Friday, December 8, 2017

Decorating Holiday Packages



When sending gifts through the mail, it isn’t uncommon to wrap them before placing them in a box. But there are many people who would like to decorate the box they send the gifts in as well, but aren’t sure what they can do or what is allowed.

First off, do not wrap your shipping box, even if you put the label on top of it. Almost always the wrapping paper will be destroyed during transit, creating a big mess for Postal employees. Keep the wrapping paper inside the shipping box, not outside of it.

Something you can do, however, is wrap the inside of your shipping box. USPS priority boxes can be pulled apart and reassembled, making wrapping the inside of the boxes easy. It may be easier to use glue for this technique instead of tape.

You’ll also want to avoid decorating the outside of the shipping box with anything that might catch on Postal equipment, such as ribbons. Keep that on your wrapped gifts, not on the shipping box. You don’t want your packages to be damaged while in transit.

So what can you put on the outside of your shipping box? Quite a lot, actually. The first thing you’ll want to do is wrap your box in a thick Kraft paper. This paper is designed to withstand the handling of the Post Office. It’s on this paper that you will do the majority of your decorating.

You still want to keep your decorations flat. Colored duct tape is a great way to create a design on your package without using wrapping paper. You can also add holiday stickers to decorate the outside of your shipping box…using the stickers on brown paper can create their own sort of wrapping paper! You can use stamps as well, rubber ones with ink.

And of course, you can always draw or write messages on the outside of your shipping box. If you’re an artist you can draw, and if you’re not you can use stencils. You can write a message, song lyrics, or poetry on the front as well, using different colored markers to make the message stand out.

And if nothing else, you can always invest in decorative shipping boxes. They’ll cost you a bit of money, but they look great and it shows you put some extra thought into the package you’ve sent.


No matter how you choose to decorate your shipping box, make sure you don’t obstruct any of the shipping labels! 

Friday, November 17, 2017

Holiday Shipping

The holiday season is here, and that means it is time to start shipping. Whether you’re a company selling items or a shopper giving gifts, you all have the same goal, which is that packages arrive on time. It can get hectic this time of year, so take a quick look at our tips to help out during the 2017 holiday season.

·        Keep track of deliveries with tracking numbers. If your package gets stuck in the same place for several days at a time, investigate. Packages do get lost, but keeping an eye on them may allow you to get someone to locate them.

·        Choose your shipping option carefully. This isn’t just for the carrier you use, but the type of shipping you send. You can ship earlier to save money, and some services can even get you same day shipping. Use whatever suits your needs best.

·        If you can, ship now rather than later. The USPS has announced that the busiest time to send a package will be the last two weeks before Christmas. Not only will there be long waits at the post office, but with such a high volume of mail and packages service may slow down. Get out there by the start of December!

·        If you can ship from online, do it. With USPS you are able to print shipping labels, pay for postage, and schedule for someone to pick up your package from your home. This will save you a ton of time.

·        Be sure to package your items carefully to avoid damage. Choose the right mailer or box; one that has room to add cushioning materials. The items in the packaging should not move around much, if at all, once it is ready to be sent.

·        Make sure the address is correct, and make sure it is legible. Illegible addresses can lead to lost packages, or packages sent to the wrong place.


We hope these tips help you with your holiday shipping needs. 

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Should You Mail Postcards?


With the rise of social media, the practice of sending postcards while traveling has declined dramatically. That being said, there is something very special about receiving a postcard in the mail. Don’t simply post your pictures on Facebook or check in online. Postcards are an inexpensive way to express to your loved ones that you are thinking of them.

1.      Sending a postcard is more personal. Shooting your loved ones a Facebook message about your experience isn’t the same as sending a postcard. To send a postcard you have to pick one out, buy it, hand-write a message, and mail it. It will be appreciated.

2.      Postcards are a keepsake. Facebook messages get lost. A postcard is physical. Someone can save it and experience fond memories when they look at it again. It is much less likely to be lost.

3.      You don’t have to rely on cell phone service to get your message across. Depending on where in the world you are it may be difficult to get phone reception. Mailing a postcard is simple and won’t accidentally use up a lot of data.

4.      A postcard serves as a souvenir. Instead of dragging back something cheap and bulky from a souvenir shop to give to loved ones, send a postcard. It’s cheaper, more personal, and your loved ones are more likely to save it and treasure it.

5.      People love to get things in the mail that aren’t bills. Imagine you have a friend traveling abroad, and one day you get an unexpected postcard in the mail with a personal note. It’s exciting!

6.      Postcards inspire other people to travel. A postcard telling your loved ones about how amazing the place you are is, along with a picture showing where you are, will likely inspire them to travel themselves!

