29 Sep Can I Pick Up a Package From USPS Before Delivery? (Explained)
Have you ever asked this question “can I pick up a package from USPS before delivery”?If yes, you’ll learn everything you need to know right here.
You may occasionally require a specific package. If you have tracking, you will know when your package arrives at the USPS office.
Because the USPS can take several days to sort and deliver everything, you may wonder if you can pick it up ahead of time.
This would allow you to obtain the package without having to wait a few more days.
Here’s everything you need to know about whether you can pick up a package from the USPS before it is delivered.
Is it Possible to Pick Up a Package from USPS Before it is Delivered?
Yes, you can pick up a package before it is delivered from USPS. The USPS recognizes that not everyone enjoys having to wait for a package.
As a result, they’ve implemented two services to allow customers to pick up packages before they’re delivered.
There are some restrictions on which packages can use these services. You must also pay a small fee. There is one more thing you can do to get your package sooner which is completely free.
Here are three options for picking up your package at the post office before it is delivered to your home.
1. Package Intercept
Package Intercept is one of the services that allow you to pick up a package early. This service allows you to instruct the office to hold the package at a specific location.
You then go to that location and pick it up. Final deliveries are not eligible for this service.
This means you must intercept the package before it reaches your local post office. You must first visit a sorting facility.
If you’re lucky, you won’t be too far away from one. Another limitation is the package’s size. To qualify, the package must be on the small side.
Finally, the package must be domestic.
2. Package Hold
Package Hold is another useful service provided by USPS that allows you to pick it up before it is delivered.
Package Hold is similar to Package Intercept, except that the facility can keep the package for a longer period of time.
You can also have it held by your local post office. Knowing what facilities are nearby is a great way to start using this service.
The package can then be held at the facility closest to you. When you’re ready, drive to the facility, show your identification, and pick it up.
If you have them hold it at your local post office, you can come in early and pick up your package while they’re loading the trucks.
This service, like Package Intercept, has some limitations. It is also not without cost. Nonetheless, it’s a convenient service for picking up your package before it’s delivered.
3. Show Up Early
A final option for picking up your package at the USPS before it is delivered does carry some risk. There’s a chance you won’t be able to pick up the package before it’s loaded onto the truck for delivery.
However, if you arrive early at the post office, they may allow you to pick up your package before it is loaded onto the truck.
To prove that the package belongs to you, you’ll need identification that matches the package. You must also arrive very early.
Postal workers typically begin delivering mail as early as six a.m. They arrive at the office even earlier than usual to load the trucks.
The post office doesn’t usually open until eight o’clock in the morning. If you linger, someone may approach you and ask if they can assist you.
It also doesn’t hurt to know who your mail carrier is. If you recognize them, you may be able to ask them for your package while they’re in the parking lot.
If they know you, they might be more willing to give it to you sooner. While there is a risk of failure with this option, there are no fees associated with it.
Why Does Package Intercept and Package Hold Have Fees?
If you choose to use USPS’s Package Intercept or Package Hold services, you may be wondering why you must pay a fee.
After all, you are performing their function for them. It’s because you’re making their job more difficult.
In most cases, letters and packages are routed through their sorting system, where they are simply sorted by destination.
If a package has a flag for intercepting or holding, it takes more time and effort to track and monitor it. They must ensure that it is not loaded onto a truck and driven to its final destination.
They are less efficient because it costs them more time and energy. As a result, they are unable to generate as much revenue as they should.
That isn’t ideal for the post office, which is already underfunded. To avoid going into the red just to help their customers, they charge a small fee for the service.
The fee varies depending on a few factors, but it’s usually low enough that most customers shouldn’t hesitate.
In exchange, they can easily pick up their package without having to wait for the office to deliver it.
Conclusion
The post office makes it simple to pick up a package before it is delivered by a mail carrier. This is particularly possible with the Package Intercept and Package Hold services.
Even though both services have a fee, there are several advantages to using them.
Read also:
No Comments