Posts by Nicole Lee4

Mark Kim11 said:I’ve never actually used cash on delivery before, so I’m a little fuzzy on how the whole process works.

I'm planning on picking up a phone worth about $667, and the seller wants to ship the device (the package) via COD, traveling from Honolulu to Washington, D.C.

How do I figure out what the total cost for a package like this would be, $667 plus extra fees?
Also, is there any way to verify that the contents of the package (the phone) are legit before I hand over the money?
And if the device turns out to be broken—say, if the seller scammed me—do I have any kind of protection?

Honestly? You don't.
The postal service will only step in if they, for example, deliver a literal brick instead of a phone.
Everything else is strictly a matter between you and the sender.

P.S. Like someone else mentioned earlier, make sure you open that package immediately. Do it right in front of the FedEx driver, or head down to the post office to open it there if that's where you pick it up.

Mark Taylor3 said:I've got a package coming via COD (cash on delivery $50 plus shipping), and I used the USPS website to estimate the total cost.
So, it's a package under 2kg, there's the COD amount, the declared value is $50, and it's domestic shipping.
Shipping comes out to $10.
Add the COD amount, and we're at $60.
Are there any other sneaky fees I should look out for?

Yeah, you also have to account for an extra $3.00 on top of that.
That's the fee just for processing the cash on delivery payment.

brightskipper40 said:Hey there, roughly how long does it take for the funds to clear if I sent a package via certified mail with COD (cash on delivery)?

If the carrier can't get it delivered right away, it usually sits at the local post office for about 5 days before they try returning it to sender.
Once it's actually delivered, you should see those funds hit within 1-2 days—it shouldn't take any longer than that.
I'd suggest checking the official USPS website just to confirm the delivery status.

Nicole Ramos38 said:I sent off a package last Monday via HP Express, but I haven't seen the funds hit my account yet.😕
To make matters worse, I can't seem to find the confirmation receipt.
What should I do?

Honestly, just head down to the location where you dropped it off and ask them for some help—I'm pretty sure they can pull up a copy for you.
While you're at it, have them give you an update on where the shipment actually is.

I’m adding my voice to the call to bring this topic back to where it belongs.
Geomancy and Tarot are essentially twin souls; I truly hope the other half of that pair finds its way home soon.
Though, honestly, I can't even be sure if there's anything left to restore.
I realize how much of a nightmare this must be for the moderation team to handle.
But let's be real—the people contributing to those threads invested just as much time and energy as the mods did.
The way this was handled feels dismissive, unfair, and frankly, completely undeserved.

So, to all the dedicated hands out there, and to all your cards and charts: a massive 🙂🙂

That makes much more sense now, thanks!😁

😁
I've been dealing with some inflammation in my joints—maybe polyarthrosis?—and this is one of the two blood tests I recently had done.
It all started with this weird, stuffy sensation, then it cleared up, only to come roaring back in less than a month.
Given what’s been said about how this specific value (or any other, really) doesn't necessarily point to arthritis, I'm honestly a bit lost on what this test is actually going to tell me.
Thanks so much.

Hey there
Does anyone happen to know what a rheumatoid factor value of 10 actually means?
The lab reference range goes up to 14, so I'm assuming my result is "good"?

Thanks!

No problem at all! 😁

Adam Barrett said:Hey everyone, does anyone know how the claims process works for international shipments? I have a package that's been traveling to its destination for ages now, and since it hasn't made its way back to me yet, I think I'm going to have to look into what happened soon.

Well, as a first step, you can check this out:

otherwise, for an international claim, you just head down to your local USPS office with your receipt, a photo ID, and your Social Security number.
Then they'll get the process started, and once everything is wrapped up, you'll receive a formal written response.
😁

Walter Moore3 said:Does anyone know if I need to have my current address on my ID match the delivery address to pick up a package from the post office? Basically, I’m planning to order some things online to an apartment in Washington, D.C., where nobody actually lives. If I get one of those yellow slip notifications, can I just show up and grab the package since my name is on it, or do they strictly require me to have my official residence listed at that specific address? I hope that makes sense! 😁

You shouldn't run into any issues picking up your mail.
As long as the address is accurate, you should be fine—unless it's some heavy legal stuff involving the courts, they usually just hand over the packages based on your name.

Olivia Lee23 said:I'm planning on shipping some skincare products tomorrow by 5 PM from Washington, D.C. (Wednesday) down to Miami.
Do you guys think if I use a premium expedited service, it’ll definitely arrive there by Friday?😕?

It absolutely should.

😍I'm just glad I could be of some help!

You can just wrap it up in paper; you don't really need twine if it’s under four pounds.
The only thing is, the packages have to be tied together with twine.

