Community Chat

[Starpolisher]

Usually, if I have a small package for return with a pre-paid label, I just put it in the USPS blue mailbox for return rather than go to the post office. Yesterday, however, I had two small packages to return. One was a gold chain and the other a thin book. They both had pre-paid labels. I went to three mailboxes only to discover that they'd all been secured with a screw or something on either side so that they wouldn't open more than about an inch. You could see it was new because the fresh paint was visible. Has anyone else experienced this? I guess the USPS only wants envelopes and no packages in the mailboxes. Or maybe it's because of theives! Some d*mn body always has to mess things up for the rest of us! Ughh!... I hate going to the post office!

[IMW]

Has to do with thefts of boxes 📦.

[tends2dogs]

I always put my returns in my own mailbox and have my mailman take it.  I have done this for years and never had a problem.  They scan the label from their truck and I get an email that says that my return in on it's way.

[Starpolisher]

---

@IMW wrote:

Has to do with thefts of boxes 📦.

---

I edited my post for this when I realized I didn't include it. We must have been typing at the same time...lol!

[fthunt]

My take:   that box is for pick-ups but the truck that comes to empty it isn't equipped with a computer tracking device.  He just dumps the out going mail in a container and takes to the sorting distribution center.  Only the P O and your mail carrier have the tracking device.  I hand my Q returns to the mailman - he 'zits' it with his wand and says ----thank you.  (thus the tracking feature is born)

[corita]

       Give it to your mail man to mail.  I hate going to the post office.

      I leave a note on my mailbox and ask him to come to the house to get packages. Of course, I always make sure I will be home when I ask for that favor!!

[Kachina624]

I too have been known to slip small parcels into mailboxes but it's probably snarter to see that they are scanned into their system to assure some postal employee doesn't appropriate them.  I hate going to PO too since there's always a long line and I can't stand for long (3 postal clerks for a city of 90,000).

[Spurt]

---

@Starpolisher wrote:

Usually, if I have a small package for return with a pre-paid label, I just put it in the USPS blue mailbox for return rather than go to the post office. Yesterday, however, I had two small packages to return. One was a gold chain and the other a thin book. They both had pre-paid labels. I went to three mailboxes only to discover that they'd all been secured with a screw or something on either side so that they wouldn't open more than about an inch. You could see it was new because the fresh paint was visible. Has anyone else experienced this? I guess the USPS only wants envelopes and no packages in the mailboxes. Or maybe it's because of theives! Some d*mn body always has to mess things up for the rest of us! Ughh!... I hate going to the post office!

---

@Starpolisher

If your package weighs less than 13 oz, you may use postage stamps and do one of the following:

• Put it in your mailbox for carrier pickup.
• Drop it in a blue collection box or lobby location.
• Request a free pickup.

If your package weighs more than 13 oz you must take it to a Post Office retail counter to send it.
NOTE: If you put it in your mailbox for pickup service, the carrier will leave it. If you drop it in a blue collection box or lobby location, it will be returned to you.

  Here's alternative options----- Schedule a Package Pickup

Save time sending your packages with USPS package pickups.

• Free Package Pickup
  Go online at USPS.com and schedule a Package Pickup during regular mail delivery, it's free regardless of the number of items scheduled for pickup. USPS usually picks up your package on the next delivery day or another designated day. 
• Pickup on Demand®
  If you want your packages picked up at a specific time, for a fee, the Post Office will pick up your shipment within a scheduled 2-hour period.

[Nightowlz]

If I have a return & it will fit in my mailbox at home I just put it in there. If it won't fit I watch for the mailman & give it to him when he comes back up the other side of the street. 

If I have a UPS delivery & shipping something back UPS I give it to my UPS driver.

[dex]

@Kachina624@My post office has a drop box for prepaid parcels so you don’t have to line up.