Posts by Nicole Lee4

redranger82 said:Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

I called the USPS office today, and it looks like they might have just missed sticking one of those COD (Cash on Delivery) slips on the package. It’s totally possible the mail carrier just handed him the box without mentioning he needed to pay anything upfront.

They told me they’d give me a call back on Monday. Apparently, the carrier who handles that route should be heading out to see the guy, even though my paperwork clearly shows the amount I'm expecting.

Now I'm wondering—what actually happens if the mailman gets to this guy and claims we never agreed on a COD arrangement? Will I actually get my money back, or am I just out of luck? 😁

The worst part is, whenever I try calling him, I just get his voicemail. 😉.

Thanks again!

You will,
but it won't happen overnight.
It would honestly be way better if you could find a way to bypass this mess entirely if possible.
The local post office where you dropped the item off really ought to be the one fixing this, since the mistake is entirely on their end.

redranger82 said:Hey there.

I’ve got a quick question for you all. I sent out an airmail package on Tuesday morning using a COD (Cash on Delivery) service, so I was expecting to get some money back once it arrives at its destination.

Even though things were slow for about three days last week, I honestly feel like the funds should have hit my account by now. Now I'm starting to spiral a little and wonder if I messed something up during the process. I really want to know if I filled everything out correctly to ensure that money actually makes its way back to me.



It just feels like I might have checked the wrong box or missed a step somewhere along the line. 😁

Also, does anyone have advice on the best way to ship books or textbooks?

Should I just toss them in a manila envelope, or is there a better way?

Thanks! 😉

Honestly, you did everything right on your end, but it looks like the clerk didn't charge the recipient the full amount—you definitely underpaid the shipping fee.
Did you make sure to include the completed claim form that specifies where the reimbursement goes? (Usually, that's the part they stick onto the package.)

As for the textbooks, I'd recommend putting them in a poly mailer first, then sliding that into a sturdy box. Or, you could wrap them tightly in heavy-duty shrink wrap before using kraft paper.

slycyclist10 said:I really need some help here!
Does anyone know how I can ship a table and two chairs from Indianapolis all the way to Seattle?

Thanks so much!!!!

P.S. FedEx won't touch it because the dimensions are just too huge.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure myself.
Usually, if an item is oversized, they just hit you with those massive surcharges (like, 50% extra on the price).
I've seen people move mattresses and washing machines through them... it really should work out fine.

Brenda Adams2 said:I have a quick question—and sorry if this has already been covered, I haven't managed to read through everything yet...
Basically, I need to send a package over to Mexico, and my biggest headache is how to get the payment sent back to my account from there. How does that actually work? A registered letter isn't an option because I heard they have to open it upon delivery, and they won't accept cash... Western Union is just way too expensive. How are you all handling this? It’s my first time dealing with this kind of thing, so I’d be so grateful for any info. Thanks, everyone!🙂

Starting next year, we should be able to just drop cash in an envelope for outgoing mail.
You can also send money via a money order, so I assume someone in Mexico could use that too (not Western Union, but a standard international money order).

If the package weighs under four pounds, you might even be able to send it as a standard letter.

I'm honestly not sure if it'll even be worth the hassle once you tally up all the fees.

Amy Kern said:I ordered something via COD (cash on delivery).
I'm a little worried it might show up while I'm out running errands. Can my roommates just "refuse" the package so they don't have to pay for it, and then I can just pick it up at the local Post Office later? Also, how long does it actually sit there waiting for me before they send it back?

Just be careful about using the word "refusing" it—you don't want the mail carrier marking it down as a "failed delivery."
It’s better if they just tell them you'll come grab it from the station yourself.
Usually, the package will wait for you for 5 business days once you get the notification.

darkmaker94 said:About two weeks ago, I sent out a package via Cash on Delivery. The guy received it the very next day and handed the mail carrier the cash. But me? I’m still sitting here waiting for my money. 🤷
And to make matters worse, I was foolish enough to toss the shipping receipt in the trash. I guess now I can just... 😢

There might be a way to handle this
Ask the recipient to reach out to their local USPS office to get the tracking number; once you have that, verifying the payment should be a breeze. (It’s an internal process where they log the shipment number against the payment ID, which is how your funds get released)
Or, you could try doing it yourself. Usually, they're pretty helpful—they don't love getting formal complaints, so they tend to go the extra mile to fix things if you approach them nicely.

Zachary Peterson6 said:you could always just call the local post office and ask the mail carrier if they happened to spot your letter—that’s certainly one way to handle it, I suppose.😉

Honestly, more often than not, the mail carrier isn't actually the problem.
A few might swipe something here and there, sure, but that's mostly because they're at the very end of the line—the final link in the chain from the sender to the recipient.
Even if she asks them directly, what is the carrier going to say? "Oh yeah, I saw it, I just decided not to deliver it"? No chance.
If a carrier actually felt like being shady, she'd be getting her mail too.
The real issue lies within those massive sorting facilities...
I really hope someone reports that.

Hey, take a quick look at your notifications and see if there’s a tracking number listed there.
If you actually see a number, then we can be pretty sure those aren't just the usual stuff left in the mailbox—because anything with a tracking number usually requires a signature upon delivery.

Maybe you just "showed up a little too early" today, before the mail carrier had even finished their route through the neighborhood.

Anyway, I'm really hoping everything gets sorted out by Monday.

Christian Perez13 said:I’m looking for some help regarding this illness and finding the right treatment.
Right now, I’m taking 25 mg tablets of Zyprexa, and honestly, I feel incredibly weak and helpless.
I just don't have the strength or the will to do anything at all.
Thank you.

