of its total yearly volume during our event. They have 140 people in their town. They handle mail for 70,000+. Undoubtedly, this places a strain on them.

The USPS looks at Gerlach, and says, "Why not close this branch, there's only 140 people in the area?". The only way to counter that perception, is to make sure that they show sales.

Only you know how many stamps you can afford, and can give away. If you don't want to (or can't afford to) give anyone stamps, that's a personal decision.

Most people coming to Burning Man didn't know they might need stamps. Well over 80% of the people you interact with are not going to have stamps. If you don't have stamps, then you need to refuse to take letters or postcards that they intend to mail, until they go find appropriate postage. If you have stamps, you can be the place that they find postage. (Everyone one of those people are going to ask you for a stamp, feel free to tell them 'No', especially if they're not doing something entertaining for you - we like to make them participate, immediately).

At the end of the event, we try to fix unstamped mail (unstamped mail is not guaranteed to go - please don't promise people that you will find a stamp, unless you go to your tent, and get a stamp). We will take any stamps you don't use and wish to donate (to fix issues). Or, you can take your stamps home, use them in the default world, or you can bring them back next year (forever stamps last forever).

Be careful of scam sites selling counterfeit stamps online, as those pieces of mail will just be discarded. You're not doing anyone favors with those 'stamps'.

Other counter supplies:


Envelopes - we always need sleeves for non-compliant mail. (Don't go overboard; we don't need 1k)

Pens - are preferred over pencils (less MOOP). Always stolen, always dried up - bring a pack.

<1x Glue stick - if you have one, bring it. We don't need these on a regular basis (no playa stamps this year), but when we need it - we need it bad.

1x Black Ink pad - especially if you brought stamping stamps. Wide and large, can be used for postmark as well.

1x Black Ink refill - If you bring a pad, bring one of these. Playa evaporates your ink, as well as high-use. Postmark eats these too, so we'll take extra/unused.

Postcards - if you're planning on your own print run of postcards, send email - there is advice and resources available to make better postcards (and don't print 10,000), as well as art criticism (yeah a postcard with your kid on it is lovely, but only the pedos look at it and say, "I want to send *that* one" - and then I get the willies in giving it to them. Everyone else nopes out)

Bring:



Scissors


Training:



Forms:



Camping:



Marking your stuff: It is likely that you've ordered the same make and model as someone else. Corporate Capitalism is about decreasing consumer choice, by throttling income and reducing competition, which means sometimes there is only one (or none) choice. We recommend engraving, spray-painting, and tagging/marking.

We should have an engraver for use. Our tip is currently worn down, but hoping to replace.

Spray-paint: You should spray-paint with at least two color bands/stripes (if you like a particular color, chances are someone else picked the same color - but you're unlikely to have both picked the same two different colors (unless one of those colors is black or white)). Buy a can or two in Reno, if you can't get this done at home (flying in - don't expect to take cans on a plane).

Marking: white duct-tape (that takes pen) for your name. Realize this is easy to rip off, re-name - don't use for anything of value. This is to prevent casual, mistaken, misappropriation on your water bottle, mug, etc.

Solar shower: The more we have, the more likely there will be a hot shower waiting for you when you want it. These get punctured on the regular. They get destroyed by the sun (over time). We always end up needing some. If you bring your own, mark it. If you want to donate one to the camp, we'll mark it.
Our heated propane (bring a canister of propane) shower pump should be working, but it is nice to have a backup.

Power cord(s): Mark these - as they are high-demand, valuable, and stolen on the regular. We (used to) have BMorg power. If you don't know what that is - it won't run what you want (eg: no A/C, no fridges). But it'll charge your electronics, fans, and lights. Two cords would be nice, extend the net - as well as reach all the way to your tent. Heavy gauge is nicer (also, more expensive).

Power strips/bars: Mark these. Needed because you're unlikely to be on the tail end of the net - the next guy is going to need to connect where your cord leaves off. In addition you're probably going to want to leave some battery chargers hooked up, or run lights *and* a fan. On/off switch is nice for lights. You can get a splitter and a power-strip instead of two (or three) strips. If you don't mind charging while working a window, we (might) have some running lights and things in the PO proper.

Zero-gravity camp chair: Probably mark these. Standard camp chairs get broken quick, and you'll be much more comfortable.
(manufacturers: NO: Sundaze Decor - YES: Caravan Sports, Pure Garden, Best Choice Products)

We're trying these 2022: zero-grav

(2022 update: They are adequate, did not immediately break)

Rebar: We have metal cut-off blades and a re-bar bender. If you need tent stakes, or uprights for your shades. If you want us to buy and bring for you, make arrangements.

Bike Lock: If you're getting a bike from us, bring a bike lock. If you've got your own bike, you need one. Don't get the super-cheap ones, but don't go over-board. You shoudn't be bringing thousand dollar bikes, in any case. You basically want to keep drunk people from picking up your bike, and casual opportunists. There are some career-thieves who go to BM; but drunk people, and unprepared people will be leaving unlocked bikes around for them to steal (esp. if you don't have a super nice bike).

Thrift-store bed sheets: Higher thread count is better. King or Queen is better than twin. Spread over your sleeping situation in the morning - keeps dust from settling on it. Inside your sleeping bag keeps it less dirty, too. Did you bump something and you're bleeding a little? Keeps this off your sleeping bag. You can't beat that for a mere $1 or $3.

[OPT:] Cot + wash basin: If you want to wash long hair during the event, having this and a hair buddy is ideal.

If you're bringing a genny:

You need a generator box (or EU (eg: Honda EU2200i super quiet inverter generator/2200 watts) or quieter genny). Bring plywood, at least 6" on all sides larger than your generator (and preferably 1'), otherwise you risk cutting off oxygen to your generator, min 3' tall (and prefer 4'). This baffles the sound. Possible we can use foam, should that be cheaper - but if it touches hot parts of your generator, it is destroyed/turns into flame (not ideal). Wind events, and drunks stmbling into your box are potential things that happen.

Bike cable(s) and lock. Generators and gas containers get stolen.

Fuel storage. You cannot set fuel containers on the playa. We recommend kiddie pools or concrete trays (don't stack a bunch in one tray - you are buying space for the fuel to occupy (should your container get punctured or leak), not plastic to keep it off the ground).

Concrete mixing tub (~14 gal capacity: only put in 10g worth of fuel tank)

Chest freezer (Garage-ready) - we'll be on a power net for 2024. Garage ready is able to run in harsh(er) conditions, most freezers are engineered to be running in an already air-conditioned space.

If you want something else transported, arrangements can (probably) be made to have an item sent to an build-crew member, or picked up from a store during pre-build-week, when trailers are going thru Reno.