Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

granitemaker13 said:I sent off a certified mail item—in one of those yellow padded envelopes—more than a week ago (shipping from Rio to New York City).
The recipient still hasn't seen it (usually these things take maybe two days tops). I checked in with the local USPS office, and they just told me to hang tight because "maybe it’ll turn up soon."😕
Does anyone know how that whole formal claim process actually works if the package goes totally MIA? Am I entitled to any kind of reimbursement?

Honestly, I had a certified letter that took ten full days to arrive once, so I wouldn't start panicking just yet! 😍
In my experience, packages usually seem to move a bit faster than certified mail items do. 🤷

I just sold a microwave, and the buyer wants me to ship it via Cash on Delivery, but I’m honestly a bit lost on how that actually works. I’ve never sent anything this way before, so I could really use some guidance on the procedure. How does the payment part work for me once it arrives? Since she isn't a member here on the forum, she requested this specific shipping method...

It might sound like a silly question, but since it's my first time handling a shipment like this, I’m feeling a little unsure about the logistics...🤷

Thanks...😉

I wouldn't send it that way. It's just too much of a gamble, and shipping costs are ridiculous. If she happens to miss the delivery, you're stuck paying for the return shipping too, which could easily run you close to $33. Insist that she sends the funds via Zelle or Venmo first, then just ship it through FedEx or UPS.

It weighs somewhere around 18 to 22 pounds... They seem a bit anxious about whether I'll actually follow through, though I'm not entirely sure myself...🤷 They're insisting on shipping via USPS... and I'm honestly at a bit of a loss as to how to handle this...

To basically boils down to trust—either you have to take her word that she’ll actually pick up the package and cover the shipping costs you both agreed on, or she has to trust you enough to send the funds to your account upfront.
http://www.usps.com/tools/get-quote.page — I’d suggest using this link to get a solid estimate on what the shipping will run you. Just a heads-up though: you might want to factor in double the cost, just in case she decides not to accept the delivery. 🙄

Thanks, I already took a look at that, but I'm not so sure; the price seems a bit steep for what it is, especially if it doesn't end up gaining any momentum...🤷

I wouldn't take that chance

To be honest, I’m not sure I want to either; I’ve already sent her two emails and she hasn't gotten back to me yet, so I suppose I'll just have to wait and see what she has to say about it...

You know how it goes. People change their minds in a heartbeat, let alone over a few days. Maybe her power gets cut off or an emergency bill pops up and she can't afford your package anymore. What then? She'll either send some apology via email or just ghost you entirely...

Chloe Moore65 said:you know how it goes—people flip their stance in a heartbeat, let alone over a few days, and if they suddenly face an unexpected utility bill or some other financial emergency, paying for your package becomes a low priority, and then what, they'll send you a vague email or just ghost you entirely...

True enough, I can't argue with that logic... though it looks like I'll just be left empty-handed...

I honestly can’t wrap my head around these extra fees $1.75 for package delivery. It feels like common sense that shipping should be baked right into the postage cost, but apparently, that’s too much to ask. I’ve got ten different packages arriving this week, and quite frankly, I just don't have the patience to deal with the extra charge $1.75 every single time they drop something at my door, especially since the local FedEx office is barely a block away from me. :/

Is there any way I can tell them I don't actually want doorstep delivery? Like, could they just leave a notice or something? Honestly, charging this much for such a tiny convenience feels like a total shakedown. 👎

Don't answer the door when they ring. They'll just leave a notice, and you can pick it up at the local Post Office for free

..it’s always the same thing, my grandmother is out there working away in the garden—just like she was today—and before you know it, some old guy comes charging in like a hungry wolf, waving papers and shouting, "Here, sign this right now!" 🙂

Not looking for advice or an answer here, just venting. It’s textbook season, and I was absolutely floored today to find out that $6.75 you actually have to pay extra if you want a single, overpriced textbook shipped via UPS. The book itself isn't even worth half that much. Total scam... 🙄

Angela Flores76 said:SHIPPING VIA CASH ON DELIVERY
Basically, it means when the package arrives, whoever is picking it up pays a specific amount that’s listed right there on the shipping form attached to the box. It’s kind of a funny setup because the paperwork is essentially flipped... since you're actually receiving the cash, the recipient is the one filling out the "payer" part while the sender—that would be you—is technically the one getting paid. You'll see how it all works if you ever end up using this method...
It’s a pretty solid way to handle things if, say, you don't quite know someone well enough to trust them yet, and you're worried about them ghosting you after you ship the item, so you just send it this way and they have to hand the cash directly to the mail carrier to get their hands on the package, otherwise it just stays with the carrier...

The only thing is, you really have to make sure the buyer knows ahead of time that when you ship this way, they're going to be hit with an extra fee representing a percentage of the total cost that goes to the USPS to cover the handling of the cash transaction.

This was exactly what I needed, thanks so much!!

Sarah Williams4 said:I’m not looking for advice or a solution here, I just really need to vent for a second... It’s textbook season right now, and I was absolutely floored today when I found out that $6.75 you actually have to pay extra if you want a single, overpriced textbook shipped via COD. The book itself isn't even worth much more than the shipping fee... honestly, it feels like a total rip-off... 🙄

Are you serious?
I mean, couldn't you just toss them into a box, label it as some old magazines, and just send it through the mail? Like, would that even work?...

Sarah Fox70 said:Girls, I was expecting a little package to arrive today... I think I heard the mail carrier ring the bell early this morning, but it was such a faint sound that by the time I actually rolled out of bed, nobody was there anymore.
Do you think they leave some kind of note saying they stopped by or telling me I need to head down to the local USPS office, or what?

I’m pretty sure they always leave one of those little yellow slips regardless of whether it’s a parcel or just a letter, at least that’s how it works for me, just so nothing gets swiped right out of your mailbox... maybe try looking around a bit..

Nicole Vaughn15 said:This might sound like a really silly question, but does anyone know how I can actually pay someone for a package delivery?

Well, when the mail carrier shows up, they'll ring the bell, but honestly, you probably shouldn't open the door right away... just wait until they leave because they'll drop off one of those little yellow slips, and once you have that slip in hand, you just grab your cash and head down to your local post office... find the service counter specifically for packages, show them the slip, sign whatever they need you to sign, and then you just hand over the money for the package... and from there, I guess they just handle all the processing on their end...

Chloe Moore65 said:just don't open it when they ring the doorbell; they'll leave a slip behind so you can just pick it up at the local USPS office without paying any extra fees

In my experience, regardless of whether the package is delivered straight to my door or not, I have never once, not even once, been charged an additional fee...

northernscout99 said:Are you kidding me?
Just toss them in a box, label it "old magazines," and ship it off via USPS, right? I mean, would that even work?

I haven't got a clue. But hey, I might look into it. Nothing to lose, I guess. 😉