7.      It makes you stand out. People will remember you taking the time out of your trip to mail them something. This is much more flattering than just receiving a text message and a photo.

8.      There’s no risk of identity theft or of being hacked when sending a postcard. If you are using a public Wi-Fi connection or internet cafĂ©, there’s always a chance of you being hacked, even if it is small.

9.      Your loved ones may use postcards in their home, such as taping them up or by putting them on their fridge. You can’t get that from an email.


10.   Writing a postcard creates a strong memory for you as well. Physically writing something down makes something easier to remember. Start sending postcards, and you’ll have the memory of you sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower, or of you sipping drinks on a beach as you write out words to the people you love.  

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Why Snail Mail Is Great

It’s easier than ever to stay in touch with people these days because of technology, but that doesn’t mean snail mail has lost its merit! Here are just a few reasons why we love snail mail so much.

1.      Snail mail is tangible. When you send or receive a piece of mail, it is something physical that can be held in your hands. A sweet email can be saved in a folder and never seen again. You can fold up a letter and keep it in your purse or in a box under your bed. They have a way of feeling more sentimental than a letter sent via technology.
2.      Everyone is excited to get a piece of mail in their mailbox. Adults are used to getting bills and junk mail, so getting a personal letter will always feel extra special.
3.      Snail mail allows you to be more creative. Practice calligraphy or drawings on the paper, or put special design into the envelope. You can be more personal by expressing yourself this way.
4.      Writing a letter takes a lot more thought and a lot more time. It’s easy and fast to send someone a text. To write a letter you have to figure out what you want to say, write it down, get stamps, and physically mail it. This shows you put a lot of thought into this correspondence, which will make the recipient feel good.
5.      Using snail mail works everywhere. If you are in a foreign country and don’t have internet or phone access, you can always send a letter or postcard back home. Maybe you’re taking a vacation somewhere rural so you won’t have reception. Don’t worry, because you can still update your friends and family with a letter.
6.      Using snail mail forces you to slow down and indulge in contemplation. You can rush through an email, but there’s no spell-check when you are writing something on paper. It really makes you take your time, making what you say more meaningful.
7.      Let’s be honest, everyone loves looking at stationary. If you start sending physical letters you will actually use it! Pick up some fun stationary, stickers, and more!
8.      Something you will read about just about anywhere (and likely, on the internet), is that people have grown too impatient. We’ve been conditioned to want instant gratification. With a letter, you can’t get that. You have to wait days, maybe even longer, to get a reply to what you sent. This will force you to be more patient, something we could all use a little more of.
9.      A piece of snail mail is much harder to ignore. Think about all the group messages and Facebook events you are part of. When it is digital, it is very easy for your response to slip your mind. When you get some type of invitation in the mail, responding becomes a physical activity, whether this is mailing back a reply or calling the host.

10.   Snail mail forces you to keep track of where your friends and family live. As years go by with communication restricted to the internet, soon you don’t even have addresses of the people you care about. That won’t happen if you send snail mail regularly.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Why You Should Choose CBUs

CBUs are being used more and more in new developments, and there’s a good reason for it! Today we’re going to list why you should love CBUs, whether you’re a developer or just a resident.

·        CBUs in a larger development are faster and easier to install than individual residential units. Installing several CBUs simply takes less time, less work, and therefore, less money.
·        CBUs require less maintenance simply because there are less mailboxes to maintain. They are also more durable and long-lasting than typical residential units.
·        CBUs will create more neighborhood interaction. People will meet neighbors they may never have met because of this central meeting place.
·        With online shopping becoming more popular, package deliveries are only going to rise. Many CBUs have parcel lockers, taking away some of the complications of package delivery and reducing the chance of package theft.
·        CBUs allow residents to have access to their mail 24/7 in a secure setting. Unlike traditional mailboxes, CBUs are locked unless the key is used.
·        CBUs mean more reliable delivery times, and faster delivery times. It’s much faster for a Postal worker to go to several CBUs than to go to dozens of residential units.
·        CBUs save the post office money, as it takes less labor and therefore less money to deliver to them.
·        The road risks associated with mailboxes go away. Mailboxes will no longer be destroyed by snow plows, and people will not be injured while in the road retrieving mail.

·        If you’re looking for a uniform design for your neighborhood, this is the way to do it and stop owners from choosing their own mailboxes.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Protect Your Packages

Whether you live in a house or an apartment, keeping your packages in your hands and away from thieves’ is a concern everyone has. We’ve got some tips for keeping your packages safe. Some only apply to houses, some only to apartments, but all of them will help you keep your items safe.

