Did you know?

It pays to shop around for post offices, I took the same box to 3 diff post offices , they all charged a diff amount, unbelievable, I went back to one, and asked why he was so high, he was the highest, he didn't have much to say. But I go to the cheapest one now. Their all suppose to charge the same amount aren't they, one was like 2.00 cheaper, this is the same box, all these po.s were in the same city, box had a zip code and addy on it, just wanted a price. theone guy said what I told him about all 3 charging a diff price, he said it wasn't true, I was lying. Needless to say, I'm never doing business there, not that I ever did.

kathy_ann

Yes, they are! And why they aren't is nuts! Maybe their scales are off????? I'd ask the Postmaster General about THAT!

I went to a Mailbox etc.. to mail a package and paid TWICE as much as I should have had too. I don't go there anymore! It is WORTH the drive to go to the real post office in my area.

Sounds like their scales are off. I'd go to http://usps.com and write them. Provide data showing the same package weighed at different amounts at the three offices. I never thought of them differeing like that - pays to check!

Bring a 5-lb package of sugar in and have them weigh that.

lol! THAT should do it!

But don't forget that sugar is now in 4 lb sacks! They've downsized on us and still charging the same or more! Jenny

Living in a small town, we have only one post office, so I have no way to compare. We know everybody at the post office on a first name basis, so sending packages should be an easy do here.

However, some of the clerks are easier to deal with than others. Some are sticklers on the customs tags for overseas packages, and some are happy with my description of 'collectables'. Some are fussier about the box shapes and sizes, some are helpful by offering alternative shipping methods to get my best deal.

When I send my husband to the post office with live plants or overseas packages of seeds, he picks the line he stands in to get the clerk he knows will serve us best. The really good clerks will let us know when our opted method will take longer than allowable, and they offer alternatives.

I don't imagine this is the case in some of these larger post offices. I guess my point is that a small, familiar post office has employees that probably anticipate what their customers will need before they even place a package on the counter, in a larger facility, they are just too busy to keep up with it or care.

I had never thought of the possibility of differences in prices from one post office to another. Sounds kind of shady to me.

Weez,
I have recently moved from a larger city to a smaller town. I can completely understand what you mean about the clerks. Today I was trying to open up a new PO box and you would have thought that I was applying for a job with the CIA. The clerk next to the one that was helping me said, "Just take his Sam's card as ID. It's got his photo on it." Now I know who I need to wait in line for next time or who to avoid.

Our post office has one line and the next available of three or four clerks on duty is who you get. I have a favorite, a really nice guy who always asks me how things are going with eBay and plants, LOL. The fella who is the local postmaster is the stickler and doesn't exhibit much of a sense of humor. I prefer Friendly Phil. :)

While we are on the PO kick let me ask a question. Today I went to the PO to get a few boxes for priority mail. They only carry one size! They said I had to order online. Do other PO carry more than one size? Is your PO open on Sat? I just wondered if it is just our small town. Now I have to find a large but skinny box for my secret trade plants before I can mail it out. I couldn't get the online PO shipping to order (probably our slow computer service in the sticks) and had to call. Well, that was a 30 minute deal of different directions, menus and holds. What's up with the PO? Sorry but I was really aggravated cause I had all my trade items ready to package and send. Just disappointed. Jenny

All post offices have customer service cards to fill out. If you have trouble with an office fill the card out and mail it in. Believe it or not... someone from the regional district should call you and address your complaint.

I don't know why postage would very so much between 3 different offices unless somebody might have punched in a wrong zip code when weighing it in. How much did the package weigh? If it was under a pound it can go at the first class rate... rather than priority. That would knock off a little of the cost.

Our office only carries a couple of the box sizes. They don't have the room to store cases of boxes (especially in small offices)... that's why they don't carry all the sizes.

I bought a scale from the post office for weighing boxes at home. When I go to the PO I already know the cost based on the weight and going to the PO website and putting in the pertinent zip codes. If there is a difference in price, it has to be an inaccuracy of the scale, a wrong zip typed in or just a finger on the scale adding more weight to it.

Us being in the "Big City" I have several choices of what post office branch to use. Some are open on Saturdays, the branch that services my own zip code doesn't even open until 10am weekdays.

SH1025, I have had to buy boxes because the branch didn't carry one big enough labeled "priority". And if it ain't a priority box, it ain't free. So I order all my priority supplies online and have my mailman deliver them right to my door. (Which reminds me, I'm about out of #7 boxes)

:^)))
Molly

Molly,
What do you mean when you say "And if it ain't a priority box, it ain't free." I'm new to shipping and am about to start sending a few trades. I would really like some clarification on this.


Sorry Kathy. Didn't mean to take your thread and run with it.

BugFreak,
The boxes that the post office have on display, are not free, only priority boxes are free. go to www.usps.com and you will see all the things they have to offer from, calculating postage, priority boxes, tape, labels, etc all the way to tracking and emailing you with update track information.

Any more info I would be happy to email you.

:^)))
MOlly

Thanks Molly. I did order boxes but had to call cause I couldn't get it to take my order online. The lady I talked to said that had been happening a lot here lately. I will have to go to town tomorrow and hunt some kind of packaging since my boxes won't be here for up to 10 days. Jenny

Ask at stores, Jenny, especially at the dollar stores and local groceries. Even look behind the stores by the dumpsters - boxes galore! :)

I also save almost all boxes and packing materials that come in. I've had some traders send plants to me in the boxes I shipped to them. I call it recycling.

:^)))
Molly