Can I pick up a package from USPS before it hits the road to deliver the packages to its customers? The short answer is yes, you can. USPS allows its customers to pick up their package before it is delivered to you if you have a valid reason to do that.
Does USPS allow its customer to pick up their package from its post offices before delivery?
Yes, but there is a process which you have to follow up. It doesn’t mean that you go there and pick up your package without notifying USPS.
As this courier service allows its customers to pick up their packages. To do so, it provides two distinctive features or services in which you have to select any of the provided options at your convenience.
USPS or United States Postal service is third of the biggest companies in the U.S that offers programs and different postal services to Americans at a very reasonable price with advanced technology. That is the reason; it is very famous amongst the Americans for its services.
Due to some reasons, sometimes customers are not available at their home, so they want to pick up their packages and email items at the post office before scheduled delivery or to have them held rather than wait for them to get to their doorstep.
In this regard, USPS offers two prominent features or options (Package Intercept & Hold for pick-up)to its customers to give easiness.
All you need to do is select one of them and inform its workers of the valid reason for collecting your package or holding the package before scheduled delivery, then they will ensure you whether your parcel is ready to pick up or not.
Even if USPS is a renowned courier company yet its users have some queries in their mind and, especially one of them is, “can I pick up a package from USPS before scheduled delivery”? The answer to this question is simple and straight “yes”.
As you know every company and firm has its terms and conditions for facilitating their users same as USPS has.
Let’s find a detailed answer to your query, which kind of options and services are available in USPS for picking up the mails before delivery.
Summary
Can I pick up the package from USPS before it is delivered? The straightforward answer is “yes" United States Postal Service provides different programs and services to its citizen at a low price with advanced technology.
1 USPS package intercept
USPS has two distinctive features which enable the customers to collect their shipments at their convenience.
The first one is the package intercept service that USPS offers to its customers by which they can stop or redirect their package easily. The intercept feature with a tracking barcode is only available for packages, letters, or flats which has not been delivered for the final delivery or already delivery.
With the help of this program or service, you can redirect a domestic shipment to a new delivery address or Hold for pick up. If you want to use this service, you have to log in to your USPS account or contact your local post office for confirmation of your package is intercepted or not.
To avail of this service firstly, you will need to verify whether your domestic mail is eligible for a package intercept or not. Though this service is available for domestic shipments with extra service or tracking barcodes you will need to check the eligibility of your package. you need to do it online intercept option.
where you just enter your tracking number on the left side of the page to know the domestic mail is eligible for the package intercept or not. You can only request a package intercept online, once you receive the confirmation. Then you need to log in with your USPS.com account.
After submitting the request of picking up the parcel before delivery, USPS will send you a message of approval. Once you get a confirmation message, you will get an estimated total (related intercept charges plus postage). Afterward, USPS will try to intercept or redirect the shipment as you want.
USPS package intercept offers service to its customers to stop or redirect their package to a new delivery address or Hold for pick-up at their convenience. This service with a tracking barcode is only available for packages, letters, or flats.
How can I check where my USPS package is?
You need the first USPS tracking number which is found on your shipping label or in your Stamps.com account. Then you enter the tracking number in the search bar (Track and Confirm Your Parcel Delivery - Stamps.com page) without any dashes or spaces.
After that click on “Check Status”, here you can see the scan history and status information of your parcel.
What if USPS does not update tracking?
Parcel Monitor helps you track all your USPS packages with real-time updates but if you don’t get any updates or action after 1-2 days, you should contact USPS customer service or go to the local post office to know more information.
Noticeable restrictions of USPS package intercept
There are also some restrictions of USPS package intercept service which are given below.
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The customer will not have to pay additional charges for the parcel if it is not intercepted but if it is intercepted, the charges will be applied to each intercepted request.
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The fee for an intercepted request is non-refundable.
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Only domestic shipments can take advantage of this service.
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This service works only for all domestic mail services, not for Periodicals or USPS Marketing Mail.
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The size of a package should not be more than 274cm in length and girth combined.
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This service does not work for the items redirected to a Commercial Mailing Receiving Agency, PO Box, or addressed.
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If you want to get more restrictions regarding package intercept, visit its official website.
2 Hold for pickup service
There is another option Hold for pickup service which USPS offers its users. To do so, first of all, you need to know to exact the location of your package early before the mail carrier gets to your doorstep.
As all mails and parcels reach the post office between 4:00 am to 6:00 pm in the USA, and after that, the courier service receives packages till 8:00 am to be distributed amongst their customers. So you need to choose the Hold for Pickup option by Intercept a package under Track & manage on USPS.com.
In the way, you can not only pick up your package at your local post office but also you can get it returned to the sender or hold it at your near post office.
Note: keep in mind a thing, there is no possibility that they will hold your parcel because sometimes they hit the road before the time.
As this service is a speed-up service when you select this service for holding for pick up, USPS will send a notification on email ID or Phone for confirmation of holding to pick up.
