Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

I don't think you have to pay those extra $1.75
anymore. Basically, you just pay the $6.00 shipping fee, wait for the receipt, and then pick it up yourself at the USPS.

vividcobra3 As requested by:
I have a few questions regarding the following—
If I am sending out a package and paying the premium for age-restricted shipping, then there are certain expectations regarding how that shipment is handled.$1.75 What exactly is the point of paying for shipping if the mail carrier arrives at the recipient's door only to find an empty house? They simply leave one of those little yellow slips behind, forcing the recipient to trek down to the local USPS office just to claim their package. It seems like a rather inefficient way to handle things. $1.75!?!?
I assume they realize that their operating hours overlap perfectly with ours, which means most people are actually at work when the USPS carrier is making rounds; one would think it’s common sense to anticipate that working professionals won't be lounging around the house on a weekday morning. It seems the only ones consistently home to intercept deliveries are stay-at-home moms, pregnant women, or those recovering from childbirth. 😍

Can we actually trust the USPS when they claim they attempted a delivery, or are they simply leaving behind those useless yellow slips? It’s happened to me far too many times now—I stay home specifically waiting for a package, only to step outside around 2:00 PM and find a notification stating they supposedly stopped by at 11:00 AM. They clearly didn't bother to check if anyone was actually home, which feels less like a missed connection and more like a calculated pattern of deception and theft. $1.75?!? 😂

What does the lady at the post office have to say about this?

It’s a well-framed question, and frankly, I find myself equally preoccupied with the matter.

Seriously guys, how long does it take for people at the USPS to process a simple claim? It’s been three weeks and I’m still seeing absolutely nothing 😠👎

Honestly, don't rely on picking up packages at the local post office—it’s just not worth the headache. My experience in Seattle was a total mess: you never know if your package is sitting at Branch A or Branch B! I went to Branch B once, and they sent me over to Branch A; then I go to Branch A, and they send me right back to Branch B... they just run you around like an idiot—there's zero consistency. They told me packages over 2 kg are handled at Branch B, so I made sure to remember that. But then, when I had a package over 2 kg, Branch B tells me, "It might actually be at Branch A!" The worst part, though, was when I went to Branch A looking for a package under my name, and the clerk just hands me this yellow slip and says, "It's not here, go to Branch B," and proceeds to charge me $0.60 for it—she even puts a sticker on the yellow slip to show I paid and gives me a receipt. So, I take the receipt, thinking I'm all set and won't have to pay anything extra at Branch B when I pick it up. Since I couldn't make it to Branch B that day, I didn't get there until seven days later (since General Delivery items only wait 30 days)... and wouldn't you know it, the lady there charges me those $0.60 all over again, plus an extra $16 or so in storage fees. I'm standing there like, "What? I have the receipt right here—you can see I already paid the $0.33 and 80 cents!" but I just couldn't get to Branch B that same day. And she just stares at me, totally cold, asking, "Do you want me to return the package, or are you going to pay???"
Talk about "refined" service...
And by the way, I've been waiting two weeks for a package that was sent via General Delivery, but it hasn't shown up at any of the branches. If anyone knows how to track down a General Delivery package, please let me know!

Emily Walker said:Honestly, don't rely too heavily on just picking up packages at the local post office to save a few bucks—it can be a total headache. Take my experience in Seattle, for example: you never know if your package is sitting at Branch A or Branch B! I'll show up at Branch B, and they send me over to Branch A, then I go to Branch A and they tell me it’s actually at Branch B... they just run you around in circles like you have no clue, and there seems to be zero consistency. They told me once that anything over 2 kg goes to Branch B, so I made sure to remember that. But then, another time when I had a heavier package that *should* have been at Branch B, they just shrug and say, "It might be at Branch A!" The absolute worst part, though, was when I went to Branch A looking for a package under my name. The clerk hands me this yellow slip and tells me, "It's not here, you need to go to Branch B," and she goes ahead and charges me $0.60 for it—she even puts a sticker on the yellow slip to show it’s paid and gives me a receipt. So, feeling all happy that I won't have to pay anything extra when I finally get to Branch B, I head off. But since I couldn't make it to Branch B that very day, I didn't end up going until seven days later (since USPS holds general delivery items for 30 days). When I finally got there, the lady charged me the $0.60 all over again, plus an additional $16 and some change for storage fees! I was like, "Wait, what? I have the receipt right here, see? I already paid the $0.33 and the 80 cents, I just couldn't get to Branch B the same day." And she just gave me this blank stare and said, "Do you want me to return the package to sender, or are you going to pay?"
Talk about lovely customer service from our local postal worker.
And by the way, I've been waiting two weeks for a package that was sent via general delivery, but it hasn't turned up at either location. If anyone knows how to track down a general delivery package, please let me know!