It takes time, too.
Don't forget that part—medication might offer immediate relief in the moment, but true recovery? That takes time.
So, please, give yourself permission to feel weak and unmotivated. Set tiny, manageable goals for yourself, like maybe just walking for five minutes every day.
Try to remember that you aren't going through this for no reason; you've been through something significant, and now you're in the process of healing.
Take it slow.

Angela Grant22 said:I remember sending a package once where I specifically flagged it as fragile, only to have it arrive completely shattered—and it was supposed to be a gift! 😢

So, looking at the math now, which is actually more cost-effective: sending something in a padded mailer or just sticking with a standard shipping box?

If you're dealing with anything super delicate, honestly, the best move is to wrap it in layers—think bubble wrap, newspaper, or even some tissue paper—and then nestle it in some foam peanuts inside the box, clearly marked "Fragile."
It might not save you a dime on postage, but at least your stuff actually arrives in one piece.
I hope that makes sense! If I'm being too vague, just let me know and I'll try to break it down further.

driftingdrifter132 said:The other day I sent out a low-value package via USPS with COD and shipping costs included (meaning the buyer covers everything), but they ended up refusing the delivery. Now the mail carrier is going to return it to me. Am I forced to take my items back, or can I just tell them I don't want it and have them dispose of it??

Best regards,

You absolutely can.
It gets sent back as undeliverable. If nobody claims it, it eventually just gets destroyed.

James Castillo8 said:I need some urgent info—how much would shipping cost if I sent a tiny little package, less than 50 grams, with COD (cash on delivery)? I'd be sending it tomorrow, so would it actually arrive tomorrow, or at the very latest by Saturday? I really need advice here. Is using USPS Priority Mail the standard way to go? Would the postage end up being more than $17?

Probably not.
Maybe around $6.00. If you go with COD via certified mail.
But honestly, an actual COD package is usually $8.75.
Given how small this is (under 50 grams), you don't even need a full parcel box.

edit:
Oh, wait, I just realized you said this is urgent!
If you use USPS Express, you're looking at roughly $17, and if you want guaranteed Saturday delivery, it’ll be even more than that.

Samuel Watson4 said:God, guys, I’m a bit confused—what’s actually the difference between sending an international letter via certified mail versus priority mail? Like, if I want my letter to get to Germany as fast as possible by plane, does it matter if I ask for it to be sent "certified" or "priority"? I just want it to fly! Thanks!

Priority basically means airmail.
And you can actually request that service for both standard envelopes and certified packages.
The main thing is that when you go with priority certified, you get a tracking number. If you just send it regular, you don't.
That tracking gives you some peace of mind—if the thing gets lost or trashed, you can actually get your money back from the post office.

Amy Gomez said:Honestly, guys, how long does it actually take for them at the USPS to process a claim? It’s been three weeks and still absolutely nothing. 😠👎

They're just incompetent, honestly—you should go down there and give them a piece of your mind. Usually, the turnaround is supposed to be about a week.

Chloe Moore65 said:Personally, I’d never agree to pay those shipping rates—for that kind of money, I’d just go out and buy something brand new instead.
Shipping shouldn't be more expensive than $5.00; a package costs $4.25, covers a value of up to $27, and weighs under 11 lbs. For anything else, you can just run the numbers on their website. I really don't get what the extra $13 is actually paying for?
Plus, when you send it as a standard package, you get a proper confirmation, and if the thing actually gets lost, you’re covered for the full declared value.

FedEx Express falls right into that price bracket.

Kimberly Brown43 said:Look, I’m totally embarrassed to ask this,
but what’s actually the difference between a standard package and a value-added one? 😳

The stuff mentioned $333 is considered the value-added option.
Plus, with the standard packages, you still get a confirmation receipt and coverage if things get lost or damaged.

The only thing is, you don't get a confirmation for basic letters.
And don't let the name fool you—even if they call it a "letter," it can be any shape or size (like a small box or whatever), as long as it stays under two pounds.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Wait, what exactly did they scrap regarding the package delivery? Was it those $1.75?

Yeah, apparently.

Shipping fees for package deliveries have been completely waived.
But just a heads up—that doesn't apply to the actual payments for the items themselves.

Olivia Thompson34 said:Hi everyone! This might sound like a silly question, but I'm a bit stuck. 🤷 I often send money via cash envelopes in the mail, and I’m wondering how I can protect myself in case the envelope gets lost. It's a pretty significant amount of money, and I don't really have any other way to pay. Should I be sending this as a registered valuable shipment?

There are actually a few different ways you can handle this.
You could use a money order, a wire transfer, a registered letter, or even an overnight service like FedEx.

If it does happen to go missing, you'll get back the exact amount you sent.

Just a heads-up: you should never, ever send cash inside a standard envelope or a greeting card, not even if you send it via certified mail.

Jonathan Moore5 said:So, here’s the deal. I have a package coming from another city, and I'm paying cash on delivery.
Basically, once the package arrives—I just hand the money to the mail carrier and we're done, right?
But here is what I'm actually wondering about: am I legally allowed to open the box right there in front of the driver to check if the contents match my order? And if it's not what was promised, can I just hand it straight back to him to be sent back to the sender?
I really don't want to get scammed here because we're talking about a significant amount of money. =)

You're allowed to, but that's actually not the mail carrier's responsibility.
The weight of the package is listed in grams right on the label.
If the contents don't match what you ordered, don't mess with anything; just head down to the local USPS office and ask them to weigh it for you.
If someone has tampered with the package, the weight won't match the label. In that case, the post office has to file an official report.

Now, if the sender simply didn't send what they were supposed to, the weight will still be correct. That isn't an issue for the post office at all—that's a direct dispute between you and the person who sent it.