Hi Everyone! Many of you already know but for some who don't..Here's some tips:
Tip number 1 (inside scoop): Kim Hate's the Post Office...So you wont catch me in there anymore!...ha ha ha LOL
1. USPS.com provides boxes, tap, labels to your door for FREE.
2. USPS.com provides printable shipping labels and Delivery Confirmation is always FREE. All you need is a printer and printer paper.
3. Your Mailman WILL pick up your boxes at your door. He HAS TO it's his job...LMAO
Boxes
http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productCategory.jsp?fromSearch=yes&passFlag=1
Shipping Labels w/delivery confirmation
https://sss-web.usps.com/ds/jsps/ds_landing.jsp
Shipping Tips
Great idea for you lower 48ers, Kim! Sadly, I don't even get home delivery, so I still have to head down to the post office to do any mailing, unless I use UPS, and that is very pricey here. :(
Great, I am going to shift USA , as you have good facilities there.
LOL LOL Kaleem! Carol your right! UPS is wayyyyy too pricey
Wow, thanks for the info! How silly of me to wait in line....feel like a dope! :~)
To be truthful about it it is another way to downsize. If the rural carrier picks it up then that means they can get rid of the clerks.
Same with grocery stores. They have automated machines so they can let go of an employee.
I am not condemning. I just want you to be aware of their ploys.
RD
Kim, Thank you for taking the time to post this information!!!
I even get creative with my boxes. To make sizes they don't have. I have to mail a Hovenia Dulcis tomorrow which will be about 9 inches high. I want this plant to arrive in top shape (if at all possible) I took 2 - 7" x 7" x 6" boxes and cut the top and bottom off the 2 boxes. Placed one inside the other and secured with tape around the open parts. Now I have a 7x7x11 and my Hovenia will fit perfectly in the center. I'll tape the root ball to the bottom, place shredded newspaper around the leaves and top. Should arrive in tip-top shape :-D
I noticed that on the Eragrostis you sent me! I have saved your box for future trades! Good ideas!
Kim,
Did you find the tape for free from USPS. I never could find any the last time I ordered supplies.
Thanks,
Vicki
hmmmm maybe they're out Vicki..I'll have to look that up. My Post Office definitely doesn't give out tape anymore. Or have any for use...
Hey Kim.....do you have a postal scale? How do you know how much postage to use?
USPS quit carring the tape. :0(
I've gotten good...LOL I usually can tell if it's 16 oz. or less. But for those heavier items ...yess I do weigh them. I also have Stamps.com and they sent me a digital scale. This service isn't for everyone as there is a fee. But I like it because I can print any amount of postage. For instance I have an envelope going out for tomorrows mail. I only had 2-$.37 stamps. But this envelope needs $.83. So I printed out a $.09 stamp on my Stamps.com. But you can also buy inexpensive scales on Ebay.
I bought my scale at Walmart for $6.99. Its max is 5#. I really love the convenience of printing my own postage at my own house and not having to wait in those endless lines at the post office. Not to mention that you have to get there before 4:30PM weekdays and 12:30PM on Saturdays. Seems strange since my carrier never gets to my house until after 5:00PM. But like Kim said this service isn't for everyone. There are so many people that don't have nor will they ever have a computer so will continue dropping off packages even though this service has been in my use for at least 5 years. I first learned of this service from my post office clerk. My carrier told me that he wants to see me shipping more boxes since they get paid on the number of mail pieces they pick up.
Great info Kim and others. I am printing out this information for follow up!
RDT - I live in a small town of 19,000 and we have 2 people at the most behind the counter at our post office at any given time. I can not tell you how many hours my DH and Ihave wasted standing in line there just so we can post a letter that needs to be weighed or waitng to buy stamps.
They're cutting people back whether we like it or not. Why pay a price twice by waiting in line unnecessarily?
Thanks, Kim! I'm changing my posting habits because of this thread.
