Free Delivery Confirmation w/ USPS Priority Mail

[AllABoutTheDeals]

I just confirmed this at the USPS website. You can now print labels online and add Delivery Confirmation to a Priority Mail package for free. It was billed to my credit card and only took a few minutes to register. I think it costs 45 cents for Del Conf. I always ship Ebay crap and had to go to the damn post office because they required it to get delivery confirmation. Now I can do it at home, print the label, and save on the fee.

Exerpt:

"When you print an online label, an electronic record of your transaction is sent to the United States Postal Service. This meets the requirements for electronic option Delivery Confirmation service; no additional fees are required when used with Priority Mail."

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FAQs

 

[badluck]

You've been able to do this for the past year.....but, I'm sure someone will find this useful....

Oh, and be sure to use the search button...

 

[vladgur]

its been FREE for a LOOOONG time, its still not a reason good enough for me to switch from Fedex Ground with their better tracking and cheaper prices

 

[rvdnsx]

Does FedEx provide free pickup service? I know the USPS charges like $12.50 for each pickup

 

[wjones]

IMO, Priority Mail is too expensive for package above 3 lbs. Now i mostly use Fedex Gound/Home delivery (UPS counter is too far from my home) and it is a lot cheaper with free $100 insurance and good tracking system. I print the shipping form online and attach to the packages with a transparent bag (free from Fedex), very convenient for me.

The only down side I've seen so far, Fedex ground --- slow delivery. I'm in west coast and shipping to east coast might takes upto 1 week!!! Most of my customers (ebay ) don't care as long as I send them the tracking number

 

[wjones]

Originally posted by: rvdnsx
Does FedEx provide free pickup service? I know the USPS charges like $12.50 for each pickup

I don't think so. Unless you have a business that required daily pick up. But you can drop off at any fedex drop off location. I drop off at Kinko's with no problem.

 

[amdskip]

Sorry to crap on your deal but the usps screwed themselves over with drastic rate increases. I do not like to use them at all now. I use airborne express. It's cheap and their ground delivery usually takes 2-3 days max.

 

[MagicWandShop]

You can now print labels online and add Delivery Confirmation to a Priority Mail package

One tip: Get a green highlighter and highlight the below the delivery confirmation barcode on the label you print
(making it look more like the Delivery Confirmation sticker you get from the Post Office).

Doing that will greatly increase your odds of actually getting the package scanned at the time of delivery.

- Don
Magic Wand Shop

 

[durin]

Originally posted by: MagicWandShop

You can now print labels online and add Delivery Confirmation to a Priority Mail package

One tip: Get a green highlighter and highlight the below the delivery confirmation barcode on the label you print
(making it look more like the Delivery Confirmation sticker you get from the Post Office).

Doing that will greatly increase your odds of actually getting the package scanned at the time of delivery.

- Don
Magic Wand Shop

You can actually get 'SCAN ME' stickers from the Post Office that are bright pink that you can put on the package if you ask at the counter that I find quite effective

 

[DealLurker]

With the 3 year in a row INSANE 20%+ increase year/over/year in Priority Mail rates, ANYTHING OVER 3 pounds is now CHEAPER via www.myups.com [including residential and "remote residential"! fees] (sign up for an internet shipping account, and just drop your packages off at your local grocery store service counter if they have daily UPS pickups). You get BUSINESS not "customer counter" rates.

UPS guarentees Ground delivery dates, (at most 7 days), includes $100 of insurance coverage for free (and additional $100's are only 35 cents each), and includes FULL tracking and delivery confirmation and who signed for/or was released for.

The post office on the other had: No guarentee in delivery date (2-3 days my @$$ ), most priority from November to February takes 5 to 14 days, NO insurance coverage, additional coverage can be purchased for about $1.10 PER $50 !, NO tracking, only "delivery confirmation" that is routinely scanned at the destination city when it arrives and not the delivered address when it's left.

The only thing Priority mail is good for? All 1 pound packages, some 2 and 3 pound ones depending on distance, Alaska and Hawaii addresses. NOTHING ELSE.


FedEx Ground is also very similar to UPS, and I've received many packages that way but havn't signed up for an account with them.


The post office now is reportely cutting back counter help to 1 person at a time this holiday season to save costs... Just do it yourself online with FedEx or UPS and drop off and save tons of money time and hassle.

And don't say "but the post office gives you free priority boxes".. They ain't free! That's why Priority Mail rates are so high. Plus they only offer a few "small" box sizes, not good for shipping anything thicker than 3" with packing and no bigger than 10x13 in size realistically.