I don't quite get why you're bouncing back and forth between those two offices. Just grab the numbers for both locations and when you're expecting a delivery, give them both a call to check which one actually has it 😍

Chloe Moore65 said:The lady at the USPS told me everyone can just pay the standard shipping from $6.00 if they pick the package up themselves. But if you want it delivered straight to your door, you’ve got to pay $6.75, assuming they even have delivery services in your area.

That’s exactly what they told me too! I was sending a little package yesterday, and if I had known, I would have sent it via certified mail. I had exactly $5.00 in my hand, stepped out of the car, walked into the post office, and the clerk tells me $6.00.

And me: 😕 😕 😕 😕

I ended up digging through my entire bag, my wallet, and my jacket just trying to find $1.00! 🤦 And there’s a line of people forming right behind me. 😳

Then she goes on to tell me the recipient can just pick it up at the post office, but if they want it brought to their house, it costs more. 👎

Total disaster.

Is there a way to check the rates for certified mail on the USPS website? Like, can you just plug in the destination zip code and the weight to see the total cost? 🙂 Their prices are killer—who is actually going to shell out almost $6.75 for shipping?! (And that’s assuming they actually do their jobs correctly...)

EDIT: Just found this link . So is that really the price I'd be paying at the counter? For example, a certified package under 100 grams is 10, $27? Does it matter if it's going from Seattle to Seattle, or like, Seattle to San Diego or Key West? Is it all the same rate?

And what does
mean?
Also, does anyone know about the shipment status?

vividcobra3 said:Here’s what I want to know—
if I ship a package and pay over $18$1.75 in shipping fees, what happens if the mail carrier shows up at the recipient's place and nobody is home? They leave one of those yellow slips and the person has to trek down to the post office to deal with it. Who gets to keep that extra $1.75?!?!?
I mean, they have working hours just like the rest of us. Most people are stuck at their jobs when the mail arrives—they should realize from the jump that working people aren't going to be sitting around the house waiting for deliveries all morning! Only stay-at-home moms or people on maternity leave are hanging around waiting for packages during the day! 😍

And can we actually trust the carrier? Did they really try to deliver the package, or did they just drop a slip in the box without knocking? This has happened to me more than once—I'm sitting at home, waiting for my delivery, then around 2 PM I check the tracking and it says they tried to reach me at 11 AM. They clearly had no idea I was right here, just looking for an excuse to skip the work. Is this just straight-up fraud and theft$1.75?!? 😂

What does the clerk at the local post office have to say about all this?

I don't think it's 5, it's probably 2. I had some old ladies at my local branch scamming me for ages, charging me $5.00 for a package sent within the same city instead of the actual $10 or so. It wasn't until I went to a different branch later that I found out it only cost $3.25.

Does anyone happen to know if the USPS branch over on Dubrava Avenue—specifically the one at 53—is open this Saturday? If they are, does anyone know what time they close up for the day?
Thanks so much in advance!

vividnomad15 said:Does anyone know if the USPS branch in the neighborhood—the one over on 53rd Avenue—is open on Saturdays? If it is, what are their hours?
Thanks in advance!

I’m pretty sure they stay open until 1 PM, 😉 I know for a fact they're open, but honestly, I can't remember if they close at 1 or 3 PM.👍

Just wanted to share an update,
I sent off a package today—just a single t-shirt via certified mail (weight approx. 0.85 lbs)—and I received my $5.00 refund promptly.
I opted for a padded bubble mailer since that’s my standard practice, unless I’m shipping multiple items which necessitates a box; the envelope itself was $1.50,
so the total weight came to $6.50😲,

Everything went perfectly smoothly, quite frankly.👎👎

I almost always reuse the envelope my items arrive in by just taping a piece of white paper over the old label and sending it on my way. Honestly, I don't care; it saves me a few bucks here and there.
We’ll probably stick to certified mail more often, though it isn't worth it for high-value items since you only get five times the postage back if it goes missing. Plus, $33only counts it as a package, and if the item is actually worth more, you have to declare a higher value, which drives the shipping cost up immediately.
They saw how many packages we were moving and hiked their rates. They're a bunch of crooks; they'll never have enough money.

Could someone please give me an idea of how long one should typically wait for a return receipt? On January 22nd, I went down to the main USPS branch in Seattle and sent off a certified letter with a return receipt requested—I even opted for the expedited version because the clerk at the counter insisted it would speed things up—but, alas, that little slip hasn't made its way to my doorstep just yet. Is it actually normal for this to take such a long time? I mean, I was sending the letter from Seattle to an address within Seattle itself... surely it should have arrived by now, shouldn't it? 🤷

Thanks in advance!

boldwalker16 said:I believe—if my memory serves me correctly—that they should be open until about 1:00 PM? Or was it slightly earlier? One can never be quite certain with these schedules, can one? Regardless, I am fairly confident that 1:00 PM is the mark. 😉 I know for a fact that it works—I’ve seen it in action! However, I can't quite recall if the window closes at 1:00 PM or closer to 3:00 PM... does anyone happen to have the exact timing on hand? 👍

At my local post office here in San Diego, the small branch only stays open until about 1:00 PM on Saturdays—which is just enough time if you're actually organized, right? I’m not entirely certain, but I suspect most smaller branches follow a similar schedule—with the exception, naturally, of the main regional hubs which tend to stay open much later.

