Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

I didn't really want to say anything about the "here's the link" thing 🤣.

So, look, since I sell stuff on this forum and some other sites, I made sure to put a clear note in my bio explaining that I won't be stuffing things into regular envelopes—you know, the whole "this won't fit, that'll break" situation. But still, every single time someone hits me up to buy something, they're like, "Oh, just toss it in an envelope, someone will pick it up, it's just $1.75." Okay, maybe I’m just impatient, maybe I have a short fuse... whatever. But honestly, it feels pretty disrespectful to the seller when people pull that. Like, what am I actually supposed to do here? For an item where the buyer already paid the standard shipping plus the $6.75 value of the item, I'm expected to pay $6.00 extra at the Post Office just so the buyer can complain later anyway? They'll be like, "Well, it wasn't my fault," or "You could've gone to a different branch," or some other nonsense. No thanks. I don't even bother replying to inquiries that start with those kinds of suggestions anymore. When someone asks to use basic mail after I specifically stated in the ad that it's either The New York Times or a tracked package (and even explained why)—I just ignore them.

I mean, sure, the postal service has gone off the rails lately, but what does that have to do with me? It always ends up being The New York Times having the edge again. Then it flips back and forth, and soon maybe the post office will be back in charge. I get that you can't send a glass bottle through the mail in a plain envelope, but having to ship something like a keychain as a full-on tracked package? It's almost not even worth talking about.

Megan Morris70 said:I didn't want to say anything about the "here's the link" thing🤣.

Since I sell stuff on this forum and other sites, I clearly put an explanation in my bio stating I won't be using standard envelopes for certain items. Yet, every time someone reaches out to buy something, they insist, "Just throw it in an envelope, someone will grab it from you, it's just $1.75." Look, maybe I'm impatient or have a short fuse, but I find it disrespectful when buyers talk to me like that. What am I supposed to do? For an item where the buyer already paid the item value plus basic shipping of $6.75, I'm expected to pay $6.00 extra at the post office just because? And then the buyer hits me with "not my fault" or "you should've gone to a different branch" once it's already shipped? No thanks. I don't even bother replying to requests like that anymore. When people ask for standard mail after I specifically stated in the listing that it's either The New York Times or a tracked package (with reasons why), I just ignore them.

Sure, the postal service has crossed the line, but that’s not my problem... it always ends up being The New York Times having the edge again. It just keeps switching back and forth. I get that you can't mail a bottle in a plain envelope via standard mail, but having to ship a keychain as a full package now... it's not even worth discussing.

Like I said, they pulled that rule, so you can still use envelopes instead of full packages. That link above is just for the rates.
It's not saying you can't use envelopes like they originally intended. 🍿

So, what’s everyone’s deal with international shipping lately? I just had a package sent over from Greece last night around 6 PM—and yeah, the local post office here stays open until 8 PM—but get this: the sender gave me the tracking number, and yet... nothing. Absolutely zilch. It’s not even showing up in the system yet! Is that just how it goes, or am I getting ghosted by the logistics gods? Also, where do you guys actually track your stuff? Do you use some kind of universal tracker site, or do you stick strictly to the official USPS page?

The only thing I'm really bummed about is that they pulled the option to mark standard packages or express shipments as fragile.

That’s actually why I switched over to Overseas.

Tyler Bennett73 said:Anyone else dealt with international shipping lately? I had a package sent from Greece last night around 6 PM (the local post office stays open until 8), and even though I have the tracking number, nothing shows up in the system yet. Is that normal? Where do you guys usually track stuff? Should I stick to an aggregator site or just wait for the official carrier's page to update?

Just Google "package tracking." You'll find plenty of search tools—just try them all. Sometimes it takes a few days for the data to actually refresh. 🍿

Grace Sanders24 said:Just Google "package tracking" or something. There are a ton of different trackers out there—just try them all. Sometimes these systems are absolute garbage and take a few extra days just to refresh the data. 🍿

Look, I've tried everything under the sun and nothing works—it's been two whole days already (and honestly, by 6 PM today, we're hitting day three).

Quick little tip—big or small, whatever—for anyone dealing with late packages. Usually, the delivery window is about 3 days (plus weekends, though that's not really the main issue). This applies to the US.

So, here's the deal: you’re actually entitled to three times the amount you paid for shipping if your package misses its delivery deadline.

