3 Alternatives to Going to the Post Office

I hate going to the post office. No matter when you go, unless it’s after hours, there’s a line at least three people deep. No only that, but there are usually a handful of counters and just one or two postal workers behind them. So you go, wait in line, get up to the counter, ask for the postage you need, and after a slow process of key pressing, card swiping, and the like, you get a little sticker to put on your package. It’s a pain. It’s like the DMV, or whatever you state calls the place you get licenses and license plates, it’s a long arduous process everyone hates.

Fortunately, you can limit the number of times you go by using alternatives.

1. Print Postage

You can print your postage online for free without any additional surcharges on USPS.com. You will need to find your own packaging but almost every service class is available online plus you can schedule a pickup. The one service class unavailable on the USPS website is Media Mail. For that, you can use Paypal.

When you print your own postage of packages, you will need to find a USPS blue mailbox or service location to drop off your package. If you printed the postage, just walk up to the counter and tell them you already have postage and hand them the package.

There are services like Stamps.com that offer scales, adhesive strips, and other niceties if you’re willing to pay the monthly fee. While they’re nice features, it’s probably not going to make much sense unless you run a business and mail a lot of packages.

2. Hold Your Mail

Another service that the USPS offers is the ability to request the USPS hold mail when you’re away. You could go to the post office and pick up the form or you can fill it out online and avoid the trip. You can schedule hold service up to 30 days in advance and if you submit by 2AM CST Monday - Saturday, they’ll hold starting that day. Not all zip codes offer this so don’t wait until 2AM!

3. Buy Stamps Elsewhere

You can’t print postage for letters or postcards online, unless you pay for a service, but stamps are now being sold in a variety of stores without an additional surcharge. You can usually find them for sale at the grocery store, office stores, and even at big box stores like Costco. In fact, we recently bought a package of 100 stamps (yeah, it’s a lot of stamps!) for less than face value at Costco.

If You Must Go…

One underutilized service at the post office at the automated mail machine kiosks. If you know how much you need, visit the post office after hours and use the kiosk to print your postage. Most post offices are empty after hours, which can be a little eerie, but you will be able to print all the postage you need without having to deal with any lines whatsoever.

Lastly, the USPS has recently partnered up with many local businesses to open up “village centers” and install themselves in high traffic locations. These places are less well known, compared to the post office, so you’re likely to see smaller lines. The risk is that in some locations the store owner also mans the USPS counter, so you might have to compete with the store’s customers. I find that these places are great for dropping off packages that don’t fit in the blue box.

Do you have any tips for avoiding the post office? Leave a comment!

This is a guest post by Jim who writes about savings accounts at Bargaineering.com.

Photo by jelm6