Signing To Pick Up Packages At The Post Office.....

ALL....Somewhere on this site (I think) I have read where you can fill out a slip at the PO authorizing them to sign for INSUREDS, REGISTEREDS, EXPRESS MAIL, etc.....and have the item placed inside you PO Box without having to wait in line at the counter.
I have looked and cant seem to find that info....
Maybe Im dreaming??
My Postmaster does not know.....He told me to find the form # and he will get it for me.
ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.....
Thanks.

The signing for such items was limited to private PO Box companies which allowed the attendant to act as agent for the addressee. The addressee needed to have on file with the local carrier the form allowing such agent signature authority. This eliminated the need for the mail carrier to make out a 'yellow dog' (Notice of missed delivery requiring a signature) so that the addressee could either go to the local PO for pick up or request a redelivery attempt. The USPS Post Office Box will be left a 'yellow dog' when either the piece is to large or a signature is required.

eligies.....basically like a UPS store.
Where the attendant can sign....and hold for you to pick up.
Thanks....I must have just misread what I thought was a PO Box
Darn.....standing in line 10-15 minutes per day gets old.
Thanks for the info......
KL

Kevin:

You were not imagining this -- it is a service available through the USPS, because I have it with my PO box. I cannot exactly remember the name, but I think they called it something like "Boxholder Enhanced Services", but I don't think that's exactly what it's called. The one thing I do remember is that it was gradually being rolled out around the country and not available everywhere, so that may be what you're running into. I've had it for about 2 years.

Basically, there are 3 different services, and, if available, you can sign up for one, two, or all three:

(1) package signing: if you sign their waiver, they'll sign for packages that require a signature. The exception from what you stated is that it would not include Registered mail; I'm not sure about Certified.

(2) street addressing: if you sign up for this, you can then use the PO's street address as your street address, with your box number as the "#___". (You can't refer to it as a "suite" or "apt", just as a "#".) The advantage to this, for me at least, is that you can then supply a street address to a company that insists on using UPS for shipping (or charges more for USPS shipping).

(3) text notifications of mail delivery: This is a biggie for me, because my PO box is about 5 miles away from my everyday path. If you sign up for this service, you get an automated text message (in my case, at about 10:40am daily) if you have mail. I think it's triggered when mail comes in for you at a sorting/distribution center, so if an item somehow skips that point (like what sometimes happens with a local same-city item), it won't trigger the text message. Also, it seems to work about 98% of the time, so occasionally you don't get a text for several days but yet there's mail in the box.

All of these services are free to the boxholder, and they're kind of offered as if they're "bundled." But like I said at the beginning, you can choose only what you need (I signed up for all 3), and perhaps it's not available in your area yet.

I suspect if your PO doesn't know about it, then they're not available, but you never know -- maybe someone missed a memo. I imagine you could call the "800-ASK-USPS" and inquire there. Perhaps it's in your area, but just not at that post office.

Hope that's helpful! I'll try to keep an eye on this thread, in case there are any follow-up messages, and sorry I didn't see your original post sooner.

-- Dave

Dave....thanks...
I called USPS, was on hold for 32 minutes, got a operator that knew nothing.
She said that I need to know what form # it was.....stated to her....that is why I am
calling, to find out. She had no clue....then informed me she would put me on hold
and search BUT her maximum search time was 60 seconds.
Great customer service.
I will continue to search...thanks very much!
Kevin

Kevin, if I can remember to, I'll try to ask at my post office about the forms (if I recall correctly, it was 3 separate forms, 1 for each service), next time I'm in there during the day. Also, you might get better customer service during the week. I called a week or so ago about something, and had to wait only a minute or two.)

Good luck with this!

-- Dave

Dave....
Thanks....would really appreciate it!!

You bet. I only go by there a couple of times a week, but feel free to nudge me about this if I haven't seemed to follow up in a little bit.

-- Dave

Kevin: I managed to get by the PO today during business hours, but I'm afraid the line was out the door, so I didn't have a chance to ask a clerk about these services.

However, I did find a letter taped to a window explaining a fee increase that took place this past January (!), but that also described the enhanced services available.

I haven't had a chance yet to do a Google search on any of the key terms mentioned in the letter, but this might be an avenue to trying to find out more. On the other hand, I'm inclined to think that if your PO doesn't know about it, then they're not available in that area. (But who knows? -- Definitely worth continuing to pursue.)

-- Dave

(click on the image to see a larger version)

DAVE....much appreciated.
KL

Kevin: You bet! I have a shot of the entire letter, if it turns out you need that.

-- Dave

If your PO Box zip code is listed in the Postal Bulletin referred to in the article below then you should be eligible for the services Dave has mentioned above.

http://www.news.ruralinfo.net/2013/...p-codes.html


The Postal Bulletin is at http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet.../pb22328.pdf

tomiseksj....thanks....exactly what Im looking for.
KL