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Avoiding going to the post office

Hi everybody - I've been on BookMooch for some time and, as I get older and more reluctant to keep going to the post office (especially in the Minnesota winter) and USPS gets more restrictive about what they will accept as mail with stamps on it (currently the envelope has to weigh less than 10 oz and be less than 1/2 inch thick), I found myself listing fewer and fewer books. Then on a LibraryThing forum I found a site called "Pirate Ship". On this site you can enter the sender and destination name and address and the type of postage you want (you can specify Media Mail), the site will generate a USPS mailing label with a tracking number that you can print and put on the envelope, and the charge is the same as if you took it to the Post Office (no monthly fees, no per-label charge). I thought it was too good to be true so I tried it a few times and it has always worked. My mail carrier is willing to pick up the envelopes/packages, I can follow with the tracking number on the USPS website, and I can send multiple books and books that don't meet the qualifications for mail with stamps. If you want to avoid the trip to the post office, I recommend that you try it--I'm sure you'll like it as much as I do.

Miriam
3 years ago

Comments



I use Paypal, which allows for media mail also.
The USPS site doesn't allow for anything other than Priority.

I can typically fit my books in my mailbox. My carrier gets extra $$$ for picking up packages from the home (I don't understand how it works. I think the carrier is paid 'on average' of pickups), so she's happy to take my packages.

Quaker Maid
3 years ago
Quaker Maid, this is very good advice. I've been with Bookmooch over 14 years and I also use Paypal. No post office visits for me.
gemstone
3 years ago

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