Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Well, I just checked the calculator—it’s been updated, but it’s still spitting out the exact same prices you linked earlier.

I’m still seeing the old prices on my end 🤷—this applies to packages up to 4.4 lbs.

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It looks like there might be an issue on your end—I'm seeing $12 instead.
(The package is under 2 kg, set for pickup at the local post office, and no extra services are selected).

Besides, you also have "discount on standard packaging" listed on your side—that’s a new one, isn't it?

I’ll try it on my desktop tomorrow. When I was shipping via FedEx before, using my phone actually showed me $3.25 was cheaper.

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Hi there!
I'm actually not sure if this is the right forum or if there's a specific "place" for this kind of question. Basically, does anyone know ANYTHING concrete regarding the upcoming VAT charges on all those small packages coming from China? We all know how customs works and what the price "thresholds" are for when things get taxed, but nobody seems to be saying anything about the actual collection process. Like, how is a mail carrier even supposed to determine the sales tax on a tiny package at your doorstep?
I mean, paying tax on a $1 item versus a $25 item just isn't the same thing—it doesn't feel fair. Will they just take 25% of $53, which currently isn't taxed at all, or are they going to demand an invoice for every single little thing? I don't know... it feels like even now, shipping takes about 40 to 50 days, but after July 1st, we might be looking at 3 or 4 months. Plus, everything that's already been ordered but is still in transit might end up getting hit with these charges after the July 1st deadline.

So, if anyone happens to know anything, I'd really appreciate the info. Thanks!

I just got a notice about an incoming registered mail item marked with "RF." Does anyone actually know what that specific code stands for?

Just type the full number into the post on Reddit, and it'll show you where it was sent from.

Nicole Bennett30 said:Just punch the full tracking number into the USPS website—it’ll tell you exactly where it’s coming from.

Every time I enter the number, all I see is some useless delivery attempt notice. Is anyone else dealing with this?

Jeffrey Fowler said:I just got a notice saying there's a registered mail delivery coming for me with an RF designation. What does that code actually mean?

RF stands for "Letter post: registered, but not insured delivery." Basically, it’s tracked, but it doesn't come with that extra insurance coverage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S10_(UPU_standard)

Hey—got a question. Look, for some personal reasons, I can't have a card delivered straight to my house. So, I was wondering if I could just use a local post office address instead, and then they’d just hand it over to me there?
Or does anyone know if we have anything like PO Boxes available here in the States (or maybe some other ideas)?

Question:

If I've got a small book—you know, smaller than a standard sheet of paper and maybe around 200 to 300 pages—can I just toss that into a USPS envelope and send it off?

If it isn't too thick for the envelope to close, then yeah, I guess it should work fine.

Honestly, it really just comes down to how helpful the clerk is at the counter. I’ve had all sorts of things tucked inside my envelopes before, but when I was the one sending stuff out, they wouldn't even let me include a tiny little note, let alone anything else.

Hey
Can I have someone from the EU send me a letter or a small package via Post recent?
For example
Joe Jozic
POSTE RESANTE
17 Alojzi Stepinac St
(This is the address for the Police Department where I want the letter sent)
Indianapolis, IN

If it's possible, is this the right way to format it?

Hey,

Quick question: a buddy living in the States wants to ship me a graphics tablet (weighs about 1.2 lbs). I need to know the damage—what's the total cost once you factor in shipping, sales tax, customs, and duties?

If I send something through USPS with cash on delivery, is there an option to have the money direct deposited into my account instead of the mail carrier bringing it to me?

Ashley Perez41 said:If I choose cash on delivery when shipping via USPS, is there any way to have the funds deposited directly into my bank account instead of having the mail carrier bring the cash to me?

Yes, there is.

quietfox384 said:Yeah.

Could you walk me through how that works? I don't think I've ever heard of that being an option before.

You just need a standard deposit slip—you'll fill in your routing and account numbers there—and then you can either hand it over at the teller window or grab one from them to fill out when you drop off the package.
The funds usually hit your account pretty quickly, too—either the same day they process the pickup or by the next business day at the latest.

I've actually never heard of that. I've been sending and receiving money using those yellow and green money orders for decades now, and nobody has ever offered me a different way to do it.

If there isn't a small fee, maybe like a couple of bucks, to send the money back, then it might be worth checking out. But if the extra costs end up being the same, I guess it doesn't really matter in the end.

Thanks, I think I'll give it a shot sometime.