[The E]

Right, so there's this company called Atheist Berlin, which sells shoes that somehow, inexplicably, are atheist. They ship them in boxes sealed with tape that has "Atheist" written on it. Some of their US-based customers noticed that shipping would work unreliably, so they made a little a/b study, where they sent out packages marked with the "Atheist" tape, and ones without it.
Here are the results. Turns out, there seems to be a higher than average chance of the packages labelled "Atheist" to go missing or be delayed.

WTF is going on?

[Woolie Wool]

Probably postal employee misconduct, intentlionally tossing out or delaying the packages marked "Atheist".

[Dragon]

Now this is crazy. We're still 6 days from April 1st, but this sounds like a hoax... On the other hand, the whole thing is so silly that I doubt anybody would be able to make it up. Anyway, I was like:

[Phantom Hoover]

I was raring up to scoff at this, but I see they did actually do a statistical analysis of their results.

[Dragon]

Indeed. Doesn't stop this from being hilarious. Also, I'm now sure it's not a hoax. Things like that can only happen IRL. Nobody would be crazy enough to make that up.

[StarSlayer]

Since it is from the actual shoe maker's site, as opposed to a independent third party, I'd question if it was just a marketing gimmick.  If so it's in poor taste.

[Lorric]

It's obvious, isn't it? America is extremely bias against atheists.

[watsisname]

They should acquire more data by starting another company that sells Jesus shoes.

[karajorma]

People would assume they were for stomping on Jesus' name and lose them too.

[Wobble73]

They should acquire more data by starting another company that sells Jesus sandals.

Fixxored that for you! 

[Polpolion]

Since it is from the actual shoe maker's site, as opposed to a independent third party, I'd question if it was just a marketing gimmick.  If so it's in poor taste.

Of course it's a sleazy marketing gimmick, but most of their tests and claims are pretty valid nonetheless. Assuming of course they didn't just fabricate everything, which I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. There are a number of small issues, I guess, but hell, this isn't a formal study of bias in the USPS.

also on a more tangential note it is my opinion that their shoes look like ass

[StarSlayer]

Since it is from the actual shoe maker's site, as opposed to a independent third party, I'd question if it was just a marketing gimmick.  If so it's in poor taste.

Of course it's a sleazy marketing gimmick, but most of their tests and claims are pretty valid nonetheless. Assuming of course they didn't just fabricate everything, which I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. There are a number of small issues, I guess, but hell, this isn't a formal study of bias in the USPS.

also on a more tangential note it is my opinion that their shoes look like ass

That its fabricated is what I'm implying.  I'd prefer seeing some non biased test by a third party before buying into the USPS throwing out folks' packages because its has stupid packing tape.  While USPS isn't exactly the greatest ever, US laws regarding the obstruction or tampering of packages is extremely severe. 

[Lorric]

Wouldn't that just be a really stupid thing to do though if it was just a gimmick? Wouldn't you get slapped with a lawsuit, there'll be records on this stuff, packages being sent and received.

[NGTM-1R]

More or less. The Postal Inspectors aren't very well known since they usually hand off to other people for arresting, but they're not slouches and federal law on this sort of thing is draconian as a result of the Unabomber and the War on Drugs.

[Flak]

I am not sure about that part, though I'd probably agree with employee misconduct. Perhaps they should experiment with writing 'Athiest' instead, pun intended.

[BloodEagle]

Right, so there's this company called Atheist Berlin, which sells shoes that somehow, inexplicably, are atheist.

Obviously the company doesn't believe in soles. 

[StarSlayer]

[Polpolion]

That its fabricated is what I'm implying.  I'd prefer seeing some non biased test by a third party before buying into the USPS throwing out folks' packages because its has stupid packing tape.  While USPS isn't exactly the greatest ever, US laws regarding the obstruction or tampering of packages is extremely severe. 

More or less. The Postal Inspectors aren't very well known since they usually hand off to other people for arresting, but they're not slouches and federal law on this sort of thing is draconian as a result of the Unabomber and the War on Drugs.

Yeah, I'm aware that these laws are taken quite seriously but at the risk of being naive I still can't help but find it a little far fetched that they'd completely make stuff up. I'd find it much more likely that something was overlooked, or at worst left out, in the study.

[Aardwolf]

Marketing ploy? It's a legitimate airing of grievances. If I were running a business and I found out that postal workers were deliberately interfering with my deliveries I'd make a public stink about it too.

[Lorric]

I suppose you US residents could always test this out the next time you have a package to send...