Posts by William Jones30

Elizabeth Brown90 said:It looks like I need to head back to the USPS; I totally forgot to ask them about this... I know COD is pricey, but I honestly thought the declared value package worked differently. I figured they’d just hand me the cash right there at the post office, and then the recipient would settle up with them later, rather than them carrying the package to her and then trying to get my money...

I think you’ve got things a little mixed up—you don't seriously think the US Postal Service is just going to hand you cash upfront for a package they haven't even delivered yet, right??!! Come on 😕
I'm gonna hit up the post office to send out about ten of these once I have enough cash on hand, and let them figure out if the recipient actually wants to pay the amount 😁😁

But seriously though. Every package has a declared value, which basically just dictates how much you pay for the shipping insurance.
There is also such a thing as a registered letter that can hold cash, which gets paid out to the recipient later.
What you're describing doesn't exist, and Sandra Brooks91 is spot on—the only way to actually get money from a shipment is to send it as a C.O.D. package through something like FedEx or UPS.
The price depends on how heavy the box is, where it's going, and how fast you want it there. That covers the shipping part. For C.O.D., the recipient pays an extra 3.66% fee on top of whatever amount you're requesting, capped at $27.

You don't really pay for things like FedEx, for example.

Nancy Watson86, you are such a blonde😁
No offense intended, but if you look at the thread right above yours, there’s already a breakdown on how to ship via COD, and honestly, there are at least three other posts on this exact page covering it too.

You basically have two ways to go about this. You can just send it as a standard package and cover the shipping costs yourself.
Or, you can use an express service—like FedEx or UPS—where the recipient handles all the fees upon delivery.
If you go the package route, you just include a money order for the COD amount. Just make sure you fill it out correctly, listing yourself as the payee and the customer as the sender. That’s how you ensure the cash actually lands in your hands.

bluesurfer10 said:Can someone walk me through how COD (cash on delivery) works? Like, who actually hands me the money? Does USPS just deliver it like a regular letter??

By the way, if I use FedEx, I don't have to pay anything upfront, right? Basically, the buyer covers both the item cost and the shipping fees.
thanks!

Exactly. If that's how you set it up, the recipient handles the whole bill. Then, after a few days—usually about three, though sometimes it takes closer to five—the carrier will drop off the cash you're owed right at your door.

Anonymous said:So I sent out a package today worth about $33.
The guy specifically asked me to set it up so he pays the shipping (COD style).
The lady at the post office processed it through some kind of EMS service, and I didn't pay a dime besides
those yellow envelopes, so maybe $1.25.
She just slapped a sticker on the envelope saying "Receiver pays postage in the amount of ___."
And now it turns out this guy is going to end up paying $51 all in one go 🤷
It seems insanely expensive to me... but hey... he's the one who wanted it that way 😍

That’s actually called EMS HP Express. Standard EMS is usually what you use for international shipping. He’ll be paying $33 you, plus $3.00 the standard USPS rates along with a delivery fee that depends on how fast he wants it and how heavy the box is. Probably an extra $18 on top of that too.

Michelle Fisher98 said:William Jones30, I honestly don't get why there's such a difference in that minimum $3.00?

It’s basically because when you use a standard USPS money order $3.00 versus a bank transfer, the fee hits differently—like 5% on one and maybe 1.83% on the other. Plus, the postage on a money order is about $3.66, while the bank thing is much lower. Honestly, the whole reason for the gap is just convenience. With a bank transfer, the money just lands in your account digitally, but with a money order, the mail carrier is literally bringing the cash right to your doorstep. That extra cost is essentially for the home delivery service. I know most small business owners and freelancers around here prefer it that way; they'd much rather have the mailman drop the cash off at their door than deal with tracking digital transfers all day. 😉

Michelle Fisher98 said:Just cover the shipping cost.
It’ll be $21.60, or honestly, since it's such a small amount, maybe even less (I'm guessing somewhere around $5.25). Either way, I have no clue if there's any way to send stuff without you having to shell out for the postage yourself...

