Yes, this is about how to post letters or mail in the US. This may look like the simplest thing but honestly I had no idea how to post the first week I was here. So, this might help you a bit. I will have the links posted here and you can first read about how to post and all at immihelp.com, which explained it very well and look up the various services here. | Send post/mail using | | USPS (United States Postal Service) | Fedex | UPS | |
USPS is the most affordable service of all which can send mail anywhere. Fedex and UPS do not deliver to PO BOX addresses but are faster and have a worldwide presence. Signup for a free Fedex account number and you will always receive a 10% discount. Fedex and UPS are comparatively costly than USPS but also are very reliable. The price between Fedex and UPS varies based on the type of mail and the destination. So, the best way to check which is cheaper is to check it out on their websites/stores itself. An interesting article on how UPS operates is available at http://money.howstuffworks.com/ups.htm.
Schedule a Pick Up It is possible to schedule a pick up online, so that you do not need to go to the nearest location of the above services. It is really a very useful service and helps avoid going out just for the sake of posting. You always have a Drop Off option if you don't mind going to the store by yourself.
Online Services for Postal Mail It is not wise to have an online postal addressand direct your personal mail to it but there are a few services promising that privacy will be addressed. You can send/receive snail mail using one of these services from the comfort of your PC directly. You can have an online mailbox set up for receiving your postal mail. It does make sense if you are going/staying out of the country and want to receive the postal communication from IRS, Banks etc to your configured mailbox. So, if you were searching for something like this, here are the options.
Deals on Shipping Now that the options for shipping are covered above, lets look at how to get the best out of shipping. For sure, when you buy a product, the biggest turn off is to pay absolutely ridiculous price for shipping. And just to cash in on that, some stores put a minimum purchase for a 'Free Shipping' option. So, take a look at the resources listed on http://www.friedbeef.com/6shipping-tools-for-geeky-online-shoppers and find a better shipping option.
Relocation (Moving): Moving in the US is a fairly common practice for anyone who is consulting. And with moving comes many nuances of updating your address at many many places along with choosing the right mover or shipper for your stuff. While it is not possible to list the best movers for every location in the US, the following sources would help you in the event of your next move. Moving within the State/City: If you are moving within the city or <25 miles, the following are the options you will find most useful. Moving Nationwide (Across States): |