Scrounge for used boxes at work or save your old hot deal boxes and use FedEx or UPS. The postal service has lost 90% of my business due to their insane costs.

 

[Salvador]

I've got a better link for you. I've been using this one ever since the price changes last summer. It's better than the old one that USPS used to provide.

What's nice about this link is that it figures out the correct address and adds the zip+ 4 for you. I used to have to look up the zip+4 separately. Also, it's easier to fix your shipping label if you mess something up. It's more forgiving than the old page for shipping label prep that they used to provide.

I still like to use USPS Priority whenever I can. The free boxes and supplies are nice (very sturdy and secure) and the service has always been excellent. It's actually cheaper to ship via USPS Priority now for local than it used to be. Where they get you is shipping any great distances. I've upped my shipping charges to cover the rate increase and people don't mind the extra cost in shipping.

Where I don't use USPS Priority is for heavy packages or packages that require a lot of insurance. Otherwise, I try to use Priority whenever I can and just pass the shipping costs onto my customers.

Anyway..

Sal

 

[Snyder81]

I think I've just about had enough of the USPS rates too. I've shipped out a lot of stuff via USPS lately, but the costs are insane. Today for example, I mailed two identical packages.

Each package:
Weight: 3 lbs 14 oz
Base Rate Priority Postage: $10.35
$200 insurance per package: $3.20
Del conf: $.45
Total per package: $14.00 per package!

I'm gonna check out myups.com. Thanks!

 

[k000]

Salvador ! Can you fix your linkie !

Originally posted by: Salvador
I've got a better link for you. I've been using this one ever since the price changes last summer. It's better than the old one that USPS used to provide. What's nice about this link is that it figures out the correct address and adds the zip+ 4 for you. I used to have to look up the zip+4 separately. Also, it's easier to fix your shipping label if you mess something up. It's more forgiving than the old page for shipping label prep that they used to provide. I still like to use USPS Priority whenever I can. The free boxes and supplies are nice (very sturdy and secure) and the service has always been excellent. It's actually cheaper to ship via USPS Priority now for local than it used to be. Where they get you is shipping any great distances. I've upped my shipping charges to cover the rate increase and people don't mind the extra cost in shipping. Where I don't use USPS Priority is for heavy packages or packages that require a lot of insurance. Otherwise, I try to use Priority whenever I can and just pass the shipping costs onto my customers. Anyway.. Sal

 

[Salvador]

Del conf: $.45

Use the link for the label I provided and you get DC for free.

$200 insurance per package: $3.20

Don't mess with Priority if the package is worth more than $100. The insurance cost just eats you up.

Base Rate Priority Postage: $10.35

Must be a pretty good distance to cost $10.35 for an under 4 pound package. Rule of thumb is that if the package is going to be over 5 or 6 pounds, don't use Priority. It just gets too expensive.

Salvador ! Can you fix your linkie !

I did.

Side note.. For the new label, they ask you for the package weight. I just guess. It's not that important as long as you're in the ballpark. They would only want exact package weight if you were buying your postage online from USPS (which I don't). I just check the circle that says "print label without postage" and then take the package to the post office and pay for it. At that time, they scan in your free delivery confirmation number. It comes up on the receipt as free (and shows the dc number) and enters the USPS system.

Sal

 

[Cheese78CA]

How do you guys determine the weight of your packages?

 

[Snyder81]

Ok, I signed up for myUPS.com. I need to add an account, but it's asking me for the account number. How do I create an account? Do I need to add my credit card first and then it will automatically assign me an account number?

 

[Snyder81]

Originally posted by: Cheese78CA
How do you guys determine the weight of your packages?

Good question. Do you guys have any good suggestions for weighing scales? Obviously it needs to be accurate to the ounce... Links?

 

[Salvador]

How do you guys determine the weight of your packages?

Heh.. I just added something about that. I just guess. It's a new feature because USPS now sells postage online. They didn't used to sell postage prior to the price hike this past summer. The weight is only important if you are buying postage online, which I don't. Just put in an approximate weight and you'll be good to go.

Sal

 

[Cheese78CA]

So how do you pay for your postage? You would have to stop by the post office? That's a trip I thought this whole thing is suppose to save us on? Or do you just have an account with USPS, they weigh it for you when they pick up the package and charge it to your account?

Originally posted by: Salvador

How do you guys determine the weight of your packages?

