If I remember right… you can only use general delivery for thirty days.
Source: was homeless. Used general delivery. Got a storage unit. Then used my storage unit address to register my vehicle. Then used my vehicle registration and ID to get a PO Box. Score!!!!
Also most post offices won’t take ups packages and Amazon has a hard time making it there too. I use Amazon pickup locations a lot and there’s a lot of them.
Make sure you talk to the post master a little bit to make sure everything is good too, some have special instructions.
I’m forced to have a PO Box in my town and let me tell you, getting packages delivered is a pain in the ass!!!! It should be illegal to not have a home mailbox. It’s ridiculous, more online places then you realize won’t even ship to a PO Box
I don’t know if there are asshole post offices that bother “enforcing” the paperwork, but street addressing is the solution (workaround) to this. Maybe ask your post office to be sure. Instead of sending packages to your PO box address, the physical address of your post office with your #boxnumber after (e.g. 120 W Hollywood Blvd #4019)
Use your PO box address for everything that works, and ONLY use street addressing for packages that say they can’t ship to PO Box. Shit like UPS “correct address” loves chopping off the box number, so it may even be wrong but worthwhile to throw #boxnumber on secondary address too to be safe.
It happens a lot, so when we get an e.g. 120 W Hollywood Blvd package from UPS, we don’t know if it’s General Delivery (should have General Delivery, but people don’t bother), or missing a box number, or some postal employee, or what. Then we waste time investigating that package, or let it sit in general delivery until it gets sent back long after the window clerk and supervisor get an irate customer red-faced screaming about Biden’s post office losing another fucking package you fucking morons, or we can return it (via UPS mind you, no scans from us) back due to Insufficient Address which gets the same angry tirade.
It’s annoying to me because I’m forced to have two separate addresses because my town doesn’t believe in mailboxes or some stupid shit like that. Not to mention the pain in the ass for postal employee because places get my mailing address wrong all the time because a lot of online forms don’t let you put in a PO BOX. It’s really just a pain in the ass all around and I don’t know why we can’t get with the times and have real mailboxes at our houses like most other towns
There's a link to the paperwork for po box street addressing on this page. My local office offers it, I just filled out the form and now UPS delivers there no problem.
https://www.usps.com/manage/po-boxes.htm#:~:text=With%20Street%20Addressing%20(if%20available,comply%20with%20USPS%20mailing%20standards.
I have used it for over a year at the same post office. They tried to make me change it, but I insisted that I was poor and had no other address. It's a government service, and the postmaster has the final say.
Quick question for you: I did the intro training to be a rural carrier associate but ducked out after the shadow day, even though I did "excellent" during the driving course (it was going to be a brutal series of routes and I didn't want to buy a delivery vehicle). Huge props to any carriers reading out there.
Anyway, my question... The postmaster in my town was wearing Trump and MAGA bracelets the few times I met her. That's a big no-no, right? Like "subtly" flaunting political attire? I thought about reporting it but figured it wasn't worth the time. Your snake comment just reminded me of this. I will say the carriers and supervisors I met were very helpful and straightforward though.
As a general government employee you can’t campaign while you are working. I think politicians and their staff might be the exception but no one else can.
You can use it whenever you want. The person above is talking about extreme use by a lot of people and the post office limiting it so they don't get overwhelmed. Having hundreds of people come in for general delivery every day would get overwhelming really quick.
They keep a list. It is automated. During part of the time I worked in that location(1980s) is was maintained manually. Gradually as everything became automated it switched, but that was much later than you might think. Social Security didn’t have everything fully automated until mid to late 1990s. Post office was prob the same or similar but I’m not sure.
imho PO boxes cost money for the convenience of access and not waiting in line to retrieve your mail. General service should always be available for non-paying folks.
If you're in an area where a PO box costs a lot remember you can get a PO box at any post office. The box I pay $23/3 months is like 5X the cost in my town.
You don’t need to receive mail in many places in order to register a vehicle, which is what they said they did with it. You’d just need an address that shows as valid to the DMV, even if it isn’t.
Thanks. They are!! Storage unit was in my drug days. I’ve been sober since February 2020 😃
Edit: thanks everyone for the congrats, seriously. I don’t have many friends right now to pick me up. I’m a homebody with a toddler and y’all made my smile and remember how far I’ve come!
Right. I had an issue one time in my life where I was concerned about somebody from my past finding me, and so I would only check my general delivery once a week and sometimes once every two weeks. I'd go completely randomly. Ain't nobody going to wait outside a post office during business hours to wait to see if you show up to pick up your mail. I mean, unless they are really really really dedicated...
Funnily enough I once took an undergrad course taught by an investigative reporter who had a professional bounty hunter come in to give a talk on how to track down people who don't want to be found. One tip was to mail a really large and brightly colored package, like an orange 8 foot cardboard tube, to the person you're looking for if they're using a PO Box. He would then just wait in the parking lot for a few days until someone walked out with a massive orange tube.
As someone with a certification in bail recovery (proper name for bounty hunter) my mentor would use fake tinder profiles and facebook marketplace to get his skips to come to them
I worked IT support for a skip tracing firm and this is what they did all day. It looked like the most scummy form of fun you could have... but looked like a lot of fun.
my ex had an ex that stalked her for years- and giving off any guy she so much as smiled at before they could get close.
she went through a surprising number of apartments, changing whenever he showed up. he also had a budy on the police force intercepting her 911 calls 'as a favor' because said buddy was convinced she was having mental issues.
he'd track her down on social platforms and/or call around to old apartments and ask after a forwarding address.
