Sending and Receiving Mail

Here are some useful mailing hints for senders and recipients.
Sending MailYou can send mail by:
Dropping it into a blue collection box.
Leaving it in your home mailbox.
Taking it to a Post Office.
Priority Mail and International Mail packages that weigh one pound or more that are affixed with postage stamps must be handed to your letter carrier or to a Retail associate at a Post Office. Many locations are open late on Saturday. Some locations are open on Sunday.
Scheduling a PickupWhether it's Carrier Pickup™ or time-specific Pickup On Demand Service®, USPS Pickup Options make shipping your packages quick and convenient.
Carrier Pickup is the easy, convenient way to send packages. Just submit your request online and have your Priority Mail, Express Mail or International package, with postage affixed, ready before your carrier arrives. It’s that simple!
Pickup On Demand Service allows you to schedule time-specific pickups within a 2-hour time frame. A letter carrier will make a special trip to your home for a fee of $14.25, to pick up Priority Mail, Express Mail, or Parcel Post packages that have postage affixed. There is no additional charge for picking up multiple pieces of mail. Visit www.usps.com/pickup or call 1-800-222-1811 for additional information or to schedule a pickup.
Holding MailIf you plan to be out of town on business or vacation, you may want to temporarily stop delivery of your mail. To have the Postal Service hold your mail up to 30 days, visit USPS Homepage, call 1·800·ASK·USPS, or fill out a "Hold Mail" form at the Post Office. When you return, you can either pick up your mail from the Post Office or have it delivered to your home.
Change of Address and Mail ForwardingBefore you move, get a copy of the Mover’s Guide from your Post Office and return the completed form to your letter carrier or your Post Office. The Mover’s Guide includes post- cards to help you contact banks, utility companies, and magazine publishers with your new address. You can also save a trip to the Post Office by visiting www.usps.com to change your address online. Fast and easy—takes less than five minutes.
Notify your Post Office at least one month before you move to ensure uninterrupted mail service. Express Mail, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail will be forwarded at no charge for one year. Magazines and newspapers will be forwarded for 60 days.
Premium Forwarding Service Going away for a while? Have all your mail sent to you at your temporary location. Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) is a domestic service that forwards ALL of your mail from your permanent address to a temporary address.
Your mail will be forwarded to you on a weekly basis for a minimum of two weeks up to one year. You do not miss important mail while you are away—all your mail reaches you. One flat fee for each weekly Priority Mail shipment plus an application fee.
If you are a snowbird, college student, executive, individual with an extended family care situation, or away on extended vacation, all are possible candidates for Premium Forwarding Service.
Never again miss a mail delivery when you’re away from home. It is easy to enroll in Premium Forwarding Service. Visit your local Post Office to enroll.
Signing for MailSome pieces of mail require a signature from the recipient at the time of delivery. This includes items sent with Express Mail, Certified Mail, COD, Insured Mail (over $200), Registered Mail, Return Receipt, and Signature Confirmation.
Recipient ResponsibilitiesWhen you sign for a piece of mail, you acknowledge delivery. The Postal Service's liability ends when you sign for the mail. You may ask the letter carrier for the sender's name and address before you accept the mail. You may not open the mail, but you may look at it as long as the letter carrier is holding it before you choose to sign for it.
Delivery If Recipient Is Not HomeIf no one is home when the letter carrier attempts delivery, the letter carrier will leave a notice and return the item to the Post Office. Check the notice for specific instructions or call 1·800·222·1811 to have the mail redelivered. If the sender has not asked for Restricted Delivery, the carrier may deliver the mail to anyone who receives mail at that address.
Confirming DeliveryVisit Track and Confirm or call 1·800·222·1811 to get delivery information on Express Mail and mail with extra services. You will need the item number from your mailing receipt or label.
Restricting DeliveryRestricted Delivery service ensures that only a specified person (or the person's authorized agent) will receive a piece of mail. This service costs $4.10. Restricted Delivery is available only if you also purchase Certified Mail, Insured Mail (for more than $200 coverage), COD, or Registered Mail.
Filing a ClaimYou can file a claim for compensation for loss or damage of Insured Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail. Take the damaged item and proof of its value along with the original box and packaging materials and the original mailing receipt to any Post Office. A clerk will help you file your claim.
Perishable ItemsSome items require special packaging or special permission to be mailed. Call 1·800·ASK·USPS or visit your Post Office to find out how to mail these items:
Live animals
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Plants
Keep the Mail Safe: Hazardous and Restricted MaterialsSome things cannot be mailed or can be mailed only in small quantities for safety and legal reasons. Some items have restrictions on how they can be mailed, including:
Aerosol cans
Firearms
Flammable materials
Liquids and powders
Lottery Tickets
Poisons
Some items, however, are not permitted in the mail, including:
Alcoholic beverages
Ammunition
Drug paraphernalia
Fireworks and other explosives
Call 1·800·ASK·USPS or visit your Post Office if you have questions about the item you want to mail.