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Old 05-02-2016, 10:21 AM   #1
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how to do General Delivery

Hello,

We'll be in Idaho / Craters of the Moon in June. As Canadians, there are many products that ship only to US addresses (including clamshell gazebos)

Any advice in figuring out a good general delivery post office in the area? Thanks,
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:42 AM   #2
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Hello,

We'll be in Idaho / Craters of the Moon in June. As Canadians, there are many products that ship only to US addresses (including clamshell gazebos)

Any advice in figuring out a good general delivery post office in the area? Thanks
At just about every US port there is a company or two that accept and hold parcels for a very reasonable rate.

Or, if you can get someone who is coming up from the US, you can get them to bring it for you. I got two offers from members here, and will have some things delivered direct to me at the rally. What a great group of people here, eh?
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:50 AM   #3
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Go to a town that has only one P.O., no branches. Ask them if they will receive general delivery and talk to the person who does that.

BUT I was told that for having a company ship that you would have to get a P.O. Box at that post office. I have had General Delivery shipped from home without a P.O. Box.
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Old 05-02-2016, 09:32 PM   #4
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Thanks, Jim, for the suggestion. Going south, we have small crossings / towns (save package services but limited hours) but for SOME reason going north / home, we'll probably cross at Sumas, WA, which has lots of choices! and a package holding point feels more reliable than general delivery.
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:00 PM   #5
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We've been traveling for five years, and I use General Delivery all the time. It works great. First thing you need to do is make certain that the company sending is sending USPS. Then, go online and find out the address of the main post office. You can try and call them to confirm, but good luck. All five digit General Delivery zip codes in the US end with -9999. Also, have your name on the envelope, ℅ Gen. Delivery, AND I always put my cel number on the outside of the envelope just in case.
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:24 PM   #6
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We've been traveling for five years, and I use General Delivery all the time. It works great. First thing you need to do is make certain that the company sending is sending USPS. Then, go online and find out the address of the main post office. You can try and call them to confirm, but good luck. All five digit General Delivery zip codes in the US end with -9999. Also, have your name on the envelope, ℅ Gen. Delivery, AND I always put my cel number on the outside of the envelope just in case.
Not sure what you are talking about with the -9999. I do not use that and receive General Delivery here, just the zip code for the town. That is what they said to use.
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Old 05-02-2016, 10:44 PM   #7
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Not sure what you are talking about with the -9999. I do not use that and receive General Delivery here, just the zip code for the town. That is what they said to use.
Most likely it's the Zip +4. Supposedly using the +4 will get your mail there faster than if you don't use it. Heck if I know if that's true or not.

If you don't know your +4, look on any junk mail as it'll be on there. They get a lower rate if it's used for bulk mailings (least it was years ago when I mailed stuff out bulk rate).
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:02 PM   #8
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Not sure what you are talking about with the -9999. I do not use that and receive General Delivery here, just the zip code for the town. That is what they said to use.
I'm just relating from experience with every town I've used general delivery in Az, California, Oregon, and Washington. I'm sure that if it's a small town, they may not require it.
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Old 05-02-2016, 11:14 PM   #9
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I'm just relating from experience with every town I've used general delivery in Az, California, Oregon, and Washington. I'm sure that if it's a small town, they may not require it.
Perhaps they deal wth General Delivery in those places so much that they use -9999.

I am using a small place because I know that people have had trouble in bigger cities that have post office branches.
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Old 05-03-2016, 12:34 AM   #10
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All five digit General Delivery zip codes in the US end with -9999.
Then there would only be ten General Delivery zip codes in the entire country.
I assume that you mean nine-digit zip codes, or five digits plus "-9999", which is called Zip+4, as already mentioned.

From a United States Postal Service document:
Quote:
26 General Delivery Addresses
261 Format
Use the words GENERAL DELIVERY, uppercase preferred, spelled out (no abbreviation), as the Delivery Address Line on the mailpiece. Each record will carry the –9999 add-on code.
Print General Delivery in caps on delivery address line.
... and from a Canada Post Addressing Guidelines document
Quote:
3.1.4 General delivery addresses
General delivery addresses should contain the following information (see Figure 9):
  • First line: The Addressee
  • Second-last line: General Delivery Identifier and Station Information
  • Last line: Municipality Name, Province or Territory and Postal Code
Figure 9:
In Canada, each post office has a dedicated postal code.
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Old 05-03-2016, 12:43 AM   #11
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It is a nine digit zip code, i.e., 98369-9999
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Old 05-03-2016, 10:29 AM   #12
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As an alternative to general delivery, you might also look for a nearby office supply business, etc that accepts FedEx & UPS deliveries.

For example, Quartzsite, AZ has 3 post offices, but only one accepts general delivery, and that one only gives out general delivery between 11:00 - 1:00. There is usually a long line and they close the deliveries at 1:00 no matter how many are waiting.

You can have your FedEx & UPS sent to Quiet Times, a business a few blocks from the post office. They give you a card with the specific address, (basically your name C/O Quiet Times). They charge $1.00 for normal sized packages & $2.00 for large. Of course this only works at Quartzsite...

One of the problems I've found is some large companies don't tell you (or may not even know until it is shipped) what shipper they will use. FedEx & UPS may not accept general delivery addresses, and rarely accept PO boxes. There are parts of the US where the post office does not do home address deliveries, so they will not accept anything except PO box addresses.

It pays to check with both the local post office as well as businesses that look like they may accept packages to determine the best solution...
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Old 05-03-2016, 11:31 AM   #13
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Drone delivery is coming. Then they'll drop ur stuff right at your trailer.
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Old 05-03-2016, 01:41 PM   #14
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Drone delivery is coming. Then they'll drop ur stuff right at your trailer.
I wonder how customs will handle drones? shoot them out of the sky?
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Old 05-03-2016, 01:43 PM   #15
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I wonder how drones will handle deliveries to the 12th floor of an apartment building.
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Old 05-03-2016, 01:44 PM   #16
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I wonder how drones will handle deliveries to the 12th floor of an apartment building.
thru an open window or balcony....
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Old 05-03-2016, 02:29 PM   #17
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Be careful with general delivery. Be sure to use a Post Office or UPS store. I sat on a jury that convicted a drug dealer that made the mistake of sending a package full of money to a hotel general delivery. The manager got suspicious because the addressee was not registered. He called the police who waited for the addressee to show and asked to look in the package and arrested him. Searched his vehicle and found dope. Not worth the hassel.
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Old 05-07-2016, 09:09 PM   #18
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I've just ordered ~20 fabric samples from SailRite. The Quick Set Gazebo is also on its way to Sumas. Formica seems to have free shipping in Canada so I'll hold off until we sift out some fabric.
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Old 05-07-2016, 09:26 PM   #19
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I've just ordered ~20 fabric samples from SailRite. The Quick Set Gazebo is also on its way to Sumas. Formica seems to have free shipping in Canada so I'll hold off until we sift out some fabric.
You don't have to ship Formica - just let ETI know the number of the Formica you want and they obtain it locally.
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