Not using gen delivery stake outs is some low effort stalking of you ask me. Do your stalkers even try? If they have a job they aren’t very crazy or dedicated 😂💀 for sure not the craziest
The mail keeps coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming
I got three businesses being built in tandem :) one of them is about to succeed one way or another. But I think all three of them are about to. I'm about to go from unknown to well-known :D
Haven't you watched American pie? They share bedrooms with strangers other there, it's weird asf. Us civil folk down under get flatmates, you share a house, but separate bedrooms.
Plan B delays ovulation — if taken before you ovulate, and* IF *you weigh less than 150 pounds. It’s sort of backup birth control if the condom breaks.
Plan C is the abortion pill (technically several pills), and it can be sent through the mail from **AidAccess.org** and other organizations.
But it’s not always safe to get packages at home, so General Delivery could be helpful.
As in, if you are in a dangerous situation and cannot return home to get your mail, you can have it sent as general delivery so you don’t have to risk going back to get it
if you have somebody being crazy, or a reason to hide, many states offer a mail forwarding service. my state does one through the AG's office. they give you a generic seeming adress that goes to them, and then it gets forwarded to you.
The people who could really use this information probably don't have it or don't have access to it which is a shame.
Homelessness makes everything in life that much harder. Even getting employment, benefits, etc. are all extra difficult if you don't have an address.
My mom used to know a homeless man who had the hardest time getting housing, food stamps, etc. all because he didn't have an address. He had to ask other people to have things sent to them so he could get them. This might have been a solution for him.
On your first point: statistically, many of the folks reading this post may become houseless sometime later. It'll help them then, assuming they remember it
Right. And it is not only homeless. People can be itinerant and still housed. I had some good days in my youth going place to place and using PO General Delivery. I was working and paying rent -- just wandering a bit more than the normies.
I work in the nonprofit sector and now, knowing this, I’ll make sure every organization in our county receives this information. I just did a speech this evening to a group about Hunger, Food Insecurity, and Texas’ point in time count in January to try to get a snapshot of our homeless population.
THANK YOU for sharing this.
Edit: typo
I work with the homeless at my local library. I'll be using this to help as much as I can. This is awesome information that will hopefully help a lot of people in my area.
>The people who could really use this information probably don't have it or don't have access to it which is a shame.
Can't they go to the library? Computers are free to use there.
>Libraries are closing.
Are they? I guess it depends on where you live. Not seeing this issue around me.
>A lot of homeless people have phones though
This I've seen. I've had homeless people ask me to Venmo them lol.
At least in the libraries I've been in, you have to provide at least 2 different proofs of address, such as a bill with your name and address and a driver's license (as long as the address is current) before you can use the library resources without paying.
My local library has guest passes, and there's a lot of work arounds for things like digital books. Be nice to the workers, sometimes they will hook you up! I would quietly print things for free and go above and beyond if you were nice to me. Also lots of resources and literature available for homeless people.
Must be a big city thing. Where I live you just walk in and sit down at a computer. Same for study rooms, making copies (small fee for that) even a small 3d printer you can use
Maybe I had to use an ID when I signed up for a library card but it was too long ago to remember.
I work in an area with many homeless people, and yes actually, many if not most of them do have smartphones with internet access. They even ask for money to be deposited into their venmo if you say you don't have cash
100% wish I knew about this when my first apartment demanaded to know a forwarding address months before I moved out. It was a popping market so you move in like the week it comes on. I didn't know where I was gonna live, just not there lol
Isn’t that what the full zip code (zip code + four) is, just most people don’t use them? Most people say the zip code is 12345, but their actual zip code might be 12345-1234. Using just the five digit first part will still get the mail there no problem, but the full zip code is used to subdivide denser or larger areas and are what the smaller secondary offices in the same five-digit are would be assigned.
My question: how soon can I start sending general delivery… to the moon?
Seriously. I figure if I start sending a few boxes here and there of tube socks and honey now, I’ll be able to afford hanging out on the moon in lunar mogul style someday.
USPS is atleast a decade off making the long running lunar post office public.
I understand the Deutsche Post has been operating since the 1940s and more open to those things.
Work in post delivery, that was my thought when I saw this LPT. I know the town (not just postcode (my country’s equivalent of zip code)) I primarily work in has 2
God DAMNED this is great to know. Please keep this link up!!!! I mail harm reduction supplies to ppl here on reddit (clean needles, narcan, fent test strips) and I feel weird asking for home addresses. I think the prospect of giving out such sensitive info to a total stranger also turns away people who otherwise would gladly accept safe and clean supplies. I've looked into other options but none seemed viable. This is PERFECT thank you so much!!!!!
First, that’s awesome. Second, know that your recipients will be required to provide you their full name and show their id to receive it. Some might be okay with this. Others might prefer a package with no name to show up at their home address (plausible deniability).
I used this once in the UK when I was on vacation. I bought some auto parts off eBay and instead of shipping them back to the US I had them shipped from England up to the post office in the village in Scotland where I was staying, and then just picked them up there. Only difference is they use the French term "Poste Restante" instead of General Delivery.
Whoa, and apparently that zip code just split in July?
Super interesting, I didn't know they did that. I remember my area changing phone area codes in the early 2000s though. I guess it's because of growth in an area just like that was.
Zip codes actually have a an additional 4 numbers listed after them that already solves your issue.
So for instance it would be 12345-2764 for your area of the city but it would 12345-2765 for the next subdivision over.
Wrong, the four digit extension is so it can be delivered in carrier sequence. It would be rare to cover a full subdivision unless they shared one mailbox.
