Usps

[MichiganM]

Wasn't sure where to put this thread.

The thing is I'm getting a new job at a Porsche/Audi dealership in Ann Arbor, so I'll be leaving Subaru at the end of next week. Good news is much better pay and a much better position. Bad news is as follows...

Won't be able to post on here during the day anymore unfortunately.

The other bad news is that I can't make it to the post office any leisurely time I feel like it as I won't have late days where I come in at 11 am. I don't have a printer at home so I can't do the click-n-ship. I'm not sure how I'll be able to send out packages through USPS now, the hours my local post office is open is like Mon-Fri 7-5...no way I can make it in that timeframe.

Any ideas? Can you just buy pre-paid labels or something and just have them pick up a package at the house?? I know they have pre-paid envelopes...but I'd like to continue sending my gars out in the VHS size boxes. I'm sure some of you brothers out there run into this problem as well.

Thoughts appreciated.

[fredneck]

Use a bunch of stamps? :dunno:

[Wasch_24]

Lunch break?

Saturdays?

[cvm4]

They have prepaid stamps you can buy for $3.85 each. But that doesn't include a DC#. Also, I check the time on other post offices and see if some are open later then others. Mine shuts down at 4:30 but I think the downtown post office shuts down at 6:00. And finally, I know that some post offices in my area have installed "do you own checkout" where you can buy what you need and check yourself out and put it wherever they say to when you're through. Just some things to help you out :thumbsup:

[joshua]

Well if you are getting a pay raise I think you could get a cheap printer for like $99 or less

[fredneck]

Also, there's Mailbox Etc., open 9-7 during the week and 9-5 on Saturday. :thumbsup:

[fredneck]

Also, there's Mailbox Etc., open 9-7 during the week and 9-5 on Saturday. :thumbsup:
They have 4 locations in Ann Arbor and include tracking info.

[MichiganM]

They have 4 locations in Ann Arbor and include tracking info.


Awesome, Greg. Where did you find those?? I went to MBE.com and they didn't give any locations in or near Ann Arbor.

[fredneck]

Its mailboxes etc.

[MichiganM]

Lunch break?

Saturdays?


Saturday's I can do...but not in the town of Ann Arbor. I live about 45 minutes from work near Jackson Michigan.

Lunch breaks are out because I won't have time to really take a "break"...more of a sit and eat real quick between repair orders.

If I can find out how the search function works on mbe.com I'll be able to find some locations closer to home and I'll start mailing everything out on Saturday's.

[MichiganM]

Its mailboxes etc.


Yeah I know that. The mbe.com website says mailboxes etc. It has a business locator, but when I popped in Ann Arbor MI and Jackson MI it didn't give any locations. I must be screwin somethin up.

[MichiganM]

http://go.mappoint.net/mbe/PrxInput.aspx

That's the search funtion from the site mbe.com. It's called a neighborhood locator I believe.

[fredneck]

here ya go (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en&q=ann%20arbor%20mail%20boxes%20etc&btnG=Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl)

[MichiganM]

Thanks bro!

That mbe.com is useless haha.

[Prometheus]

Click n ship (https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do)

[MichiganM]

Click n ship (https://sss-web.usps.com/cns/landing.do)


I don't have a printer bro...I said that in the first post.

:thumbsup:

[MichiganM]

They have prepaid stamps you can buy for $3.85 each. But that doesn't include a DC#. Also, I check the time on other post offices and see if some are open later then others. Mine shuts down at 4:30 but I think the downtown post office shuts down at 6:00. And finally, I know that some post offices in my area have installed "do you own checkout" where you can buy what you need and check yourself out and put it wherever they say to when you're through. Just some things to help you out :thumbsup:


Thanks Cliff. Where do you get the pre-paid stamps from? And, I thought they run 4.05 before DC? I'm guessing you can just buy a bunch from the post office, then just slap it on a VHS box and pop it in the mailbox for outbound just like an envelope?

[DocLogic77]

MM...yes you can mail any box with enough stamps on it. You can wrap it in plain brown paper, slap stamps on it, and mail it. If you don't want to overstamp you can get a cheap scale.

[MichiganM]

MM...yes you can mail any box with enough stamps on it. You can wrap it in plain brown paper, slap stamps on it, and mail it. If you don't want to overstamp you can get a cheap scale.


That would make sense wouldn't it? The USPS has a way of overcomplicating things lol. I found that the USPS website currently sells 4.05 stamps, but they indicate that they're for the Priority Envelopes...I'm currently calling USPS phone numbers to find out if I can buy them in rolls and just slap them on the boxes....will update.

