Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Last Monday, June 19th—so about 9 days ago—I had a letter sent to me from Canada. Anyone here have a clue how long mail from there actually takes to hit an address? Thanks in advance.

So, what happens if the 60-day window for an international claim expires and the package is still nowhere to be found? Like, completely off the grid?

I have a quick question.

I am planning on sending a traditional letter, but I was hoping to include a tiny, lightweight item—something shaped like a small candy—inside the envelope. I suppose my main concern is whether this can actually be sent via standard USPS mail without any issues. Would I need to use a specific type of padded envelope, or would a regular one suffice? Also, does anyone know how much extra it might cost? I really don't want to mess this up and end up having an awkward encounter at the post office because I didn't follow the rules correctly. 😁

Hey everyone, I really need some help here. Please, any advice would be huge. A buddy of mine sent me a super important package over to Germany containing some critical documents. He used the Plus service to make sure it was fast and marked it as a priority recommended shipment. I got this tracking number, RC xxxxxx us, and when I plug it into the USPS or the German postal site, it says they tried to deliver it but couldn't find me. Which is total BS because the mail carrier didn't leave a single note at my address. Now, they’ve already started the process of shipping the whole thing back to the US. Since my friend used his own full name and the address for a college dorm, there’s almost zero chance he’ll actually get it back once it lands. So, I'm wondering—is there any way the US Postal Service can track it down using that number or the sender's info once it's back stateside, and then maybe redirect it to a different address here in Germany? Deutsche Post told me the package was already being returned; they supposedly searched their warehouse and couldn't find it, so they're certain it's already en route back.

Any advice or even just a quick thought would be appreciated because I am honestly freaking out and have no idea what to do.

What's the cheapest way to ship a stroller—say, under 22 lbs?

Back in Canada, you can get that done for anywhere from $4 to $11, depending on which carrier you use. For example, A2B has this deal with their local marketplace where anything under 45 lbs goes for a flat $4.

Is there anything like that here in the US, or what's the most budget-friendly shipping option out there?

Greetings!
Whenever I try to send a DVD in an envelope (somewhere in the 50-100g range) to another country, the postal service always charges me at least $12. It seems they automatically classify it as a "priority recommended shipment." This is quite frustrating because I specifically requested that it be sent as a standard LETTER with tracking, which really should have cost much less, perhaps around $4.75!
Is there truly no way to get a better rate than that $36.60?

Is it actually possible for a standard letter sent within Washington, D.C. to take longer than three days? I sent mine out on Tuesday and it still hasn't shown up as of Friday..

Question for those who ship packages frequently: do you take photos with your phone once the clerk applies the label and the stamp? In other words, do you snap a picture to prove you actually sent it and that it was packed correctly so the recipient can't complain later?
I’m asking because I was stunned today when an employee told me that taking photos isn't allowed (she didn't give me a specific reason, she just kept repeating, "you can't do that, you can't do that" 🤣). For the last 3 or 4 years, I've been shipping a lot of items internationally and I photograph every single one for that exact reason—to have proof of shipment (regardless of the receipt) and to show the package was properly packed and protected on the outside. I'm curious about your experiences.
Is it allowed or not?
I’ve had sales through eBay before, and I always photographed the packages to have evidence in case a buyer opens a case on eBay / PayPal claiming the package was "lost, damaged, etc.," since they don't really care about my handwritten receipt.

Gregory Rogers20 said:Hey there.
Every time I mail a DVD in an envelope (around 50-100g) to another country, they charge me the absolute minimum. $12I see this was sent as a "priority recommended shipment." Even though I told her I wanted it sent as... LETTER I'd suggest using a priority recommended shipment. $4.75)!
Can you actually find anything cheaper than $36.60?

I was told at my local post office that all shipments sent from outside the US... They have no choice but to. How should I ship this? Priority recommended shipment (marked PLUS). So, you mean airmail with a tracking number.

I'd love to just send standard shipping to Europe or America to save on costs, but I can't. I always have to use a priority recommended shipment.
You can send it as a package too, but that’ll cost you more.

So, back on December 1st, I dropped off this tiny little package via priority recommended shipment headed out to another country over in Asia.