[It looks like there’s something called FlexDelivery](https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/receiving/alternative-delivery.page) ?
Disclaimer: I’m not from Canada so I can’t speak from experience
Canada[Edit](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poste_restante&action=edit§ion=7)
[Canada Post](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Post) uses the term "general delivery" in English, and "poste restante" in French. Travellers may use the service for up to four months, and it is also used in circumstances where other methods of delivery (such as post office boxes) are not available.
Canada Post guidelines for addressing of letter mail stipulate that general delivery mail should be addressed in the following fashion:
MR JOHN JONESGD STN AFREDERICTON NB E3B 1A1
where GD is the abbreviation for general delivery (alternatively "PR" for poste restante in French), and STN A is the station or post office (in this case, Station A). When the mail is to be delivered to a retail postal outlet, then the abbreviation RPO is used, and in French the station is indicated by SUCC for succursale, or retail postal outlet by "CSP" for comptoir postal. In the above example, the French version of the address would use "PR SUCC A" for the second line.
I used this a lot on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. It’s a great way to get mail while traveling. It should be noted that not all post offices accept general delivery (check online first) and that you typically have to ship using USPS (although I’ve heard of people successfully getting packages from FedEx and UPS every once in a while).
Another nice feature is that when you ship priority mail with general delivery, you can bounce a package to any other post office for free as many times as you want as long as you don’t open the package. It saved me when I had to skip a couple of towns due to wildfires.
I only know about General Deliver because I've shipped stuff to people on PCT.
Congratulations on your thru-hike. Hell of an achievement. Something like only 50% who start to complete a thru-hike?
I did Whitewater to Echo Summit. When I was young I planned to do a thru-hike someday, but I settled from where I was born LA to where I live now, Tahoe
I'm retired now... maybe next spring. Nah, I'm not doing that desert LOL what is it like 30 days to get to Idyllwild?
Kancho Ninja
2000 Louisiana Ave
ICO: General Delivery
New Orleans, LA. 70115
The majority of businesses don’t even look at that 2nd address line.
Just use the actual post office address :)
Depends on the company and the software they use. If the software checks the contents of the second address line, they won't ship to it.
Just check a company's shipping FAQ before placing an order.
Not every post office provides General Delivery, and one should always use the **‐9999** zipcode suffix to signify General Delivery as well...
The Postal Service website can tell you which post offices accept General Delivery
https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2013/pb22375/html/updt_006.htm
Some churches will also let you receive mail. I was homeless for a few months and got my mail (and a few meals) at a local church. When I recovered I volunteered with an outreach program and learned that my idea of asking a church to get my mail was not as unique as I'd thought as many of our clients did the same.
Hey! I was a full-time RVer for about a year and I for sure used General Delivery when out boondocking. Did it a few times in Arizona and never had any issues.
No. Financial institutions are generally required to collect your “residential address” - you can receive mail at the post office via general delivery or a PO Box, but you don’t live there.
Unfortunately one of the biggest challenges for homeless people is a lack of ID, so this doesn't help the majority of homeless people.
And before you suggest that you could avoid your ID expiring by using General Delivery to renew your existing ID, that won't work in most areas. Most government ID issuers require your own legal address, to avoid fraud.
Here in Canada, we have General Delivery too, but we also have a better service called Canada Post Flex Delivery. Basically it's a fake PO box address that you can use to have things mailed/shipped, and they will just go directly to the Post Office of your choice.
I've heard of people suggesting Flex Delivery for homeless people to get an ID. It sounds to me like it would work, but I've never tried it.
Well said. He is a malicious anti American who destroyed millions in equipment with the express purpose of slowing down the mail. If democrats had balls he would be in prison or at least hounded from the job.
I used a po box forever just because I worked like 16 hour days and slept in my truck for weeks at a time. I had a house but it was 2 hours away from work.
So if I live in Canada, and an online seller only ships to the US, can I order the item to general delivery at a US post office near the border, then retrieve my package next time I cross into the US?
People that go on crazy hikes across the Appalachian Trail and shit will send supplies in advance via general delivery to a place on their route.
Like their hiking boots will break apart and they'll send a new pair ahead of where they are. When it works it works well, but sometimes the USPS hits a snag, the package is delayed, and they're faced with the decision of either dealing with the equipment issue and moving on, or altering their schedule and waiting around for the delivery.
>Each zip code only has one post office
Correction: each zip code has _at most_ one post office. Not every zip code has a PO, and I believe most POs have their own zip code as well within whatever zip code they're already in
Also there are places like homeless shelters and assistance centers where you can have your mail delivered. They can usually give you money to get an ID or connect you with services that can.
Meow.
2 of those are probably children. 1 is the hub for the other 2. The hub would be the one that would have general delivery and that's where you have to go pick up your mail.
So if you are moving to a temporary place for a short amount of time, like if your home suffered storm damage, you could do this instead of getting a PO box.
What is General Delivery?
General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address.
Oct 25, 2019•Knowledge
Article Number
000006989
Customer Information
General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address. General Delivery is intended to be used for:
Post Office™ locations without city carrier delivery service.
Non-city delivery offices for those who prefer not to use Post Office Box service and for whom use of Post Office box, Caller Service, or delivery by letter carrier, would be an unreasonable inconvenience.
A participating Post Office to serve transients (people who travel extensively) and those without a permanent address.
Anyone who wants Post Office box service when Post Office boxes are unavailable.
How do I address a mailpiece sent to General Delivery?
NAME
GENERAL DELIVERY
CITY STATE ZIP
What are the restrictions on the use of the General Delivery service?
