Most people only read a return policy after something goes wrong: the shoes do not fit, the blender arrives with a cracked jar, or the gift was a duplicate. By then, the details that decide whether you get your money back, how much it costs you and how long you have are already set. A…
Returning something to Amazon is usually easy, but the number of options can be confusing. Depending on the item, you might be offered a QR code, a printable label, a box-free drop-off, a locker, a carrier store or a pickup from your door. Choose the wrong one and you may end up driving to a…
Boxes, envelopes and mailers add up quickly if you ship often. A pack of new boxes from a store can cost almost as much as the postage itself. What many people do not realize is that USPS gives away a range of shipping supplies at no charge, and will even deliver them to your door….
Buying postage is only half the decision when you mail something important. USPS also sells extra services that add proof, security or protection on top of the mail class you choose. Some are worth every cent for the right item. Others duplicate features you already have, and adding them by habit just raises the cost…
Moving is stressful enough without wondering whether your mail and packages will follow you. Bills, cards, checks and online orders can easily end up at your old address for weeks, and private carriers do not use the Post Office’s forwarding system at all. A little planning before moving day keeps everything flowing to the right…
If you have never mailed a package at the Post Office, the process can feel a little intimidating. Do you need your own box? Should the address be written or printed? What will the clerk ask you, and which service should you pick when they offer several? A little preparation turns a confusing visit into…
The Postal Service offers several ways to send the same item, and the price, speed and features can be very different from one to the next. Pick the wrong mail class and you either pay for speed you did not need or wait longer than you expected. Pick the right one and USPS is often…
A shipping label is a small piece of paper doing a big job. Every scanner, sorting machine and driver that touches your package depends on reading it quickly and correctly. When a label is placed on a seam, wrinkled over a corner or sitting next to an old barcode, packages get misrouted, delayed or sent…
If you ship books, records or DVDs, you have probably heard that USPS Media Mail is the cheapest way to do it. That is often true, but Media Mail comes with strict content rules, slower delivery and the possibility that your package will be opened and inspected. Send something that does not qualify and the…
Two cardboard boxes can look identical and perform completely differently once they are loaded, stacked and sent through a shipping network. One holds its shape under a pile of other parcels. The other buckles at the corners and arrives crushed. The difference is box strength, and it is printed right on many boxes if you…
