Comments on: How to Save Time & Money at the Post Office (By Avoiding It!)

By: JD

JD — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:56:14 +0000

This article appreciated. Very informative but you should update article to the NEW .45 cents 1st Class Postage rate. Maybe comment on the FOREVER postage stamp. Thanks.

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:26:24 +0000

Just wanted to add that if you have a Media Mail pacakage and are scheduling a free next-day pickup from your mail carrier (usps.com/pickup/welcome.htm), you CANNOT just have them pick up one (or many) Media Mail packages. Their site says that they will pick up any number of packages, but at least one has to be an Overnight Guaranteed or 2-3 Day package.

I only have I prepaid Media Mail package going out, so I’m going to try to leave it in the mailbox for the carrier and hope for the best.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:12:53 +0000

Any prepaid class of mail may be given or left for the carrier when they deliver your mail (other than stamped over 13 ounces)

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:51:36 +0000

No one has mentioned that their are two rate structures. You will pay a higher rate if you go to the post office and wait in line. (Retail rate) If you use paypal or anything online to print labels you pay the commercial rate.

For example: Retail Flat Rate box is now $10.70. Commercial rate is $10.20.

Look at USPS website for more info.

Commercial Base Pricing
For users of Click-N-Ship, PC Postage, Permit Imprint, or an approved Information Based Indicia (IBI) metering system. Get detailed Commercial Base Pricing.

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:48:02 +0000

Jim – Remember how I sell cornhole bags on my website (www.cornholesupply.com) The limit on the APC is 70 LBS. The 13oz rule or whatever it is only applies to items with stamps. If you print a label, you pay with a CC, they have a way to figure out who sent it and therefor it is allowed to go thru.

Also, If the box is jammed, or full, you can bypass the entire line and just set the boxes down at the counter. They are happy to take them because they don’t have to service you.

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:45:30 +0000

This is true. All you need is one priority and they will pick it all up.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:51:34 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly, the adhesive is strong but you can’t beat a strip of tape.

By: AVSEC

AVSEC — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:24:27 +0000

Make certain that whenever using flat rate boxes, take time to tape the flaps. I know it’s self adhesive but believe me and take this advice.

By: AVSEC

AVSEC — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:11:16 +0000

The 13 oz rule only applies to air mail. Local mail transported via surface: truck, train,boat should be okay. This rule was created for aviation security. Again, all air mail whether it be letters, flats, or parcels, if it weighs 13 oz or more and it only has stamps, don’t drop it in the mail box– it’ll be returned to you.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:55:04 +0000

There is also a program at usps.com called Shipping Assistant http://www.usps.com/shippingassistant/instructions.htmwhere you can print postage with discounted delivery confirmation for packages…(not letter mail). You have to have a scale but it will calculate the postage required for first class, media, express, and priority. You still have to pay at the post office but it will save time when you are there.

By: karen

karen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:02:31 +0000

I use my kitchen scale, which is digital, and found that it matches the postal scale’s weight every time.

I also discovered that by choosing to use my debit card as a credit card at the APC, I can mail several items with one transaction, another time saver. The first time I used the APC, I chose debit and had to complete one transaction at a time, which took forever, not to mention each tranaction ended up with its own receipt and notation in the checkbook transaction register.

I, too, hate long waits at the Post Office and the not-so-caring clerks. I have worked customer-service related jobs in the private sector for 40+ years, and if I had had the “take-my-time, don’t-give-a-rip” attitude of most of the postal clerks, i would have been FIRED on the spot.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:08:20 +0000

Wow, you must have a lot of time on your hands. Must be because of all the time you’ve saved by not going to the Post Office. By the way, the Postal service utilizes the mystery shopper program like most retailers to test customer service, wait time in line, etc. Maybe you should sign up and you could actually get paid for doing such valuable research!!! LOL! get a real job!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:32:28 +0000

nothing worse than waiting in a line any where u go Walmart ect..Postal workers like eveyone else are expected to do more with less. I dont care where you go u will run into crappy people. Why does everybody think USPS has to have a much higher standard than everybody else.They are no longer paid by your tax dallor, Postal service runs on revenve only. Why doesn’t everyone just talk about good things people do in this world. There are hero stories every day about a mail carrier helping someone out on there route. After all the postal service goes to each house every day.They know there customers habits esp. the elderly.

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:20:56 +0000

Great article and I appreciate the comments that give additional suggestions or correct & clarify things. I work for USPS and it’s sometimes hard for us to get the word out to everyone about the more convenient ways to use our services. Thanks to customers like you and your readers, our jobs are easier.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:32:39 +0000

You’re right Tony, I fixed it after Arnie brought it up.