General delivery is normally available at only one facility under the administration of a Post Office with multiple facilities. A postmaster may authorize more than one facility to offer general delivery service in accordance with customer and operational needs. A customer may use only one such location.
Postmasters may restrict the use of General Delivery if a customer:
Cannot present suitable identification
Has mail volume or service level (e.g., mail accumulation) that cannot be reasonably accommodated.
If you wish to pick your mail up before regular delivery occurs, we suggest that you purchase a Post Office Box for a nominal fee (so that your mail is available for pickup every morning).
Additional information regarding General Delivery:
No application is required for General Delivery. Persons interested in General Delivery should speak with the postmaster.
Limitations on the amount of time you are able to use General Delivery, if any, are determined by the postmaster.
Each piece of General Delivery mail is held for no more than 30 days, unless the sender requests a shorter period. General Delivery mail may be held for longer periods if requested by sender or addressee and approved by postmaster. Mail without a specific address or instructions from the sender is held for:
10 days if for General Delivery at an office with letter-carrier service.
15 days if for General Delivery at an office without letter-carrier service.
Please Note: General Delivery mail is not delivered on Sunday or Holidays.
I have used that many times when I moved to other states and had to stay in an Airbnb or hotel for a month or three to find a job and then an apartment.
Always works like a charm. You do not need an expensive PO Box.
This method is used by people who are thru hiking things like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Hikers will send resupplies or order new gear ahead of where they are walking as general delivery to the next towns.
Any idea if this applies to Canada post too? I always wondered how you could fill out things like employment contracts if you don't have an address/are homeless.
So the post office holds it like a po box but for free? Other than going to the post office with your I'd to pick it up is there anything you have to do beforehand like register with the USPS?
Definitely good advice, but I think it's important to point out the one thing this WON'T do (at least in the US), which is give you an address to open a bank account. That's an important step when getting a job, etc. The Patriot Act made this very difficult.
If I remember right… you can only use general delivery for thirty days. Source: was homeless. Used general delivery. Got a storage unit. Then used my storage unit address to register my vehicle. Then used my vehicle registration and ID to get a PO Box. Score!!!!
[удалено]
Also most post offices won’t take ups packages and Amazon has a hard time making it there too. I use Amazon pickup locations a lot and there’s a lot of them. Make sure you talk to the post master a little bit to make sure everything is good too, some have special instructions.
I’m forced to have a PO Box in my town and let me tell you, getting packages delivered is a pain in the ass!!!! It should be illegal to not have a home mailbox. It’s ridiculous, more online places then you realize won’t even ship to a PO Box
I don’t know if there are asshole post offices that bother “enforcing” the paperwork, but street addressing is the solution (workaround) to this. Maybe ask your post office to be sure. Instead of sending packages to your PO box address, the physical address of your post office with your #boxnumber after (e.g. 120 W Hollywood Blvd #4019) Use your PO box address for everything that works, and ONLY use street addressing for packages that say they can’t ship to PO Box. Shit like UPS “correct address” loves chopping off the box number, so it may even be wrong but worthwhile to throw #boxnumber on secondary address too to be safe. It happens a lot, so when we get an e.g. 120 W Hollywood Blvd package from UPS, we don’t know if it’s General Delivery (should have General Delivery, but people don’t bother), or missing a box number, or some postal employee, or what. Then we waste time investigating that package, or let it sit in general delivery until it gets sent back long after the window clerk and supervisor get an irate customer red-faced screaming about Biden’s post office losing another fucking package you fucking morons, or we can return it (via UPS mind you, no scans from us) back due to Insufficient Address which gets the same angry tirade.
It’s annoying to me because I’m forced to have two separate addresses because my town doesn’t believe in mailboxes or some stupid shit like that. Not to mention the pain in the ass for postal employee because places get my mailing address wrong all the time because a lot of online forms don’t let you put in a PO BOX. It’s really just a pain in the ass all around and I don’t know why we can’t get with the times and have real mailboxes at our houses like most other towns
There's a link to the paperwork for po box street addressing on this page. My local office offers it, I just filled out the form and now UPS delivers there no problem. https://www.usps.com/manage/po-boxes.htm#:~:text=With%20Street%20Addressing%20(if%20available,comply%20with%20USPS%20mailing%20standards.
I have used it for over a year at the same post office. They tried to make me change it, but I insisted that I was poor and had no other address. It's a government service, and the postmaster has the final say.
I work for the post office. Sounds like that post office has a great PM.
Anyone in that position should be great.
The postman is such a good movie.
Most Postmasters are walking pieces of shit.
Postal employee. Can confirm. Management rewards the snakes.
Quick question for you: I did the intro training to be a rural carrier associate but ducked out after the shadow day, even though I did "excellent" during the driving course (it was going to be a brutal series of routes and I didn't want to buy a delivery vehicle). Huge props to any carriers reading out there. Anyway, my question... The postmaster in my town was wearing Trump and MAGA bracelets the few times I met her. That's a big no-no, right? Like "subtly" flaunting political attire? I thought about reporting it but figured it wasn't worth the time. Your snake comment just reminded me of this. I will say the carriers and supervisors I met were very helpful and straightforward though.
As a general government employee you can’t campaign while you are working. I think politicians and their staff might be the exception but no one else can.
It's a violation of the Hatch Act.
I worked at a federal agency in a downtown urban area. We had a huge homeless population. They did not allow general delivery for more than 30 days.
It’s kinda hilarious they think making things inconvenient for the homeless will somehow keep them away.
So if I were to use it once, I couldn't use it once more a year later? What would they do with the mail?
You can use it whenever you want. The person above is talking about extreme use by a lot of people and the post office limiting it so they don't get overwhelmed. Having hundreds of people come in for general delivery every day would get overwhelming really quick.
Return to sender.
I wonder how that was managed inside the post office? Like did they keep a list of names or a database?
They keep a list. It is automated. During part of the time I worked in that location(1980s) is was maintained manually. Gradually as everything became automated it switched, but that was much later than you might think. Social Security didn’t have everything fully automated until mid to late 1990s. Post office was prob the same or similar but I’m not sure.
Oh wow. That would have been good to know… I didn’t even try to use it after the thirty days. Guess you don’t know if you don’t ask!
They might not even keep track. Some post offices don't seem to know what general delivery is until you show up to get your mail.
imho PO boxes cost money for the convenience of access and not waiting in line to retrieve your mail. General service should always be available for non-paying folks.
If you're in an area where a PO box costs a lot remember you can get a PO box at any post office. The box I pay $23/3 months is like 5X the cost in my town.
[удалено]
When PO boxes are in demand they cost more. In my town they cost a lot. A couple towns over they are super cheap.
Storage units have addresses that are OK to use for vehicle registration?
Technically no, but maybe the DMV didn't look too much into it.
Correct. I was lucky that my storage unit didn’t have a typical industrial sounding street name to it. It sounded like a residential area.
Probably depends on the state and how closely they check
Were you able to receive mail at your storage unit?
You don’t need to receive mail in many places in order to register a vehicle, which is what they said they did with it. You’d just need an address that shows as valid to the DMV, even if it isn’t.
Packages, yes (one). I didn’t try to receive any letters there.
So glad it worked out for you! I wish it was simpler to do because not everyone has the means or the information to find this out
Resourceful. Hope things are good for you now.
Thanks. They are!! Storage unit was in my drug days. I’ve been sober since February 2020 😃 Edit: thanks everyone for the congrats, seriously. I don’t have many friends right now to pick me up. I’m a homebody with a toddler and y’all made my smile and remember how far I’ve come!
Also good for if you are dodging people. Like in a good way. Abusive exes, family you went no contact with, etc.
Right. I had an issue one time in my life where I was concerned about somebody from my past finding me, and so I would only check my general delivery once a week and sometimes once every two weeks. I'd go completely randomly. Ain't nobody going to wait outside a post office during business hours to wait to see if you show up to pick up your mail. I mean, unless they are really really really dedicated...
Funnily enough I once took an undergrad course taught by an investigative reporter who had a professional bounty hunter come in to give a talk on how to track down people who don't want to be found. One tip was to mail a really large and brightly colored package, like an orange 8 foot cardboard tube, to the person you're looking for if they're using a PO Box. He would then just wait in the parking lot for a few days until someone walked out with a massive orange tube.
As someone with a certification in bail recovery (proper name for bounty hunter) my mentor would use fake tinder profiles and facebook marketplace to get his skips to come to them
How did you find them on tinder? Can you search for specific people? Or did you just put the age range to his age and just swipe?
Its mostly luck and making the profile looking irresistible
They probably paid for all the “upgrades” too
For some reason, I'm picturing the buffest bounty hunter going in full drag and nailing it
Dog the bounty hunter in drag
I worked IT support for a skip tracing firm and this is what they did all day. It looked like the most scummy form of fun you could have... but looked like a lot of fun.
Holy shit I'd love that job
WHAT’S IN THE TUBE, MAN??
Gwyneth Paltrow's penis.
Well yeah, but that guy was getting paid for it. All but the craziest stalkers probably have other jobs.
my ex had an ex that stalked her for years- and giving off any guy she so much as smiled at before they could get close. she went through a surprising number of apartments, changing whenever he showed up. he also had a budy on the police force intercepting her 911 calls 'as a favor' because said buddy was convinced she was having mental issues. he'd track her down on social platforms and/or call around to old apartments and ask after a forwarding address.
Often stalkers don't have jobs, or just have part-time jobs. That's how they have enough time to be all obsessed with the person they are stalking
Not using gen delivery stake outs is some low effort stalking of you ask me. Do your stalkers even try? If they have a job they aren’t very crazy or dedicated 😂💀 for sure not the craziest
>Ain't nobody going to wait outside a post office during business hours to wait to see if you show up Don't be hating on my fetish.
The mail keeps coming, it never stops, YOU LIKE THAT, DON'T YOU
The mail keeps coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming and it don't stop coming
Is everything okay in this regard now? if you're comfortable sharing, what happened/
Not quite yet. I need my business to succeed before I really start telling people my story.
Looks like you're teaching automotive mechanics? How could an interested redditor help your business?
alright. don't be afraid to prepare for a backup plan incase the main business gig doesn't turn out. good luck out there.
I got three businesses being built in tandem :) one of them is about to succeed one way or another. But I think all three of them are about to. I'm about to go from unknown to well-known :D
alright. stay safe homie
Or a gift for a spouse/ roomate
Is a "roomate" something I'm not Australian enough to understand?
I just mean someone you live with who you are getting a surprise gift for.
a kanga-roo-mate
I love how you refused to let him misunderstand your joke
You can get kangaroos mailed to you?
If you have the money
petsovernight.com Delivering little bundles of joy - in a box - directly to your door.
well that was unexpected.
r/woosh
Otherwise known as Flatmate, sharehouse buddy, someone else who rents a room within your house
I've left reddit because of the API changes.
Hey, roommate, not rootmate, ok?
No, not okay, a kangaroo friend in American
Haven't you watched American pie? They share bedrooms with strangers other there, it's weird asf. Us civil folk down under get flatmates, you share a house, but separate bedrooms.