[MichiganM]

Well I called the 800 number for USPS...and after 3 customer service agents who didn't know what a Priority Mail box was (not the flat rate one!!!)..a supervisor told me that I can pop my items in a VHS size box....put the 4.05 stamp on there and schedule a carrier pickup for free...or I could probably just put the box in the mail with the red flag up and they'd pick it up that way too. If it was overweight they'll just send it back with a note for postage due. So it looks like I can order a bundle of the 4.05 stamps online or get them from the post office...sweet!!! My last week is next week so I'll go in and get like 40 of the bad boys. That'll last a while. Hopefully this is good info for anyone who doesn't use click-n-ship.

Thanks guys.

[MichiganM]

The only problem with that method is the delivery confirmation. You can order bundles of the forms online for free, but you have to add the 50 cent postage to the box. I can either forgo putting DC on the box, which I don't like, or I can overpay postage with 2 39 cent stamps, which I also don't like. Either way, I can send out bombs from the comfort of my home without click-n-ship.....sswwwweeeeeet.

[tobby4]

yea... I would say that that is the easiest way.... but USPS sells the cheap scales for almost nothing... so if you dont want to over pay then you can go that route...

[joshua]

I just dump mine in a mailbox in the evening (when its cooler so the cigars aren't cooking in there all day) and they come and pick them up at 7AM or whatever.

[MichiganM]

yea... I would say that that is the easiest way.... but USPS sells the cheap scales for almost nothing... so if you dont want to over pay then you can go that route...


The weight isn't the issue. I'll never go over 16 ounces mailing out cigars. I'll overpay by paying more than 50 cents for delivery confirmation...unless I put a bunch of off cent stamps and configured it right. Being 30 cents or so over isn't that bad though. And plus, it's pretty easy. If I had the space for a printer I would have just gone that route. Ah well, 30 cents here and there isn't bad.

[MichiganM]

I just dump mine in a mailbox in the evening (when its cooler so the cigars aren't cooking in there all day) and they come and pick them up at 7AM or whatever.


Josh, so you don't schedule a pickup?? Do you do click-n-ship? I think with click-n-ship it's scheduled for ya. If I could just throw it in there with no scheduled pickup that would be sweet. One less thing to remember and do.

[tobby4]

true... just a thought though

[joshua]

Yeah I use click-n-ship. You can drop it off in any USPS mailbox. Usually the one by the P.O. has the best service of course. It says on there when its picked up when you open the lid.

[MichiganM]

Yeah with the click-n-ship it's a scheduled pickup. Well I guess I can schedule a pickup or drop it off in a USPS mailbox like you said. That's a pretty sweet idea, and I didn't even think of that. There is a post office a mile from my house..I leave for work before they open though. Good idea. Thanks bro.

[joshua]

Heres some info from the site:

How can I ship my package once I have the Click-N-Ship® postage label?

Online shipping is as convenient as your neighborhood mail box. You can drop your Priority Mail and domestic Express Mail pieces with PC Postage labels in any USPS collection box. Or you can:

*
Drop at local Post Office
*
Hand to your delivery carrier
*
Schedule a pickup online

Save a trip to the Post Office: Use Click-N-Ship with the U.S. Postal Service's Carrier pickup option to schedule free package pickup from your home or office when your carrier delivers your mail. Once you’ve completed your labels simply click on the Carrier pickup link to request next day pickup.

[MichiganM]

Sweet!

:thumbsup:

[DocLogic77]

MM would you be uncomfortable just handing it to the carrier that comes to your place of employment? You could even give it to whoever mails stuff out. Might make some people nervous but I don't see how it would matter. Congrats on the new job by the way.

[MichiganM]

MM would you be uncomfortable just handing it to the carrier that comes to your place of employment? You could even give it to whoever mails stuff out. Might make some people nervous but I don't see how it would matter. Congrats on the new job by the way.

Thanks for the congrats! I never see the carrier...I'm wayyyyyy to busy to try to hand the carrier mail. I can just go online the night before and schedule a pickup...I'm not too lazy to do that. But thanks for the thought.

[Wasch_24]

I think I have an old printer lying around that you could have but the shipping would likely almost as much as a new printer.

[MichiganM]

I think I have an old printer lying around that you could have but the shipping would likely almost as much as a new printer.

I appreciate the offer Todd! Extremely generous...but goin over by 30 cents here and there won't kill me. I really don't have room for a printer to be honest...that's why I haven't picked one up. I'm on the go alot with my laptop and don't have a desk at home.

[caudio51]

I use click and ship and just drop it off at the PO or leave it for my mail lady. I try not to do it all the time though cause I feel bad.

[cvm4]

Yea sorry Jason it is $4.05, I forgot about the price increase! Also, check and see what different cent stamps you can get. I know they come in a variety of cents .39, .5, .2, etc. I know the extra cents won't kill ya, but ya know.

[derek]

I know around here some grocery stores have post offices in them. Those post offices are usually open later. I been to one at 8:00pm.