The only real way to ship something through the mail—whether you're doing COD or not—without paying anything upfront is to use FedEx. If you set it up that way, the recipient covers everything upon delivery. As for the cash-on-delivery fees, the receiver pays whatever amount you put on the form plus an extra 3.66%, though the minimum is $3.00 and the cap is 80.

Nicole Harris80 said:I have a question. Today I sent two books via USPS, where the recipient pays COD, and I listed the package value as $17. How much will the shipping end up being?

Which service did you use? A standard parcel or FedEx Express? If you already prepaid the transport, then the recipient just pays $17 for you, plus $3.00 in COD fees, plus $1.75 for delivery.
So, roughly 63.90

If it’s a registered letter, it’s just 50 plus $3.00 for the COD fee.

Look, I didn't round up the value of the letter either! But honestly, USPS just wants to squeeze people for shipping costs. People really need to wake up and realize they shouldn't be overpaying even a single cent more than necessary!

Look, if you didn't specify anything, why are you venting here? Why would a postal clerk offer you the cheapest option? You never know if the customer actually asked whether they wanted a standard parcel or a certified letter. Maybe they just said "whatever." It's like going to buy a TV and then throwing a fit because you bought a mid-range model when there was a cheaper one in the window. Did you clearly state what you wanted?
Maybe the clerk is supposed to stop every single customer and ask, "Hey, you know this isn't the cheapest way, do you want the budget version instead?" Or should we just scrap all the expensive services and only keep the ones that cost $4.75 just to make everyone happy?🙄

I order books from "SK" online, and shipping is free for orders over $250. My total was $880... five books arrived within three days... the mail carrier rings the bell and brings the package: I give him $1,000 and he hands me back $5... I ask how much the shipping is and he tells me: there's a COD fee, weight-based shipping, and a $5 delivery fee... fine, whatever... but he doesn't even provide a receipt and just walks away...
So I call SK and ask why I was charged shipping, and here's what they told me:
The shipping was already paid at the local post office on Main Street—go complain to them—because for every 100 customers, there's one case like this... if they won't accept the complaint, call SK...
So I head down to the post office... they tell me I'm right, but they won't call SK. They say they'll contact the carrier and tell him to settle it with me directly... and eventually, I get my $100 refund, though he was acting pretty grumpy about it...

I hate USPS!!!

Shout out to the good ones, though...

That is genuinely terrible. Honestly, the best thing you can do for yourself and the Postal Service is to write an email or a formal letter detailing exactly what happened. Include which carrier it was, the date, and everything. Someone behaving like that doesn't deserve the job.
The only thing that carrier is allowed to charge you for, if everything you said is true, is $1.75 for delivery. And regarding the receipt, they can't issue one to you personally, only a confirmation. The actual invoice was already issued to SK, and they can't issue two separate invoices for the same service.

rapidrider3 said:The USPS can be an absolute disaster sometimes...You seriously always need to write down or state the actual value up to $27!!!
And that goes for packages in boxes too!!!

I'm with you on this. Look, I know we can be a rough crowd—the minority really sets the tone—but when they act like this, it gives everyone else a bad taste in their mouth too.

As for that bolded part, that is honestly the worst advice you could possibly give someone. Don't just come crying to the forum later if your package gets smashed, lost, or damaged after you reported the value $27 , even though it was actually worth way more. 🙄

granitewalker17 said:Quick question for William Jones30...
can you walk me through this??
So, some girl sent me a certified package today containing perfumes... she told me the lady at the USPS counter actually asked her what was inside, because apparently, people working at the post office know how to peek into packages... and then things can go missing if they get curious about the contents...😲...
She just told them they were movies, and that’s what was even written on the envelope.... she figured it was just some lady there being nosy since she’s neighbors with her...

