You’ve probably seen those blue USPS collection boxes scattered around your city before. but have you ever wondered what those boxes are for or how they can be used? they can help you save a trip to the post office and make your life a lot easier when you need to mail something. however, there are some rules about the types of items that can be placed in these boxes. If you want to know how to use these drop boxes provided by the postal service, read on! we’ll tell you how they work, as well as the kinds of things you can put in them.
what is a usps mailbox?
A USPS mailbox is a blue mailbox provided by the United States Postal Service that serves as a drop-off point for mail and packages that meet certain guidelines. You’ll usually find these mailboxes located in larger cities like Denver, San Antonio, or Columbus. For example, in New York, you can find one of these USPS mailboxes every two blocks. In more rural areas, you may not find these mailboxes because they won’t get as much use.
these mailboxes provide an easy way for usps customers to mail their letters without visiting the post office. most people try to avoid going to the post office unless absolutely necessary. lines are often long and the location may not be convenient. These boxes allow for an easy way to drop off a letter in the mail, and the boxes are usually located in busy and convenient areas.
what can be put in usps collection boxes?
the united states postal service will accept many types of items in these blue mailboxes, but you can’t just fit everything you want in the mailboxes. basically any first class card can be placed in the boxes. remember that first class letters can only weigh up to 3.5 oz. if you have a smaller package, you can probably fit it in the box. however, the package must weigh less than 13 ounces if you use postage to ship the package. If your package weighs more than 13 ounces, it must have a pre-printed shipping label attached. you cannot put a package larger than 13 ounces in one of these boxes if you are using postage stamps. Similarly, these mailboxes are only large enough to hold boxes about 3 inches tall. most e-commerce packages will need to be delivered to the post office.
These mail collection boxes are mainly used for domestic shipments. When it comes to international shipping, some additional rules apply. Although you can place mail items for international shipments in these boxes, customs declarations must have been submitted online. if the declarations were not submitted online, the item cannot be placed in the collection box. Also, if your package requires a customs declaration, it cannot be placed in the box using postage stamps. always remember to follow the rules about usps shipping restrictions. never place prohibited items in a collection box.
usps mailbox pickup schedule
Outgoing mail pickup times vary slightly from mailbox to mailbox. however, all boxes are picked up at least once a day Monday through Friday. Normally, the pick-up time will be in the late afternoon. It is usually between 4:00 p.m. m. and 6:00 p.m. m local time. the mail carrier must scan the barcode inside the box at the time of pickup to verify that the box has been emptied. some mailboxes that have a very high volume of mail may even be emptied twice a day on weekdays.
many boxes also have Saturday pickup times. Since mail is delivered on Saturday, it is considered a normal business day for the postal service. mail delivery does not occur on Sunday, and likewise, collection boxes are not emptied on Sunday. if you miss the latest pickup time on Friday or Saturday, your mailpiece will remain in the box until it is picked up on Monday.
other places to leave mail
Now that you know that blue boxes are places to drop off mail, you may be wondering if there are other places you can send a letter. The answer is yes! there are a few other places you can leave mail, and here they are.
— post office
The United States Post Office is probably the most common place to drop off your mail. Not only can you drop off outgoing mail here, but you can also buy postage, talk to the postmaster, or handle any other necessary business about your mail. If your mail item doesn’t qualify for drop off at a collection box, then most people choose to visit the post office to mail the item. you can drop off your items at the counter with a postal worker or drop them off at the outgoing mail chute which is usually located near the post office box. boxes.
— mailbox
If you have a mailbox at home where mail is delivered, you can also leave outgoing mail there. place your letter in your mailbox and raise the red flag. the red flag indicates to the postman that the mail must be collected inside the box. your postman will collect the mail along his usual route and return it to the post office for processing. this is often an incredibly convenient option for people who have mailboxes at home.
— usps distribution center
just like a post office, you can drop off mail at some usps distribution centers. however, not all distribution centers allow the public to deliver mail. So if you have a distribution center nearby, you should check with the USPS to see if you can mail items there.
— third-party mail handler
Third-party mail centers, such as UPS Store or some FedEx stores, can also receive their regular USPS mail items. these retail stores will usually allow you to purchase stamps and other types of postage there as well. Many of these locations even offer virtual addresses and mail forwarding services, although there are some types of mail services that will still need to be done at your local post office. Although they are USPS approved for some tasks, these stores are not official USPS stores, so they are not authorized to carry out certain activities.
the end result
The blue USPS mailboxes you see around town can be used to drop off outgoing letters and small packages. however, if you drop a package in the box, be sure to use a pre-printed postage label. you can print labels from stamps.com, usps.com and other postage providers. these boxes are usually collected at least once a day and can be very convenient by saving you a trip to the post office.
frequently asked questions
can you put a box in a usps mailbox?
yes, but there are some rules regarding the boxes that can be placed there. First, the box must be small enough to fit in the mailbox. then if it weighs more than 13 ounces, you will need to use a pre-printed postage label. you cannot use stamps to send a package weighing more than 13 ounces in one of the blue collection boxes.
is there a limit to the number of times i can use the usps mailbox?
no, you can use these boxes as many times as you want. they are there for your convenience and some people use them quite frequently. you can also place as many letters in the box as you like. As long as the letters fit in the box, you can drop them off for the post office to pick up and process.
what are the hours of operation for a usps mailbox?
a usps mailbox is technically open 24 hours a day. you can leave letters or small packages in the box at any time. however, the collection generally occurs in the afternoon of each day of the week. some boxes also have Saturday pickup times. on Sunday the mail is not collected from the mailboxes.