According to a fact sheet posted online by the United States Postal Service (USPS), an average of 1.2 million people visited the post office website, USPS.com, every day in 2008. With over 32,000 physical locations across the United States, why do people visit USPS.com?
United States Postal Service Website – USPS.com
The United States Postal Service offers many services online. Tasks that, at one time, had to completed in person, may now be done online. In this article, learn about several tasks that can be completed online, from buying stamps to calculating postage or looking up zip codes.
Buy Stamps Online & Calculate Postage at USPS.com
In 2008, the post office reported over $440 million in online stamp sales. The Postal Store, located at shop.USPS.com, is where individuals can buy stamps online directly from the post office. Stamps in several denominations, including first class postage stamps, can be purchased online, and they will be delivered directly to a home address.
Individuals can easily calculate postage rates online at USPS.com by entering package weight, origination and destination zip codes or international destination, shipping date, and selecting the shape of the package. The navigation link to the postage calculator is located on the USPS.com homepage.
Post Office Zip Code Locator – Look Up Zip Codes by Address or City
With the USPS zip code locator, individuals can look up zip codes by residential or business street address or city and state. As a sort of reverse look up feature, users can enter a zip code and retrieve all cities in that zip code.
United States Post Office Website – Print Shipping Labels
Shipping labels can be created and printed online very simply at usps.com. All that is required is the shipping information (sender and recipient), package information (like dimensions and weight), and the desired shipping method (Priority or Express, for instance). Individuals can pay for shipping online to receive a slight discount over in-person pricing.
The postal service also offers a relatively new software program called Click-N-Ship®. Once an individual downloads the software onto a computer, it can be used to calculate postage rates, then create and print shipping labels without having to visit USPS.com each time. Labels for mail packages can be printed with or without postage affixed.
Use USPS Track & Confirm to Track Mail Packages
The Track & Confirm feature at USPS.com is extremely simple to use. All users have to do is enter a label or receipt number. USPS Track & Confirm provides very detailed tracking information as the package progresses through the system. As the package is processed, users will be able to see when electronic shipping info was received, when the mail package was accepted for shipment, when the package was processed at a sorting facility (and where the facility is located), when it arrived at the destination post office, and when it was ultimately delivered. Once the package has been delivered, users will see the exact delivery time, date, and location.
Use USPS.com to Submit Change of Address, Find Post Office Locations
Here are a few more things Americans can do at USPS.com:
- Find post office locations
- Look up post office jobs
- Purchase shipping supplies
- Request a hold on mail
- Submit change of address requests
Learn more about looking up post office locations and finding out postal service hours of operation in the article United States Post Office Locator.
Resource:
Postal Facts 2009 retrieved from USPS.com on December 1, 2009.
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Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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