I definitely can. We actually have to ask customers exactly what’s in their shipment, and we even have to list the contents on the invoice (that’s specifically for FedEx, but honestly, it applies to pretty much any carrier). If someone is trying to ship something that isn't allowed, we have to catch that immediately and tell them no.

A few years back, they handed us a massive stack of stickers marking prohibited items—things like stuff that’s hazardous to the environment or humans, flammables, and if I remember right, even pressurized cans and stuff like that. I'm looking at a deodorant right now and it has the "flammable" symbol on it, so we wouldn't be able to ship that through our service. Look, customers can say whatever they want since packages are handed over sealed, and most of the time everything goes fine. But listen, we've had situations where the fire department showed up at the facility about two years ago because something leaked out of a package and caused a huge scene. Or a couple of years ago when our manager ended up in the hospital because his delivery van was loaded with unauthorized goods and he ended up in the ER—thankfully, he was okay. If you lie about shipping something dangerous to people or the environment, it could seriously blow up in your face if anything actually happens.

Sandra Brooks91 said:So, you're basically saying the mail carrier is above the law and doesn't have to give me a receipt unless I make a huge deal out of it? Is that what you're getting at?

Look, here’s how it actually works: when a USPS carrier drops off a package, they aren't handing out formal invoices on the doorstep. They provide a proof of payment, which covers the $1.75 delivery fee. If it’s a COD shipment, that receipt will also include the cash collection amount. The actual official invoice is generated the moment the package enters the system, so there isn't a second one issued later. Honestly, most big corporations ask for those receipts way more often than regular people do. So, no, the postal service isn't some lawless entity—the invoice is already created at the point of shipment!!
The reality is just that most customers don't even bother asking for them.

And just so we're clear, packages stay sealed. We don't go opening them unless there's legitimate suspicion that whatever is inside violates federal postal regulations.

Declared value matters a lot, too. A ton of people try to be sneaky by lowballing the value of expensive items just to shave a few bucks off the shipping cost. But if something goes sideways with your package and you intentionally undervalued it, you're stuck—you won't get a penny more than what you officially declared.

Sandra Brooks91 said:I’m sorry, but I’d love to see some actual proof for that last sentence. Besides, what’s illegal about doing someone a favor instead of issuing a receipt? Regardless of who’s asking or who isn’t...
btw http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...3711376&ref=ts come join 😁

The proof is right there in the email you got from HP, which was posted somewhere in the first five pages of this thread. That’s how the federal postal service regulations work. Or do you honestly think a massive government agency is going to break the law and steal from people $1.75 for decades now???
Home delivery costs $1.75. For those $1.75, a payment confirmation is issued. It’s crystal clear. Honestly, you're just being difficult at this point.
If you don't want to be charged $1.75, tell the sender to cover it or just send it via FedEx.

When the drivers get back from their routes, they have to hand the cash over to the clerks at the station. For every single package delivered, they’ll ask the driver for $1.75, and that money goes straight into the revenue ledger. Whether the driver hands you a receipt for those $1.75 or not, he still has to turn them in when he clears his funds.

I just skimmed through the first few pages of this thread before deciding to weigh in with a few thoughts of my own. I didn't quite have the energy to read every single post, though.

Here’s how things work: if a package is addressed to a business, it is strictly forbidden for the USPS worker to hand it over without an official company stamp. Anyone who ignores that rule is basically asking for a massive headache from their supervisor.
The older guys who deliver to these companies usually know how to navigate this—they might leave the stamp field blank, but since they've been working those routes for years and actually know the people at the offices, management tends to look the other way. Still, you should probably grab someone with multiple IDs just to be safe.

