There may be an urgent need for your package from USPS, and waiting for delivery may render it useless.
It could be other reasons like an unfavorable schedule or something else that makes you want to pick up your package from USPS before delivery.
If you have been following up on your order, you will be aware when the package arrives at a nearby USPS office.
When packages get to the USPS office, they will begin to select and arrange them accordingly before distributing them, which could take some days. So, if you cannot wait for delivery and would like to know if you can have it earlier, here is how it would be.
Getting it earlier means you would not have to wait for the delivery time, which is what you want.
Here is everything you need to know about picking up a package from USPS before their delivery schedule.
Can I Pick Up a Package from USPS Before Delivery?
USPS provides package intercept and hold mail services for anyone that wants to pick up a package before delivery. However, it does not cover all packages and comes with a price. But, if you want to pick up your stuff for free before delivery, ensure to be at the office before loading.
The USPS management is much aware some customers would request their packages before delivery. So, they introduced those services with a small fee to help them.
If you do not want to pay a fee to pick up your package before delivery, wait until it gets to the local mail office, and you can show up early before it is time to load the truck. Then, you can avoid the extra cost of picking up your package before delivery.
Here is what you need to know about how the USPS package intercept and USPS hold mail services work and what time to meet up with your package in the USPS office before they load it for delivery.
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How To Pick Up Package From USPS Before Delivery
Here are a few different ways to pick up your package from USPS before it is delivered.
- USPS package intercept
- USPS hold mail service
- Be at the office before loading
1. USPS Package Intercept
USPS package intercept is one service you can use to get your package earlier than you should.
This service will allow you to request that your package should be intercepted and held in a storage facility where you can pick it up.
You cannot intercept a package when it s already at your local post office.
It is only allowed while the package is still at the facility where it was shipped to.
So, after intercepting, the next thing is to go to that facility and sort out your package. However, it may take time. But you will have it.
Huge packages are not part of this service and are only available for small-size stuff.
Moreover, international packages or letters are not a part of this service, and you can only use them for private packages.
Without waiting for the package to reach a local post office for sorting and distribution, the USPS package intercept service can help you to pick up your stuff before delivery. So, if this is what you want, apply for it.
Although it is not a free service, the fee is small and considerate
See also:
2. USPS Hold Mail Service
Another one is the USPS Hold Mail Service, which will allow you to pick up your mail at your local post office.
USPS hold mail service and package intercept are almost the same, except that one is a storage facility where the stuff is shipped to while the other is a local post office where final deliveries occur.
So, using either USPS hold mail service or package intercept depends on your needs.
One thing to consider when opting for your package before delivery is the nearby location of your local post office.
After tracking the one nearest you, apply for a package hold and get ready to pick it up.
After a successful application, find your means of identification which is a requirement, before relating your package.
Locate the USPS hold mail service office and ask for your package. After confirming your name and address, the postal worker at the counter will allow you to pick up your parcel.
Once they have your information, they will locate your package and hand it to you.
There is also a cost attached to this service.
However, it is one way to pick up a package from USPS before delivery.
3. Be At The Office Before Loading
Another way you can pick up stuff from USPS before delivery is if you can be at the office before loading the delivery truck commences.
However, there is no assurance for this method because no one knows that you would like to have your package earlier.
But, if you can show up early at the office, you can talk to the postal workers about your package, and they may agree to release it after confirmation.
The delivery process begins as early as six in the morning, so you would need to report as early as possible to meet your package while it is not in the truck.
But, if your package is already in the truck after arriving at the office, you will need to convince the driver to help you.
While you may miss picking up your package with this method, it is absolutely free and would cost you nothing.
Why Picking Up Your Packages At The USPS Office Is Worth It
You could question whether using the Package Intercept and Package Hold services is worthwhile given that there is a cost involved.
Here are some justifications for picking up your parcels from the USPS before they are delivered.
1. Package Arrives Early
You can now receive your packages more quickly.
The USPS occasionally takes a while to send packages.
Some offices might dedicate a set day to handling certain packages.
Using those services enables you to pick up the delivery as soon as it arrives at the office if you don’t want to wait that long.
You may take it home, open it, and use it right away.
2. Controls Loss Of Packages
You receive fewer lost packages when you use Package Intercept and Package Hold, which is one of the reasons why doing so is worthwhile.
If you’ve experienced a number of misplaced packages, you’re undoubtedly sick of it.
Using one of those services marks your cargo with a flag.
It is less likely to be lost because it is being watched by more people.
Why Does It Cost Money For USPS To Intercept Or Hold A Package?
If you choose to use USPS’s Package Intercept or Package Hold services, you could be confused by the price.
After all, you are carrying out their tasks on their behalf.
It’s because you made their job a little bit harder.
Most of the time, as letters and shipments pass through their sorting system, they simply arrange them according to their destinations.
If a shipment has a flag for intercepting or holding it, it takes more time and effort to track it down and keep an eye on it.
They must hold it rather than loading it onto a vehicle to make sure it gets to where it is supposed to.
Since it requires more time and effort, they become less effective.
As a result, they are unable to make as much money as they ought to.
That isn’t good for the post office, which already has financing issues.
They charge a tiny price for the service as a measure to make sure they don’t go into the red only to assist their consumers.
The cost varies depending on a few things, but for the most part, clients shouldn’t hesitate to pay it.
In exchange, clients can quickly pick up their gift rather than having to wait for the office to deliver it.
What Happens If USPS Misses A Delivery?
You can be in a situation where a delivery effort by the post office is missed.
On occasion, they might leave a slip at your door notifying you of the delivery attempt.
The slip frequently includes information on the recipient of the gift and the time the delivery attempt was made.
On occasion, it will also let you know what the post office will do next.
The following working day, they often attempt another delivery.
You can plan your arrival or the presence of someone to take the delivery on your behalf more easily as a result.
You could also request that the post office keep it.
You may notice on the slip that the post office may have even asked you to pick up the package at the office.
This occasionally happens when there was a problem that stopped them from delivering the delivery or when the office was unusually busy.
This suggests that they believe the issue will persist the next day and they won’t be able to complete the delivery.
You will still need to pick up your package from the post office if you see that on your slip.
If you don’t see it, you can still call the post office and request a package intercept or hold.
Once everything is set up, you can pick it up yourself by going to the office.
How do I pick up an intercepted package?
What happens depends entirely on where they managed to stop it.
Among the most typical locations are:
- regional mail service
- distribution hub for USPS
- A new address
Your neighborhood post office is the best and simplest choice.
They might keep your package at the post office closest to you if you were able to schedule your interception perfectly.
Although the program does allow you to enter the address for where you want the notice to be held, according to how rapidly the USPS operates, they might not be able to do so in time.
Because of this, it’s not always possible to predict exactly where a package will end up.
Sometimes, your parcel will be held at the post office in your area.
The most challenging place to pick up packages is at a USPS distribution center.
This site is challenging because the majority of distribution centers are inaccessible to the general public.
If your shipment is delivered there, you’ll need to give the facility a direct call.
After that, they can assist you by either having someone bring the box to you personally or redirecting it to a location where you can pick it up.
It’s unlikely that someone will stop the processing and sorting going on in a distribution center to bring your shipment out.
When you put out your Delivery Intercept request, be sure they are not intercepting your package at a distribution center.
The final destination is a place where the shipment can be redirected.
This might be a friend, a relative, or even a business that stores customers’ mail and packages.
