Learned something new about non-availability of USPS shipping method yesterday

[kds99]

I was surprised not to find retail ground as an option for a 25x18x18 14-pound package on the Postage Price Calculator. Only priority and priority express came up. Sure enough, when I arrived at the post office they found the same thing. The postmaster was not sure why, but she made a phone call and learned that due to limited capacity for ground mail from this particular origin to this particular destination at this particular time, retail ground was indeed not an option. Who knew?, 

[privacy60]

nah...the answer is in the title. It's only available at the post office their "retail" location. ebay can't print those labels but this type of postage is always available at the retail counter. It's the best way to ship most large packages but I heard that's changing come Jan 2020

[kds99]

No, I was standing at the post office retail counter. The computer showed no option for retail ground for may package sitting on the scale! So I brought it back home and printed priority label for a savings of 10 dollars below Priority cost at the retail desk.

[pjcdn2005]

Apparently retail ground is not available for zones 1-4 unless the package contains hazardous materials, live animals or items that have to be sent by ground.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c052

[gwgw-73]

You're supposed to enclose something like a used aerosol can or perfume so that you can go retail ground for Zones 1 to 4.

[gwzcomps]

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@gwgw-73 wrote:

You're supposed to enclose something like a used aerosol can or perfume so that you can go retail ground for Zones 1 to 4.

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You aren't wrong I suppose, but it is a super funny idea.

[gwgw-73]

It's like the enclose a packing peanut to fatten the envelope or stiff cardboard to make it non-machinable.

[lja440]

Don't worry it is just at this time, it will be available again after next week.