If you get a notification that a shipment is arriving, nobody can pick it up for you unless they have a formal power of attorney. Don't bother trying to use a driver's license, a passport, or any other ID to bypass this. I've seen plenty of people swearing and begging at the counter when this happens. If a clerk decides to be nice and hands you a package addressed to your mom just because you showed them her ID, that’s entirely on them—it's a risk they're taking. If your mom ever decided to complain, that clerk would be the one getting in hot water.
When it comes to shipping (and I mean all kinds of shipments) to a residential address, if the instructions don't explicitly state "deliver to recipient only," the carrier is allowed to leave it with anyone living in the house.

For C.O.D. shipments, you can actually use those fancy white money orders to make it cheaper for the recipient, since the fee percentage is cut in half. Just make sure you provide your bank routing info so the funds land directly in your account.
If you want the cash delivered straight to your doorstep, you’ll need to go through a money order.
Standard package delivery (not talking about FedEx, certified mail, or registered mail here) is paid for $1.75 by the recipient. You are legally entitled to a receipt for the payment if you ask for one. In theory, they should give it to you automatically, but in my experience, most people don't bother asking unless they're representing a corporation or have a long-standing relationship with the local mail carrier. Regardless of whether the carrier hands you a receipt or not, those $1.75 dollars belong to the USPS, not to the individual worker!

Sandra Brooks91 said:Look, if I don't pay him and try to rip open the package right there, you really think he’s just gonna walk away? Not a chance without a signature first. My whole point was that I wanted to order something similar, but specifically using cash on delivery so I can actually check the goods before handing over the money. If it's not what I expected, it just goes back to the sender. Besides, FedEx is going to charge the shipper for the return shipping anyway—I've dealt with that before.

Honestly, I think he’d leave... but he'd be taking the package with him. :P
No delivery driver is going to be dumb enough to let you tear into a box you haven't signed for or paid for yet. That's just how the rules work out here.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Is the mail carrier supposed to wait while I open a C.O.D. package before paying them? Or what? Thanks.

Nah, definitely not. The mail carrier isn't allowed to hang around while you unbox stuff; you’ve gotta sign for it and settle the payment first, then you can go ahead and rip it open. And I'm talking about a package that looks perfectly fine on the outside, too!! They have a specific protocol for that. Honestly, if every customer insisted on inspecting every single item inside before the driver could move on, those guys would never make it back to the local post office by the end of their shift. Imagine trying to get through 50 or 70 packages like that. That’s not even my main point, just a little side thought.

darkfalcon6 said:I’ve got a question... I made a deal with some guy to buy his phone via COD... the package showed up, I paid the agreed amount ($110 including shipping), but instead of the phone we talked about, there was just some absolute junk inside. He’s totally ghosting me now, so what can I even do? Is there any actual chance I can get my money back!?

thanks

As far as I know, the answer is no. Once you accept a package that doesn't have visible external damage and you don't flag it right then and there during delivery, the payment is processed that same afternoon. The post office isn't going to refund you for something they consider a successfully completed service. Even if you go down to the local branch and tell them you got scammed, it won't change a thing because their job is strictly the delivery, not inspecting the contents of the box.
Even if you called immediately after the driver left to report the wrong contents, the postal service isn't just going to take your word for it. The sender would have to file a formal request to release the funds that were collected with the package. Since this guy obviously isn't going to cooperate, you're stuck. Once you sign for a package that looks fine on the outside, getting your money back is an uphill battle. I haven't actually seen it happen in real life. Sometimes companies might be nice enough to let people report damaged goods later, but even then, you aren't getting an instant refund; you have to file a claim that offers zero guarantees. Bottom line is, the guy totally screwed you over.👎

Quick little update for you guys. I looked into the return shipping situation, and turns out it’s not like FedEx where they just charge you half price for returns. They actually calculate it based on the origin point, the weight, and all that good stuff—basically, it costs pretty much the same to send it back as it did to ship it out in the first place.
Also, just a heads-up: if you want it done fast, you're looking at about $2.50. I mistakenly said priority earlier, but that's not quite how they handle it.

boldstag40 said:thanks William Jones30 👍
but what if I just send a regular parcel (not a box) with expedited shipping? Can I actually get the value refunded, and how long does it usually take to arrive?

