Can I Pickup Package From USPS Before Delivery?

Can I pickup package from USPS before delivery? This is most often asked the question by the users.

Many people have doubts whether they can pick their packages from USPS before delivery or not. The answer is yes, you can pick your packages from USPS before the delivery but you need some valid reasons for that. 

You can pick your package before delivery but for different areas, location and post office the condition may vary. But always check that your package is in transit to the destination phase or not.

Can You Pick up a Package Early from USPS Before Delivery?

Yes, you can pick up a package early from USPS. You just need to keep a few things in your mind before picking up a package early from USPS. You need to inform the USPS before you go for a pickup. You need prior notice from USPS before picking up the packages.

You need to give valid reasons for picking up the package early. Different programs and services of the U.S. Postal Service let you pick up your package before final delivery.

How do I know if my package is at the Post Office?

To know whether your package is at the Post Office or not, you need to navigate to www.stamps.com/shipstatus/. Enter your USPS tracking number to find your package easily in the search bar, avoid including any dashes or spaces. Click on check status and you can easily see the status of your package.

This process will easily let you know whether your package is at the Post Office or not. You will receive the mail that says Arrival at Unit. It means that your package has arrived at the local Post Office and it is scheduled for delivery.

If your package arrives at the Post Office before 9:30 am then it will be delivered to you the same day or if the package arrives at the Post Office after 9:30 am then it will be delivered to you on the next business day.

Why is my USPS package available for pickup?

The “available for pickup” option means that your package has been sent to the local post office, but the post office won’t be delivering it to you; you have to pick it up yourself. This usually happens for two reasons:

• The delivery failed
• They did not attempt delivery

Failed delivery:

This can be for multiple reasons, like incorrect address provided, no one available to receive the package or the non-availability of a safe spot to keep the package. If the driver’s access to your home was blocked or you paid the wrong shipping amount, the “available for pickup”option opens up. 

Since there are multiple reasons for this occurrence, when this happens, USPS provides a slip with the exact cause and the name of the post office in which the parcel will be available. 

Non-attempt to deliver:

There might be times when you have perhaps waited at your place for the whole day for the package, but no one came. Instead, the status of your package has changed to “available for pickup”! This means that USPS will not be delivering your package and expects you to pick it up. 

This unfortunate incident usually happens if the delivery person missed picking up your package in the morning. Since they have tons of mail to gather and transport each day, such an incident might happen. In such cases, you won’t receive a delivery slip or anything because the driver did not attempt delivery. 

However, you can launch a complaint with USPS, and they will run it for another delivery run, but it might take weeks to reach you, and in the worst-case scenario, your mail might get misplaced. Thus it’s advisable to go and pick yourself up.

Some of the methods are given below using which you can easily pick up your parcel before final delivery:

#1: HOLD FOR PICKUP:

This amenity is a quicken mail service that assures the delivery to one of the selected Hold For Pickup locations. If you pick this service, then USPS will inform you on your registered phone, email or via SMS.

If you pick up your freight in a short period of a day or two, then it’s okay, but if you do not, then it will again notify you after five days via second automated email or SMS as a reminder. For a Priority Mail Express item, they will notify you after three days.

Hold For Pickup service is available with the items listed below:

• Priority mail express items at the retail post office location
• Priority mail and Priority mail express items when postage is paid through USPS click-N-ship
• Commercial mailings of Priority mail, Priority mail express, first class package service commercial, parcel select lightweight, parcel select ground and bound printed matter parcels when postage is paid by:
• Click-N-Ship
• The registered end user of USPS approved PC postage products
• Permit imprint
• USPS approved information-based indicia (IBI) postage meters
• A mailer’s centralized account processing system (CAPS) account when used with a parcel intercept request
• As Hold for Pickup, Intercept service permit you to stop the shipment at the local post office. In short, you can use it to hold the package at the post and pick up the box from there.

#2: USPS PACKAGE INTERCEPT:

U.S. Postal Service parcel Intercept programme is also useful to easily redirect a domestic shipment that has not been delivered for the final delivery or already delivered. Using this service, one can direct the package to a different location like new domestic address or Hold that for pickup describe in above point.

It is available for letters, parcels, and flats, with tracking barcode or extra service. For that, you have to verify that your item is eligible for this program/service or not. To check it go to the link given below and enter your tracking number on the left side of the page:

If the freight is acceptable for the Intercept, then submit the request online. To do so, log in to your USPS account and send your request. Once you do it, you will get an estimated total amount (intercept fees+postage charges). Next, they will redirect or intercept that shipment.

CONSTRAINTS:

USPS Package Intercept programme has some limitation, as given below:

• A customer doesn’t have to pay extra charges for the package if it wasn’t intercepted and in case of parcel intercepted, then the charges are applied to each request.
• Fees for intercepted is non-refundable.
• It is available for all domestic mail services, except Periodicals and USPS Marketing Mail.
• The size of a parcel not exceed than 108 inches in length and girth combined.
• It is also not feasible for the items redirected to a Commercial Mailing Receiving Agency or a PO Box or addressed.
• To know more about other restrictions, go to the official site.

