Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

So, about a week ago, I set up some package forwarding and mail forwarding at a small-town post office where I'm spending my summer vacation. It was super easy, no issues at all.

Now I’m tracking a package coming from the States, and according to the USPS tracking (not the local USPS site), it shows the package is already in the US:

USA, Washington, D.C., Departed -> Your item departed a transfer airport in JFK Airport, Washington, D.C., USA on July 29, 2019 at 2:1:01 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

Does this mean the package is heading straight to Tampa and won't hit customs in Washington, D.C.? Since the forwarding address is a post office over on Martha's Vineyard, will it just clear everything once it hits Tampa?

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https://www.ups.com/en

I have a package coming in from Germany via UPS—does anyone have experience with their delivery? Should I expect it through USPS or a private courier service—and if it's a courier, which one specifically? Thanks!

Sometimes it’s FedEx, sometimes it feels like some tiny local courier—there's zero consistency. My own experience sending stuff from Germany via UPS was... well, let's just say unpredictable.

Hey, I’m having a nightmare with an AliExpress package. It’s just some diagnostic tool I snagged on sale for about $19

Got an email from USPS saying they need proof of payment to verify the value.
I sent over a screenshot showing everything the same day, but they shot it down. Apparently, they looked it up and decided this thing usually goes for like $70 on AliExpress.

So I emailed them back asking them to just look at my actual receipt, but it's been a week and total radio silence.

Sent another follow-up today just asking for any kind of update, and they basically told me if I have a problem, I should take it up with Customs.

But then Customs just brushes me off, saying it's not their job and sending me right back to where I started.

Anyone know what I should do? Honestly terrified the package will just get sent back and I'll be out the cash.

Bokbok!
I've got a bit of a situation regarding my mailing address. I’m currently renting a place, but I don't actually have my own mailbox—I have to use the one belonging to my landlords who live upstairs. They've made it pretty clear they don't want me putting packages under their name, so I'm wondering if I can just use mine instead, even though my name isn't listed on the mailbox at all. If I do that, will the mail carrier actually leave a delivery notice for me, or am I just shouting into the void? Also, is there any way to ask the local post office to just divert my packages directly to them? Thanks!

Chloe Reyes42 said:Bokbok!
I have a question regarding an address issue. I'm currently renting and don't have my own mailbox; I have to use the landlord's (who live above me). They told me not to order anything under their name, so I'm wondering if I can use my own even though my name isn't on any mailbox? Will the carrier actually leave a delivery notice if they can't find my name? Or should I just ask the local post office to hold my packages for me? Thanks!

You can use the post office, just write "Poste Restante" instead of a street address and you're all set.
As for renters, what I usually do is write:
my full name, the street address, and then in parentheses put "c/o [landlord's last name]" along with the floor number.
Something like this: Ivan Ivic, 6 Vukovar St, Ground Floor, c/o Matic, Washington, D.C.

Hey there, I really need some quick advice on what to do here... I sent out a certified package from Seattle to Washington, D.C., and everything seemed totally fine! The recipient lives at that address and gets mail all the time—his name is clearly listed on his keychain and even on the doorbell... But when I checked the tracking status a few days later, it said "Delivery Attempted: Recipient UNKNOWN." Can you believe that? He called his local USPS office immediately, and they told him to try another branch, but by then the package was already being sent back to me and showed up today. I haven't picked it up yet, but if I do, I'm stuck paying for both the return shipping and the cost to send it out all over again. Since this was clearly a total blunder on the part of the post office, I'm wondering how I should handle this...

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So, my mail carrier was supposed to drop off a certified letter yesterday—the kind where you actually need to sign for it because it’s got a return receipt attached (official paperwork from my company). Instead of doing his job, he just ripped the receipt right off and tossed the envelope at my door. It had been pouring rain all day, so you can imagine what that envelope looked like by the time I finally walked through the front door. Honestly, the sheer laziness and disrespect from these people is just unreal...

The package was finally located after being stuck around for two or three weeks—it actually looped back through Tampa before heading to Washington, D.C.—and honestly, their incompetent delivery driver is to blame. As I mentioned earlier, this was via USPS, so I am currently in talks with them through info@usps.com regarding how to file for compensation and how much I can claim, since they failed to deliver my USPS shipment on time and ended up being two or three weeks late.

I run an online shop, and honestly, the service lately has been a total disaster. I used to drop off standard packages and have them sent out the very same day—$6.00 just like my USPS Express shipments—$11. But get this: the basic package actually showed up before the Express one, even though they were both heading to the exact same city in
. To make matters worse, they managed to lose a certified shipment on me. They’ve been "searching" for it for a month now, which is just ridiculous...

At this rate, I think I'm going to make the switch to FedEx very soon.

hiddenorca6 said:I run an online shop myself—and honestly, service levels have plummeted lately. I’ll send a standard package and a USPS Express shipment on the same day—$6.00 and wouldn't you know it—the basic one beats the Express one to the destination—$11 even though they were heading to the exact same city
On top of that, they lost a certified package of mine—it's been a month of them "searching" for it...

I think it's time I switch over to FedEx

Apparently, they've hired a massive wave of new staff who don't have a clue what they're doing

I've already sent my second email regarding the reimbursement for the USPS package I sent through here—you can see the whole saga right here info@usps.com—but I haven't heard a single word back. Does anyone know what the typical wait time is, or if there’s another way to go about claiming this?

Carl Nguyen5 said:I’ve already sent them my second email asking about the reimbursement for that USPS package I sent—you guys saw everything that went down... but honestly, I’ve heard absolutely nothing back from info@usps.com. Does anyone know how long the wait usually is? And is there some other way to go after them for the money?

A whole month
they move at a snail's pace—honestly, just like their service, which isn't exactly top-tier...

David Wilson8 said:it's been a whole month
—they're incredibly slow, and frankly, their service is just as bad

these clowns are just terrible

Has anyone else run into this ridiculous situation at the post office where they won't let you send anything except flat documents? Like, no certified mail, no priority, nothing unless it’s just paper.
I was trying to mail out a CD today, but they shot me down immediately. They told me the only way to do it was to ship it as a full-on package.🙄

Sarah Flores said:Has anyone else dealt with this? I went to the post office and they wouldn't let me send anything registered—not even priority or standard mail—unless it was just documents on paper. They refused everything else.
I tried to mail out a CD today, but it was a total bust. They told me they wouldn't take it unless I sent it as a package.🙄

Which thread are you talking about? Who told you that nonsense?🤦

Varaždin County.
Word is they’re seeing the exact same thing over in Des Moines...

Sarah Flores said:Varaždin County.
Supposedly it's the same thing in Des Moines...

Whatever. Did you actually ask for that CD to be delivered super fast?🤔