Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Who do I talk to about filing a complaint against my mail carrier?

They didn't even leave a damn yellow slip or anything... just found out by pure luck that my package is sitting there at the local post office.

No confirmation needed

Zachary Peterson6 said:No confirmation required.

Fine, thanks. 🙂

Could I get a little help regarding shipping a slightly larger package?
It’s some kids' gear I'm sending out in its original box—dimensions are roughly 50x40x15 cm, and it weighs about 4 kg.
Does the box absolutely need to be wrapped in paper? And if it does, would just plain white paper work, or am I going to have to go out and buy something specific?
Also, based on their calculator, the total comes out to just $6.75 for shipping—unless, I guess, I've forgotten something else here.
Thanks so much for the help!

I could really use some advice here. I’m a total newbie when it comes to selling stuff online, and right now I'm looking to offload a few dumbbells. I was thinking about listing them on Craigslist or maybe just right here, but honestly, the logistics feel a bit overwhelming. It's all quite a hassle, and I haven't figured out the best way to handle shipping 🙄 for instance, if I end up selling to someone who isn't living in my neck of the woods, would using FedEx be a decent move? Thanks in advance... 😉

Hey there
I was wondering, when you get a package via COD, are you actually allowed to open it up before you hand over the cash? Just want to make sure what's inside is actually what I ordered before I pay the man.
thanks

wanderingpanther68 said:Can anyone help me out? I’ve got zero experience with online selling, but I’m looking to offload some weights—maybe on Craigslist or right here. Honestly, the whole process feels like a massive headache and takes way too much time. I’m not sure what the best move is for shipping 🙄 say, if I sell to someone who isn't in my city, should I just use FedEx? Thanks... 😉

Here’s what the site says regarding FedEx shipping. Not totally sure about the exact cost, but if you can swing it, using them is a solid move. It gives the buyer peace of mind knowing they’ll actually get what they paid for 🙂.

* Don't want to get off the couch but still need to ship something?

Then door-to-door delivery is your best bet. It covers:
the driver shows up at your door right when scheduled
picking up your package
dropping it straight at the buyer's doorstep

Keep in mind:
Highlighting FedEx shipping helps guarantee security for the recipient and usually draws in more buyers.
Once they get the notification via text or email, the recipient can pick their own delivery window.

Just select the listing you want to arrange shipping for and follow the prompts. *

Joseph Hernandez95 said:Hey there,
I was wondering if you have the legal right to open a package before paying for it—you know, just to make sure it's actually what you ordered.
Thanks

Nope.
Your only real option is to ask the delivery driver to hang back while you pay, just so they can witness if you didn't get what you actually bought. But honestly, that’s entirely up to them whether they stay or not.

Joseph Hernandez95 said:Cheers,
I'm trying to figure out if I actually have the right to open a package upon delivery before handing over the cash... you know, just to make sure what's inside is actually what I paid for...
Thanks,

If you're dealing with the USPS, you can always refuse the shipment. Just tell them you'll head down to the local post office to inspect the contents in person while an officer looks on...

Edward Turner56 said:If you're dealing with the USPS, you can actually just refuse the package entirely and tell them you'll head down to the local post office to open it right there in front of an official clerk..

I am honestly wondering about this too...
So, what you're saying is there isn't some specific department or specialized service that regulates this differently? It seems almost impossible that I can't simply open the parcel first to inspect the contents and then decide whether or not to pay if I'm satisfied with what's inside?

And regarding what was mentioned above, is that truly a reliable way to handle things?! Are you suggesting that I have to reject the delivery initially, physically go down to the post office, and only then will they grant me permission to open the package before I settle the payment? Because, if I'm being honest, it feels like even under those circumstances, they probably shouldn't even be allowing that at all!

Can someone help me out with this:
I need to ship a phone to someone. They're in Sedona and I'm in Chicago. What’s the damage on shipping costs, how do I actually go about sending it since I've never done this before, and roughly how long will it take to get there?😕

Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to handle shipping when you're doing a straight trade?
Specifically, I'm talking about swapping item A for item B with zero money changing hands—just both sides footing their own shipping costs.

How do we make sure Person A actually knows Person B sent their package, and vice versa? How do we verify the swap is legit?

I mean, once you drop the package off at the Post Office, is there any way to somehow cancel the shipment after the fact?

Has anyone actually pulled this off before? Or if not, does anyone have a decent starting strategy for how to pull it together?

We’re looking at items worth about $110—not exactly pocket change, but not life-changing either. Plus, the distance is 155 miles...

Elizabeth Davis said:here is what it says regarding using FedEx for shipping. I am not entirely sure about the exact cost, but if you have the option, it might be a smart move because it gives the buyer peace of mind knowing they will actually receive exactly what they ordered 🙂.

Don't feel like getting up from your recliner, but still need to arrange a delivery?

Then "door-to-door" service is your best bet, which includes:
the courier arriving at your door right at the scheduled time
picking up your package
delivering the shipment directly to the buyer's doorstep

Keep this in mind:
Highlighting FedEx shipping helps guarantee security for the recipient and can help attract more customers.
Once the recipient receives their notification via text or email, they can choose their own delivery window.

Just select the listing you want to arrange shipping for and follow the prompts.

In the end, I managed to sell a few things locally here in Chicago because I specifically listed them as "local pickup only" to avoid dealing with the mail—but of course, everyone still called me asking if I could ship it anyway, which honestly just left me feeling a bit frazzled 🙂. Like I mentioned before, I have absolutely zero experience with shipping anything, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around how it works. For instance, if I take something light down to the local post office and send it to the buyer's address, they won't release the package until the buyer pays up, but how does the money actually get back to me? 😁 Does it go to my bank account through the post office, or do I need some kind of formal business account? -.-

And my second dilemma: how on earth am I supposed to ship a squat rack? It's massive, nearly six feet tall... I could try to find someone local in my city to pick it up, but then I'll end up selling it for next to nothing.

Thanks! 😉

Zachary Peterson6 said:...you'll have the cash delivered right to your door by the mail carrier in a few days.😉

Alright, thanks! 😁

Now, about my other question 🙄

And honestly, what on earth am I supposed to wrap this two-meter beast in? It’s massive, wide, just... huge. Plus, I’m looking at the fine print here and it says the maximum weight limit is 50 kg, which definitely has me second-guessing things.

http://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/rates-and-shipping-tools.html

I have a question... I sent a letter to Germany from Miami on Friday afternoon.
Around 6 PM. I'm wondering when it might actually arrive in Germany? 🙂

I’m curious about how delivery times actually work. Does being closer to the hub mean the package arrives sooner, or is that just wishful thinking?

I'm trying to figure out the best way to ship something that's quite long and narrow—think of something shaped like a rod, about 30 inches long.
How should I go about packaging this, and what's the best way to send it so I can be absolutely certain it actually reaches the recipient safely?

Sent a priority package from Chicago to San Francisco the day before yesterday, and still nothing showing up today. I guess priority is supposed to mean it gets there the next day, right? Or am I just being optimistic?

What’s actually the distinction between a letter and a package?