Anyone using USPS General Delivery to reduce “delivered” items missing from mail/lockbox?

[hawaiinae]

Anyone using USPS General Delivery to ensure items are actually delivered to you?   USPS has stated my packages as delivered to my locked mailbox, yet are not delivered to me.  As the items are scanned as “delivered” USPS will not provide insurance reimbursement.  The postal supervisor said I could a) purchase a USPS lockbox to pick my items up at a yearly cost of about $150 yearly or b) (she tells me in a hushed voice) have my packages delivered “General Delivery”, which is free, and like buying a box, requires I personally drive to the post office and present ID to receive my packages.

As a seller, I am comfortable with using whatever address is generated by the eBay labeling system.  Not  sure if others have resorted to this with success.  Appreciate any sage advice you may be able to provide.  Thanks!  

[pcobra93]

I have never heard of this option, but then I have never had a reason to use it I suppose. Did you ask the postmaster for a Geolocation on where the package was scanned for delivery? The PO is also privy to way more tracking info than they post on the website. It is possible you are a victim of the fake tracking scams.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Not familiar with USPS General Delivery but i have had a PO Box in the past. You can get any size (small cheap one) and they still will hold your packages (Not forever) and will place a slip inside your PO Box to bring to the USPS retail counter. They can retrieve your box after you give them the slip. You don't need to pay for a large box unless you need it. The advantage of a large PO Box is that you can retrieve your box/mail faster (without needing assistance from a clerk) and many PO Box areas have 24 hour access. (Not all)  Also i know some that will use the hold mail (vacation hold) if they are expecting something important which they typically will do for 30 day stints.

[hawaiinae]

Thank you both for your reply…I have been dealing with USPS and their inability to properly deliver mail for far too long.  I have tried the “Vacation Hold” while actually on holiday and a package was delivered anyway.  I made a request the package be picked up and placed on hold with the other mail.  My package was picked back up yet did not find its way to the post office.  The supervisor informed me several days later the package was found and placed with my other mail. Yet, upon my return, it was not with my plethora of mail although shown as “delivered”.  Odd, it was the ONLY package that was not in my pile of mail.  To put the cherry on top, because it was scanned as “delivered” I have no recourse.  GPS is not helpful as there are four mail receptacles for the community of townhomes and condos within the range of GPS (one scan covers all four boxes) is not very helpful in my case.  

My concern is more with how a seller will feel sending my purchases via “General Delivery “ or to a “PO Box”.  For me, as long as I send a package with the address on the transaction provided me by eBay I am all good.  If a buyer requests I change the address from what is provided on the invoice, it is a no go.   

Again, thank you very much for your help…hate to have to drive to the post office to pick up mail, especially if I end up paying for a box.  I hate more losing hundreds of dollars in non-“delivered” mail.  I will hate it just as much if a seller cancels my order due to my address…

[soh.maryl]

Can't comment on "General Delivery", but why in the world would any seller be uncomfortable sending your purchases to a PO box? Locked box in a Federal facility, only buyer can get into box, too large for box, there will be a card in the box that the boxholder has to present at the window to get his package and will sometimes be required to present a photo ID. 

If you choose "General Delivery" as your mailing address, won't you still have to drive to the PO to pick up your mail?

[pjcdn2005]

Many sellers block PO addresses.  Some of them block it because they use UPS or Fedex to ship but I think that many of them block it just because they see that someone else had it blocked. I've actually seen people say that it is a sign of a scam when someone uses a PO box. I have no idea how that rumor got started.

[buyselljack2016]

General Delivery............................... last I knew was for "transitory/temporary" use such as someone vacationing in the area where renting a PO box for the minimum allowed time period of 6 months (students allowed to rent for 3) was not realistic. 

[hawaiinae]

I cannot fathom why a seller would be hesitant to send a USPS item to a federal institution either!  That way I would not have to rely on the mail carrier to deliver packages correctly.  Believe me, I have spent many a time driving to the local post office to speak with the supervisor to try and track down a package, and reviewed GPS to boot.  During the holidays my carrier would scan a package as delivered, I would go to retrieve it only to find my package was not there.  The package would come a day later, which is definitely not the proper procedure.  

I can certainly ask the seller if they would be okay with sending a package with another carrier, other than USPS.  Thank you all for providing your thoughts and wisdom.  🙂

[tobaccocardyahoo]

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@chevymontecarlo88 wrote:

Not familiar with USPS General Delivery but i have had a PO Box in the past. You can get any size (small cheap one) and they still will hold your packages (Not forever) and will place a slip inside your PO Box to bring to the USPS retail counter. They can retrieve your box after you give them the slip.

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That was indeed the way it used to work.

My last PO Box had a different method, which is appearing at more and more POs.

When there is a package that does not fit in the box, the box was placed in a parcel locker, locked and the key to the box placed in my PO box.

Does any we where the likely changes for a FU might be?

The General Delivery question seems to be an attempt to get back to the old across the counter pickup.

[postcardcountry]

The rumor about scams if a PO Box is used ....

These began years ago when companies opened to receive your mail - like the boxes at the UPS store.

In the early days, you could not tell the difference between mail going to the "private" mailbox or genuine Post Office box.

Eventually there was something passed that said places like UPS store or other who offered a "box" for your mail had to refer to themselves as PPo Box.  (personal po box).  I have seen that a couple of times through the years but not as frequently when the issue first got fixed.

[pilgrimelectronics]

If you have a PO Box, you can still get packages from UPS, FedEx, etc. by using the physical address of the Post Office along with a Unit number that's your PO Box number. This is a free service you may have to sign up for with your post office.