Posts by Mark Perez2

Maria Fowler28 said:How am I supposed to ship a perfume bottle if I don't have the original box? Should I just toss it in a standard package or use one of those bubble mailers? Do I actually have to do all the packing at the Post Office, or can I just get it ready at home? Also, can I even pick up those bubble mailers at a local Barnes & Noble? Any idea what this is going to cost me? 😕

Just pack it at home. Find a sturdy box, stuff it with some paper, and nestle the perfume inside. You want to make sure there isn't any extra room in there so the bottle doesn't just rattling around during transit. Once you're done, wrap the box in some plain colored paper or something to make it look decent.

briskbadger14 said:Hey, I need to ship an autumn jacket over to Maui. It’s a bit tricky because it’s leather, so I was wondering what the best and cheapest way via USPS would be? Should I send it as a package or just in a padded envelope? Thanks!

Did you actually weigh the thing yet? 🙂 You can check the USPS rate sheet online to compare, but if it's heavy like you say, you're probably better off putting it in a box as a package.

Nancy Jones48 said:I need to mail a little dress to Manhattan, and I'm based out of Washington, D.C. Can I just toss it in an envelope? Do they even make envelopes that big? And what am I looking at for pricing?
The dress is super light, definitely under a pound.
Also, does the price jump significantly if I send it as a package instead?

Just weigh it, though honestly, I think you’ll save money by sending it via certified mail. A standard package will run you $6.00, whereas a certified shipment (under half a pound) should be around $5.00.

bluewalker2 said:I didn't even bother with tape for my package since it was a heavy one, about two pounds...

Honestly, I never rely on tape when I'm shipping stuff either. 🙂

Chloe Doyle26 said:I need some help here—I’ve completely lost my way in all these posts. 😢
So, I need to send a book as a gift—meaning nobody needs to reimburse me or anything—but the catch is that it absolutely has to arrive by this Wednesday at the latest. I'm shipping it from Washington, D.C., to Indianapolis. What’s the best way to handle this? Should I just go through HP Express, or is it better to send it as a standard package, or is there some other way to make sure it actually gets there on time?
I’m honestly a bit confused because I can't figure out if FedEx is just meant for handling COD payments, or if I can actually use them to ship pretty much anything else. 😕

You can ship pretty much anything through FedEx. You just walk up to the counter, pay the shipping fees right then and there, and you're done. It’s that simple.

steelpanther6 said:Question.

My package arrived today, and honestly, the guy I ordered from totally ripped me off—charged me $17 more than what was listed in the ad, but whatever. To make matters worse, they sent the wrong sneakers entirely, and when I looked at the return address, it wasn't even his; it was some random warehouse out in Los Angeles.

I already paid the USPS guy for the delivery, so now I’m stuck wondering—is there any way to ship these things back and actually claw my money back somehow?

The guy I bought them from just vanished off Tracker and deactivated his email. He's gone.

🙂

I'm afraid you might be out of luck once you've accepted the package and handed over the cash. The whole issue is that you aren't allowed to inspect the contents before you sign for it.
We seriously need to implement a formal system of commendations and complaints for Tracker. 🙂

Linda Williams28 said:What’s the best way to send documents? I really can't afford for this to get lost in the mail... I'm perfectly willing to shell out extra for more expensive shipping just to be 100% certain it actually reaches its destination...

Maybe try FedEx?

Hannah Barrett61 said:Is it actually allowed to, say, if I have a package arriving with cash on delivery, just open it right there at the post office? If it’s what I actually ordered, I take it, and if not, I just send it back?
I still remember that guy recently who ordered a phone via COD and ended up with something completely different than what he paid for inside the box. 🤔

No, you can't, and that's exactly where the headache comes from. The package could contain literally anything, but you're expected to accept it and pay the money first before you even get to look inside. Honestly, in-person handoffs are the only way to be safe; everything else is basically just a leap of faith. 🙂

Zachary Peterson6 said:Who's claiming it was a girl who sent it?😉

Yeah, that’s exactly why I never touch standard mail. It always turns into this endless back-and-forth where you're left wondering if she actually sent the damn thing or not, especially when there’s zero proof to back it up. Honestly, I’ve always had this low-key phobia about that kind of uncertainty. 😳

granitenomad26 said:I need to ship out a package tomorrow—it’s actually my guitar. I've sent smaller stuff before, so I know the drill with small parcels, but this is by far the biggest thing I've ever had to mail, and honestly, I'm a bit lost. Will any local USPS branch, like the one over on Main Street, just take it without an issue? Also, what’s the deal with the packing? Am I expected to hunt down a massive box myself, or do they keep those kinds of things in stock at the counter?🤷

You can do either. If you don't have a big enough box lying around the house, you can just grab one right there at the post office.

velvetwalker23 said:Wait, you mean just using regular plastic bags? I haven’t even thought about that, but honestly, that sounds like a lifesaver 😁... how do you handle the address part, though? Do you just slap a label on top and call it a day?

Yeah, I just stick a Post-it note on there with some Scotch tape. It’s really not worth my time or money to go out and buy actual envelopes when shipping costs are already through the roof; I just repurpose whatever packaging I have lying around.

velvetwalker23 said:I have a quick question 😍

I need to mail a jacket... I'm thinking certified mail is my best bet, but I was wondering if I can just pack it in a box (like grab a standard cardboard box, wrap it up, etc.) and send that box via certified mail, or is certified mail strictly limited to those big yellow envelopes? 😕
It feels like a waste to pay extra for their specific envelopes when I have plenty of boxes lying around at home, even if shipping a package ends up costing more than an envelope.

And let's say certified mail really does require that specific envelope... do I just bring the item in a plastic bag and they stuff it in there for me, or what? 😁

Don't judge me for asking such basic things, this is my first time doing this. 😛

Have you tried weighing the jacket yet? If it’s over half a pound, the price difference between methods doesn't matter much anyway.
As for how I do it, I usually use plain poly mailers when I'm sending things via certified mail. But for anything sent as a package, I always use a box.
You can also definitely send a small box via certified mail.

northernbadger1 said:Thanks for the reply. I actually just had an item sent back today because the carrier left a notice saying they tried to notify the recipient, but nobody showed up to pick it up.. Honestly, I'm done with cash on delivery orders once and for all.. 🙂

That’s exactly why I don't do COD either. No matter how much people beg me to ship it that way, I won't touch it. You never really know who you're dealing with, and there's always that nagging worry that someone will just ghost the delivery and leave you holding the bag.

Jack Mitchell2 said:These dermatologists are always lurking around this forum, but seriously, does anyone have a solid recommendation for a private dermatologist down in the Miami area?🤷

silentbison17 said:I'm also looking for a good dermatologist in Miami! I heard Desanka Bakalic is good—has anyone actually seen her before??

Count me in on the search: a reliable dermatologist in Miami. I need to get some moles checked out, and while there are plenty of options, I have no clue who to actually book an appointment with.
Anyone got a lead for the three of us? 😁

Anyone else get their packages today? Shipping was supposed to be $12.50, but they charged me $4.75 instead. Probably going to be one of those Catholic Charities types again—they seem to show up more often than they should.

Morgan Hughes81 said:Ladies and gentlemen, can anyone help me out here? 🙂

I should probably send some magazines over to this girl.

Those magazines weigh about 15 pounds total, so I’m just going to ship them to her address as a single package. $9.25.

I’ve been wondering about the best way to wrap these magazines. Does anyone know if I actually need to use a box for this, or can I just get away with wrapping them in plain paper?

What else is there to add? Is that even a question?

I’m looking for someone who’s actually sent out packages before to just walk me through the whole process from start to finish. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

If things are that fragile, you might be better off just tossing them in a sturdy box. Honestly, if you just wrap them in paper, I’m not even sure the clerks at the UPS Store will accept the package. I've had my stuff get absolutely trashed before because someone tried to ship it in one of those flimsy ASOS mailer bags.

Quick question: if I’m sending something to a P.O. Box using general mail, how does the pricing actually work?
I was digging through the USPS rate sheet earlier, and they have this specific line item for P.O. Box delivery, but it’s not clear if that extra fee applies to the sender or the recipient.

velvetwolf82 said:Thanks for getting back to me, 🙂

Just one more thing—can I actually pick up one of those boxes at the Post Office, or should I look somewhere else?

Look, just grab a box and some packing tape from a local CVS or Walgreens and wrap it up yourself.
A bigger box at the UPS Store is definitely going to be $3.25.

velvetwolf82 said:Hey everyone

I could use a little help here. I need to ship a fairly bulky down jacket out to San Francisco, and I'm wondering what the best way to pack it is—maybe a cardboard box or something else?
I haven't really sent anything this big before; usually, I just stick things in bubble mailers.

Also, if anyone knows roughly how much shipping would run for something like this via certified mail from LA to SF, let me know.

Thanks a lot 🙂

It’s definitely going to be pretty large; I remember sending a jacket once myself. Just toss it in a box. Send it as a package to $6.00.

Emily Rivera83 said:How would you guys handle this...

I’ve sent plenty of packages through the mail before without any issues. Everything usually shows up right on schedule and people are happy.
But recently, I sent something out again—the lady didn't specify she wanted it tracked, just standard shipping—and it’s been almost a week now and she still hasn't received it.
Now I'm stuck in this position where she's accusing me of scamming her, which isn't true at all; honestly, everything has always been perfectly fine with everyone I've dealt with, both here and elsewhere.
Is it actually possible for people working at the USPS to just pocket stuff and not deliver it, or what?

That’s exactly why I never ship anything via standard mail. People are always trying to talk me into it, telling me to just do it at my own risk, but I don't touch it.