Posts by Emily Peterson73

So, here’s my experience...
For about three years now, I've been sending out piles of packages and certified mail two or three times a month. I honestly thought I was some kind of shipping expert by now... but clearly, I don't know anything at all. Packages just vanish into thin air way too often. Of course, when I file a claim, they can't find them, so I end up waiting three or four weeks just to get reimbursed. They told me I could start the claims process after 15 business days had passed since the package was supposed to arrive, and the claim was paid $1.75.

On February 9th, I sent out 12 packages, and only five actually made it. Two were headed to New York City—one arrived perfectly the very next day, but the other hasn't shown up even after two days. Since I've learned the hard way that if a package doesn't hit New York City in a day or two, it's probably lost forever, I emailed the post office to see what went wrong. They replied saying it would arrive tomorrow... NEWSFLASH: It didn't. Then, a package came back to me marked "address unknown," even though I've sent things to this girl before and everything has always arrived fine! So, I tried again, repackaged everything, listed the value, and... same story (nothing). Eventually, I called their support line, and the operator tells me the package arrived in New York City on the second day and is sitting right there at the post office! The guy gave me the number for the local delivery driver in Small Town, USA, which I passed along to the person waiting for the package. They told her the package wasn't there! Then I call, and first, the delivery guy says it hasn't arrived, but then he checks the counters and suddenly it *is* there? He starts rambling about new shipping fee rules. I was floored because I paid $10 for that second package, which is under 1kg and valued at $133, but I was even more shocked when he told me the recipient would have to pay 50% of the shipping cost just to have it delivered to her door! That’s $5.00! And all because I didn't pay $1.75 for delivery (which, by the way, nobody at the post office mentioned to me at all).... which is just HORRIBLE!!! And get this... she didn't receive any notification at all. Since I was sending it to the beauty center where she works, they told me she could pick it up with just an ID and a company stamp... seriously, have they lost their minds?! To top it off, my other packages haven't arrived either—including one sent to Small Town, USA from Indianapolis, which is only about 20 kilometers away. When I called to check, they just said they knew it was sent on Feb 9th but couldn't see anything else. Honestly, I'm losing my mind lately. I am constantly on the phone arguing with them.

They also told me that claims aren't charged anymore and that I can start a search whenever I want, and they actually recommended I do that...

I think they're just... trying to confuse me.

Anyway...😢

Chloe Moore65 said:I once sent a little box with some powder samples over to Canada. Usually, you just have to list what's inside and they write it right on the envelope.
I don't know anything else about it.

Thanks so much for the heads-up! 🙂

Does anyone have any idea?

I need to ship a package containing some perfumes over to Canada....how does that process actually work? Are there customs fees I should be worried about?

Can I send it cash on delivery, or should I just go with standard registered mail? If I go the registered route, will there be some kind of extra fee for an international wire transfer?

...I know you get the full amount reimbursed if you actually declare the package's value. If you don't bother listing a value, they just give you five times whatever the shipping cost was. You pay the claim $1.75 and can only start the process once 15 business days have passed since the mailing date.

Honestly, I’ve had such a nightmare with the USPS lately because packages keep vanishing on me. It's not even that they're getting lost... it feels more like the ladies at the post office are "rescuing" them since they know I deal in perfumes and am constantly shipping them out. For instance, one went missing about three weeks ago and I'm still waiting on the insurance payout... then, just this week, another one vanished. I have no idea how to make this stop. So, I've decided I'm going to list the package value as $167... even if the shipping fee ends up being around $8.25... regardless of whether the actual value is way lower. Let's see who gets tired first—me or them.

If that doesn't work... well, I might just end up getting banned from the local post office.

Steven Castillo11 said:Give it about two weeks from the date you mailed it. If nothing shows up and it doesn't get returned to you, head straight to the Post Office. You'll have to fill out a claim and pay a fee (around $1.75). Once they look into it, if they find it was lost, they'll reimburse you for the item's value or the declared amount. For certified mail, they actually cover five times the postage cost—it's all written right there on your receipt back home.

Thanks so much for the heads-up! 👍

Hey everyone, quick question for you guys😕 I sent off a package via certified mail with COD on June 17th headed to Los Angeles, and it still hasn't shown up... honestly, at this point, I’m starting to think it’s gone for good. Thank goodness I kept my receipt, though. Has anyone else dealt with this before? How does it actually work? If the package is lost or damaged, will the post office refund the amount listed on my receipt? I sent three perfumes in there. Also, how fast are they usually able to track down a missing package? If anyone knows anything... pleeease let me know! 🙏

Karen Cook51 said:Ugh, I am totally overwhelmed right now!! 😁 Can anyone please help?🙂 I need to mail some cards via Cash on Delivery (COD) worth about $467 and I'm honestly a little nervous since it's such a high value just sitting there as three pieces of paper..

