Getting Packages Without A Mailbox

One of the difficulties with our way of life is mail. This is not a problem so much with bills. Almost all of them are delivered to me electronically. So, no problem there. The problem really happens when I need a package delivered. More specifically, when I need a package delivered from Amazon. And even more specific than that, when I need it delivered and the location we are renting does not have an actual mailbox.

Let me start by saying that getting packages without a mailbox is an act in futility with the United States Postal Service. I actually went into a local post office and asked if they delivered packages to a house that did not have a mailbox out front. Their answer was a very quick and direct “No.” I was thinking…sooo…let me get this straight…the United States Postal Service literally helped to invent the address system. And, UPS and FedEx can find my door but the United States Postal Service can’t? Really?!?!

Recently Ethan wanted to order 2 items from Amazon. The dilemma with Amazon’s shipping is that they do not give you the choice of carrier. They will choose the carrier for you. A recent development that I have learned is that Amazon will ship via UPS and then UPS will pass the package off to, none other than, the United States Postal Service. You read that correctly.

We placed the order and within a few days I got a notice from Amazon that the item could not be delivered and was at the post office. At that moment I knew that the Amazon > UPS > US Postal Service chain was in full effect. So, I went down to the post office and picked the item up with the tracking number. Inconvenient. But no real fuss.

A few days later I was wondering where his other package was. I hopped online to check it with the tracking number. The data said that it made it to my local post office (I am on the East Coast right now) but they could not deliver it. It further stated that they left a notice. I would really like to know where they left it without a mailbox. By the time I checked, it had left the East Coast and was on its way back to the shipper on the West Coast.

I tried to call the toll-free number for the US Postal Service. After 15 to 20 minutes of waiting for a customer service person, I hung up. I tried to call the post office near me. It rang once and hung up. It did that multiple times. So, I tried to call the post office on the West Coast. All I got was a busy signal. I could not get anyone on the phone.

What I did next was that I logged into my USPS account and submitted special delivery instructions for them to retry the delivery and leave it at the post office near me. The website accepted the request and I was set. Or so I thought. I checked today and they delivered it to the shipper. Trying to call the toll-free number yielded no results. Could not get through to an actual post office. And the USPS Online account functions for special delivery instructions did not work. So now I am faced with the issue of paying for a package that traveled across the country twice and the people who helped invent the addressing system cannot find my house. Frustrating is putting it mildly.

So, what have I learned from all of this? When ordering from Amazon and staying in a home with no mailbox, leave special delivery instructions beforehand to leave it at the post office. Then, log into USPS, enter the tracking number and select to be emailed and texted notifications on that particular package. This way, hopefully, you will be notified when it arrives and you can go pick up for package. If anyone else out there has had similar package delivery issues and came up with a better solution, please leave it in the comments. I would sincerely appreciate it. Safe Travels.