These new prices are absolutely brutal. I guess we might have to look into alternatives to USPS, but does anyone know if there are any other viable options out there?🙄

FedEx is even more expensive

vividcobra3 said:I have a few questions about this...
if I send a package and pay an extra $1.75 for shipping, what happens if the mail carrier arrives at the recipient's house and nobody is home? They just leave one of those yellow slips and then the recipient has to trek down to the local USPS branch to pick it up—so who actually gets to keep that extra $1.75 fee?!?!?
It seems to me they operate on the same business hours we do, and most people are stuck at work when the mail comes through... surely they realize that working professionals aren't going to be lounging around the house all morning, unless you're a stay-at-home parent or someone recovering from childbirth waiting by the door... 😍

And honestly, can we even trust that the carrier actually attempted the delivery? Or did they just drop off the notice without knocking? It’s happened to me more than once—I'm sitting right here waiting, and then around 2:00 PM, I see a notification saying they tried to reach me at 11:00 AM... it feels less like a missed connection and more like a complete lack of effort, or perhaps even something more deceptive $1.75... 😂

I wonder what the clerk at the post office would say to all of this...

The woman at the post office mentioned to me that since the policy change back in early 2011, there's been an additional $1.75 charge for home delivery, though if I understood her correctly, you might be able to opt to have the package held at the station instead... which would just result in them leaving a slip and allowing you to avoid that $1.75 surcharge. But regardless, it feels like no one really bothered to consider the very point you're raising... 😁
Furthermore, since the entire country has essentially become one unified zone, sending a package within Seattle costs the exact same as shipping it to any other city in the States, which strikes me as completely illogical and quite frankly, a bit pointless... 🙄

You can't charge $1.75 yet. They mentioned that home delivery is an extra fee $0.67 and it's only available in certain areas; you can find the list of those locations on the USPS website

Amy Gomez said:Honestly, guys, how long does it actually take for them at the USPS to process a claim? It’s been three weeks and still absolutely nothing. 😠👎

They're just incompetent, honestly—you should go down there and give them a piece of your mind. Usually, the turnaround is supposed to be about a week.

So, I’ve got a bit of a situation here. I hope I’m not totally off-topic, but I wasn’t sure where else to dump this question. Basically, I sold an item to another user on here, packed it up, and shipped it out from Washington, D.C. to Sacramento back on January 25th. Well, the buyer still hasn't received it. She went radio silent for a few days, and then suddenly hits me up just to let me know it hasn't arrived yet. I went down to the USPS office with my receipt, and the lady behind the counter told me straight up that the package was sent to Sacramento and that it's already there—meaning, once it's in their system and delivered to that destination, it's out of my hands. I have no clue what to do next. The buyer says she doesn't have it, and I suggested she go check with her local post office, but whether she actually did that or not, I don't know. How do we even resolve this mess? The total amount was $50, and honestly, I'm really not looking to eat the cost because I was counting on that money, and I know she isn't exactly thrilled about losing hers either. Any advice would be appreciated 🙂

Chloe Moore65 said:you still can't pay for the $1.75, especially since they mentioned home delivery carries an extra fee for $0.67 and it's only available in specific areas... you can find the list of those locations on the USPS website

I mean, how is this even possible!?😕 I was sending a small package from downtown Washington, D.C. to another part of the city just as these new fees were being implemented😳, and the clerk actually asked if I wanted to pay an additional $1.75 to have it delivered directly to a doorstep🤷... honestly, what a bunch of crooks... as if raising the base shipping rates wasn't enough, now they're squeezing us for extra money on top of it for supposed "delivery services"...🙄

On another note, I have a question regarding something else. My boyfriend uses my eBay account to order massive amounts of stuff to feed his collecting hobbies🤣. Since we live in an apartment building where we've had some pretty bad experiences—things like theft, packages getting smashed, or mail carriers just leaving items outside the front door or trying to cram oversized boxes into tiny mail slots—everything gets sent straight to my home address instead😁. Now, some items arrive clearly labeled as packages, and I get a notification to pick them up at the local post office. However, other shipments, which are also in sturdy cardboard boxes and look identical to standard packages, are categorized under different shipping profiles—which I assume depends on how various postal services handle things globally—and I'm wondering if I'll be charged that $1.75 delivery fee for those too, since the mail carrier usually just brings them right to our door regardless of the label😍... especially since he's been giving my mom a hard time about how much I buy, mostly because he's tired of constantly dealing with all the cardboard packaging in his bag🙂...