How do you even send something like that (you know, a small but valuable piece of paper)? Should I send it as a certified letter with COD, or what?? It doesn't have any weight, so it's definitely not a package..
And what does that cost? How much extra am I looking at paying the post office? 🤷

Thanks in advance!

There's really no reason to be scared. If you're sending cards, for example... you just send them as a certified shipment with COD. All that means is... the person receiving the cards can't actually get their hands on them until they pay for them, and then the mail carrier brings those $467 right to your door. I'm not sure about the exact shipping rate... but I think it's around $10.

Yeah... a standard package usually runs you about $5.00... though it really depends on what value you declare. For example, if the value is $27, shipping is $14.40. If you're doing a C.O.D. shipment, there’s a minimum charge of $7.25 plus roughly $2.75 for the money transfer, and then it goes up from there depending on how much it's worth and how heavy it is.

When you send something via certified mail with COD (cash on delivery)... the shipping usually averages out to about $8.25, depending on how heavy it is and what the package is worth. Plus, the person receiving it is definitely going to be hit with an extra charge of roughly $2.75. I remember once sending off a box of perfumes using that exact method (it was a certified shipment with COD) and there were 12 bottles in there. I listed the value at a little over $150. It weighed in at about 6 or 7 pounds, and the shipping cost me around $20. Honestly, it’s the safest way to ship stuff, but it’s definitely the most expensive option.

Angela Flores76 said:We already knew that, and honestly, it’s even stated right on the FedEx website. 😁

Anyway, those $1.75 postal workers aren't just pocketing the cash. 😉 That $1.75 goes toward the service you get when a delivery van drops off your package and you get a receipt for that $1.75. At least I always get mine. 🙂

But wait, doesn't the delivery van only handle packages heavier than 5kg? They don't bother with the tiny ones... right????

Emily Peterson73 said:Hey everyone...

So, I've got a question for you guys...????? I'm going back and forth with this girl over shipping costs. Usually, when I send stuff out, I send everything via certified mail with COD (cash on delivery)... I just negotiate with people whether I cover the shipping or they do. If we agree that I'll pay, I tell the clerk at the post office that the package value is, say, $33 and the COD amount is $33, so I end up paying about $8.25 for shipping. But if the buyer covers shipping, the value is $33 and the COD is $42. This girl on the forum is insisting she still has to pay shipping regardless. I'm telling her that's impossible. Please, let me know what you guys have experienced with this...

Here's the deal...

First off, a huge public apology to Sandra Brooks91, who told me I'd still be on the hook for extra shipping even if I already paid it. Turns out, she was totally right! But those $1.75 people whose packages are being charged a delivery fee? They shouldn't have to pay that because the mail carrier is basically pocketing it! This whole thing was driving me crazy... so since my brain was working overtime, I decided to just sprint over to the main post office to ask them how this actually works. So, listen up... if you're sending a package via certified mail with COD and you've agreed to cover the shipping... the buyer will still be charged $8.90 no matter what. Honestly, it seems completely ridiculous to me... but apparently, it's a fee for the service of transferring the cash from the buyer to the seller. At least now I finally know 🙂

Sophia Nelson67 said:how I handle things
for example, $33 product + $8.25 shipping
I cover the $8.25 shipping costs, and instead of listing the actual cash amount, I just put $42...so that those extra fees basically get $8.25 "returned" to me...if that makes sense? Then I end up with my profit $33...
I don't know any other way to do it...

That’s exactly how I do it too! When I make an agreement with a customer to cover the shipping myself, I just list the $33 total value....$33 including the COD fee, and I take on the delivery costs. Whatever works, right? My brother-in-law actually works at the main USPS branch, so I can double-check with him. But honestly, I'm 100% sure I'm doing this right. And if some mail carrier tries to pull something shady, well, that's a whole different story.

Hey everyone...

So, I’ve got a bit of a situation here...????? I'm going back and forth with this girl over who handles the shipping costs. Usually, when I send out packages, I send them as certified mail with COD (cash on delivery)... the only thing we ever negotiate is whether I cover the shipping or if the buyer does. If we agree that I'm paying, I just tell the lady at the FedEx counter that the package value is, say, $33, plus the COD amount is $33, and then I cover the shipping fee of about $8.25. But if we decide the buyer is footing the bill, the value is $33 and the COD is roughly $42. Now, this girl on the forum is insisting that she's definitely paying the shipping herself... but I'm telling her that's just not how it works. Please, let me know what you guys think based on your own experiences...