That is a good idea kim, How do you tell your p.o. man that you have boxes to pick up, leave him /her a note in the box, what if your not there, or do you have to be there when he picks them up, my p.o. guy has offered to do this for me too, he said to do the same thing you said to do, and he'll pick them up for me. he's a sweet heart. he also likes the free plants I give his wife LOL
kathy
Forgot to add..If you have someone sending you a $3.85 stamp for SASE or if you have stamps you want to use. Just Print your label without postage. The Delivery Confirmation is still FREE. Then you just place the postage on the area they provide for you :-D
I really make my mail man work! LOL LOL. My mailbox is wayyyy down the driveway at the street. Some boxes I place in the mailbox and some I put in a bag and hang it on the flag. Well I have 4 boxes going out tomorrow...He's gonna love me! I'm going to put them in a trash bag and hang it on the Flag...It's suppose to rain...he he he. It keeps them from getting wet.
Kim - that's GREAT to know! Do you just print the label on regular paper and tape it on or do they have a form to use?
Thanks,
Vicki
Regular old paper.. hey Here's a link..Everyone can print a sample label for Free and see what it looks like. One half is the label. The other half is your receipt of the confimation number and who you mailed to.
https://sss-web.usps.com/ds/jsps/pl_dummy.jsp
truly great info Kim, it is so helpful too I have used stamps.com plenty of times, and it was soo simple too
How much does it cost for the postman to pick up your boxes?
Cost??? It's His job!! LOL LOL LOL
Really!! That is sooo convienent! I also bought an official post office scale so now I don't have to worry about wrong postage!
You know, I don't do too many plant trades any more, but do sell alot on ebay in the spring, I'm going to do this then, see how it goes. thanks for the tip kim
kathy
There's a 12.50 fee for pickup!
Where are you getting this info??? I set 5 priority boxes out for my mailman this morning..
huh? OK where do you order the boxes and how much, I have been looking more on this and cannot find them LOL sorry
Also Kathy....if your buyer uses Paypal to pay..When you go into Paypal..You choose "Print Shipping Label" USPS automatically deducts the shipping cost from your Paypal account. Then sends your buyer an email receipt of their purchases and deliverly confirmation number.
Well, I called them today and this guy was like "Are you prepared to pay the 12.50 fee?"
Do you actually have them come pick them up or just kind of hand them over when he delivers your mail?
Do you have a mailbox on your door or street? If it's at your front door..Just leave them there... he'll take it. The Post Office told me to give all my Priority and any mail to my carrier. I placed 5 boxes in a bag and hung it on my flag..He took them all this morning..I don't know what to tell ya..
Try this link for boxes..
http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productCategory.jsp?fromSearch=yes&passFlag=1
If you don't see boxes..Look for the box that says "Search Store" Type in Priority Boxes.. Then ALL of the Boxes and sizes come up.
My mail box is at the end of the street. We get a lot of kids here with nothing to do so we've had mailbox vandalism before. I wouldn't trust putting the boxes at the end of the street. It's really sad when you can't even use your mailbox anymore >:(
Also, what happened to all the free priority stuff the usps store used to carry?? They used to have mailing labels, tape (which I know was discussed) and little stickers that said priority on them. Maybe they ran out and they'll come back??? I hope so.
CaptMicha - here's the link to where I get mine free.
http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productCategory.jsp?cat=Personal+Use&prodCat=/Shipping+Supplies/Personal+Use/2.+Priority+Mail
You can fill out a form for FREE carrier pickup on the USPS site here - https://carrierpickup.usps.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CarrierPickup.woa
The 12.50 charge is for special pickups , it is free for your regular mail carrier to pick up packages at your regular mail time. It has a place on the form about where you will leave the package and a place for any special instuctions.
Great Help Plant_Madnes!! Thanks :-D
I finally got somewhere when I put "shipping" in the search box. There is a 12.50 charge for 'on demand' pick up and there is some explanation of the difference under their FAQ - (hope this link takes you there)
http://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3187&p_created=1068667427&p_sid=LjJHj8oh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0zMyZwX3Byb2RfbHZsMT0xMjgmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDI9OTgmcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=
Ahhh, you must have posted while I was fiddling around! LOL