Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Just put it in a bag and then inside a standard, slightly larger envelope.

Could someone please explain how the payment process works when buying from someone through a forum like this?

Payments are typically made via checking or savings account

okay, listen up:
I've been sending stuff back and forth for a while now, trying all sorts of ways
so here’s my little collection of confusion and "wisdom"

Usually, I just sent things in an envelope or wrapped in heavy paper about the size of a large envelope—thick enough to hold, say, a few t-shirts and some socks for a flea market
that was until one shipment just... vanished. So, lesson learned: send it as a package. That way you get a tracking number and you can declare the value.
if it actually gets lost, I have a right to get my money back.
anyway, it's like $13.08 for a value up to $33 and I think it covers up to 5lbs!

Honestly, sometimes shipping stuff as a package is actually cheaper than sending it as regular mail. I mean, anything can be a package if you just tie some twine around it.
I always use brown kraft paper because it's cheap at the grocery store, and the ladies at the post office always wrap it in string for me—usually after I've already left, though!?!?
There's this one shift at the local branch that's always in a bad mood and grumbling; even the folks over at Target aren't quite that pleasant.
So far, the ones downtown have been the best, but they don't even take packages?!?! Did you guys know some post offices won't even accept packages?!?!
Basically, I'm constantly hopping between different branches in the area, hunting for that perfect combo of nice people and actual competence!!

Then yesterday, some ladies at the counter suggested I just send it as certified mail?!?! Even though the little parcel is basically the size of an A4 envelope.
Their logic? Small parcels get lost easily?!?!?!?
I mean, wow. They really have a lot of faith in their own company. Talk about great marketing!!!

Anyway, certified mail gives you a tracking number so you can hunt it down if it disappears, and it costs around $3.25—depending on how heavy it is.

And now I realize I actually know nothing. They have these separate categories for letters, packages, and certified mail, but they don't list specific prices for everything—it's all just estimates, which totally gets on my nerves!
And why does the sender pay the postage, but then I, as the recipient, have to hand $1.75 to the carrier for delivery if they catch me at home?
And if they leave a yellow slip and I have to go to the post office myself—I don't pay those $1.75

Question for the mail carriers:
- Can I just say, "Nope, I'm not home, not happening" $1.75 , just give me the slip and I'll go pick it up myself?!?!
- And am I supposed to give that mailman I'm handing $1.75 a receipt or something to prove he actually took $1.75 from me?!?!?!?

You actually need to provide billing authorization $1.75 for the delivery!!

Yeah, you can just tell them not to leave $1.75. Ask them to just leave a slip instead and say you'll pick it up at the FedEx later. I actually did that once... 😁 I told the guy nicely not to leave $1.75 because I'd just handle it myself at the FedEx office later. Thanks, bye 😁

Hi there. I’m looking to send a package overseas to a friend in the USA for their birthday. According to the FedEx website, I need to declare a value for the shipment, but I’d really prefer to avoid my friend getting hit with unexpected customs fees or whatever else comes with that. Could someone explain how sending a package marked as a gift actually works?

It’s been a while since I’ve sent anything through the mail... just wanted to double-check something. When I’m filling out one of those yellow COD forms, am I technically the recipient on both sides? Thanks in advance 🙂

Regarding shipping shoes via mail:

1. What are the typical shipping costs?
2. Should they be placed in a box or a package?
3. Is there any kind of confirmation provided once the package is sent?

Chloe Moore65, I realized I forgot to thank you for your previous reply.

THANK YOU.😉

cosmicseal17 said:like this—when you're shipping shoes via mail

1. how much is the shipping?
2. do they go in a box or a package?
3. do you get any kind of receipt confirming it was sent?

You can just send them as a package—it'll cost you roughly $4.25 (up to 5 kg and $33 in value; if you declare a higher amount, it's a bit more expensive, but not by much. Just check the USPS package rates online). It’s probably best to use one of their branded boxes. And yes, you'll definitely get a receipt once it's sent.🙂

Why bother buying their box? Just grab a shoe box, wrap it in some white or brown paper, tie it with twine, and you're done.

How do I ship a cell phone?
Can I just toss it in a bubble mailer, or is that asking for trouble? 😕

Wrap it in bubble wrap and then slide it into a padded envelope or a box

Chloe Moore65 said:Why bother buying a specialized gift box? Just grab an old shoebox—it works just as well! Wrap it up in some plain white or kraft paper, tie it with a bit of twine, and you’re all set.

Oh, I wasn't suggesting we buy one—I actually meant using a shoebox instead! 😂

Regarding those $1.75 updates, I have a feeling they’re shifting things around quite a bit. It looks like moving forward, the sender will be the only one footing the bill if they want door-to-door delivery—at least for the locations that actually offer package services, though most of them don't even provide that level of service yet.
Basically, we shouldn't be seeing any more surprise shipping fees being charged to the recipient anytime soon.

Chloe Moore65 said:It usually goes straight into a checking or savings account.

CHECKING. 👍Savings accounts just get hit with fees.

Here is my latest experience with FedEx, which I strongly recommend avoiding if you have any other choice!

On Friday, a package was sent via FedEx (weight 798g with next-day delivery by 3 PM, COD $667, separate). The sender told me shipping would be roughly $17. The label stated "sender pays" $19. The package finally arrived on Monday, and the shipping cost had ballooned to a whopping $43.

According to the receipt I barely managed to scrape from the post office:
postal money order at 3.66% rate - $24
... (the start of the word is cut off on the receipt) in PO for 0.2-1kg and Zone I - $11
separate FedEx shipment - $5.00
FedEx COD - $2.50

The actual delivery was handled completely unprofessionally. I didn't receive the package at my doorstep; instead, they just shoved a notice through my door—we have a mailbox right in the lobby. The driver didn't even attempt to call me, nor did he try to redeliver later. The promised delivery window was until 3 PM, yet he showed up at 10 AM, which apparently was "good enough" according to the clerk at the branch. I suppose I should just take a personal day to sit around waiting for the mailman. I work until 1 PM and was home before 2 PM. Why am I paying for such an expensive service advertised as door-to-door when the package was essentially dumped at the post office? Now I have to waste more time and gas driving into town to pick it up. I clearly didn't get what I paid for; they treated this like standard snail mail.
Also, the percentage they skim off the COD amount is absolutely insulting!!!

Naturally, I emailed a complaint to FedEx, but they couldn't care less... just the usual corporate nonsense about "customer satisfaction."

NEVER AGAIN FEDEX!!!!

To top it off, the postal service has lost a package once before (lost, or rather, stolen), once they failed to collect the COD because the carrier didn't charge it, and once they claimed I hadn't paid when I actually had—so we just settled it via online banking. Thank God there are still honest people out there.
Now my most recent package has gone missing too, so I have to start a search inquiry again today. It's just a massive pile of incompetents and thieves!

So, I’m stuck wondering what happens when you do everything by the book—send the tracking number, provide the shipping confirmation, the whole nine yards—but the buyer just ignores it. She didn't pick up the package at the FedEx station within the timeframe because she "didn't get there in time," or whatever. No explanation, nothing. Now the package is being sent back to me, and I’m looking at paying double the shipping costs, which actually ends up costing more than the item itself.👎 To make matters worse, she isn't interested in having it resent. What am I supposed to do if I just don't claim the return? Honestly, why should I be the one taking a massive financial hit just because someone else couldn't be bothered to check their mail? 🤷

I ended up having to pay again myself. It was for some books, so I sent a text to the person who originally paid for them, but they just ghosted me. Whatever, I'll just keep the books and sell them next year.