Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Honestly, I just don't get why they constantly try to push everyone into switching over. It's not like they're working on commission, right?

Drew Gonzalez75 said:They tried to push those on me more times than I can count🙄, but since I refused to budge, they eventually just shipped them to me as a package.
One time they actually refused, so I just went to a different branch and they sent them to me there.
P.S. If they won't comply even after you insist, just pack it up in a larger box right in front of their faces. That’s what I would do—no nonsense. I’d much rather do that than hand over another extra dollar to them!

Well, look at that... you're absolutely right. I'll just pack it in a slightly larger box and call it a day. I hadn't thought of that... thanks! 😁😉

If you’re dealing with a tiny package, just shove it into a larger yellow envelope, wrap it up tight with some twine, and send it off as a standard parcel. That’s my go-to move every single time. Let her keep playing pretend with those registered letters. I mean, seriously, one time she automatically charged me for a certified letter and slapped a postage stamp right on the envelope, even though I explicitly told her I wanted it sent as a regular package! 😬 But then she just went ahead and peeled it right off 😁

I've got a question, and sorry if this has already been asked, but is it actually possible for regular mail to take more than two days to travel within the same city?? 😕

In my case, I sent some coupons the day before yesterday in a standard envelope. I asked my aunt how long it should take (she usually knows the drill), and she told me it would arrive within the same day since I dropped it off around 9 AM. So, I just slapped a stamp on it and headed out.

And now, the girl I sent them to is PMing me saying they haven't shown up yet. 👎 Is it seriously possible for mail to take more than a day to go from one side of Washington, D.C. to the other? 😕👎

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but it’s honestly throwing me for a loop.

Angela Flores76 said:If your item is small, just put it in a larger yellow envelope, wrap it up with some twine, and send it as a package. That’s my go-to move every single time. She can go ahead and take all the pictures she wants with her certified letter. One time, the USPS automatically charged me for a certified letter and slapped a tracking sticker on the envelope even though I specifically told them I wanted to send it as a standard package. 😬But she just kept peeling it off. 😁

Exactly... she actually told me it had to go in a large yellow envelope and be sent as a certified letter. Honestly, at that post office, you can't tell who's running the show anymore. They are completely incompetent. 😠

Now that I think about it... wait, what is the actual difference between sending a certified letter and a registered letter? I mean... I sent two things on the same day in those identical bubble mailers... and one cost me $5.00 while the other was $7.25. In that second one, it was the specific package she insisted had to go in that format. Now I'm confused... isn't a certified letter essentially the same thing as $5.00?

It all comes down to the value and the sheer volume of the workload. For Michelle Grant73, it’s entirely possible they receive it within two days—say, if I send it today, someone else might see it by the day after tomorrow. My assumption is that there's a standard turnaround of a few days, especially if they're swamped. Hopefully, it arrives in time. 👍

Melissa Fox20 said:Here are those bank routing numbers again:

- 2360000 (JPMorgan Chase)
- 2340009 (Bank of America)
- 2402006 (Goldman Sachs)
- 2484008 (Royal Bank of Canada)
- 2330003 (Citigroup)
- 2500009 (Hypo Real Estate)
- 2390001 (USPS)

I happened to stumble upon these (well, I actually needed a specific bank number for something)... so just in case anyone needs them and wants to save themselves the Google search.
😍

I added USPS to the list

Can someone pick up my package using my ID instead of me, or do I have to show up in person?

Sandra Reyes said:Can someone pick up my package using my ID instead of me having to go myself?

Yeah, they can. 😉

Elizabeth Palmer2 said:It works 😉

thanks, you're fast🙂

Sandra Reyes said:Can anyone pick up a package for me using my ID, or do I have to show up in person?

What do you mean "can they"? They wouldn't even let me pick up something for my mom—even though I had both her ID and mine right there. We have the exact same last name and address, and I even explained that she’s sick and couldn't make the trip. Still a no. And honestly, it was just some random certified letter, nothing important anyway.

Yeah, it probably depends on where you are. My boyfriend picked up my package without even showing his ID—he just used mine... actually, he had his driver's license, and honestly, I'm not even sure if she checked for my ID at all. 🤷

Just gotta try it. 😉

Hey, can someone tell me if I need to specifically mention that I want the recipient to cover the shipping costs when I send something via COD (you know, where they pay upon delivery and the mail carrier brings the cash back to me)? Or is that just assumed? Or should I just pad the total price to include it?