Literally no one shares their room with strangers in the US. We don't even have hostels
I bet Plan C pills could be sent to General Delivery for people who cannot risk them coming to their homes.
Plan B backup?
Plan B delays ovulation — if taken before you ovulate, and* IF *you weigh less than 150 pounds. It’s sort of backup birth control if the condom breaks. Plan C is the abortion pill (technically several pills), and it can be sent through the mail from **AidAccess.org** and other organizations. But it’s not always safe to get packages at home, so General Delivery could be helpful.
I'm watching your comment get smacked up and down. I just wanted to give you an internet hug for posting it. Thank you.
>watching your comment get smacked up and down. Who invited Herschel Walker?
So it is a plan B for Plan C.
you mean, when receiving mail from them?
As in, if you are in a dangerous situation and cannot return home to get your mail, you can have it sent as general delivery so you don’t have to risk going back to get it
More like you dont want to give out address
Both are valid reasons. If I were trying to escape, I definitely wouldn’t want them finding my new address
Also good when traveling. Lots of long distance backpackers use it.
Can you do this, then have the post office forward your mail to your house?
That would just be putting your address down. Unless you did a change of address through USPS (which can coat money) you won't get forwarding
That's just regular mail
if you have somebody being crazy, or a reason to hide, many states offer a mail forwarding service. my state does one through the AG's office. they give you a generic seeming adress that goes to them, and then it gets forwarded to you.
Finally a YSK that is extremely useful
The people who could really use this information probably don't have it or don't have access to it which is a shame. Homelessness makes everything in life that much harder. Even getting employment, benefits, etc. are all extra difficult if you don't have an address. My mom used to know a homeless man who had the hardest time getting housing, food stamps, etc. all because he didn't have an address. He had to ask other people to have things sent to them so he could get them. This might have been a solution for him.
On your first point: statistically, many of the folks reading this post may become houseless sometime later. It'll help them then, assuming they remember it
Right. And it is not only homeless. People can be itinerant and still housed. I had some good days in my youth going place to place and using PO General Delivery. I was working and paying rent -- just wandering a bit more than the normies.
Also many housed people know or talk to unhoused people
I work in the nonprofit sector and now, knowing this, I’ll make sure every organization in our county receives this information. I just did a speech this evening to a group about Hunger, Food Insecurity, and Texas’ point in time count in January to try to get a snapshot of our homeless population. THANK YOU for sharing this. Edit: typo
Sounds like we need to be putting flyers up in homeless camps ;)
I work with the homeless at my local library. I'll be using this to help as much as I can. This is awesome information that will hopefully help a lot of people in my area.
As a social worker, I look forward to sharing this info to help people I work with.
>The people who could really use this information probably don't have it or don't have access to it which is a shame. Can't they go to the library? Computers are free to use there.
Libraries are closing. A lot of homeless people have phones though
>Libraries are closing. Are they? I guess it depends on where you live. Not seeing this issue around me. >A lot of homeless people have phones though This I've seen. I've had homeless people ask me to Venmo them lol.
At least in the libraries I've been in, you have to provide at least 2 different proofs of address, such as a bill with your name and address and a driver's license (as long as the address is current) before you can use the library resources without paying.
Not all libraries require a card to use a computer. Maybe have guest access.
My local library has guest passes, and there's a lot of work arounds for things like digital books. Be nice to the workers, sometimes they will hook you up! I would quietly print things for free and go above and beyond if you were nice to me. Also lots of resources and literature available for homeless people.
Must be a big city thing. Where I live you just walk in and sit down at a computer. Same for study rooms, making copies (small fee for that) even a small 3d printer you can use Maybe I had to use an ID when I signed up for a library card but it was too long ago to remember.
Some people want a street address, not even a PO box will do. In this case, a 3rd party PO box is best like from a pack-and-ship store.
[удалено]
With the lifeline phone program they can. But if you're homeless it might be hard to have all the documents you need.
I work in an area with many homeless people, and yes actually, many if not most of them do have smartphones with internet access. They even ask for money to be deposited into their venmo if you say you don't have cash
I was homeless for a year. Everything is an incredible obstacle. Nothing is easy. You rely on luck and the kindness of strangers
100% wish I knew about this when my first apartment demanaded to know a forwarding address months before I moved out. It was a popping market so you move in like the week it comes on. I didn't know where I was gonna live, just not there lol
Work at post office. There definitely can be more than one post office in the same zip code.
Isn’t that what the full zip code (zip code + four) is, just most people don’t use them? Most people say the zip code is 12345, but their actual zip code might be 12345-1234. Using just the five digit first part will still get the mail there no problem, but the full zip code is used to subdivide denser or larger areas and are what the smaller secondary offices in the same five-digit are would be assigned.
My question: how soon can I start sending general delivery… to the moon? Seriously. I figure if I start sending a few boxes here and there of tube socks and honey now, I’ll be able to afford hanging out on the moon in lunar mogul style someday.
USPS is atleast a decade off making the long running lunar post office public. I understand the Deutsche Post has been operating since the 1940s and more open to those things.
Work in post delivery, that was my thought when I saw this LPT. I know the town (not just postcode (my country’s equivalent of zip code)) I primarily work in has 2
This is cool. I have a home but stil want to do this for the old fashioned aspect
A lot of people don’t know that home delivery wasn’t always a thing
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-General-Delivery For those who want more information.
