Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Olivia Green46 said:Did anyone else send anything today? Shipping was supposed to be $12.50 but they charged me $4.75. I guess it's that Catholic Charities thing again; they seem to do that quite often.

I sent some stuff back on Thursday, and since it was solidarity week, they added an extra $0.52 to my total. I was wondering why the price seemed high, then I finally saw it on the receipt.

As for how fast things move... I sent a package via certified mail last Thursday, and by Saturday, it had already arrived at its destination.

It’s funny how things work. One minute, a FedEx driver drops a package right at your doorstep, anyone in the house can sign for it, and you just take it without a second thought. Then, the moment a delivery notification hits your mailbox, suddenly you’re told you can’t pick it up at the local post office unless it’s addressed to your exact name—not just your last name, but your full legal name—unless you show up with a formal power of attorney. 😕

I sent a certified envelope here in Washington, D.C. back on December 6th, and it still hasn't shown up.
Is anyone else dealing with late deliveries lately? Should I grab my receipt and head down to the USPS office?
I've seriously never dealt with this before. I'm gonna lose my mind! 🙂

Lisa Garcia41 said:I sent a certified envelope within Washington, D.C. on December 6th and it still hasn't arrived.
Is anyone else dealing with late deliveries right now? Maybe I should take my receipt down to the post office.
I haven't really dealt with this before. It's driving me crazy. 🙂

If you used certified mail, maybe try calling this number: 0800 303 304 (weekdays from 8 AM to 8 PM). Just give them the tracking number from your receipt and whatever else they ask for. They should be able to tell you where it got stuck and what to do next.

I actually got a package today that was sent via certified mail yesterday morning, so I guess I haven't noticed any delays yet.

Linda Chavez14 said:If you sent it via certified mail, just give this number a ring: 1-800-303-304 (available weekdays from 8 AM to 8 PM). Just read them the tracking number from your receipt along with whatever else they ask for, and they should be able to tell you exactly where it's stuck and what the next steps are.

I actually already got my package today that was sent certified yesterday morning, so I didn't even notice any delays on my end.

Oh man, thanks so much 😍, all fixed now! I had absolutely no clue about that number—I was totally planning on driving all the way down to the FedEx office, but doing it over the phone is such a lifesaver. 🙂

Lisa Garcia41 said:Oh, thanks 😍, it's all sorted now. I had no idea about that number. I probably would have driven all the way to the FedEx office, but this was much easier over the phone. 🙂

No problem at all. I'm just glad you got everything handled 🙂

I'm sending out a tiny little package tomorrow, just a small decorative box about 5x5 inches. I'm not entirely sure how to ship this,
should I probably put it inside another box, or maybe just wrap this one up with some tape?
Also, where exactly am I supposed to write the recipient's address versus my own?

Is there any way to ship something this morning and have it show up by tomorrow, where the person receiving it handles both the shipping costs and the COD fee?

wiredpilot2 said:Is there any way to, say, ship something this morning and have it arrive by tomorrow?

There's an option called PRIORITY SHIPPING
that isn't too bad on the wallet—maybe like 3-$$1.25—specifically for those "oh crap" moments when you need stuff moved fast...
Then there's the EXPRESS route, but that one’s definitely pricier...
Anyway, it exists, though I guess I don't know all the specifics about the fine print.😁

Hey guys, is anyone else seeing delays with their scheduled deliveries? 😢 A few of my customers have reached out saying their orders haven't shown up yet. I sent one package out on Monday and another on Tuesday...

silverangler4 said:girls, are your recommended shipments running late? 😢 my customers reached out saying they haven't arrived yet; I sent one package on Monday and another on Tuesday...

My little package is running late too. It was sent by another member on Monday, but I haven't received it yet (nor the pickup slip), so I guess it's just normal lately and there's no need to worry. Who knows, maybe they'll show up tomorrow.🙂

If you really want to, you could call the free info line at FedEx and check where they got stuck using the tracking number.

I’ve got one question: are they actually allowed to just toss packages around at the post office???????
A few days ago, I was sending a package to a friend—the clerk prints out the receipt, takes my money, grabs the box, and then just elegantly chucks it a couple of feet away into some bin where they apparently keep the outgoing mail..
I just stood there completely stunned—didn't even have the chance to ask a single question or say anything..

northernbadger1 said:Quick question: is it actually legal to toss packages around at the FedEx office?
A few days ago I was sending a package to a friend, the lady behind the counter printed my label, took my money, grabbed the box, and then just elegantly tossed it about two feet away into some bin where they presumably keep all the outgoing stuff..
I just stood there totally stunned, unable to even process what happened, let alone say anything..

