Do you know what is worse than waiting for your USPS package to arrive?
Seeing the tracking stop, wondering when it’s going to start moving towards your doorstep again.
USPS packages can take a lifetime to arrive, especially if your tracking info shows “Out for Delivery” already. Many people can sit back, relax, and wait for their package to eventually arrive at their doorstep, but there are plenty of people who want their package right away.
Does USPS inform people when their packages are ready for delivery? Is there anything they can do to receive their packages faster?
Yes, The USPS distribution center (or your local post office) gives customers the option of picking up the package instead of waiting for it to arrive.
In this article, we will explain the important steps that you can take to make sure your package is waiting for you when you’re ready to collect it.
How to Pick Up Your Package from USPS Before Delivery
USPS facilities allow you to pick up your package before it is delivered, but they can’t simply hand it over to you. If you wish the pickup to run smoothly, you must plan in advance.
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The steps below will guide you through tracking your package.
Step 1: Check if your package is eligible for pickup
A package that has already been delivered or has been released for delivery cannot be picked up. Using the tracking feature of your package, you can find out whether or not your package is in transit and eligible for pickup.
Step 2: Let USPS know you’re picking up your package
If you arrive at a USPS site without first informing USPS that you will be picking up your package, there’s a high chance they will not give it to you.
Since USPS processes so many orders every day, you must inform them that you will be picking up your package and when you will pick it up.
There are several ways you can notify USPS about your pick-up, including:
Mark “Hold for Pickup” on your Shipping Label
The location from which you would like to pick up your package can be specified when creating a shipping label. Picking up your package before delivery is the easiest and most convenient method because—it eliminates the option of delivery.
Here are the steps you need to take to mark your package as “Hold for Pickup” using USPS Click-N-Save Shipping Labels:
- Go to the Click-N-Ship webpage at USPS.com
- Access your USPS account by signing in. In case, you don’t have an account, simply create one.
- Fill in your Return Address
- Scroll down to the “More Actions.” Under “More Actions” select “Hold for Pickup at a Post Office.“
- Using the Zip Code search, locate the post office where you want to pick up your package.
- You can continue to create your shipping label as usual.
Hold for Pickup
USPS offers a special service known as “Hold for Pickup”. Select “Hold for Pickup,” and USPS will hold your package at a specific location until you pick it up. Your package will be ready for pickup when it arrives at the USPS facility specified by you. USPS will notify you by email or text notifications when it has arrived.
To avail of the “Hold for Pickup” service, simply follow these steps:
- Visit the “Hold for Pickup” webpage on the USPS official website.
- Make sure you select the package you wish to pick up and where you want to pick it up.
- As part of the USPS “Intercept a Package” service, “Hold for Pickup” is offered. By using the “intercept a package” service, users can redirect the shipment to a newly selected destination. This option is not just only for holding packages for pickup, but also for rerouting domestic shipments that have not been delivered yet.
- Most domestic packages, letters, and flats with tracking barcodes, along with all mail classes are eligible for the “Hold for Pickup” service. However, Standard Mail and periodicals aren’t a part of it.
Before you use the “Intercept a Package” service, you should be aware of the following:
- USPS charges an interception fee in addition to any additional postage required for the new delivery location.
- USPS will make every effort to locate and reroute your package; however, due to the large number of packages processed, they cannot assure that your package will be intercepted. Only if they can redirect the package to the pickup location will you be charged for the service.
- All packages are redirected as Priority Mail, irrespective of how they were originally sent, and you must pay Priority Mail rates.
- If the shipment is intercepted, then (the $15.95 Package Intercept fee+any applicable postage) will be charged to your credit card. If the actual shipment is greater than the expected amount, extra postage will be charged.
Find out more about “Intercept a Package” here.
Contact your local post office
It is always a good idea to contact your local post office when in doubt. Regardless of whether or not they can help you, they will point you in the right direction.
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USPS does not recommend this method, and generally, it’s not the most efficient way to hold your package for pickup—but one can always try. While USPS is not always accommodating when you’re stuck, they’re generally willing to help you when you need it the most.
Step 3: Take delivery of your package
A package can only be picked up by the person who is listed on the shipping label as the recipient. You can pick up your package from the USPS facility you specified as long as you have a valid photo ID with you.
How to Track a USPS Order?
Using the tracking number found on the USPS shipping label, you can track your USPS package.
- Go to the official USPS website.
- On the top menu, you will see a tab named “Quick tools”
- Click on it and select “Track a package”
- Now Enter your tracking number in the box and click “Track”.