·        Schedule your package delivery. Certain carriers allow you to schedule a delivery day and time, so you can ensure someone is there to collect your package.
·        Have your packages shipped to your workplace or a family member’s house who is home regularly. This way your package won’t go sitting on your porch all day.
·        Request that a signature be required for your package to be delivered. If you aren’t there to sign for the package it will be taken to your local post office or another delivery store where you can pick it up later.
·        If you are going out of town, put your mail on hold. That way you won’t have packages arriving and sitting unattended on your porch for a week.
·        Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up packages for you off your porch if they happen to see any. This ensures that your package will be getting off the street as quickly as possible.
·        Install a security camera on your front porch. Even if you can’t afford a proper security camera, you can install a fake one. A potential thief is likely to avoid your home if they even see a camera.
·        Give specific details for your delivery person of where to place your package. Maybe this is on your back porch, maybe this is in the bushes. Just make sure it isn’t easily visible.
·        Ask your property manger if they can hold packages for you in the main office so your packages aren’t sitting in the lobby hallway.
·        Sign up to get delivery alerts. This could be a text to your phone or an email telling you that a package has been delivered. From here you can make arrangements to have it picked up, or at the very least, you know it should be there when you get home.
·        Get a PO Box where your packages can be left at the post office, which won’t be accessible to the general public.

·        Invest in a locking mailbox. This is a bigger investment, but if you get packages often it can really pay off. These mailboxes cannot be opened without a key, so many of your packages can be safely placed inside. 

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

The Art of Thank You Cards

Writing thank you cards isn’t as common as it once was, but there are still some occasions where sending a thank you card is really necessary, if only to be polite. Today we’re going to discuss the appropriate way to send thank you cards, depending on the type of cards you are sending.

The most common thank you card (or email) is sent after a job interview. Now while an email is more common to be sent, sending a thank you card can really make you stand out. It is important to make the thank you card personal. Use points you made in the interview in your note. What’s important to keep in mind is that you want the interviewer to get this card fast, so make sure you get that thank you card mailed the day of the interview, or at least the day after.

Wedding, graduation, and baby shower gifts are another one of those occasions where you should get thank you cards out pretty fast. When you are getting gifts for a big celebration, everyone should receive a thank you card, including your parents or bridal party. Sending a thank you over Facebook won’t cut it. Ideally you’ll want to send out these thank you notes within several months of the occasion, but that’s just a rough timeline. After big events like this, you are going to be busy. You’ll be heading to your honeymoon, moving off to college, and of course being pregnant can make it difficult to get tasks like this done. Make a note of who got you what, and send out a personalized thank you card within a few months of said event.

Grey areas when it comes to thank you cards are Birthday and Christmas gifts. What it really comes down to is if this gift is opened in front of the giver or not. If you open the gift in front of the person it is nice to send a card in the mail, but it isn’t a requirement. If someone mails you a gift, then you should send a thank you card. After all, shipping costs aren’t cheap, the least you can do is mail them a card expressing your gratitude! Try to send out a thank you card within a couple weeks of getting the gift. Life moves fast, so do it before either of you forget!

If you have received some sort of award, scholarship, letter of recommendation or something similar, while it’s not necessary to send a thank you card, it really is a good idea to. Not only because it is polite, but because this is a great networking opportunity. Showing your gratitude will be appreciated, and may cultivate a relationship that can serve you in the future. Now don’t send a thank you card just to try and get ahead. Remember that you must be thankful for receiving one of these things.


When it comes to cards and gifts during a death or illness, this can be a bit tougher. If someone takes the time to send a card, a gift, or helps you, it’s a good gesture to send a thank you card in return. You may not be feeling up to it and that’s okay. People will understand getting a thank you long after the fact. Maybe you’ll find writing these cards of gratitude may make you feel better. If you want to express your thanks but can’t handle writing out cards, ask a close friend or family member to do it for you.

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Tips For Wedding Invitations Part Two

Today we’re going to bring you some more tips about your wedding invitations! Wedding season is finally here, and that means many of you will be sending out invitations soon. For the first part of our advice series, click here.

