Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Amanda Lopez52 said:Anyone else dealing with shipping delays after the holidays? I sent out a bunch of stuff across the US, but nothing has shown up yet—some orders date back to June 24th.🙂

Yeah, things are definitely running behind. Though you should probably check with USPS just in case it’s something else entirely; you never really know with these things.🤷

I will check which date works best. I am having an issue with two specific packages because my boyfriend sent them and didn't grab a receipt 🙄 I am not sure if it is possible to file a claim without the actual receipt, though I do have the shipping confirmation

Hello, everyone! 🙂

I have a quick question...

When I go to pick up a package at the local post office and pay via COD (cash on delivery), what is the best way to verify 😁that I am actually receiving the item I ordered?

The order isn't coming from an established retailer or a major corporation; it’s just someone from an online classified ad. This means it's being sent by a complete stranger who could easily pack a literal rock in the box and ship it off. Once I've handed over the cash and signed the receipt confirming delivery, I won't be able to complain or demand a refund if the contents aren't what they were promised, right?

Not at all. You can only open it once you've paid for the package and picked it up.

So, if I wanted to "purchase" a rock, is that actually a viable option? I don't see any specific USPS regulations or postal policies that would prevent me from doing that, or at least make it incredibly difficult.

That sounds lovely... ☕

steelrider16 said:So, you're saying there's a legitimate way to "buy" a rock, and there aren't any USPS regulations or rules that would stop that from happening—or at least make it incredibly difficult?

How charming... ☕

Look, this is a free country. Not even the almighty USPS has the right to trample over someone's privacy by snooping through their packages.
Even the FBI didn't go to those lengths back in the day.
And what, are we expecting the clerks at the local post office to be experts on every single product ever made? Like they're supposed to personally verify if a computer processor is the genuine article or some cheap knockoff...

If people are actually worried about security, there are plenty of massive retailers out there where you can buy just about anything and still get a solid warranty, along with all sorts of other great stuff.
😉

Nicole Lee4 said:we live in a free country where not even the "almighty" postal service has the right to violate privacy by snooping through people's packages.
even the old FBI agents wouldn't have pulled stunts like that
.

I definitely agree with you, though regarding the "almighty" 😂, I was actually referring to inspections carried out solely in the presence of—and at the request of—the person who ordered the package, just so they can verify the authenticity of their items.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; in fact, it’s more of a courtesy to ensure customers are happy and satisfied with their "almighty" mail (which is what we’re calling it from now on 😁)

steelrider16 said:I’m totally on board with you, by the way, "almighty" 😂, but my point was strictly about doing a verification only when the person who actually ordered the package is right there and asks to check if the goods are "authentic."

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; honestly, it’s more like going the extra mile for your customers to make sure they’re happy and satisfied with their "almighty" mail (let's just call it that from now on 😁)

Look, what you're saying makes sense, but really, who are they to be the ones deciding if the merchandise is legit?
Where would they even get the expertise? I mean, sure, they can tell a brick from a bag of flour, but that's where it ends. They have zero clue about the private agreement between you and the sender—like, whether the deal was for something brand new or pre-owned... and don't even get me started on product authenticity. These days, even professional inspectors struggle to spot high-end counterfeits half the time...
So, in my opinion, nothing is going to come of that idea.😁

Amanda Lopez52 said:I’ll check the dates. I'm having issues with two packages my boyfriend sent—he didn't grab the receipt. 🙄 Can you even file a claim without a receipt? (I do have proof of shipment, though.)

You don't need the actual receipt, just the confirmation.

Hi there! Does anyone here have experience sending packages internationally? I was wondering if someone could give me a quick rundown of how the process works... specifically, do I go to the same post office I'd use for domestic shipping within the US? Also, any idea what the shipping costs look like roughly? Thanks!

Taylor Thompson8 said:Hey! Does anyone have experience sending packages abroad? I was wondering if someone could give me a quick rundown on how the procedure works—do I use the same location as I would for domestic shipping here in the States? And roughly how much does postage cost? Thanks!

You can run the numbers on the USPS website—just weigh your package and wait for the estimate.
A long time ago, I sent a small parcel over to Germany, and I remember having to open it right there at the counter in front of the clerk—basically, you show up with it already unboxed so they can inspect the contents to make sure you aren't smuggling a bomb 😁—and then you just pack it back up. Other than that little hassle, it was pretty straightforward.