Standard operating procedure.🤷 Just imagine how they handle things once they hit the actual transit trucks... which is exactly why you have to check the "fragile" box.😉

Has anyone here dealt with filing a claim for a lost package that was marked as delivered?
I know I need to submit a request through my main account, but I honestly have no clue what the fees or costs for this process might look like.

So I was dropping off a package worth $33 (shipping was $6.00) earlier today, and the lady at the counter was being super intense about me disclosing exactly what was inside, basically saying she wouldn't even touch it otherwise.
She claimed it’s some kind of new regulation they have to follow now. Anyone know if that's actually legit?

Amanda White82 said:I was dropping off a package containing some valuables $33 (shipping cost $6.00) today, and the clerk at FedEx insisted I tell her exactly what was inside, otherwise she wouldn't even take it from me.
She claimed these are the new regulations. Is there any truth to that?

Not really.
But maybe she just got burned because she didn't offer fragile handling. If the contents get ripped open, well, she’ll know why next time.

I could really use some advice if anyone happens to be online on New Year's morning 😁

I need to ship a small package—it’s only about 3.5 ounces—but it’s quite valuable, worth more than $233. The buyer wants to pay via Cash on Delivery.

What would be the smartest and most secure way to handle this without getting hit by massive shipping fees?

I was looking into using FedEx, and they don't really ask me to declare the value during the process, but I noticed it says items are insured up to $1.00 by default?!
I'm still a bit confused about checking the right boxes; I select the COD option, but what does "return receipt" actually mean for me? Isn't it just standard procedure for the package to come back to me if the buyer doesn't pick it up, or do I specifically need to request that? Also, where can I indicate that the item is fragile?

Honestly, I'm feeling a little lost on how to pull this off. I'm also a bit anxious that the buyer might not show up to collect it, which would mean I'm stuck dealing with all this back-and-forth shipping for something that isn't exactly cheap.

casualfox0 said:I need some advice if anyone's around on New Year's Eve morning😁

I need to ship a small package (about 3.5 oz), but it's valuable (worth over $233), and the buyer wants to pay COD (cash on delivery).

What’s the smartest and safest way to send this without getting killed by shipping costs?

I was looking at using FedEx, and they don't ask about the value, but I see it says they're insured up to $1.00 by default?!
I'm also confused about those checkboxes. I select COD, but what does "return receipt" actually mean? Isn't it standard that the package comes back to me if the buyer doesn't pick it up, or do I have to specify that? And where do I mark it as fragile?

I honestly have no clue how to pull this off. I'm also stressed that the buyer might bail, leaving me stuck with shipping fees for nothing.

My advice? Send it as a certified letter with "PRIORITY" service. Don't sweat the extra shipping cost because a certified shipment is basically VIP status in the FedEx system—it's practically impossible to lose, and they move those things faster than anything else. You know what COD is, so I won't explain that, but the "return receipt" is just a form the recipient signs when they take delivery, which the carrier then rushes back to you so you have proof they actually grabbed it. In your case, since you'll be getting the cash from the COD, you probably don't even need the return receipt. As for your worry about the buyer refusing the package 🤷🤷, hmmm... well, you can't exactly expect the postal service to shoulder that risk for you. That's entirely on you. All the carrier does is note that the recipient refused it and sends it back to you, usually charging the shipping fee again (though in my experience, they almost never actually bill you for that). Hope that helps.

urbangardener0 said:My advice would be to send it as a certified letter with a "PRIORITY" option.

You really helped 😉

I just took a look at the certified mail options (I honestly thought that was only for sending cash), and I don't see any specific priority setting listed 🤷. If I include COD and that insurance value, the total postage would stay under $13. It’s really not that big of a deal.

Thanks for clearing up how the return process works, 🙂.

And of course, the USPS can't exactly shoulder the risk if a package goes uncollected—I was just thinking out loud there! Maybe I'll suggest that the buyer sends a small deposit upfront, and then I can ship it via COD so they just pay the remaining balance upon arrival. That way, we both have at least some level of protection.

How long does it typically take for the funds to actually reach me? And do I need to physically go to the post office to pick them up, or can they be deposited directly into my bank account?

Melissa Morgan77 said:Why on earth would the lady at the USPS ask me what's inside a standard package I'm shipping within the States?? 🤷 When I just told her "merchandise," she basically implied I could lie to her face. 😕 What the hell is that all about??

They aren't supposed to grill you, and frankly, it's none of her business when it's just a standard domestic shipment that doesn't need special handling. If she keeps being a pain, just ask for her regional manager's contact info. ☕