Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Drew Parker8 said:I’ve got a question for the pros here. How do I ship a glass plate without it shattering? Should I use a box, or would those bubble mailers work? I'm guessing not, but maybe wrap it in something first?
Can I just use one of my own boxes instead of buying their specific ones? And what's the damage going to be cost-wise? Thanks!!

Use a box and pack it like a pro. Make sure there’s zero wiggle room so it doesn't rattle around inside. Just select the "fragile" option or add it as an extra service when you book. It should run you about $11. Hopefully, that helps.😉

How does one go about uploading photos to this forum? I am quite new here, so if someone could please lend me a hand, I would be most grateful.

If a UPS driver shows up at my door to drop off a package, and they're charging me $1.75 for the delivery, can I just politely tell them I’d rather swing by the local post office instead? I’d much rather skip those $1.75 fees, especially since the branch is practically right around the corner from me.

Linda Chavez14 said:--April, that price is just for domestic shipping. When you're looking at international stuff, sending a registered package under half a kilo from the US to Canada usually runs about $20.

Hannah Palmer6, honestly, it’s probably best if she just heads down to her local post office to double-check—their rate sheets aren't always synced up.

Thanks for the info, everyone. It's basically $18... absolute robbery!

Hannah Palmer6 said:Thanks for the replies, it’s mostly $20, which is crazy!!!

No problem 🙂 Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but everyone has their own rates.
Yeah, $20 is definitely pricey, thanks for letting me know, now we know.

Can someone please help me out here? I'm trying to send my first package and I think I've got the basics down, but I have one question... how much is it going to run me if I just walk into a FedEx Office and ask them to wrap it up in their official packaging and throw in that bubble wrap stuff?

Olivia Garcia47 said:Can someone please help me out here... It's my first time shipping a package. I think I know the drill, but I'm wondering how much extra they charge if I just drop it off at the UPS Store and have them wrap it up in their packaging and stuff it with that bubble wrap stuff?

If nothing's changed since last time, it was probably around $1.75

Whenever I go to the USPS website and enter my tracking number, I end up seeing this table
11/24/2011 10:46:00 AM CHINA BEIJING Insert item into bag (Otb)
11/29/2011 8:43:00 AM USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)
11/29/2011 11:11:00 AM USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 Send item to domestic location (Inb)
11/30/2011 9:27:00 AM USA 20004 WASHINGTON, D.C. CUSTOMS Send item to domestic location (Inb)
11/30/2011 6:22:00 PM USA 20005 Washington, D.C. Distribution Center Receive item at location (Inb)

Does anyone know what the bolded part actually means??

coastalwolf8 said:When I go to USPS and enter my tracking number, I get this table:
11/24/2011 10:46:00 AM CHINA BEIJING Insert item into bag (Otb)
11/29/2011 8:43:00 AM USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)
11/29/2011 11:11:00 AM USA WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 Send item to domestic location (Inb)
11/30/2011 9:27:00 AM USA 20004 WASHINGTON, D.C. CUSTOMS Send item to domestic location (Inb)
11/30/2011 6:22:00 PM USA 20005 Washington, D.C. Distribution Center Receive item at location (Inb)

What does the bold part mean??

That’s just the sorting facility.
It'll be at your place in a day or two.

Does anyone know the best way to ship a package over to Africa, and any idea what the shipping costs might look like?

Dennis Evans2 said:How much does it cost to ship a package to Africa and what would the shipping fees be?

Give me some more details here.

Shipping is going to be expensive. It all depends on the weight, plus there's the massive question of whether it will actually arrive at all.
If you're sending it to South Africa, it’ll probably make it. For most other countries? Good luck.
In those places, they steal basic letters off the street, let alone an entire package.
The real issue is whether those other countries even have a functioning postal system to begin with.

Why on earth am I being charged delivery fees for certain cities when the package I sent—which isn't even due until the 18th—ended up costing me $25? Can't people just swing by the local Post Office to pick it up themselves? Every single time, the lady at the counter charges me extra. She just tells me that’s how the system is set up and the shipping fee is mandatory. I'm doing all the packing myself at home, too. So $2.25 when is it ever actually $3.25? Why does this happen? Does anyone know what's going on. thanks

Whenever I send out a package, I always opt against home delivery. I prefer to have it held at the FedEx location and just pay $6.00
Delivery isn't really an option around my way, so whoever is sending me something just covers the $6.00

redpilot37 said:Why am I getting hit with delivery fees in certain cities when the package I sent—which isn't due until the 18th—ended up costing me $25 instead of what I expected? Can't people just swing by the local post office to pick stuff up themselves? Every time I go, the clerk at the USPS counter charges me extra, claiming it’s just how the system is set up and the delivery fee is mandatory... meanwhile, I'm sitting here packing everything myself at home. So basically, $2.25when does this ever happen $3.25? why??? anyone know the deal. thanks

For cities that offer delivery, just make sure to specify that you want to pick it up at the post office. Otherwise, home delivery for a package under $33 2kg usually runs about $6.75 $20. Plus, the recipient gets stuck paying $1.75 $5 upon arrival at the door.

Chloe Moore65 said:Whenever I'm shipping something, I always tell them skip the home delivery. I'd rather just have it held at the FedEx office and pay to pick it up myself. $6.00
Delivery isn't organized on my end. Whoever sends me stuff just pays the shipping. $6.00

Melissa Morgan77 said:If you’re in one of the cities that offers home delivery, just make sure to select the option to pick up your package at the FedEx office instead. Otherwise, they'll just drop it off right at your door. $33 Grab two kilos of Costa. $6.75And the recipient still has to pay at the door upon delivery. $1.75.

But she isn't giving me any say in the matter. She claims her computer just spits out certain cities as having delivery available, and that's that.
I just called the customer service line at USPS. They told me it’s basically a matter of choice—you don't actually have to pay if you don't want to. Apparently, there might just be a glitch in the app used at that local branch.
I don't know who's pulling the strings or who's responsible for this mess, but one thing is certain: I'm done paying up.
If she keeps insisting that’s how her computer acts, I’ll just tell her to go ask the head of FedEx if she’s still confused.
Look, I’m not looking for a fight, but we can't keep going like this.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Appreciate it. 🙂

So, here’s the deal: I’m trying to figure out how long packages arriving from overseas—specifically from France, to be exact—actually sit at the local post office before they're flagged. I’m worried about being out of town when it arrives; I really don't want my stuff getting sent all the way back to France just because I wasn't home to grab it. Also, if anyone has any insight on the typical transit time for a shipment traveling from France to the States, I'd appreciate the heads-up. Thanks. 🙂

Is it okay to send a small package weighing around 4.5 pounds to the US?

Why on earth would the clerk at FedEx ask me what's actually inside a standard package I'm sending over to the States?🤷 So, I just told her it was some clothes, and she gives me this look and basically tells me I could be lying to her face for all she knows.😕 Like, what is that even about??

Anyone else get their packages today? Shipping was supposed to be $12.50, but they charged me $4.75 instead. Probably going to be one of those Catholic Charities types again—they seem to show up more often than they should.

Olivia Green46 said:Did anyone else ship anything today? Shipping was supposed to be $12.50, but they charged me $4.75. It’s going to be that same old story with Catholic Charities—they seem to pop up all the time.

Yeah, prices are higher today because of the Red Cross donation... or at least, that's what the lady at the Post Office told me.🙂