Mail (post) services are handled by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Unlike many other services in the U.S., the postal service is handled by the government. Many post offices can be very busy and have long lines. At some post offices, you just stand in the line for your turn. At other post offices, you take a number and you don’t have to wait in line. You can roam around if you like. Then, you go to the appropriate counter when your number is called.
zip code
zip code in the usa. uu. It’s called zip code. A zip code consists of 5 digits, for example, 90210 for Beverly Hills or 10001 for New York. there are also extended zip codes that are 9 digits long (5 digits followed by a hyphen and then 4 digits). in some places it may be faster to use a 9-digit zip code, especially in large organizations. however, most people use a 5-digit zip code. it is very important to write a postal code in each address. every zip code in the us has a post office.
working hours
Post office hours vary. there may be some 24-hour post offices in very large cities. however, most post offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 5:00 p.m. m. there may be different times on different days. the post office is open on Saturdays until noon, if it is open at all.
stamps
You can get stamps at the post office and other places, such as supermarkets, airports, etc. however, most people go to the post office to buy stamps. Most post offices also sell other supplies such as tape, envelopes, greeting cards, and boxes. many post offices also have a stamp vending machine so you don’t have to queue. some post offices may have a separate line just for buying stamps. If you buy too many stamps that you may no longer need, the post office will not accept the return.
Occasionally throughout the year, the post office will issue seasonal stamps, such as for Christmas.
mail is delivered on days the post office is open, excluding Sundays and federal holidays. If you live in an apartment, condo, or townhome, there may be several mailboxes next to each other outside your home and you will be given a key to receive your mail. you will need to leave outgoing mail in the designated slot next to the mailboxes. for those who live in a house, there is a separate mailbox for each house, mostly unlocked. you put outgoing mail in the same mailbox where you receive mail.
There are blue mailboxes just outside the post office and sometimes inside the post office. you put regular mail and priority mail in the largest mailbox. express mail usually has a separate smaller mailbox. There will be instructions on the mailbox, such as mail collection times, the maximum weight of the envelope/package that can fit in the mailbox, etc.
mail types
There are many different types of mail.
First Class Mail: One regular domestic airmail up to 13 ounces in weight.
standard mail: generally used by large companies that do mail marketing.
package: self explanatory.
priority mail: fast mail that reaches most places within the us. uu. in 2 to 3 business days. priority mail has flat rate envelopes available, and you can fit as much as possible in that envelope without worrying about the weight. there is also a global priority mail for international mail. delivery times vary by country and region of destination.
Priority Mail: Priority mail is like overnight courier service in most places. there is also a global express mail for international shipments.
certified mail: If you want to be able to track mail delivery, you can send it by certified mail. You will be given a tracking number that you can track online or by calling usps. it is a bright green form. if you are sending certified mail, the same thing is called registered mail and it is a pink form.
Return Receipt: If you want the recipient to sign that they received your mail, you can send it by certified mail with a return receipt. it is an opaque green form.
general delivery
If you don’t have a mailing address because you’re temporarily staying somewhere, you can ask the sender to use the c/o general delivery address.
john smithc/o general deliveryplano, tx 75093
Of course, you’ll have to go to the post office in person to pick up the mail, and you’ll need to show your photo ID to receive it.
postal rates
postal rates are not based solely on the type of mail you are sending and the weight of the mail. they take into account all sorts of parameters, ranging from zip code, height, weight, length, thickness, and various other things.
so, aside from most basic mail services, it’s generally very difficult to find accurate rates, eg 50 cents for up to 1 ounce. first class mail within the usa US, 110 cents by mail for up to 1 oz. to India, and so on.
The best thing to do is visit the USPS website and calculate the postage.