I’m honestly not sure if using a standard stamp is your best bet here, mainly because you can’t send it as a registered package—it’s strictly just regular mail.
That means there’s no tracking confirmation, and if the thing gets lost or damaged, you aren't getting any compensation.
If you do go the stamp route, you have to wrap the book or magazine so it's obvious what's inside. My personal suggestion? Grab a sheet of white paper, write down the sender and recipient info clearly, tape it directly onto the book, and then wrap the whole thing in clear plastic kitchen wrap.
Depending on which local Post Office you hit up, some clerks might insist you show them the contents before sealing it, though most won't make a big deal out of it.
The reason they ask to see it "open" is because a standard stamped envelope is technically considered an open-type shipment—kind of like a postcard—which is why the rate is cheaper; you aren't allowed to tuck a private letter inside.
Since you can't use a stamp for Cash on Delivery shipments, you should probably look at other options. A standard parcel goes up to about 4.4 pounds, so that would likely work perfectly for you.
Just pack it like anything else—use an envelope or a small box with the recipient in the bottom right and the sender in the top left. Then, once you're at the counter, you can fill out the paperwork for registered mail or C.O.D. services.
😁

analogbison said:Look, just head down to the UPS store and hand them that receipt you got when you shipped the package. They’re supposed to get in touch with the local branch at the destination to track it down. If the package is truly lost, you file a claim—I think there might be a small fee around $2.00 for that process. If they still can't find it after all that, they should reimburse you for the value you declared on the package plus the shipping costs (or something along those lines, I don't recall the exact specifics regarding the postage refund).

The claim itself shouldn't cost anything; it's honestly ridiculous to expect people to pay extra just to have someone look for something they were supposed to handle carefully in the first place.
But here's the kicker: there isn't any coverage for shipments sent "without a declared value"—or, to put it more accurately, if you sent it via standard mail without specifying the worth, you aren't getting any compensation regardless of whether you file a claim. quietviper has the receipt, but if I'm reading this right, they don't have the actual proof of shipment.
It's such a shame.😢

coastalharbor6 said:I have a question, and I’m honestly feeling pretty torn about this, but the deal is just too good to pass up.

I’m arranging a purchase through Craigslist right now. The seller doesn't have any other listings; she just posted this one earlier this morning.

We’ve been communicating via email, and we’ve worked out all the details...

She’s supposed to ship it around 3:00 PM, and I’ll be able to send the money around 3:30 since I can't get to the bank before then. I told her to send it via certified mail so she can't claim it got lost. I also asked her to send over the tracking number—or whatever they call that little receipt you get at the Post Office when you send something certified. On my end, I promised to send her proof once the payment is cleared.

She gave me her account details, full name, and the town where she lives.

I reached out to Craigslist support, and they basically told me they aren't responsible if I get scammed. They said they’d provide information to me or the police, and then it’s up to the cops to do their thing.

Look, I shop online all the time, but this offer feels almost *too* perfect, which makes me suspicious...

I was wondering, if she sends me that tracking number, can I check with the USPS immediately to see if the package actually exists and if it’s already en route?
And has anyone here dealt with Craigslist scams involving the police? How does that usually play out? 🙂

I’d really appreciate any insight you guys can give me. 🙂

-Once you get that tracking number, you should be able to verify right away if the shipment is real and track its progress.
-Just remember, there are zero guarantees when you buy stuff through classified ads.
-Ultimately, you're the one taking the risk if it turns out to be a scam.
-I can't speak for Craigslist or the local PD, but from what I've seen, they tend to wash their hands of the whole situation.
-The safest bet is usually Cash on Delivery (COD)—you don't hand over the cash until you have the item in your hands, and she gets her money safely. Though, I've heard stories where people receive a brick instead of a laptop...
😁

Ashley Gonzalez80 said:Hey everyone! I could really use a little help here.
I need to mail some glasses to a friend, but since USPS just absolutely cleaned me out on shipping costs last time, I have no clue how to send them without getting ripped off again.🤷

Mind you, this is only my second time sending a package, so if anyone could recommend a way to dodge those massive shipping fees, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!🙂

Well, if the glasses are already in their original "hard case," you can practically stuff them into whatever you want—an envelope, a small box you have lying around the house... anything at all.
But, if they don't have a case, you're going to have to fashion a little protective box to keep them safe during transit.
(For instance, maybe an old smartphone box with some bubble wrap inside, or something similar.)
Personally, I usually go with Certified Mail (Certified items always get delivered right to the door without extra fees, whereas packages sometimes require extra handling depending on the area, and you end up paying more for both yourself and the recipient).
😁

Linda Chavez14 said:Yeah, I’ve already checked the rates, and using HP ex shouldn't end up costing me much more. My main goal is just making sure this keyboard and mouse set gets directly into the recipient's hands in one piece. I know when you're sending a standard package there's usually a "fragile" option, but I didn't see that listed while looking at the HP ex shipping options on the USPS website. I was calculating the postage online, and the extra options didn't include anything specifically for "fragile" items, so I'm wondering if that's just implied? Also, does the price I calculated on their site already include insurance for the shipment? Thanks! 🙂

You can actually request special handling or fragile service with HP, though it'll be $5.00 a bit pricier
. The shipping rate stays the same for any value up to $1000
. So, the total value being under $1000 won't change what you pay for the label
.

Do you actually know how much the difference is compared to their rates?
If we're talking about a couple of bucks, that’s just the price gap between picking up your package at the Post Office counter versus scheduling a pickup through that number so they come right to your door.
But if it's $2.50, then you're looking at the total cost for the buyback service.