What if Post Office lobbys close??

[pacountrycreative]

I ship my items in the post office lobbies. How can I ship stuff if they close them???

I know my carrier can pick them up, but that's only if you use priority boxes and have some kind of account, right?

Please help! I have 2 part-time jobs in the real world that are closing, and Ebay  😞

[1tuna]

not familiar with what a post office lobby is,if you mean the window section or counter service then you will need to print your own shipping if that is closed.I do not use the counter clerks as they want me to leave packages in the bin in the lobby that is open 24 hours.The APAC machine is also available 24 hours to print postage,in warminster they have that blue machine next to the box.

you could try printing postage in the morning and doing a drop off going to work or coming home.learning how to print postage with ebay is fairly simple,you can save good money and it can mean less work for you

if the post office shuts down its only going to be the counter service,mail will still be put in boxes,people still need to come in a get it

[mudshark61369]

@pacountrycreative,

You do not need a USPS account or have to ship items using Priority Mail in order for your carrier to pick up packages.  If you can talk to your carrier and arrange a signal to let them know you have outgoing packages and a safe place to leave them. You can print your own labels from the sold item list (Print Label)  It does help to prepack, weigh and use the calculator so buyers know what to pay.  You can offer different services, the different Priority services, 1st Class for items weighing less than 1 lb., or Parcel Select for items weighing more than 1 lb.  

As has already been said if you want you can print labels and drop packages off at the P.O. lobby drop box.  Buying postage online gives you a discount which can add up after awhile.

[orangehound]

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@pacountrycreative wrote:

I ship my items in the post office lobbies. How can I ship stuff if they close them???

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Many (most?) post offices have large package drop bins in the lobbies ... a few have those drop bins with scanners.  Yes, I know, dropping off packages like this is risky because of acceptance scans, but perhaps eBay will relax the rule if lobbies close.

[mysalonsavings]

Sure you can have them "picked up" or drop them in the "postal bin" but if they don't scan them, which happens a lot with USPS, then you will get a defect and lose your seller status. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

Carrier pickup is more accessible than you think.  Originally it required you to have at least one Priority Mail package, but now you can order it even for just First Class packages or return labels.  When you purchase your label through eBay, there's a check box to request carrier pickup for it, that's all you need to do.  

You can order carrier pickup through usps.com if you have an account with them, but setting up an account just requires a signup and password like any other online account, it just takes a minute.

[mansons2005]

General reply: - and NOT pointed to anyone in particular.....
I can see how this emergency will be "dragging" some people into the 21st century. Sure, they think they are "tech savvy", but in reality so much more has become available, and so much has changed within the last 5-10 years that even regular users are not aware of..................and this is a good thing (whether users are comfortable with it on the outset or not!!!)

[martin2001]

You don't need an account, but it is useful to create one. Does not cost anything. Then when you schedule a pick up, you address information is pre-filled.

[corvettestainless]

Add 1 day to your already 'handling' time if you are having pick up; this will cover you- they will be scanned no later than 'tomorrow' if picked up today. 

[corvettestainless]

Your post is a bit confusing- there is no 'check box' that I see that communicates to USPS for a pickup? 

[lja440]

I'm a mail carrier. It used to be that at least one package had to be priority (the box did not matter) Now you can schedule a pickup with any package.

[yuzuha]

Pretty sure they can't close lobbies.  People with PO boxes need to be able to access their mail.

[mountainmommie]

I am pretty sure that if the powers-that-be want post offices to look a certain way in times of crisis -- they will definitely look like it.

None of us here has any control over that decision.

Put selling out into the world in the way you want it to be and let the rest fall where it may. Obsessing over any other aspect of it is absolutely futile. I am a prepper to the n-th degree and even I can only do so much.

[di2360]

My Mother puts a note in the mailbox saying she has a package to be picked up. She also leaves the flag up on the mailbox. They always come to the front door and pick them up. 

[mtgraves7984]

I use USPS exclusively and ship from home. I've never scheduled a pickup online, but my mail carrier knows what to do! He has four eBay sellers on his route... scans our packages immediately. I haven't been to the Post Office in years!

If you could speak to your driver and arrange a pickup spot that you both feel is safe, I'm sure it could become a regular 'thing' for your carrier. I leave them in a bag hanging from my mailbox with the flag up, but if that won't work for you... maybe a spot on the porch.

Stay well!