‘Tis the season . . . that I want to avoid the Post Office at all costs. It’s not too far out of my way, so on a normal day I stop by the Post Office once to drop off packages, usually around 3:15 after picking my oldest up from school. This gives me an hour of leeway (weekday last call for packages is 4:15 p.m.), and also allows me to get anything purchased in the morning ready and shipped out the same day, which buyers love.
BUT.
Ugh.
The Post Office in December is no joke, and it’s already started. On many December days I *try* to pull into the PO parking lot, but traffic is backed up out of the parking lot and into the road because cars are lined up waiting for a parking space in the too-small lot. And I not only have to contend with finding parking, all the other customers, and the potentially bulky packages I am transporting, but also have both of my boys in tow.
So, the obvious answer is ——-> have the PO pick up my packages!
Right?
But. In the summer it’s stinkin’ hot, and I don’t feel comfortable leaving packages out in the heat. And right now it’s either (literally) freezing cold, or raining buckets. So leaving packages outside for pick-up doesn’t seem like an option.
Do you use carrier pick-up? What do you do? Keep your packages inside and have the postal person ring your bell? (I’ve done that a few times and it’s worked okay, but I feel that I hover by the front door afraid I will miss them, and am not as productive with my day as I normally would be.)
Or? If you have a system you use that works well for you I’d love to hear about it!
Deana says
December 2, 2014 at 11:06 pmI use it. My carrier comes by approx. the same time every day. I put the packages out a 1/2 hour before he is due on my front steps. If it is raining I leave them on the porch . The door to the porch is glass so he can see when I have some. I have done it so long I don’t even schedule a pickup. They just look out as they are driving by my mailbox and come get them if they are out there. GREAT service.
Nancy says
December 3, 2014 at 12:33 amI use USPS pick up a lot. If it is raining or snowing I put my packages in white garbage bags where I usually place them. At first when I was worried that they wouldn’t know what was in the garbage bags I put a couple of priority stickers on the bags. I’ve had no issues as long as I leave a clear path for the carrier. I think now my carrier knows what is in the bags if I have scheduled a pick up.
Kimberly Hutmacher says
December 3, 2014 at 1:39 amI don’t use carrier pick-up. My OCD self likes to have that receipt showing that each package has been scanned and accepted. However, my husband drives right by the PO on his way to work in the morning, so he takes my packages. He’s usually the first one in the door, so no waiting.
Diana says
December 3, 2014 at 9:58 amI have a scheduled pick up most days but even if I forget to schedule it the night before, my lovely mail lady still picks them up for me. I have a covered porch so they are protected from the elements (usually). I have a baby so this is very convenient to not have to treck her in and out of the PO every day!
Margaret says
December 3, 2014 at 12:11 pmI do pick up too. Why would I carry and lug packages to the post office when they can come to my front door? We have an overhang that protects the packages if it’s raining or snowing. So far it hasn’t been an issue. But if it’s crazy pouring, I would probably slip a garbage bag over them or something.
Grace Brewer says
December 3, 2014 at 2:51 pmI used to use pickup. I don’t anymore….I did just cause I had an awesome carrier. I can’t leave items outside in my neighborhood 😀 He would call me when he was 5-10 min away and I would go outside and wait for him. Now the post office is halfway between home and office I stop by….but I don’t wait in line we have a door inside you ring the bell right to the back sorting room and they come and scan my packages right away. My post office has made mistakes but overall they are really great 😀
melissa says
December 3, 2014 at 9:53 pmI live way in the boonies and would have to go to the closest post office, about a 30 min drive, one way, which is only open from 10-12, and 1-2, which is lunch and nap time at our house. So I use the pickup. Hubby built me a nice covered box that sits at the end of our garage/shop building driveway. My lady comes everyday around 11:00 and it’s been great. My UPS pick up is a little harder, as there are more boxes and I have to worry about the rain, snow, etc. If you can build a good relationship with your USPS person it can be a great thing. My post master is the mother of a girl I went to school with and my postal carrier is a lady who used to be a customer when my mom and I had a craft and floral shop, so it helps! Good luck!