#3: PLACE YOUR MAILED THING ON HOLD:

It is different from Hold for Pickup even both work differently. If you wish that your parcel does not come to a home and you will pick up them from post office each time, then you have to submit the request for it so that they will always hold your mail for pickup. For a one time, you can hold your parcel for a minimum of 3 days via online, request for the form over the phone or post office. For the online option go to the link given below:

Even you can continue the regular mail delivery after you pick up all your accumulated mail & packages.

FEW MORE METHODS:

1. Put a signboard with a message “Do not leave packages at the door.” so a delivery person will not leave your package at your doorstep if no one is present at home or office. They will take it back to the office so you can visit it and pick up it with your ID proof with you.
2. While receiving the parcel the signature confirmation is required, and if you are not at home, then they will hold the package at a local office, and you can visit it and pick up it before delivery.
3. If your package is out for delivery and you know the transmitter, then find him/her on the route. They will help you if they are nice.
4. It is also possible with the help of postmaster’s permission only if there is an emergency.
5. If the post office is small or they do not have much work, then you can go to the place and ask the carrier to find out your parcel. He/she will hand over to you.

Is USPS holding for pickup free?

The USPS Hold Mail service holds all the mails, including packages and letters. This service is available for all people at their specified eligible address. The service is free, which is the best part. However, one address can have only one USPS Hold Mail in effect at a time. 

If my package is at the post office, can I pick it up? 

Yes, you can. However, you must provide an acceptable form of identification if you pick your mail. 

Conclusion on Can You Pickup Package from USPS Before Delivery

Sometimes waiting for your package is not easy. Therefore you can easily pick your package from your local Post Office. You just need to follow a few steps and you can get your package from the Post Office. Hold for pickup is also free of cost at USPS. Therefore you won’t have any difficulty while picking up your package from the Post Office.

FAQs:

Can I Pickup Package From USPS Before Delivery?

The mails are received in post offices between 4:00 am 06:00 pm which is then handed over to the courier service by 08:00 am. In case, the delivery carriers have not departed yet, then you have the chance to collect your package before delivery. For this, you need to give them a call and instruct them to hold the package. However, this is not a guaranteed thing. There are two options you can rely on. One is USPS package hold service and the second is USPS package interception service.

Can I pick up a package from USPS if I missed the delivery?

There are times when you miss your delivery. For example, when you are not at home. In this case, you need to either cancel the delivery or reschedule it. You can collect your package from your local post office. Carry your redelivery notice (PS Form 3849) along with a photo ID to get your item.

Can I pick up the USPS package at the distribution center?

This is a very common question asked by many of you. Well, you should be informed that you cannot pick your package once it reaches the distribution center. You can only do so at the post office only if you have asked them to hold your package.

What happens if USPS Cannot deliver a package?

If for any reason USPS fails to deliver your package, you receive a mail from the post office. The package stays at the post office for at least 15 days before it is sent back to the sender. If would want to collect your package, then you need to do it within 15 days, or else it will go back to the sender.

Can I call USPS to see where my package is?

You can track your package through the USPS delivery tracking system. It will show you where your package is and also tell you the approx. time and date when you would receive the package. In case of a missing package, you need to go to your local post office for help. You can also give a call on this number 1-800-275-8777 and ask for the phone number of your local Consumer Affairs office.

Does USPS deliver the same day?

The answer to this would be yes. The USPS provides same-day redelivery of mails and packages if you for any reason miss the first delivery. This service makes it easy for you to receive your mails and packages. If you are not at home during the first delivery, then you can receive your delivery in the second round.

How exactly USPS pick up work?

Package Pickup is probably the most convenient way to send qualifying packages. All you have to do is submit your request online at the official USPS site: www.usps.com/pickup. Once you do that your letter carrier will pick up the packages during their normal delivery time. The best thing about this service is that it is available for free. No matter, how many packages you send, it is free of charge.

Does USPS leave deliveries at the doorstep?

Yes, they do leave packages at your doorsteps but only the ones that don’t require any signing. In case, the delivery requires a signature, then USPS will leave you a notice and will re-deliver the package the next day. This time you need to sign the package and receive it, or else they will leave the package in your mailbox.

Can you keep a package that is delivered to you by mistake?

Yes, you can keep any package that is delivered to you by mistake. These items are called “unsolicited goods” as you didn’t order them. It is within your rights to keep any such package. But as a good human being, you should return the package to USPS.

How can you pick up a missed USPS package?

In case, you have missed a USPS package, you need to visit your local post office pickup based on the details of the Redelivery Notice sent to you. You can either go to the post office to pick up your item or after the date and time mentioned on the PS Form 3849 delivery notice.