1.      Only include the names of the people on the envelope that are invited. If you are not inviting children, only use the name of the adults. If you are giving a friend a plus one, list their name and “Plus One”. This way there is no confusion on the day of the wedding.
2.      Make sure you order more wedding invitations than you need. You may end up adding last minute guests, or realize you forgot someone in the first round of invitations. You don’t need to order an extra fifty invitations or anything, but having an extra ten or so can be helpful down the road.
3.      Consider getting labels printed with your guests’ names and your name and return address. Hand addressing all those invitations is going to be frustrating, time-consuming, and difficult. Investing the extra money for labels will save you a lot of stress. From there all you have to do is stick them on, and they are ready to go! Or, consider hiring someone to address the envelopes for you.
4.      If you’re stuffing the envelopes, and you’ve opted for a more traditional invitation with a lot of inserts, here’s the best way to do it. First, put the actually invitation in. All the enclosure cards go on top of that, from largest to smallest, so your smallest insert is on the top. Place the RSVP card with the stamped reply envelope. And of course, make sure everything faces out so it can be read as it is removed from the envelope.
5.      Use a glue stick to seal your envelopes. This isn’t just because it is easier for you, but because it is safer. While envelopes popping open isn’t common, it does happen, and could easily happen with a wedding invitation due to the sheer bulk of it. The glue will keep your envelopes nicely sealed while in transit.


Hopefully these tips will make the wedding invitation process less stressful for you. Have any tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

New Tips To Prevent Mail Theft


Mail theft is a serious problem across this country. When your mail is stolen, you’re not only losing a gift card or a package; you risk becoming a victim of identity theft. Your mail can contain a lot of personal information, and if that falls into the wrong hands you could be facing a lot of stress. We have some new tips to help you keep both your mail and identity safe.

First off, if you have packages arriving, have them sent to your job instead of your home. Packages delivered to your home often sit on your porch for everyone to see, usually for hours. Thieves not only can steal the package, but see private information that is on the packing slip. Not everyone can get packages sent to their jobs but if you can, it can be a lifesaver.

You can’t always get to your mail the moment it is delivered, but never leave your mail overnight. A thief is going to try and steal mail when they will not be noticed. This may be during the day when many people are at work, but it can also be at night when people are sleeping. It is likely no one would notice someone creeping up to your mailbox at two in the morning. If you’re going out of town have the post office hold your mail, or at least ask a friend or family member to collect it.

You should also sign up for the USPS Informed Delivery program when it opens nationwide later this month. The service is free from the USPS. Every morning you will be emailed with images of the mail you will be receiving later that day. This is an amazing tool for helping to prevent identity theft. If you see you have something important in the mail, you may ask a neighbor to pick it up for you. Additionally, if you get an image of your mail and when you get home you are missing something, you can quickly report it. But make sure your email account has a strong password. You don’t want anyone else seeing what mail you are going to be getting that day.

Don’t just throw junk mail away, destroy it. You don’t have to sit down and shred grocery store papers, but if you are sent special offers, that sensitive information could fall into the wrong hands. It’s better to be safe and shred it or cut it up before tossing it.

We’ve mentioned this one before, but consider investing in a mailbox that locks. A thief won’t want to be seen fighting with a locked mailbox and is likely to move on. CBUs are great for this very reason, but if you need a residential unit please consider one that locks. Speaking of tips we’ve mentioned before, send outgoing mail through the post office. That flag indicating you have outgoing mail will attract thieves. Be safe with your personal information and drop it at the post office.

None of these tips are foolproof, but they will help you keep your mail and identity safe, something especially on people’s minds now during tax season. So take some precautions to avoid big headaches later.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Letter Writing Ideas

Do you want to keep the art of writing letters alive, but aren’t sure where to start? Writing letters was
much more common before phones, and especially before social media. Sitting down to write about the updates in your life seems daunting when you can instead pick up the phone or send a message on Facebook. Luckily, those aren’t the only types of letters you can write. Today we’re presenting some great ideas for letter writing!

1.      Write a letter to someone you admire. This may be an author, a celebrity, a former teacher…anyone you can think of! Express your admiration and why they inspire you. You may not get a response, but it’s not impossible!

2.      Write to a child. This can be a family member or a friend. Kids are delighted to get something in the mail addressed just to them. It can be a funny letter filled with jokes, a letter asking about how they are doing…anything you like!

3.      Write a letter with updates on your life to a grandparent. Letter writing was more common for them, so they’re sure to appreciate a handwritten letter from you.

4.      Write a letter to a friend with a small gift inside. If they’re a reader, send a bookmark. Do they scrapbook? Send some stickers. If they love coffee, send a small gift card so their next drink is on you. It’ll be a big surprise and it’s a great way to keep a friendship thriving.

5.      Write to someone who lives far away, whether this is across the country or across the world. This is a particularly good idea if it is a recent move and your friend/family member may be lonely.

6.      Send a recipe to a friend or family member. If you had someone over who raved about one your dishes, send them the instructions, your personal tips, and a quick note saying you’re glad they liked the food.

7.      Send a thank you note to someone thanking them for a service they provided or a gift they gave you. People often expect these after events such as weddings or baby showers, but do it for something simpler. They won’t be expecting it!

