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Yes. I live in Akron, OH. There are probably 5-6 zipcodes in Akron. All of them are zone 0 for me, even though the last two digits of each zipcode in each of those parts of town are different. I can't mail to my friends that live in Akron unless I am mailing from a post office in a different city, like North Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, etc. I usually mail to friends that are zone 5 or zone 6 anyway because if I reuse a box instead of buying one, the reimbursement covers my postage. I get used boxes for free from the dollar store and I just turn them inside out and retape them. It's better for the environment, too 
Oh, also, if you do end up sending to someone in zone 1 (would be a neighboring city) you can go over 2 lbs. and the postage reimbursement will still cover it. I send to a friend in zone 1 and sometimes my packages weigh 2-3 lbs and I still don't come close to the reimbursement.
Please note too, especially if you live on the east coast, that sometimes even if the town you're mailing from has a different name, it may still be considered part of the same city. I used to live in Monroe Connecticut. Monroe is subdivided basically into 4 parts each with a different name(even though it only has about 20,000 people). There's Monroe proper, Upper Stepney, Lower Stepney, and Stevenson. All of them would be considered zone 0 for each other. Lots of towns in Connecticut are like that and I think a lot of other northeast cities and towns do the same thing. The safest thing to do, if there's any doubt, is to go to the zone chart that requires you to put in the whole 5 digits for both zip codes. That will tell you if they are a "local zone". If it says "not a local zone", you should be okay. If it says "local zone" then don't send it there.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
Thank you for all the replies to my question about post office zones. Sassymmmm, would you please tell me the website for the zone chart that requires you to put in the whole five digits for both zip codes? I have not been able to find it.
[postcalc.usps.com]. Click on the "Get Zone for Zip Code Pair" tab and you can enter in both zip codes and it will tell you. When I first read your post I thought you knew the website since it's in the guidelines. But rereading your original post I realize that you don't. The other tab is useful if you want to find zone 5 zip codes for hazmat shops. I take the first 3 digits from one of the zone 5's, add 2 more digits, and then look for a food bank in the area when I'm in the mood for sending food to a food bank rather than junk to my mailing partner. If you start doing hazmat shops, my first 3 are 852, you can check and see if I'm a zone 5 for you. I'd be glad to take on another mailing partner.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
Sorry to highjack this thread but .....As for "free" mailing envelopes I get my 3 month supplies of medications from a mail order pharmacy in a poly envelope. I have never used these for po shops as they are usually over 12" and have a label you cannot pull off. But I recently figured out I can just fold over the long side and put a piece of tape along the raw edge so the folded section covers the entire label. Then I have an envelope without labels that is pure white and under 12". Check especially with older folks you know who tend to get a lot of medications and ask if they can carefully open these envelopes and save them for you. I know you can buy these pretty inexpensively but they sell them in packs of 100 and if you do not do a ton of these shops that is way too many. Plus I never do shops with extra money for reimbursements as i send to far away zips. Less storage space than boxes for you too.
Again, I thank you for your quick reply and the information you provided. I missed the link in the instructions and with the information that you provided, I just entered the sending zip code and the receiving zip code. This was the answer: The Zone is 1. This is not a Local Zone. The destination ZIP Code is within the same NDC as the origin ZIP Code. Do you think that this was an okay zip code to mail a package to? The only instruction I read about referenced zone 1. Thank you for your offer to become shipping buddies. If I receive any more shops, I will definitely take you up on it. I am in New York.
Yes. Zone 1 is perfectly fine.
Queenie: The problem with New York and where I live is that we're probably zone 8 for each other. That will probably put us over the reimbursement limit. You should try and find someone a little closer to you.Out here I've found that means 2 states away. In the northeast, with smaller states, it's probably more states away than 2.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
You can easily go zone 5-6 if you are reusing a box and staying 1-2 lbs., without going over reimbursement. I send to Texas and Florida from Ohio on a regular basis within reimbursement limits.
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2018 05:54AM by KarenMSW.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2018 05:54AM by KarenMSW.
I live in Youngstown and ship a canned good and a box of Macaroni to the Mountaineer Food Bank in West Virginia. At Aldi the food will run about 1.00 and a box is .46 at Walmart. If you need to do a HazMat shop address it to a food bank in Fargo ND.
That only works is Fargo ND is a zone 5 for you. I don't think it is for me. But when necessary to find one, there are plenty of zone 5 food banks for me. My problem is choosing one. I try to find one that has a name that doesn't sound like a food bank especially if I'm "sending perfume" since if the PO employee is paying attention, that should raise a red flag. I can't imagine any reason for someone to send perfume to a food bank. Package for Mom and laptop battery to a lesser extent not as big of a problem with food bank names.@Youllneverknow wrote:
I live in Youngstown and ship a canned good and a box of Macaroni to the Mountaineer Food Bank in West Virginia. At Aldi the food will run about 1.00 and a box is .46 at Walmart. If you need to do a HazMat shop address it to a food bank in Fargo ND.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
I usually just put something like, MFB for Mountaineer Food Bank
I had 2 hazmat shops today where they wouldn't ship the package. This is only the 2nd and 3rd time this has happened for me. My scenario was "package for mom" so I had to say I didn't know what was in it. I wonder if this made the difference? No complaints as now I have a couple of already prepped packages that I know are the right weight. Makes life easier
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
@KarenMSW wrote:
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Girl Scout cookie boxes are slightly over 12" long. They won't work.