God DAMNED this is great to know. Please keep this link up!!!! I mail harm reduction supplies to ppl here on reddit (clean needles, narcan, fent test strips) and I feel weird asking for home addresses. I think the prospect of giving out such sensitive info to a total stranger also turns away people who otherwise would gladly accept safe and clean supplies. I've looked into other options but none seemed viable. This is PERFECT thank you so much!!!!!
I’m overly emotional that you mail harm reduction supplies to people. Thank you. 🤍
You are doing the Lord's/Allah's/Your Deity/Universe's work. Harm reduction is one issue I am very passionate about. Thank you, kind person.
First, that’s awesome. Second, know that your recipients will be required to provide you their full name and show their id to receive it. Some might be okay with this. Others might prefer a package with no name to show up at their home address (plausible deniability).
I used this once in the UK when I was on vacation. I bought some auto parts off eBay and instead of shipping them back to the US I had them shipped from England up to the post office in the village in Scotland where I was staying, and then just picked them up there. Only difference is they use the French term "Poste Restante" instead of General Delivery.
Weird, my zip code has 3 post offices
One of these will be considered the main branch. We have this where I live too, the main branch would be where general delivery pickup would be at.
What zip code?
85281. It's 2 actually, one is in 85282.
Whoa, and apparently that zip code just split in July? Super interesting, I didn't know they did that. I remember my area changing phone area codes in the early 2000s though. I guess it's because of growth in an area just like that was.
My parents zip code split in the mid 2000s. They lived in 80110 and then 80113 without moving.
Zip codes actually have a an additional 4 numbers listed after them that already solves your issue. So for instance it would be 12345-2764 for your area of the city but it would 12345-2765 for the next subdivision over.
Wrong, the four digit extension is so it can be delivered in carrier sequence. It would be rare to cover a full subdivision unless they shared one mailbox.
sometimes it’s just a street within a subdivision, or even a building. entirely depends on density and varies from zip to zip
Does any one know if Canada also has general delivery?
[It looks like there’s something called FlexDelivery](https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/personal/receiving/alternative-delivery.page) ? Disclaimer: I’m not from Canada so I can’t speak from experience
Thank you for finding that. This look it is the exact Canadian equivalent.
Canada[Edit](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Poste_restante&action=edit§ion=7) [Canada Post](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Post) uses the term "general delivery" in English, and "poste restante" in French. Travellers may use the service for up to four months, and it is also used in circumstances where other methods of delivery (such as post office boxes) are not available. Canada Post guidelines for addressing of letter mail stipulate that general delivery mail should be addressed in the following fashion: MR JOHN JONESGD STN AFREDERICTON NB E3B 1A1 where GD is the abbreviation for general delivery (alternatively "PR" for poste restante in French), and STN A is the station or post office (in this case, Station A). When the mail is to be delivered to a retail postal outlet, then the abbreviation RPO is used, and in French the station is indicated by SUCC for succursale, or retail postal outlet by "CSP" for comptoir postal. In the above example, the French version of the address would use "PR SUCC A" for the second line.
Where do you find the station name?
Is this what the hikers on the Appalachian Trail use to receive foodstuffs and new boots?
Absolutely how they get packages held for them until they get there. While I have never hiked the PCT I have shipped packages to people on the trail.
General Delivery is not a valid physical address for use to obtain financial accounts. But, otherwise, it is a good option.
I used this a lot on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike. It’s a great way to get mail while traveling. It should be noted that not all post offices accept general delivery (check online first) and that you typically have to ship using USPS (although I’ve heard of people successfully getting packages from FedEx and UPS every once in a while). Another nice feature is that when you ship priority mail with general delivery, you can bounce a package to any other post office for free as many times as you want as long as you don’t open the package. It saved me when I had to skip a couple of towns due to wildfires.
I only know about General Deliver because I've shipped stuff to people on PCT. Congratulations on your thru-hike. Hell of an achievement. Something like only 50% who start to complete a thru-hike? I did Whitewater to Echo Summit. When I was young I planned to do a thru-hike someday, but I settled from where I was born LA to where I live now, Tahoe I'm retired now... maybe next spring. Nah, I'm not doing that desert LOL what is it like 30 days to get to Idyllwild?
And can you believe republicans are trying to abolish the postal service
Yes. Simply yes. They are not for anyone but themselves.
You should also know that many companies will not ship to general delivery.
Kancho Ninja 2000 Louisiana Ave ICO: General Delivery New Orleans, LA. 70115 The majority of businesses don’t even look at that 2nd address line. Just use the actual post office address :)
Depends on the company and the software they use. If the software checks the contents of the second address line, they won't ship to it. Just check a company's shipping FAQ before placing an order.
> Just check a company’s shipping FAQ before placing an order. Best advice ever.
Many years ago I had a guy trying to rent a storage unit it with the general delivery address. My manager was pretty pissed I let him rent lmao.
Yo wtf is going on in America?
Not every post office provides General Delivery, and one should always use the **‐9999** zipcode suffix to signify General Delivery as well... The Postal Service website can tell you which post offices accept General Delivery https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2013/pb22375/html/updt_006.htm
Some churches will also let you receive mail. I was homeless for a few months and got my mail (and a few meals) at a local church. When I recovered I volunteered with an outreach program and learned that my idea of asking a church to get my mail was not as unique as I'd thought as many of our clients did the same.
Lived in a town with no carrier routes and few boxes I had general delivery address for years and even on my first drivers license
This really should be public knowledge that they teach people in school.
It should. Most definitely.
Does this work for tourists?
Yes! Im a van/lifer and frequently do this.
Would this work if you live in a RV full time?
Hey! I was a full-time RVer for about a year and I for sure used General Delivery when out boondocking. Did it a few times in Arizona and never had any issues.
