Who's got mail? USPS woes...

Update: the mail I reported getting on the 11th was the mail from the 9th to the 11th. Yesterday, the 15th, I received the mail that was due from the 1st to the 9th. Wierd.

QUESTION ABOUT SHIPPING PACKAGES =TO= the STATES

I guess I haven't been paying close attention, or at least my memory fails me....

But what are the "rules" for shipping packages TO the states from the USVI?

-Do all packages need custom forms? Or only some? How is that decided?

-If you bring a package into the Post Office with prepaid postage on it, do you STILL NEED TO STAND IN LINE? Or can you drop it off at the counter and walk out ??

-Have you had problems getting packages to the states? (I haven't, but want to ask)

thx in advance

If you have a "package" it needs a customs form, letter or thin large envelopes do not.

You need to stand in line unless you have a very good relationship with one of the post office ladies and even then I'd be careful.

Yes. Insure it even if you just do it for a buck. I always use parcel post because there's no guarantee priority will be any faster. Express is the only guarantee at the usps. Even then there's not guarantee, PR is a black hole or Bermuda triangle for mail, you never know when it will strike.

I went to the Kingshill PO to mail a very large and heavy package. You fill out a customs form explaining what it is, value, etc. You pay based on box dimensions, weight, and destination. You can insure it or pay the $.80 to track it. I just go for the tracking. I think the expectations for the package to reach the states is better watched after than packages coming down from the states.

I didn't tape the bottom of my box well enough so I said "Well, guess I'll take it back home and put more on it". The lady was very nice and said "Let me grab some tape". She brought me the gun looking tape dispenser that squeaked something fierce. It took about 30 strips of tape to get it nice and secure, in her eyes. Every time I applied a shrieking piece, I turned to the dozen people in line and apologized. Nobody was upset and most were laughing.

The rule for the customs form for things going to the states is anything over 9ozs. Used to be anything over 13oz...they changed that quite some time ago though. In the St. John PO, you can just place packages that have everything on them, including postage, on the counter where no one is helping people. They don't mind and will pick everything up off the counter. They will even put an express mail label in your PO Box after they fill out all of the info (provided your return PO is on the label). I rarely have trouble when sending things to the states. Although, Express Mail is often a late delivery, not really late, just late enough to get my money back 😀

(oops, deleted)

Random info, per the friendly postal workers at the Tutu station, STT:

- Customs forms required for packages over 13 ounces

- Priority Mail often travels with Express Mail. Indeed, last week I mailed a medium Flat Rate Priority box from STT to the US West coast and it arrived in less than 48 hours. Yes, you read that right. I dropped it off on Saturday morning and it arrived Monday morning. Wow!

- Parcel Post packages get sent to a shipping container. The shipping container leaves when it's full.

For the Customs form... it used to be 13ozs, but it changed to 9ozs some time ago. Can't remember how long ago...over a year ago though. I often ship packages that are very light weight and try very hard to avoid that form! So I will cut back on my packaging to make it 9ozs or less. I do not think that they have changed it back to 13ozs, but I could be wrong.

I have also found that if you ship something under 13ozs (the cut off for First Class to mandatory Priority Mail) via First Class, it gets there in the same amount of time as Priority Mail. I would guess this is because anything leaving here is going to go by air unless it is Parcel Post.

A friend sent me 4 Priority boxes, the same day. Last Wed. Got ONE slip on Monday. Still waiting on the other 3. Don't understand, mailed the boxes the same day, but didn't arrive on the same day. Just have to wait. Go figure! :S

Just one more clear indication that this isn't really the United States. We are in a two and a half world country.

Just one more clear indication that this isn't really the United States. We are in a two and a half world country.

This certainly is the United States of America and many here are very proud of it -- having lost another Virgin Islander Sgt.J.A. Scatliffe in Iraq this week in service of his country we should realize there are many more serious areas of concern than an occasional late package.

Just one more clear indication that this isn't really the United States. We are in a two and a half world country.

This certainly is the United States of America and many here are very proud of it -- having lost another Virgin Islander Sgt.J.A. Scatliffe in Iraq this week in service of his country we should realize there are many more serious areas of concern than an occasional late package.

Exit Zero

I totally agree with you. The late package is not as serious as a precious life lost. Rest in peace Sgt. Scatliffe and thank you for serving our wonderful country, which include the USVI and other territories.
I am proud to say I live in the VI, the United States Virgin Islands!

i know to drop it in the local postal box ( corner of the road), it can not weigh more than 13 oz's or it gets sent back to you and you have to take it into the post office. did not need customs form for that either.

This certainly is the United States of America and many here are very proud of it -- having lost another Virgin Islander Sgt.J.A. Scatliffe in Iraq this week in service of his country we should realize there are many more serious areas of concern than an occasional late package.

Well said.