eBay

iamalwaysright · ‎01-09-2023

I never had any experience with Package Intercepts because average price for my items is about $25. USPS site shows that intercepts can cost $15.95 plus Priority Mail postage which is 8-11 dollars in some places.

Someone bought an item at $30 and said their address given to me was their old address NY but I shipped it already using First Class. They received it at their new address NC and said "I had to intercept the package and pay for the forwarding address."

They can do this? How much did it likely cost them?

lacemaker3 · ‎01-09-2023

The buyer didn't really use the right terminology.

They had the package forwarded, and paid for the additional cost of shipping to the new address.

iamalwaysright · ‎01-09-2023

@lacemaker3 wrote:
The buyer didn't really use the right terminology.

They had the package forwarded, and paid for the additional cost of shipping to the new address.

You mean they proved to ebay that they are the recipient to that old address and then just paid for the postage to ship the package from their old address to their new address? If so, only the buyer can do this right, not the seller?

ebooksdiva · ‎01-09-2023

@iamalwaysright wrote:
@lacemaker3 wrote:
The buyer didn't really use the right terminology.

They had the package forwarded, and paid for the additional cost of shipping to the new address.

You mean they proved to ebay that they are the recipient to that old address and then just paid for the postage to ship the package from their old address to their new address? If so, only the buyer can do this right, not the seller?

No, your buyer simply put in a change of address with the post office so their mail can be forwarded to their new address. The post office doesn’t charge to do that.

lacemaker3 · ‎01-09-2023

@ebooksdiva wrote:
@iamalwaysright wrote:
@lacemaker3 wrote:
The buyer didn't really use the right terminology.

They had the package forwarded, and paid for the additional cost of shipping to the new address.

You mean they proved to ebay that they are the recipient to that old address and then just paid for the postage to ship the package from their old address to their new address? If so, only the buyer can do this right, not the seller?
No, your buyer simply put in a change of address with the post office so their mail can be forwarded to their new address. The post office doesn’t charge to do that.

Yes, the buyer had the package forwarded through the post office.

I think that sometimes they do have to pay extra for this. Maybe flats are forwarded for free, but packages may have extra postage. Or maybe it depends on how much time has elapsed since they first moved. I haven't researched this on the USPS website.

slippinjimmy · ‎01-09-2023

Info on USPS Mail Forwarding, the recipient only pays additional postage for Media Mail or Retail Ground.

https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep

iamalwaysright · ‎01-09-2023

@slippinjimmy wrote:
Info on USPS Mail Forwarding, the recipient only pays additional postage for Media Mail or Retail Ground.

https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm

Hm, interesting. I never thought to do this for a package currently in transit which technically isn't retroactive. I'm going to suggest this to my future buyers who run into this same issue. Thanks

ebooksdiva · ‎01-09-2023

@iamalwaysright wrote:
@slippinjimmy wrote:
Info on USPS Mail Forwarding, the recipient only pays additional postage for Media Mail or Retail Ground.

https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm

Hm, interesting. I never thought to do this for a package currently in transit which technically isn't retroactive. I'm going to suggest this to my future buyers who run into this same issue. Thanks

That only works if the buyer has moved recently.

lacemaker3 · ‎01-09-2023

@slippinjimmy wrote:
Info on USPS Mail Forwarding, the recipient only pays additional postage for Media Mail or Retail Ground.

https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm

Thanks for the link, and from that link:

"Standard mail forwarding lasts 12 months. You can pay to extend mail forwarding for 6, 12, or 18 more months (18 months is the maximum)."

After the forwarding order expires, I believe there may be charges for forwarding mail and/or packages.

safetyfirst5-91 · ‎01-09-2023

To answer the original question, yes a buyer can intercept a package:

USPS Package Intercept

For a fee, USPS Package Intercept® lets the sender or recipient stop delivery or redirect a package, letter, or flat that is not out for delivery or already delivered. Most domestic mailings with a tracking or extra services barcode are eligible for Package Intercept. You can only request a Package Intercept online.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎01-09-2023

But to answer the question posed by the title of this thread: "USPS Package Intercept® is a fee-based service that enables the sender OR recipient to: