Are you waiting for a package from the United States Postal Service?
USPS processes a huge number of letters and other types of mail every day. Despite the high volume of mail handled, the company has an excellent reputation for reliability. One of the great things about this service is that you can track the status of letters and parcels. The company’s website uses different codes to notify you which stage of the journey your mail is currently on.
If you are wondering, ‘what does available for pickup mean USPS?’, then it’s time to find out…
Contents
The Meaning Of The Term
If your parcel is taking longer to arrive than usual, you can track its progress on the USPS website. Simply enter the tracking number that you were provided with, and the delivery status will appear. Available for pickup is one of the main options that could appear on the screen.
If you see this status, it means that your parcel is at your local post office branch. Rather than being delivered, you need to go and pick up the parcel. It is important to make sure you do this within a specified amount of time.
When to collect your package
You can collect your parcel from the post office branch any time during the usual working hours. They will usually hold onto your package for fifteen days. If you do not collect your package within this period, it will be returned to the sender.
Where to collect your package
Unless otherwise notified, you will need to collect your package from your nearest post office branch. If you are not sure where this is, you can use the location tracker on the company’s website. Simply enter your zip code in the provided search bar to reveal the full address of your nearest branch.
Why Hasn’t My USPS Package Been Delivered?
The United States Postal Service is trusted with millions of pieces of mail each year. The company has an excellent reputation for making sure the parcels and letters reach their destination. However, there are certain reasons why your mail may not have been taken to your door.
Failed delivery attempt
The most common reason for seeing this status is when a delivery attempt was unsuccessful. This usually happens when a parcel needs to be signed for, but there was nobody home. The courier is not permitted to leave the parcel without it.
Your parcel will be taken to your nearest post office branch for you to collect. In some cases, a few delivery attempts may be made before the parcel is taken to the post office branch. However, only one attempt may be made during busy periods such as around major holidays.
Valuable package
If the contents of the package are very valuable, simply leaving the parcel on your doorstep could be risky. The sender may indicate that the parcel has to be handed over to you or another member of your household. This could be the case if the package comes with a money-back guarantee. If nobody is available to receive the package, it will be taken to your nearest post office branch.
Incomplete or incorrect address
The sender may only have written part of your address on the parcel or envelope. If the supplied address is incomplete or wrong in any way, the courier may be unable to deliver it. In this case, you will need to go to the post office and prove that the parcel belongs to you.
Insufficient postage
From time to time, parcels and other types of mail are accepted with the wrong amount of postage on them. In this case, you will need to pay the difference before you can collect your parcel. If you are not at home when a delivery attempt is made, you will have to visit your post office branch.
Damaged parcel
Although carriers are as careful as possible, your parcel may have gotten damaged in some way. This could be because the contents were incorrectly boxed or the packaging was too flimsy. The package or envelope may also have become damaged during the journey due to wet weather.
Suspicious contents
The contents of your parcel may have been flagged at some point during the journey. In this case, you may need to open the parcel in front of a member of the United States Postal Service. It is a good idea to bring a copy of your correspondence with the sender to the post office. This will show what you were expecting to receive if the contents are prohibited for some reason.
How To Collect Your Package?
Once you have determined that your parcel is at the post office, you need to go and collect it. Before you run out the door, you should make sure you have everything you need. Otherwise, you are likely to find that you have a wasted journey. Let’s take a look at the process of collecting your parcel from the post office.
What you need
You need to make sure you have some form of identification, ideally with your address and a photograph of yourself. The best options are your driver’s license or your passport. Make sure that the address on your ID matches the delivery address.
It is also a good idea to take a bill or another piece of mail with your name and address on it. You should make sure you have the tracking number of your parcel so that it can be located easily. If the contents of your parcel are in question, you may also need to produce the contact details of the sender.
Where to go
You need to visit the main counter in your local post office branch. If possible, avoid visiting on a Monday or Friday morning, as these times tend to be particularly busy. However, taking a good book with you will help the waiting time fly by.
When you get to the counter, explain to the clerk or postal worker that you have a package available for pickup. They will probably ask for your name and ID before handing over the package. You may also be asked to provide the tracking number. If you have all the necessary information, it should only take a couple of minutes to find your package.
Once the clerk hands over the package, you are free to go home and enjoy your long-awaited item.
What If I Don’t Have Time To Pickup?
No problem, USPS is known for its outstanding delivery services! Before you go and post your parcel, find out Does USPS Print Labels, as well as Can I Drop A Package In A USPS Mailbox, or even What Is A USPS Parcel Locker if you don’t have your own mailbox.
Once your package is on its way, track it by finding out Does USPS Have First Class Tracking, Can You Track A USPS Package Without A Tracking Number if you’ve lost your receipt, and Why Is USPS Tracking Not Updating if the website is down.
Of course, if you’re expecting a special present, you’ll want to know Does USPS Deliver On Sunday if it’s the weekend, or perhaps Does USPS Deliver At Night, along with what to do when USPS Says Delivered But No Package, and finally, How Long Does USPS Hold Packages if you weren’t home for your delivery.
Final Thoughts
If you are still waiting for an important package to arrive, it is a good idea to check on the status.
You can do this from the comfort of your own home by visiting the United States Postal Service website. After entering the tracking number, the status of your parcel will be shown. It is important to note that you have a limited amount of time to collect your parcel from the post office.
If you are unable to go in person, you can send someone else on your behalf. Alternatively, it may be possible to contact your local branch and arrange for delivery.
Good luck with all your future deliveries from USPS!