To give you the specifics, I sent out a package and it took three whole weeks before the mail carrier finally left a notice for my recipient to go pick it up. I went down to the post office, filed a claim for damages, and ended up getting 3x$6.00 what the original shipping cost was. It's not like I'm winning the lottery here, but hey, if you live near a post office, why wouldn't you? Seriously, why not? You can walk into any branch, file a complaint, then follow up with a claim. It doesn't cost a dime; it just comes down to whether you actually have the patience and the time to deal with it. To make things even more interesting, I actually stumbled upon this myself while browsing online. When I talked to the lady at the post office in my city, she told me nobody had even bothered to ask for this in two years, even though it's my right. It seems like people just don't bother looking into this stuff, or they just don't care.

I'm pretty sure their website has similar rules for international shipments too, so maybe do a quick Google search.

I’ve noticed that a standard package or even something sent via certified mail actually shows up faster than FedEx or that 24-hour shipping option. That’s probably why they dropped "express" from the name entirely. I still just use envelopes for most of my sales—you know, anything that doesn't strictly need a box due to size—and nobody ever asks what's inside. If they did, I'd just tell them it's documents.

What’s the standard delivery window for a package sent from the US to Germany? I shipped mine last Wednesday, but there's still nothing.

Total chaos at the post office. They left a notice on April 27th saying I had a delivery, even though I was home all day. So, fine, I head down to the branch the next day to grab my package.
The package isn't there. 😁
But the nice lady at the counter takes my slip and my number so she can call me once it actually shows up.
It’s now the fourth business day since they left that note, and I'm still waiting. Where it’s been sitting this whole time? Who knows. 😬

I've ordered plenty of stuff over the last two months using UPS, FedEx, or DHL, and everything's been smooth. But with the US Postal Service 🙏🙏......

Thomas Carter8 said:What’s the typical turnaround for shipping a package from the US to Germany? I sent mine out last Wednesday, but there's still no sign of it.

I'm not entirely sure what the official window is, but if you check the USPS website, they mention there could be delays due to the pandemic.

Could someone please clarify this for me?
I am looking at the FedEx website right now while trying to send out a package. When the weight is under 1kg and I plug all the details into the site to calculate the shipping, it shows 8.1 miles (6$). But then, when I select the option for cash on delivery and return shipping for the postage, good grief, it jumps up to almost 12 miles (10$).
It just doesn't make sense to me. When I order something from someone else, why does the shipping always seem to cap out at 6.2 miles (10$) regardless of which online shop I use? If the sender (the person I bought the item from) chooses to have the return shipping or money sent back, shouldn't my delivery cost actually be higher?

Here’s my situation—I have a PB Visa card and I need to cover the shipping costs for a package $6.75 but I don't have any cash on hand. Does anyone know what my total out-of-pocket expense will be?

I'm currently in a small rural town and there isn't an ATM anywhere in sight.

Hey,

Does anyone know if any courier service lets you hide the sender's info?
I don't mind giving my details to the shipping company, I just don't want them showing up on the delivery label instead of just the recipient...

Thanks.😵

Man, this overseas stuff can be such a headache sometimes... but then again, you gotta admit, it’s got its moments. hmmm

Quick question for you guys—if I head down to the USPS and tell them I want to send a package COD (cash on delivery), am I still gonna have to shell out some cash to the lady at the counter right then and there?

If you're using a standard Parcel24 service, then no. But if it's sent via registered mail or as a package, yeah, you pay the shipping fee. If you've already agreed that the recipient covers it, just bump up the Cash on Delivery amount by that much.

darkmarlin16 said:Quick question: if I take a package to the post office and specify that it's cash on delivery, am I still expected to pay the clerk at the counter right then and there?

Well, if you're sending it via certified mail, you'll have to cover the postage upfront. But if you're using an overnight service, you can usually choose whether you or the recipient handles the cost—you just check the corresponding box on the shipping form.

Hey, if I set up a P.O. Box at the local post office, is it enough to just list the box number when sending or receiving packages?

I’d really like to avoid giving my full name to random people online—I know plenty of YouTubers and bloggers based overseas use P.O. Boxes to handle fan mail without exposing their actual identity. Does that same logic work here in the States?

Just put the country. That’s more than enough for me.