Question
Key Features
Free, regardless of the number of packages you’re sending.
Your carrier will pick up your package when your regular mail is delivered.
Schedule a next day or advanced pickup up to 3 months in the future.
Available with Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, and International services.
What You Should Know
Packages must be ready for shipment before your carrier arrives.
Requests must be received by 2:00 a.m. (CST) on the day your pickup is scheduled.
Maximum weight per package is 70 pounds.
Postage must be applied to each package.
READY TO SCHEDULE A PICKUP?
U.S. Postal Service CARRIER PICKUP
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It's also now available for Parcel Post and Media Mail.
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You can also get international packages picked up, as long as you hand them to the postal worker. They also must have postage already on them and also the proper customs forms.
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Originally Posted by Jasmine
You can also get international packages picked up, as long as you hand them to the postal worker. They also must have postage already on them and also the proper customs forms.
Bolding mine. I had four packages picked up Saturday with one being an International package which included postage and the customs forms. My carrier picked up all four packages.
Trouble was, I scheduled them early Saturday morning (Friday night) and missed the pick-up (2 AM CDT) by 4 minutes. The confirmation came out for the packages to be picked up Monday. Saturday morning, I called the post office when they opened at 10:00 AM, but the carrier had already left, so I just put the packages next to my mail box and left for the day. When I came home, the carrier had picked the packages up. Wonder if he'll be returning them to me on Monday?
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How accurate is the pricing on weight. In other words, if your scale is off a tad do you get reimbursed for the overage or charged for under weights? Are they checked at the P.O.?
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If your package weighs less than your applied postage - you lose whatever extra you paid. If your package weighs more than you applied, your package is likely to be returned to you for insufficient postage. Then, if you used a Stamps.com or 'stamps' program to print shipping labels, you will need to apply for a refund. Postage labels printed in this manner are good only for the day they are printed. If you used stamps then you would just need to add the additional postage (post office might stamp instructions on the return). In some cases a package may go through and sometimes the postal worker delivers the packages with a request for the additional postage to the recipient. If your scale off by just a hair, it's better to go up to the next pound rather than risk problems don't you think? Better yet, invest in a new scale. I've had mine for several years (Royal) got it cheap on eBay and works perfectly. Also, the post office offered the Stack and Weigh scales for 1-6 pounds. I have a set and they do work.
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Thanks for the info. I imagine those additional fees could add up over a year. I'll just keep dropping them off for now. Thanks.
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Question, though, for anyone that uses this service.
Does the postal worker come TO THE DOOR to collect one's packages, or do I (the shipper) have to either wait around until he/she shows up or leave them at the mailbox? (NOT going to happen - NOT where I live!)
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Does the postal worker come TO THE DOOR to collect one's packages, or do I (the shipper) have to either wait around until he/she shows up or leave them at the mailbox? (NOT going to happen - NOT where I live!)
I love this service...when you do the request, you have options of where the packages will be at....within 1/2 mile of the mailbox.
The choices are: Mailbox, Front, side or back door, knock on door/ring bell and a few others....like "other" and you can leave special instructions on where they can find the packages.
I always leave mine by the front door. Then when they pick them up, they leave notice of how many they picked up, so you know they really did and no one took them.
It's a great service....saved me lots of time.
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When I lived in Pennsylvania, I could not safely leave the packages outside for pickup. The postal workers rang my bell and I handed them the packages.
If you live somewhere where it is safe to leave the packages on the porch or somewhere convenient, you can do that. And, although the regulations say you must hand the international packages to the postal worker, if they already know you, they might not have a problem with picking them up at the mailbox or on your porch. I think if they are used to working with you, they will know if an international package is not one of yours!
When I was using Endicia for postage, it had a function where you could print a simple date correction, which cost you nothing and could be put on the package on the same side as the label with the incorrect date.
I truely prefer Endicia over Stamps.com for many reasons, although Stamps.com has a really nice feature of allowing you to actually print postage stamps for first class letters!