What do you mean by a regular parcel? Like a letter? If I recall correctly, you can just slap an expedited sticker on a standard envelope—you know, besides the stamp, that blue airmail icon or that red "urgent" mark. But with a basic letter, you can't declare a specific value and you won't get any proof of mailing, so if something goes sideways, you're basically out of luck. You can only really insure the value on things like registered mail or expedited packages, whether they have COD or not. Or with FedEx. With FedEx, there’s a maximum limit on what a customer can declare $66667, which basically means that's the most you can legally claim if a package gets totally trashed or lost. Honestly, in my experience, I've never seen or even heard of anyone losing a high-value package worth more than a few thousand bucks, so I don't actually know if people ever successfully claim those refunds. I assume $66667 that applies to packages too.
A standard letter doesn't really have an official deadline. I'd say it's usually not less than five days, but honestly, it all depends on when it hits the office and what time of day it was dropped off. It could show up in a day, or it could take over a week, especially around New Year's. Though, thankfully, that doesn't happen nearly as much anymore.

boldstag40 said:What’s the actual difference between expedited and standard shipping?
I'm trying to figure out how much faster the delivery is and if they offer refunds for both options if things go south.

Look, "standard shipping" is pretty much just the baseline. If I remember correctly, the turnaround for those is usually about three days once it hits the local distribution center. Now, if you want to pay a little extra for expedited service, it doesn't cost a fortune, but it basically means the driver gets it out to the field way faster than the regular stuff. Then there's priority shipping, which runs about $3.25 more expensive; those get bumped to the front of the line and are usually part of the very first delivery run of the day. I don't work in that specific department, but that's the gist of it.
Any customer can file a formal complaint if we miss the promised delivery windows for a specific service level. About a year ago, when I dealt with a situation like that, the customer was actually entitled to a refund worth 3 to 5 times what they paid for postage, depending on why exactly the delay happened. Of course, policies might have shifted since then—as I always say, the rules tend to get tweaked or added to all the time. As for getting money back for damaged packages or whatever else, that’s handled by specialized claims departments within each regional hub.
One more thing: with mail services, the sender is the one who technically "owns" the shipment. That means they’re the ones with the right to file complaints or request changes, like changing the delivery address or redirecting the package. So, as the recipient, you aren't really in a position to claim a refund because the sender is the one who actually paid for the service. The only exception is if the sender explicitly waives their right to damages in your favor, or if you're using FedEx, where they sometimes bill the receiver directly.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Nah, I just want to spit on my ancestors every single time something like this happens. Basically, there are two different fees—the local one and the one from Branimirov when they deliver. So, were they supposed to charge 50%? And what about delivery?

I actually spoke up once and managed to get a refund from $1.75 😁 along with a written apology for basically being robbed. But then again, I sent that from an official business email address; I don't think they take individual customers quite as seriously...

From what I know, for all return services—unless the goods are damaged—they pay back 50% of the shipping price, minus any special extras like COD, Saturday delivery, and stuff like that. I don't have the entire USPS handbook memorized by heart :P because things change constantly, and you really only follow the specific departments that affect you. There are so many different divisions in the postal service that run by their own rules, which are always shifting and updating. $1.75 only charges for the package delivery department, whereas FedEx doesn't charge extra for delivery since it's already baked into the service cost. Also, you don't pay $1.75 or delivery fees for things like registered mail, whether it’s COD or not.
So, they gave you back those $1.75 that you pay as the recipient, but they didn't give the sender anything back, even though the sender already paid for the transport service.
It's true that corporations get treated better, but let's be real, that's just how it works everywhere.
Since I'm not sure if they only charge 50% of the postage for a standard package return or if they add $1.75 for delivery, I'll ask tomorrow and let you know.