Angela Flores76 said:That extra $1.75 fee kicks in if your delivery is handled by some guy in a van rather than a standard USPS carrier. In my experience, they charge me the full $1.75 and then provide a receipt confirming I paid the $1.75. They are legally required to give you a receipt. 🙂

Oh dear, I am so glad I remembered this while reading through these comments!
To be quite honest, I always seem to get charged $1.75 by those folks driving the yellow FedEx vans; the kicker is that if they have two or three packages, they charge me the total amount for everything at once. For instance—if it's $10, $5.00 they just bill me that much for the whole lot.
We usually have the same driver, too; he’s a little fellow and quite a jolly, boisterous man.
Then, just last week, a different gentleman arrived in a yellow truck with three packages. He tells me $5.00. Since I didn't have any small change on hand, I simply gave him $6.75.
He didn't have any change to give back to me, $1.75 so he suggested we just keep a mental note and he wouldn't charge me for one of the packages next time. BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECEIPT, AND TRULY, I ALMOST NEVER GET THEM ANYWAY.

Well, as fate would have it, a little package arrived tomorrow—well, actually today—delivered by a small truck, and it was my usual friendly, stout little driver. I mentioned to him that he was still owed $1.75 from yesterday.
And his response to me was: "I'm afraid I don't know anything about that; I wasn't the one here, I only have this current charge that needs to be settled."

👎 👎 👎 It is truly dreadful; it feels like outright theft. You all have certainly reminded me of this, so I shall head down to the local Post Office tomorrow to file a formal complaint. It isn't even really about the $1.75; it's more the principle of them stealing 👎.

Elizabeth Palmer2 said:It might 😉

Let’s be realistic, everyone—don't kid yourselves.
My only observation is this: if you're at a tiny rural post office where everyone knows your business, you might get lucky. Otherwise, there is absolutely no way they will accept anything without a notarized document.

Speaking from personal experience, it just won't happen.
I actually had to go to a notary myself to handle things for my husband; once we had that official seal, we still took the paperwork down to the local USPS branch just to make sure everything was perfectly in order, ensuring I could legally pick up his mail, important documents, and other items on his behalf.

Sandra Reyes said:Can someone else pick up my package using my ID, or am I stuck going there myself?

It depends entirely on where you are. Some locations won't hand over so much as a gum wrapper without the right paperwork, while others couldn't care less and will give it to anyone.

Rebecca Reed said:Oh, thank goodness I actually remembered this while reading through these comments!!!
The thing is, those folks driving the yellow UPS vans always charge me $1.75 as if they're bundling everything together. For example, if I have two or three packages, they just charge me a flat $5.00 for the whole lot.
And we usually get the same delivery guy—a little guy, quite a boisterous character.
Then one day last week, this other tall fellow shows up in a yellow truck with three packages. He tells me $5.00. Since I didn't have any change, I gave him $6.75.
And he has nothing to give back, $1.75so he claims we should just "remember" it and that next time I won't have to pay for one of the packages.POTATOES, I NEVER GOT A RECEIPT; IN FACT, I ALMOST NEVER GET ONE.

Well, wouldn't you know it? Just yesterday, a small package arrives in a little truck, and it’s my usual stout little driver. I tell him, "Hey, you were here yesterday and you still owe me $1.75."
And his response? "I don't know anything about that; I wasn't the one here, I just have this bill that needs paying now."

👎 👎 👎 It's absolutely appalling. This is straight-up theft. You people have really reminded me of something; tomorrow I'm heading down to the local Post Office to file an official complaint. It isn't even about the $1.75, it's the principle of them stealing from people.👎

😠

They ALWAYS demand a receipt! Without it, you have zero leverage! $1.75, whatever, once you have your $1.75, you at least have proof you paid. Personally, I always make sure I get a receipt. 🙂

Actually, I don't have the confirmation handy—I completely blanked on that! It’s all gone up in smoke, 👎m.im their 😠

First off, regarding $1.75—you have access to this forum and this specific thread, yet you still let them walk all over you? Honestly, it’s irresponsible. When you let people get away with these kinds of scams, you're just signaling to them that they can cheat anyone. My own situation, which I've detailed here on the forum, ended with $1.75 being refunded to my account along with a formal apology.

As for power of attorney, requiring a trip to a notary is just plain nonsense. Both parties should be able to simply head to the local Post Office with their IDs and about $4.25 in cash, and have everything handled in ten minutes.

Do your own research and stop following the herd. The Post Office has an email address they actually respond to and a free info line you can call.

I just have to get this off my chest.
About two weeks ago, I bought some stuff from a user on here. She shipped it out the very next day.
Five days pass. No package. Six days, seven days... nothing. I call the local USPS office with the tracking number, and honestly, they just try to play me for a fool. They claim they don't even have any record of the package ever being sent. So, the next day, I head down there in person with a friend who’s an intern at a private law firm—though you wouldn't know it by how they act—and I start making a scene.
Thirty minutes later, my phone rings. Suddenly, they "found" the package, and it’s being delivered the very next day.
That was yesterday. Today, the package—which was "suddenly discovered" and "always sent"—shows up at my door. They offered huge apologies and, to make up for the "inconvenience," they waived their usual $1.75 delivery fee.
Absolutely pathetic.
Huge thanks to the seller, though. She was incredibly helpful and stayed right on top of things with me while we sorted this mess out.