eBay

b86fiero · ‎04-19-2020

I just received an order with a shipping address as (Buyers name) General Delivery, Bradford, VT.

Is this the type of delivery where the addressee goes to the post office and presents proof of identity to pick up the package?

Still used for very rural and farm areas?

Thanks for responding.

oldwestgold · ‎04-19-2020

Yes, but I would be cautious as this may be a scam. You must ship to a verified address. If anything, if the item you are shipping is expensive I would include signature confirmation. Check the payment method to ensure a verified address so you are covered by seller protection. Professionally, I would never ship anything of value to a General Delivery address. You could also reach out to the Postmaster at the delivery address zip code and ask if this person is known and has received other items addressed General Delivery.

pjcdn2005 · ‎04-19-2020

To qualify for seller protection a seller needs to ship to the address in the payment. There is no rule that states the address must be verified.

oldwestgold · ‎04-19-2020

Paypal requires it.

pjcdn2005 · ‎04-19-2020

Bradford VT looks to be a smallish town so it seems likely that General Delivery is a legitimate address.

pjcdn2005 · ‎04-19-2020

PayPal does not require it. When a buyer checks out on eBay they can put in any address they chose. It doesn’t have to be confirmed or verified to be covered for seller protection,

Please show me a link where PP says that.

soh.maryl · ‎04-19-2020

According to recent information here, not necessarily from the USPS, the post office is waiving the option of requiring signature confirmation of delivery for the duration of the current quarantine.

b86fiero · ‎04-19-2020

Hi All,

I haven't seen General Delivery used as an address in, I don't know, 40 years or more. (When I was very young).

I recall a farm family using it in Indiana as the nearest post office was like 20 miles away and the PO would not drive out to their large land holding to deliver one or two pieces of mail.

I also recall that some "summer home" residents like on Martha's Vineyard used General Delivery to get their mail instead of putting in a change of address every time they spent a few months there. I think they had their local post office forward their weekly mail accumulation in one big packet that way.

Too long ago to recall the exact details.

The package in question is addressed to both a child and parent. I just want to make sure they get it.

Thanks for the responses.

buyselljack2016 · ‎04-19-2020

General Delivery is common for temporary use such as seasonal visitors in places that do not have delivery, and even that do have some delivery.

It is intended for transitory use, but we had a local permanent resident that, although eligible for a "free" PO box (home delivery not available), refused to get one, and used General Delivery for many years.

Another office. The OIC at the office refused General Delivery service because in the past the customer would not put in a "forward" for their mail at the end of their month long stay in the area.

buyselljack2016 · ‎04-19-2020

@soh.maryl wrote:
According to recent information here, not necessarily from the USPS, the post office is waiving the option of requiring signature confirmation of delivery for the duration of the current quarantine.

But, as I understand it, the USPS employee will sign after confirming the customer identity, and having their verbal confirmation that they want the delivery.

If the office has a "point of sale" (POS) set up as opposed to just a small handheld scanner they might still be having the customer sign, as there is no customer/employee physical contact with the same equipment.

muttlymob · ‎04-19-2020

@b86fiero wrote:

Is this the type of delivery where the addressee goes to the post office and presents proof of identity to pick up the package?

Still used for very rural and farm areas?

Yes. and Yes.

Bradford Vermont is indeed a small, rural town. With probably some summer vacation homes/camps owned by people from some of the big northeast cities. Who at this time might have packed up and hauled out for the country, trying to hide from the virus (or bring it with them).

If they don't normally get mail at the seasonal house then they also can't receive packages through USPS unless they put up a mailbox or get a PO Box. Maybe the local PO will take general delivery for short term.

Just one possibility. There are also other short-term residency reasons to use General Delivery.

wastingtime101 · ‎04-19-2020

I just had a package returned to sender because the address was vacant and undeliverable. It was addressed to an apartment building in a city with approx 200k residents. The buyer said they messed up by putting their apartment because they were supposed to use General Delivery. I don't know the reason - possibly a short-term rental?

GLORIOUS!

lja440 · ‎04-20-2020

I'm a mail carrier. General delivery maybe problematic. Though I will say I sometimes use it. If I order chicks I have them shipped general delivery to my work PO instead of my home address.

vanzcrossroadz · ‎04-20-2020

General delivery is a delivery option that is only temporary and must be approved by the Postmaster of the office to receive general delivery. It's a way to receive mail but only temporary.