Thanks for the reply 🙂

I see there’s all sorts of talk going around about the postal service and theft...
hmmm... I honestly can't say for sure, since I usually just send everything via certified mail, though if the recipient insists on standard shipping, I'll just go along with whatever they prefer...
I’ve actually sent quite a few packages through standard mail lately—everything from places like Chicago and Houston down to sunny Florida and the islands—and every single one arrived perfectly intact without a single hiccup...
I haven't had one solitary bad experience... as for those ladies behind the counter, hmm, I really don't see how they could pull off any kind of theft when there's a security camera filming every move, unless someone is sneaking around in the back, which just seems a bit hard to believe... I'm not saying things don't go missing at the post office, but still...
hope you all have a lovely rest of this gloomy day 🙂

So, I heard you can actually ship stuff in a poly mailer wrapped up with some twine instead of using a standard box?😕 But then again, I’ve seen people get flagged unless they use the official recommended packaging, almost like it's gotta be in an envelope or something. Does anyone actually send stuff like that? I'm totally lost on what kind of bags we're even talking about here.😁 🤷

Those dark bags, the ones you get from Amazon 🙂 my local mailbox will take them without any issues, but the USPS branch over in downtown Chicago won't touch them. They refuse to accept them as either a package or certified mail; they insist you either put everything into a standard box or a padded envelope... honestly, it just depends on which clerk happens to be working that day...

Chris Reed45 said:I’m talking about those dark shipping bags you get from ASOS🙂 my local post office takes them without a second thought, but the branch over in downtown Chicago won't touch them—they won't accept them as a package or even certified mail, they insist you put everything in a standard box or an envelope... honestly, it just depends on which clerk you happen to run into...

Oh, for sure. I always have no issues, though it really does come down to the specific employee. They know my routine and how I ship things. At my local branch, I just toss everything in the bag and they take it every single time without complaining. 😍

Basically, I just flip the ASOS bag inside out, tape the address on, throw the items into a secondary bag inside, and call it a day.

Sent two packages today and man, the USPS is an absolute rip-off.

So, I tell them I want to ship these as standard media mail in bubble mailers—I was sending books, you know—and I need COD service...

The first package weighed in at 1,246g and cost me $31.20, plus the COD fee was $30.

The second one was 783g and ended up being $8.50, with a COD fee of $33.

+ I also had to shell out $3.25 for the bubble mailers and the money order, so the whole thing set me back $22 total.

Basically, I’m telling her "just send it as media mail," and she looks at me like I've lost my mind and insists on registered mail.

???

The redemption shouldn't be sent via standard mail; it has to be sent via certified mail only.

redranger82 said:I sent out two packages today and man, USPS is an absolute disaster—so expensive.

Basically, I told them I wanted to send these as standard media mail in bubble mailers and requested COD (since I was sending books).

The first package weighed in at 1,246g and cost me $31.20; the COD amount was $30.

The second one was 783g and ended up costing me $8.50, with a COD of $33.

Plus, I had to shell out another $3.25 for the bubble mailers and the money order, bringing my total damage to $22.

So, I tell her, "Just send it as media mail," and she insists on making it certified.

???

You can't have media mail be certified (well, maybe you could once upon a time),
but if you want to ship a book with COD, it has to be sent as a certified letter plus the COD fee.

Amanda Lopez52 said:Are your shipments running late after the holidays? I sent a ton of stuff across the US, and nothing has arrived yet—not even from June 24th. 🙂

My international packages were delayed by 5 days. Everything went out on June 21st.
Everything arrived fine, just later than usual.

Morgan Hughes81 said:I see all this talk about theft and lost mail...
Hmm... I don't know. I always send things via certified mail, though if the recipient insists on standard shipping, I'll accommodate them.
I've sent quite a few items using standard mail lately to places like Washington, D.C., and various spots down south, and everything arrived perfectly fine without issue.
Not a single bad experience. As for those clerks at the counter—I find it hard to believe they're stealing when there are cameras everywhere. Unless someone on the inside is swiping stuff, which seems unlikely... I'm not saying theft doesn't happen at the post office, but still...
Enjoy the rest of this miserable day. 🙂

I don't buy the theft theory either.
If something doesn't show up, it usually means the sender never actually sent it, not that it was stolen.
I've used both standard and priority/airmail to ship things across America and around the world, and everything has arrived normally. Nothing has ever been lost or stolen. 🙂