8.      Write someone a letter giving them advice. If you’re a mother, write to a new mother giving your advice and insight. If you’re a recent college graduate, write to someone still in school about your experiences, and what you advise they do before they graduate. Advice is precious, and this is a great way to offer it.

9.      Write a letter to yourself. Maybe you open it in a year, maybe in a month. Use the letter to describe your life as it is and your current goals. When you read the letter you’ll be able to see the progress you have made. It’s a great way to keep yourself motivated.

10.   Write a letter to your significant other describing why you love and appreciate them. When you have been with someone a few years, the romance can start to fade. This is natural. Your partner becomes a part of your everyday life, and you have your own life away from them. Writing them a love letter can spark some of that romance and remind both of you why you fell in love.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Use Snail Mail This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a very special day for couples. It often involves flowers, chocolates, cards, fancy dinners, and anything else romantic you can think of. But there’s nothing terribly romantic about email and text. Instead, why not go traditional and use snail mail to get your point across? Love letters have been used throughout history to make grand expressions, but you can use snail mail for more than just that this Valentine’s Day. Read on to find some ways to use the mail to deliver great, fun, romantic gifts this year.

Make Your Own Card

Buying cards can be very expensive, and making them is more heartfelt anyway! A simple Google search will give you tons of ideas to help you make your own creative cards. They may be as simple as you folding some paper and writing a sweet message, or complex involving paint, glitter, 3D effects, and more. No matter how you make your card, send it through the mail so your partner can have a nice surprise on Valentine’s Day.

Make Vouchers To Mail

This is also a great option if you’re on a budget. Making vouchers is fun and really lets your creativity shine. You can make all sorts of vouchers for your significant other. One example is a voucher offering to do their dishes or laundry. Other examples can include date nights, letting them pick the Friday night movie, and more. Make these vouchers on fun, Valentine’s Day themed paper to really make them stand out.

Mail A Love Letter

Love letters are classic for a reason. They’re romantic. Writing a love letter means sitting down with a pen and paper and really thinking about your relationship. What makes it special? Why do you love this person? The longer you are with someone, the less likely you are to craft these exquisite letters. So take some time, sit down, really think about why you love your significant other, and write it down. They’ll be so surprised to get a long, romantic letter in the mail from you.

Send A Gift In The Mail

Everyone loves getting packages, and getting a gift in the mail from you will surprise and delight your partner. This is a great idea in particular if you aren’t planning to buy flowers or chocolate. It can be tricky to time this one, so coordinate with your local post office. And if it arrives a day or two early, that just makes it even more of a surprise!

Buy Valentine’s Day Themed Packaging

If you are planning to send you gift via mail, take it a step further by investing in Valentine’s Day themed packaging materials. This is another way to really let your creativity shine. You can find red and pink boxes online, and even boxes specifically designed for Valentine’s Day. Take a look around and find something you like…or more accurate, that your partner will like.


We hope these ideas will help make this Valentine’s Day extra special! 

Monday, January 23, 2017

Winter Mailbox Protection



We’re right in the middle of winter, meaning snow, ice, and snowplows. Is your mailbox safe from all of these dangers? We’re here to give you a few tips to keep those mailboxes safe.

1.      Clear the snow away from your mailbox. This is not only helpful to the letter carriers delivering your mail, but for incoming cars and snowplows. If your mailbox is located on the street, snow alongside your mailbox will be kicked up into your mailbox. Keeping your street clear will reduce the amount of snow hitting your mailbox.
2.      Place reflective tape on your mailbox. This will make it easier for people, including those driving the snowplows, to see it. This will significantly reduce the chances of your mailbox being hit by a plow or vehicle.
3.      Check to see how securely your mailbox is mounted. With the ground frozen it may be too late to make adjustments to the post, but you can make sure the mailbox itself is mounted securely to the post. This will also help prevent it from taking great damage.
4.      If you have a warm spell and are able to do so, move your mailbox as far away from the road as possible. You must of course adhere to USPS standards, but the more distance between your mailbox and the street the better your chances of no mailbox fatalities.
5.      Keep the mailbox itself clear of snow. If the top of your mailbox is covered in snow, it’s going to be difficult to see. This goes hand in hand with tip number two. You want to do everything you can to make sure your mailbox is visible.

None of these tips are, of course, perfect. Accidents do still happen. While there are specially designed mailboxes created to reduce the risk of snow plows, they can be very expensive and even though don’t guarantee your mailbox won’t be damaged or destroyed. But take heart, because the end of January approaches which means spring, and no more snow, is on the way.