According to the tracking info, the thing is just sitting there in Washington, D.C., check it out:

6.12.2017. 4:51:30 US WASHINGTON, D.C. 10003 Insert item into bag (Otb)

And honestly, it hasn't budged an inch since then, so what on earth is actually going on here??????

It’s actually pretty common—you check your tracking number and it says the item is still sitting in Hong Kong, then boom, the mail carrier is at your door the next day.

Basically, once they toss everything into a shipping container in Washington, D.C., the status just sits there until that container is either full or finally scheduled to head toward its destination.
You aren't going to see the actual transit progress; you only see movement once it arrives and gets scanned after being pulled out of the bin.
So, it’s totally plausible that your package is already miles away from Washington, D.C. and the European Union—it just hasn't been "checked in" yet.😁

Bryan Palmer9 said:Back on December 1st, I sent off a small registered package headed overseas to Asia.

According to the tracking number, the package is currently sitting in Washington, D.C., specifically here:

6.12.2017. 4:51:30 USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 10003 Insert item into bag (Otb)

And it hasn't budged since! Does anyone have any idea what on earth is going on with this?

Honestly, don't let those tracking numbers get you worked up; they aren't always the most reliable sources of truth!

I actually had two separate packages arrive in England where the status explicitly stated the customer hadn't even picked them up!
With the first one, my buyer reached out to tell me he had indeed collected it, despite what the system claimed. The second one gave me quite a scare—I spent an entire month in total suspense until the buyer finally contacted me to confirm receipt (and once again, I'll reiterate, the tracking still shows it as undelivered).

It really feels like either someone isn't scanning these barcodes properly, or they simply aren't doing their jobs correctly. That's my take on it.

Greetings!
I recently heard a rumor that when dealing with a recommended delivery, there might be an alternative to having the mail carrier collect cash right at your doorstep; apparently, you can request that the postal service simply deposits the funds directly into your bank account instead.

Does anyone happen to know if opting for a direct deposit is more cost-effective than paying the carrier in person?
Furthermore, would I need to provide a specific type of checking account, or would a standard personal account suffice for this transaction?

Thank you so much!

Skip the money order and just use a standard check or a bank transfer instead. It’s faster, and you won't get hit with those extra fees when the recipient gets the cash.

Hey everyone!
So, I dropped off a priority certified letter via FedEx earlier today, but when I check the tracking, it’s just sitting there saying "package received" and nothing else?
Is it actually possible that they just aren't going to send it out at all?
I'm kind of freaking out because I really, really need this to get to its destination ASAP.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy J5 using Reddit

Does a mail carrier actually have an obligation to deliver standard packages right to my doorstep? Because I feel like I'm constantly just getting these yellow slips shoved in my door instead.

Charles Thomas said:Does the mail carrier actually have to deliver regular packages right to my door? All they ever do is shove some yellow slip in my mailbox instead.

If the packages don't fit in the mailbox, then I guess they aren't technically required to leave them at the door...

Zachary Peterson6 said:Will the packages actually fit in the mailbox? If they don't fit, then they aren't obligated to leave them there...

Well, they definitely fit in the mailbox—not through that tiny little letter slot, obviously, but they fit in the box itself since we're talking about a book that's only maybe an inch or two thick. Honestly, though—and I know this because I’m usually home when deliveries happen—this guy doesn't even bother ringing the doorbell to let us know there's a package. He just leaves a little note. Personally, I wouldn't even complain; I've been ordering books for years, and usually, the delivery folks either ring the bell or just pop the mailbox open themselves to tuck things inside. But lately—just for the last month or so—that hasn't been happening at all.

If someone sends me a small package via General Delivery to my local post office, and it sits there for about 10 days waiting for me to pick it up, how much am I actually looking at when I show up? Is there some kind of fee the recipient has to cover, or does the USPS charge a storage fee for letting it sit there?

The delivery speed here is absolutely catastrophic, yet they certainly don't hesitate to charge an arm and a leg for $13. I am beyond frustrated with how long it's taking to get my shipment from Phoenix to Washington, D.C.; it was sent out Wednesday morning and still nothing!! It's just that typical, stubborn inefficiency you run into with any service industry in this country.