When you get the message from the post office; now it’s up to you when you’ll pick up your shipment. But after five days they send a second email or SMS to you as a reminder.
Also, you will have to pick up your parcel personally as they won’t deliver the parcel to you without delivery charges now. This service is only available with Priority express mail; not with
First-Class Mail letters, flats, and others.
Hold for pickup option amenities to its users to hold their package at their local post office for some days and even the user can retune the package to the sender. This feature works only for Priority express mail.
How long can USPS hold a mail?
The Postal Service can hold a mail at the request of USPS Hold Mail for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 30 days during that time if the receiver doesn’t claim the package, then the package is returned to the sender. But in case if the return address is missing or unreadable on the package, it is sent to the lost mail department.
But in case of holding mail longer than 30 days, you will have to sign up for a USPS Forward Mail Service.
Can I allow a third person to pick up my USPS Hold Mail?
Yes. You can have someone else pick up your USPS Hold Mail. You can allow someone else to pick up your held mail. To do so, the person whom you allow will have to provide written permission to the appropriate Post Office and he/she will need to present an Acceptable Form of Identification.
Some other ways to pick up packages from USPS
Some other ways help you pick up your package according to your facility.
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If you find your package is out for delivery and you know the mail carrier’s route, you can ask them for the package on the route. They’ll certainly help you if they are good.
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If your signature is required for confirmation and you’re not at home, the letter carrier will take back that parcel to the post office where you can pick up your parcel easily before delivery.
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You’re not at home but you have left a signboard or something else there to indicate the message that you’re not at home. In that case, the mail carrier will take back that parcel to the post office. Later you can pick it up at the post office with your ID card.
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If you have been tracking your shipment for a long time and you know that your package is at the post office but they didn’t deliver that to you. Then you can go there and ask them to find out your parcel; they will find out that and give it to you.
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Even you can pick up your package early if there is an emergency. You can reach out to the postman and let him know about this. They will help you to get this but make sure your item must arrive at the post office.
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You can also pick up your parcel on the delivery day if you reach the post office before the delivery distribution van hits the road. In this case, you arrive and wait there early, and ask them for your parcel. They must help you and hand over your package to you.
Unites States Postal Services
USPS offers different services to its customers as per their needs and requirements which are mentioned below in the form of a chart.
| Services | Typically used for | Packages | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority mail express | Large or thick envelope, letter, tubes and package especially mailable items | 70 Ibs or less | 1-2 days |
| Priority mail | Documents, gifts, , and products | 70 Ibs or less | 1-3 days |
| First class mail | personal and business letters and bills | 13 Ibs or less | 1-3 days |
| Retail ground | Thick envelope, small and large packages, and tubes containing gifts and products | 70 Ibs or less | 2-8 days |
| Media mail | books, documents, sound recordings, or other educational materials | 70 Ibs or less | 2-8 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
There are some questions which people frequently ask like can I pick up my package from USPS and so on. Here, we try to answer of their related questions below.
1. Can I pick up a package from USPS without informing them?**
No. You will have to reach out to them before you get to the post office for picking up your package. There are some options; such as package intercept or hold for pickup through which you can redirect your mail items as well as hold for pickup before the final delivery.
2. Do packages get delivered on Saturdays?
Yes. Most deliveries get delivered on Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. USPS offers weekend delivery and, especially, standard mails, parcels, and packages, which get delivered on weekends, are dropped off at the post office.
3. Do USPS deliveries happen on Sunday?
Yes. The Postal Service currently delivers on Sunday. Weekend delivery service is available for Priority Mail Express and certain Amazon packages on Sundays.
4. What will I need to pick up a package from USPS?
You’ll need to present a valid photo ID, such as a passport, a driver’s license, or ID which must match that of the package label. You will also need the PS Form 3849 left by the mail carrier.
5. What if you miss your USPS delivery?
If you miss a package delivered from USPS, the letter carrier will drop off a “Redelivery Notice” at your door or in your letterbox to inform you that a package delivery has been attempted.
6. Can the address of a USPS package be changed after it has been shipped?
Yes, first need to know your shipment is eligible for Package Intercept if so, you will have to request to destination the post office for holding the item for you or getting it returned to the sender. You can also make a request online with your USPS.com account and they will try to redirect and intercept the shipment.
United States Postal service is the third biggest company in the USA which offers several programs and services to its customers at a very low cost. That’s the reason Americans prefer its service to others so in this regard they have any queries related to USPS service which is most asked: “can I pick up a package from USPS before delivery?”
Of course, they can have that’s why USPS offers several ways to its users but for the most part, it provides its customers the two prominent features or services; such as USPS package intercept and holds for pick-up service.
Well, through these services its users can redirect the address and even hold for pick up the package at to their convenience.
Related articles
https://howtodiscuss.com/t/usps-return-to-sender/101182
https://howtodiscuss.com/t/package-intercept/112951