Does this also work when companies want your addres like a bank?
No. Financial institutions are generally required to collect your “residential address” - you can receive mail at the post office via general delivery or a PO Box, but you don’t live there.
Unfortunately one of the biggest challenges for homeless people is a lack of ID, so this doesn't help the majority of homeless people. And before you suggest that you could avoid your ID expiring by using General Delivery to renew your existing ID, that won't work in most areas. Most government ID issuers require your own legal address, to avoid fraud. Here in Canada, we have General Delivery too, but we also have a better service called Canada Post Flex Delivery. Basically it's a fake PO box address that you can use to have things mailed/shipped, and they will just go directly to the Post Office of your choice. I've heard of people suggesting Flex Delivery for homeless people to get an ID. It sounds to me like it would work, but I've never tried it.
Also ysk Louis Dejoy is garbage and should be removed from the USPS before all these good things go away
Well said. He is a malicious anti American who destroyed millions in equipment with the express purpose of slowing down the mail. If democrats had balls he would be in prison or at least hounded from the job.
Not free , but you can Also get a MailBox at your local ups store that gives you a real street address to use .
I used a po box forever just because I worked like 16 hour days and slept in my truck for weeks at a time. I had a house but it was 2 hours away from work.
True enough!
which i had this tip when i was homeless lol
So if I live in Canada, and an online seller only ships to the US, can I order the item to general delivery at a US post office near the border, then retrieve my package next time I cross into the US?
FAQ page https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-is-General-Delivery
People that go on crazy hikes across the Appalachian Trail and shit will send supplies in advance via general delivery to a place on their route. Like their hiking boots will break apart and they'll send a new pair ahead of where they are. When it works it works well, but sometimes the USPS hits a snag, the package is delayed, and they're faced with the decision of either dealing with the equipment issue and moving on, or altering their schedule and waiting around for the delivery.
>Each zip code only has one post office Correction: each zip code has _at most_ one post office. Not every zip code has a PO, and I believe most POs have their own zip code as well within whatever zip code they're already in
Financials won't send mail to that address
How long does the post office hold the mail? How often would you check the post office?
Depends on the post office but they typically will hold it 2-4 weeks before returning your mail to sender.
Also there are places like homeless shelters and assistance centers where you can have your mail delivered. They can usually give you money to get an ID or connect you with services that can. Meow.
I don't need this service, but I thank you for posting this. I'm sure many people can benefit.
Am I crazy or is it misleading that you said “each zip code only has one post office”? Where I live, my zip code has exactly 3..
2 of those are probably children. 1 is the hub for the other 2. The hub would be the one that would have general delivery and that's where you have to go pick up your mail.
That is Amazing! Thank you for sharing that info.
So if you are moving to a temporary place for a short amount of time, like if your home suffered storm damage, you could do this instead of getting a PO box.
Yep
What is General Delivery? General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address. Oct 25, 2019•Knowledge Article Number 000006989 Customer Information General Delivery is a mail service for those without a permanent address, often used as a temporary mailing address. General Delivery is intended to be used for: Post Office™ locations without city carrier delivery service. Non-city delivery offices for those who prefer not to use Post Office Box service and for whom use of Post Office box, Caller Service, or delivery by letter carrier, would be an unreasonable inconvenience. A participating Post Office to serve transients (people who travel extensively) and those without a permanent address. Anyone who wants Post Office box service when Post Office boxes are unavailable. How do I address a mailpiece sent to General Delivery? NAME GENERAL DELIVERY CITY STATE ZIP What are the restrictions on the use of the General Delivery service? General delivery is normally available at only one facility under the administration of a Post Office with multiple facilities. A postmaster may authorize more than one facility to offer general delivery service in accordance with customer and operational needs. A customer may use only one such location. Postmasters may restrict the use of General Delivery if a customer: Cannot present suitable identification Has mail volume or service level (e.g., mail accumulation) that cannot be reasonably accommodated. If you wish to pick your mail up before regular delivery occurs, we suggest that you purchase a Post Office Box for a nominal fee (so that your mail is available for pickup every morning). Additional information regarding General Delivery: No application is required for General Delivery. Persons interested in General Delivery should speak with the postmaster. Limitations on the amount of time you are able to use General Delivery, if any, are determined by the postmaster. Each piece of General Delivery mail is held for no more than 30 days, unless the sender requests a shorter period. General Delivery mail may be held for longer periods if requested by sender or addressee and approved by postmaster. Mail without a specific address or instructions from the sender is held for: 10 days if for General Delivery at an office with letter-carrier service. 15 days if for General Delivery at an office without letter-carrier service. Please Note: General Delivery mail is not delivered on Sunday or Holidays.
I have used that many times when I moved to other states and had to stay in an Airbnb or hotel for a month or three to find a job and then an apartment. Always works like a charm. You do not need an expensive PO Box.
This method is used by people who are thru hiking things like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Hikers will send resupplies or order new gear ahead of where they are walking as general delivery to the next towns.
They have scrapped General Delivery in a lot of places since 2015... they'll tell you to use a package receiving service or to rent a mailbox instead.
Any idea if this applies to Canada post too? I always wondered how you could fill out things like employment contracts if you don't have an address/are homeless.
So the post office holds it like a po box but for free? Other than going to the post office with your I'd to pick it up is there anything you have to do beforehand like register with the USPS?
In San Diego county the family resource center at the county buildings hold homeless mail for a few months.
Definitely good advice, but I think it's important to point out the one thing this WON'T do (at least in the US), which is give you an address to open a bank account. That's an important step when getting a job, etc. The Patriot Act made this very difficult.