Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Anything is possible, except for a wood-burning stove 😁

Sandra Brooks91 said:Anything goes except for a wood-burning stove 😁

🤣

anyway... still waiting on my package. Honestly, starting to feel like he's never even gonna show up with it 🙂

You’ve still got plenty of time ahead of you... I’ve been sitting here waiting on mine for three weeks now😁... at this rate, it probably took a cross-country road trip in a beat-up van😂😂

What’s the best way to ship ceramics without them shattering into a million pieces during transit? Is it actually worth letting the post office handle the packing, or should I just take matters into my own hands?

The post office doesn't handle any packaging; you have to do everything yourself.
Wrap it up in plenty of bubble wrap and put it in a box.

crimsonstag17 said:How do I ship ceramics without them shattering during transit? Does the post office handle the packing, or am I on my own here?

Grab a bigger box and wrap every single piece individually—use bubble wrap or plenty of paper—and make sure there’s zero wiggle room inside the box. That empty space is what kills fragile items. I’ve personally watched USPS workers toss packages around like they're nothing, and if you haven't padded everything perfectly, it's going to end up in pieces.

I remember one time I sent off a package and specifically told them it was fragile, you know? It arrived completely shattered... and it was supposed to be a gift 😢

So, I'm wondering, what actually makes more sense here? Is it better to send an item in a padded mailer or just stick to a standard shipping box?

Sent a small package the other day, COD plus shipping (buyer covers everything), but they just refused to pick it up. Now the USPS is gonna bounce it back to me. Do I actually have to take the stuff back, or can I just tell them to keep it?

hey

I don't think it's feasible, especially since you'll end up paying shipping both ways.

Thanks for the reply, can anyone vouch for this?

Angela Grant22 said:I remember sending a package once where I explicitly told them it was fragile, only for it to show up completely shattered. It was supposed to be a gift, too. 😢

Given how things go, would I be better off using a padded mailer for an item or just sticking to a standard shipping box?

Honestly, don't bother telling them it's fragile; it’s like they aren't even listening. In my experience, they just don't care. I always pack my stuff so there's zero wiggle room in the box just to ensure it survives, though I usually avoid shipping anything like ceramics that could actually break. 🙂

driftingdrifter132 said:The other day I sent out a low-value package via USPS with COD and shipping costs included (meaning the buyer covers everything), but they ended up refusing the delivery. Now the mail carrier is going to return it to me. Am I forced to take my items back, or can I just tell them I don't want it and have them dispose of it??

Best regards,

You absolutely can.
It gets sent back as undeliverable. If nobody claims it, it eventually just gets destroyed.

Angela Grant22 said:I remember sending a package once where I specifically flagged it as fragile, only to have it arrive completely shattered—and it was supposed to be a gift! 😢

So, looking at the math now, which is actually more cost-effective: sending something in a padded mailer or just sticking with a standard shipping box?

If you're dealing with anything super delicate, honestly, the best move is to wrap it in layers—think bubble wrap, newspaper, or even some tissue paper—and then nestle it in some foam peanuts inside the box, clearly marked "Fragile."
It might not save you a dime on postage, but at least your stuff actually arrives in one piece.
I hope that makes sense! If I'm being too vague, just let me know and I'll try to break it down further.

ursula1000 did your package finally show up?
mine took forever because that girl didn't even bother to ship it when she said she would... she waited an entire week after claiming it was sent, just ignoring my messages like I didn't exist... absolutely infuriating!

Does anyone happen to know what the current rates are for a certified letter according to the new USPS pricing? And while I'm at it, does anyone have a clue about the cost for those sturdy yellow envelopes—you know, the ones that feel a bit more heavy-duty than the standard stuff? I can't quite recall the official name for them. Thanks so much! 🙂

I’m looking to mail a jersey to New York City. Does anyone know if there's a large enough bubble mailer available to send it via certified mail, or should I just ship it as a standard package?🤷

ironeagle10 said:What’s the going rate for a certified letter according to the new rates? And how much does one of those sturdy yellow envelopes cost—the thicker ones, I can't recall the name? Thanks. 🙂

You can find the price list on the ExxonMobil website, though they really only hiked the prices for shipping packages; everything else stayed about the same.
Honestly, you're better off grabbing bubble mailers at a supermarket or a bookstore. They charge way too much at the post office. Even the smallest one is like $0.20.

Bradley Ramos said:I need to ship a jersey to New York City. Is there a larger bubble mailer available so I can send it certified, or should I just ship it as a package? 🤷

Look, you could just toss it in a box, a bubble mailer, or even wrap it in a few opaque plastic bags—that's what I've been doing lately. It's entirely up to you.
If it weighs less than half a pound, sending it certified is definitely the cheaper way to go.

Olivia Green46 said:You can find their rate sheet on the ExxonMobil website, but they really only hiked up the prices for package shipping. Everything else stayed pretty much the same.
Honestly, you’re better off picking up a bubble mailer at a local supermarket or a bookstore. It’ll be cheaper than using the post office. Even the smallest one there is only about 75 cents.

As for packaging, it’s up to you—you could use a box, a bubble mailer, or even just a few opaque plastic bags (that's my go-to lately).
If it weighs less than half a pound, sending it via certified mail is usually the more cost-effective move.

It's just a standard jersey, so I doubt it'll hit half a pound. A larger bubble mailer with certified shipping should do it. Thanks! 👍

So my mail carrier swung by today with a package and actually charged me $1.75 on the spot.. Apparently, the USPS is reverting to the old ways because they decided doorstep delivery was an "impossible mission" when people were already paying for it. People were losing their minds because they paid for premium shipping and still didn't get their stuff at the door.. So yeah, don't be shocked when they start asking you for $1.75 just to pick up a package at your own house again...
I'm just curious though, what's the standard markup at the post office these days for shipping a single package?

Hey everyone...
Quick question for you all...

I’m looking into shipping a small package—actually just a compact hard drive that would easily fit in a padded mailer. I need to send it over to Canada as part of a bulk deal, so I'm trying to get a sense of what the shipping costs might look like. Also, can I just ship it and have the recipient cover the delivery fee upon arrival, or am I expected to pay everything upfront? The package is probably around 1 pound. Thanks...😉