I did one last week. I sell stuff on eBay and had something that weighed exactly 16 ounces and had to be shipped from CA to TN. I used this to pay for the shipping and not our company since we have to offer free shipping on this item. Saved money and I got paid to do it, too. Sometimes I ship stuff to my brother, who lives about 15 miles away. This way I get back what I shipped to him as well as the box and I can re-use the box to ship something to him again.
I do that too with eBay sales. I love it when the timing, weight and distance are right for the shipping. Once I added a bunch of Blue Bank brochures to the bottom of the box to add weight. The recipient questioned why I included all "that bank stuff." I agree, that was weird so won't do it again.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
@MsJudi wrote:
I do that too with eBay sales. I love it when the timing, weight and distance are right for the shipping. Once I added a bunch of Blue Bank brochures to the bottom of the box to add weight. The recipient questioned why I included all "that bank stuff." I agree, that was weird so won't do it again.
I sent a phone that weighed 16 ounces so for me getting it to 1+pounds was easy. If not I add packing stuff and don't care what the buyer thinks
@SoCalMama wrote:
@KarenMSW wrote:
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Girl Scout cookie boxes are slightly over 12" long. They won't work.
If the GS cookies are just slightly over 12" then use a 12x12x12 box and pack them diagonally. That should allow for the slight overage to still fit in the box. How's that for outside the box/inside the box thinking?!
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
It was my understanding that the poster that I quoted was planning on using the boxes for shipping, not for shipping cookies.@msimon-2000 wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@KarenMSW wrote:
Just a tip if you need boxes...if you come across Girl Scout cookie booths (it's that time of year), the boxes are really good sizes to use and are pretty sturdy. Just ask the troop to give you any boxes that they have emptied and they should be happy to have them taken off of the troop's hands. It's one less thing to break down and recycle at the end of a long day. Also, if you need to figure out what to send and you are friends with a local leader, you can ship to their out of town customers for them (usually under the reimbursement and saves the troop $$). You can also do the same for Boy Scout troops with their popcorn sales. It's amazing how much troop sales go up when they can ship out of state.
Girl Scout cookie boxes are slightly over 12" long. They won't work.
If the GS cookies are just slightly over 12" then use a 12x12x12 box and pack them diagonally. That should allow for the slight overage to still fit in the box. How's that for outside the box/inside the box thinking?!
I see, thanks for the clarification SoCalMama.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
I'm getting ready to do my first po shop and am trying to figure out how to get the exacy weight of 1-1/2 lb without having a scale at my disposal. Amy suggestions?
A box of pasta weighs 1 lb. The box weight should be 3-5 ounces or so. If you are only mailing to zone 1 or 2, it won't matter if it is a little over 2 lbs anyway, even if you buy a box. I think last time I mailed to a zone 1 with a package that weighed more than 2 lbs it was less than $10. But postal scales are not expensive and it's a business expense, so if you plan on doing these shops regularly it's a good investment.
@sclose wrote:
I'm getting ready to do my first po shop and am trying to figure out how to get the exacy weight of 1-1/2 lb without having a scale at my disposal. Amy suggestions?
A one pound bag of raw chickpeas or beans.
Today, for the first time in 4 shops that I've had the "package for Mom" scenario, my package was accepted for shipping. The PO employee told me specifically to push the no button. This threw me off since I planned to go to my next PO shop and use the same package. Now I have to prepare another package and do the next one (which is a perfume scenario) tomorrow. That's what I get for being complacent and making an assumption that an employee will do what they're supposed to do just because the last 3 before him did. Luckily, the next PO shop is close by. I've got one more to do this week too, so I'll prep another package for it and do it tomorrow too. It's a laptop battery scenario so I'll probably lose that package too. I've never had the package refused with these scenarios.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
Yep, I keep as many boxes as needed on the assumption that they will all be accepted, which most of the time leaves me with unsent packages in my trunk until the regular box shops pop up and I can send them then. You have to assume the opposite
I know. Like I said, the last 3 made me complacent for this one. The other 2 I have are very close and I'll definitely have 2 packages ready for them. Now I just have to figure out what I'll do to kill the required 1/2 hour wait. They're only about 10 minutes apart. By the way, I haven't been able to figure out whether the 1/2 hour is calculated from the time you enter the post offices, when you start the transaction, finish the transaction, or leave the post office? Does anyone know? My last 3 PO shops I was in line for about 10 minutes or each of them. So when the break period measurement starts, can make a difference.
Edited for grammar
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2018 01:55AM by sassymmmm.
Edited for grammar
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2018 01:55AM by sassymmmm.
It's your receipt time from the previous location to the minute you walk in the door for the next. I do convenience store shops in between or personal errands like banking or grocery shopping--or at the dollar store picking up used boxes for the next round of PO shops.
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