Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Could it cost more than $33 shipping a package from Washington, D.C. to Cleveland?

It’s not exactly heavy or anything, just a bit bulky (sneakers).

A package up to 11 lbs costs $5.00 if you ship it as a parcel and declare a value of $67

The USPS is just fantastic! 👎

Out of the roughly 15 standard letters I’ve received in my life, two of them simply never showed up.

Ten days ago, I was expecting an important document sent via certified mail, but it still hasn't arrived.
Since this is quite urgent, I actually called the post office myself; both the sender and I filled out a lost package claim, but the shipment has just vanished into thin air.

They claim to be looking for it now, but so far, nothing.

Look, since I'm still living in America, I shouldn't be surprised, but I really think even certified mail should be more reliable than this.

Hey,
I haven't used the mail service very often, but whenever I have, it ended up costing me $6.75.. and everyone keeps telling me that $5.00 is the absolute limit. It’s not just about those $1.75, but it really adds up over time.. so I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong. 😢 Basically, whatever I send, I just put in a bag and seal it tight, then at the Post Office, they slide it into a protective envelope, give me a white form to fill out, and that's it.. 🤷

Thanks!

It’s probably a bit tougher since sending it via certified mail ends up costing $6.75. You should just put heavier items in a box and ship them as a package instead of certified; if it's under 11 pounds, you'll only pay about $3.50

Do I get a tracking number when I ship this, just like with a package? So, you're saying what I sent was actually registered mail? I specifically told her I wanted to send it as a standard package, but she just shoved it into one of those big padded envelopes and charged me $6.75 instead.

She went ahead and charged you about $1.25. 😉 It’s just how they operate—they don't bother sending a notification or giving you a heads-up so you can actually decide if you want to authorize the payment; they just go ahead and pull the money from your account ☕
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Of course you have to pay for the envelope. You can see the shipping cost right there on your receipt. Why even wonder about it? I always make sure to ask questions. My aunt works at the local Post Office, so she knows the drill. She usually tells me whether it's cheaper to send something via certified mail or just as a standard package.

Look, I’m not saying people shouldn't have to pay—of course they should—but shouldn't there be a courtesy heads-up if you're specifically looking to buy an envelope? I mean, isn't the local Post Office pretty much the only place you can grab these things reliably? (Though, let's be honest, they charge a premium for it.) 🙄 My wife was actually kind enough to give me a fair warning; she told me straight up that the envelope was going to run me about 75 cents and asked if I wanted to just pick one up there or try to find one somewhere else first. So, in my book, it's just common sense to give a little notice 🤷

I told her I’d ship it as a package and even went ahead and packed it up properly, so she could tell me if there was a cheaper way to do it. Instead of actually giving me advice—like, "Hey, if the packaging isn't quite right, fix it so you don't have to use an envelope that's even $1.75"—she just shoved it into an envelope anyway. Whatever, lesson learned. 😁 From now on, I'm strictly using boxes for shipping; no more envelopes for me. 🙂

Quick question—has anyone here ever shipped a package over to Canada? I’m looking for a ballpark estimate on what that actually costs... thinking of sending something around 2 kg max. Any insights? Thanks.

I sent out a package to a girl this past Tuesday—so tomorrow marks a full week—and she’s telling me it still hasn't arrived... What’s the consensus here, do we think there's still a chance it'll show up, or has it likely vanished into thin air?

Everything else has been arriving right on schedule so far...

Nicole Cooper72 said:I sent a package to a girl on Tuesday—so it’ll be a week tomorrow—and she says it still hasn't arrived yet... What do you guys think? Is there any hope it'll show up, or did it just get lost in the mail???

Everything else seems to have been arriving right on schedule so far...

The exact same thing happened to me recently; I sent a little parcel last Monday and it only just reached her today... even though it was headed straight to Washington, D.C.! It's hard to believe, but there's definitely still reason to be hopeful... 👍
Do you happen to have the tracking confirmation? If it doesn't turn up, it might be best to wait until tomorrow, and if it's still missing, just give her the tracking number so she can check the status herself!

Elizabeth Ortiz said:The exact same thing just happened to me... I sent off a small package last Monday and it only reached her today... After an entire week, and that was just shipping to Washington, D.C.! It’s unbelievable, but you can still hold out hope... 👍
Do you actually have the tracking confirmation? If the package doesn't end up in her hands—well, she might be better off waiting until tomorrow, and if it still hasn't arrived, just give her the tracking number so she can go check on it herself.

I have the confirmation in hand... We'll see if it shows up later today... I was also shipping something to Washington, D.C. myself...

This isn't actually about the post office; it’s more about how to handle package payments. I'm trying to figure out the best way to wire money directly into someone else's bank account. Can I just walk into any local branch—say, a Chase or a Bank of America—and make a deposit, or is there a specific process I need to follow?

Of course you can, but if you decide to use a different bank, make sure to include both their routing number and the recipient's full account number—you know, that long string of digits separated by a dash.

Nicole Cooper72 said:I sent a package to this girl on Tuesday (so it'll be a week tomorrow) and she says it hasn't shown up yet... What do you guys think, is there still a chance it'll arrive or is it just gone forever???

Up until now, everything has been arriving right on schedule...

I think I've cracked the case 😁
the mailman probably just left a notice at the wrong house. yeah, honestly, that kind of thing happens all the time.

Chloe Moore65 said:Sure you can, but if you're sending money to a different bank, make sure you include their routing number and the recipient's account number—basically that entire long string of digits separated by dashes.

Hold on, this guy just sent me his name and an account number (like 8778961123), but he uses Chase, and there isn't a single Chase branch in my hometown :'( So how am I supposed to actually get this paid? Can someone walk me through the process step-by-step? 😁

Look up the routing number for Chase here, then add a hyphen followed by that individual's account number, and finally include their full name.

You can make a payment using a standard money order at the post office or directly at any bank teller window.

I could really use some help here...
On Friday, I sent out a package via USPS with COD (cash on delivery). The recipient already picked it up and paid the mail carrier, but I haven't heard a single word about my money yet.
Does the mailman just drop the cash off at my house, or am I supposed to wait for a notification to go pick it up at the local branch? How does this actually work??
Should I give the post office a call or just head down there in person to ask? How long is the wait usually??