Heh.. I just added something about that. I just guess. It's a new feature because USPS now sells postage online. They didn't used to sell postage prior to the price hike this past summer. The weight is only important if you are buying postage online, which I don't. Just put in an approximate weight and you'll be good to go.

Sal

 

[Cheese78CA]

A reasonably decent scale would be nice since USPS, UPS and FedEx all require weight and dimension of the packages if one wishes to prepay shipping or just to compare the cost between different shippers.

 

[DealLurker]

> How do you weigh?

Go to a rummage sale or thrift store and pick up a 25 pound Kitchen scale for a buck or two.

Always increase the weight to the nearest pound, and if "on the edge", add a pound to the total. (each additional pound via UPS Ground is dimes, not dollars like Priority mail)

Do NOT try to use your bathroom scale. They're entirely too inaccurate, unless you want to add 3-5 pounds to your estimates.


> UPS account.

After you sign up for myups.com, then click the "Open a UPS account link". : http://www.ups.com/using/custserv/accountsetup/registration.html

Then Click START.

When it asks you for how many packages, tell it at least 4 ground per week, and personal use. (If you choose less than 4 packages it won't let you open an account, but it doesn't REQUIRE you to ship 4 packages.)

It will then Give you a suggestion of "Occassional Account": Choose this and fill out the rest and then you can ship with direct charges to your Visa/MC or to your account that you pay off each week via check or automated bank withdrawl.


Occasional Account
With this account, a UPS driver does not make a stop at your business each day. You are responsible for providing the following package types to a UPS location:


Ground shipments processed through UPS Internet Shipping
Air shipments
International shipments
Note: No weekly service charge applies.

You can provide these packages to UPS Customer Counters, UPS Letter Centers, Authorized Shipping Outlets, or hand them to a UPS driver. To find the nearest drop-off location, use the Drop-off Locator.

You can also schedule a pickup for air and international shipments using On Call Air Pickup.

For a ground shipment, you may schedule and bill a One-Time Pickup by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS one day in advance.

 

[Nightfall]

When I signed up under myups.com back about 6 months ago, I didn't need to do anything else. I didn't have an account number per se, but I could ship packages online and then just drop them off at any shipping outlet at no additional charge. There is a Mailboxes Etc just down the street from me that used to get all my ebay stuff.

I prefer UPS myself. Their site is always up, I have had no problems with them, and their Customer Service is good too.

 

[Salvador]

So how do you pay for your postage? You would have to stop by the post office? That's a trip I thought this whole thing is suppose to save us on? Or do you just have an account with USPS, they weigh it for you when they pick up the package and charge it to your account?

YMMV, but I'm completely fine with making a trip to the post office. Our post office is new (large) and it's only 2 minutes from my house. I work out of my house, so it's no problem to get there any time of the day either.

I just fill out the label to get free delivery confirmation. Print out the label (It makes a nice and professional looking label), tape it to the box and head to the post office to pay for the shipping and ship the package.

Sal

 

[DealLurker]

> "There is a Mailboxes Etc just down the street from me that used to get all my ebay stuff."

WARNING: Most MBE will either:

1) NOT allow you to drop off "MyUPS.COM Internet Shipping" pakages
2) Charge you a hefty "convience fee" for you to leave them with them, even though they do nothing more than hand them to the driver.


You need to either:
1) Take your ground packages to the UPS customer counter. No additional fees besides the "business rate" you were already charged when you printed the label from myups.com.

2) Drop it off at a location that allows pre-paid UPS dropoffs that have daily pickup service already. Common places that WONT charge you additional fees: Grocery store service counters, your employeer's shipping room (if you are allowed to of course). Make it clear that it's a "prepaid label" (don't even have to tell them it's internet shipping--e.g. sometimes compaines issue return merchandise labels for you to send back unwanted product on their account, treat it the same as that so they don't question it) and that all they have to do is "hand this to the UPS driver along with your other packages". That's all it takes

3) Find a UPS driver willing to pick up if you hand it to them. (E.g. if outside some local business there is a UPS air letter drop, and you know when the driver gets there, just show up and hand him the box. Note: You cannot "leave" ground packages at such Air-only boxes due to security reasons (and no where to secure the box))

 

[wjones]

Originally posted by: Cheese78CA
How do you guys determine the weight of your packages?

I got a 10lbs digital scale from Stamps.com a few years ago when they just started. I believe now they only giving out the 5lbs scale and required you to stay with their power plan for at least a month after the free trial period.