Shipping Unboxed: FAQs about USPS

By Baillee Perkins
May 20, 2022
Get your burning USPS questions answered by ShippingEasy!

Our blog has tackled USPS services, guidelines, and other USPS questions in various posts, but what if you don’t have the time to find the exact post you’re looking for? What if you need the answer to your question in a convenient location with fancy page jumps taking you directly to your question? Look no further! We’ve not only made a quick and easy reference guide with all of your FAQs but linked which blog(s), article(s) from our Knowledge Base, or USPS website specifically addresses your question, so you can snag more information. 

Question Quick Jump

  1. What are USPS Commercial Rates?
  2. What are USPS holidays?
  3. What is USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail?
  4. What is USPS Parcel Select?
  5. What is USPS Media Mail?
  6. Does USPS have international shipping options?
  7. What are some USPS restricted items?
  8. Can I ship food with USPS?
  9. Can I ship alcohol with USPS?
  10. What are USPS zones?
  11. What is dimensional weight, and how do I calculate it?
  12. Where can I find USPS supplies?
  13. Where do I find USPS adjustments in my ShippingEasy account?
  14. How do I dispute USPS adjustments?
  15. Does USPS have any guaranteed services?
  16. How do I file a USPS insurance claim?
  17. How do I contact USPS directly?

What are USPS Commercial Rates? 💸

USPS Commercial Rates are exclusive, discounted shipping rates ShippingEasy users get without having to negotiate them for your own business because we want you to feel like the small business VIP you are. 

What are USPS holidays? 🎉

USPS holidays are days when mail isn’t delivered, including federal holidays. Examples are Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Other holidays might include December 26, when USPS employees observe Christmas. (Be nice to your postal workers because they need breaks too!) 

There are also shipping deadlines, which are cut-off times during the holiday season. These cutoff times are the last possible day to ship and still have your packages reach your customers by Christmas. (Be nice to your postal workers because they need breaks too!) 

What is USPS Flat Rate Priority Mail? 📦

USPS’s Flat Rate Priority Mail is a service where you can send a package anywhere in the US, up to 70 pounds, for one specific rate. Flat Rate packaging is available in a few different options including small, medium, and large boxes, so you can find one that’s just right. 

What is USPS Parcel Select?🚚

USPS Parcel Select is an economy domestic ground service for medium to high shippers with a delivery window of about 1-8 days. 

What is USPS Media Mail? 📕

USPS Media Mail is a cost-efficient option for shipping books over 8 pages, CDs, DVDs, vinyls, and other media-centric items up to 70 pounds and with a girth of 108,” so you can help your friends and customers keep up with pop culture. 

Does USPS have international shipping options? 🛫

Oui! USPS has international shipping services such as USPS Global Express Guaranteed, USPS Priority Mail Express International, USPS Priority Mail International, and USPS First Class International. 

What are some USPS-restricted items? 🚫

You can’t ship: 

🙅alcohol

🙅any easily ruined foods (think fruits and veggies that quickly go bad on your counter and in your fridge)

🙅items with pungent odors (this is at USPS’s discretion)

🙅live animals (there’s no reason you should be doing this anyway) 

🙅tobacco products

Other recommended Blogs: Shipping 301, How to Ship Toiletries

Can I ship food with USPS? 🍲

The short answer is yes! Food-wise, everything is sent at the shippers’ risk, and meats, eggs, and other perishable items may need special packaging like dry ice and extra layers. Note: This is with the expectation of the fresh fruits and veggies we mentioned above. 

Can I ship alcohol with USPS? 🍾

Unfortunately, shipping alcohol through USPS isn’t allowed under any circumstances. But, you can ship alcohol with FedEx and UPS! 

What are USPS zones? 🗺

Zones are made up of various mile ranges to calculate shipping rates. For example, zone 1 consists of destinations up to 50 miles from the address you’re sending the package from, zone 2 is 51-150 miles, etc… 

What is dimensional weight, and how do I calculate it? 📏

Dimensional weight aka DIM weight is the weight based on your package’s dimensions instead of the weight on the scale. For example, if you place your package on the scale, the number you see is your package’s actual weight. However, your package’s DIM weight is actually based on the volume of your package aka the length x the width x the height. (Yes, we know it’s confusing!) 

With some services, the DIM weight of your package may be used instead of the actual weight of your package, including Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. If the volume (length x width x height) of your package is less than 1,728,” your package should be billed by the actual weight you see on the scale. If the volume of your package is over 1,728,” you may be charged for the DIM weight of your package instead. The DIM weight of your package can be found by taking length x width x height, dividing it by 166, and rounding up to the nearest pound. Tl;dr the DIM weight is based on measurements while the actual weight of your package is the number you see on the scale when you weigh it. 

Where can I find USPS supplies? 💻

USPS offers free supplies you can have shipped directly to your house or business over on their website, so you can grab your free supplies while you’re checking your email or listening to your favorite podcast. 

Where do I find USPS adjustments in my ShippingEasy account? 🤔

USPS adjustments are found by going Shipping > One Balance & Carriers > View Online Reports > Report Type – Transactions. USPS adjustments may not immediately show in your account and take a few days to be visible. 

How do I dispute USPS adjustments? 🔍

USPS adjustments need to be disputed with USPS directly via email at [email protected] or by calling 1-844-819-5187. Before reaching out to USPS, we recommend having as much info ready as possible including the adjustment ID, the last four digits of the package’s tracking number, and why you’re challenging the dispute (with as much detail as you can give). 

Does USPS have any guaranteed services? ⏰

Currently, the only service USPS service with a service guarantee is Priority Mail Express. 

How do I file a USPS insurance claim? 📁

USPS claims need to be filed with USPS directly, and you’ll need to either create or login to a USPS account. There are also extremely specific time frames and information needed, so you’ll need to do some sleuthing before reaching out to avoid your claim being denied. 

How do I contact USPS directly? 📱

USPS can be reached via email contact form or their Customer Care Center at 1-800-275-8777. They also have some FAQ sections and other departments to help with specific questions, and you can find all of their contact information on their website

Looking for more great content? Check out our blog on Shipping to PO Boxes!
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Baillee Perkins

Baillee Perkins is a writer of shipping by day and pop culture by night, so her Google search history is an actual nightmare.

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