| How to Ship a Package at the Post Office Posted: 10 Dec 2020 12:00 AM PST Whether you're shipping a package to a client or a friend, the United States Postal Service can be a reliable and economical option for you. Shipping a package from the post office may seem like a complicated and confusing process, but it's actually pretty easy if you know your shipping options and how to properly prepare your package for shipment. [Edit]Choosing a Shipping Method - Use Retail Ground for the most affordable shipping option. Formerly known as Standard Post, Retail Ground is the cheapest way to ship a package via the USPS. But it is also the slowest, with a delivery rate between 2-8 business days. If time is not a huge concern for your shipment, then Retail Ground is a great option.[1]
- Retail Ground can sometimes take up to 14 business days to deliver your package.
- The maximum weight for sending packages via Retail Ground is .
- Use Priority Mail to pay a flat rate regardless of the weight of the package. Priority Mail has an expected delivery time of 1-3 days and includes free tracking. This shipping option offers many "flat rate" boxes, which means if the package fits inside of the standard box offered by the USPS, then the weight doesn't matter. This can take the hassle out of weighing the package and making sure you include enough postage.[2]
- You can use Priority Mail to send packages weighing up to .
- All of the boxes and envelopes for Priority Mail are free! You can request to have them shipped to your home or office, or you can pick up what you need from the post office. by .
Padded Flat Rate Envelope: A waterproof, padded envelope that's by .
Small Flat Rate Box: A small, cardboard box measuring x x .
Medium Flat Rate Boxes: A box with the dimensions x x OR x x .
Large Flat Rate Box: The largest flat rate box, which measures x x .}}
- Use Express Mail for the fastest delivery time. The Priority Mail Express option is the most expensive shipping option, but it is also the fastest and has a money-back guarantee. It is the USPS version of next day delivery, taking 1-2 business days to arrive. It also offers flat rate boxes that allow you to ship anything that fits as long as the package weighs less than .[3]
- Express Mail also has an expedited service to have your package delivered by 3 p.m. the next day.
- Express Mail also provides insurance coverage for up to $100, a signature confirmation of delivery, and tracking information.
- Note that Priority Mail Express often has a separate pick-up and drop-off time in order to arrive at its destination on time. Contact your post office by phone or go online to confirm the drop-off time.
- Use First-Class Mail to ship envelopes that weigh less than . The First-Class Mail shipping service is an affordable way to send a lightweight package quickly. Packages are delivered within 1-3 business days, and the USPS offers insurance for loss or damage up to $5,000 for merchandise. You can also add additional services like delivery confirmation, which allows you to track your package as it travels to its destination.[4]
- Use padded envelopes to send First-Class Mail for their light weight and durability.
- To send a lightweight package via First-Class Mail, the envelope must not exceed by , or your package will be charged at the next higher price or mailing category.
- Your package must be at least thick. If your package doesn't fit the dimensions, the USPS may return it, or automatically upgrade the shipping and charge the customer.[5]
- Send books, CDs, and other media using Media Mail. The USPS Media Mail service is a cost-effective way to send media like sound and video recordings on a disk, manuscripts, sheet music, printed educational charts, medical binders, and computer-readable media safely across the country.
- Video games and computer hard drives do not qualify for Media Mail prices.
- Media Mail has a maximum weight of .
- Ask a postal worker if your items qualify as Media Mail before you package it up and ship it from the post office.
[Edit]Packaging and Sending Your Shipment - Place your shipment into a box or envelope and seal it shut. Fit your item or items into the box or envelope, add cushioning materials (like bubble wrap, newspaper, or packing peanuts) if necessary, and seal the envelope or tape the box shut with packing tape so that it closes flat on all sides. Reinforce the flaps on the top and bottom with tape so that the box doesn't open in transit.[6]
- For Retail Ground and First Class Mail, you can use any sturdy cardboard box. You don't have to use the USPS Priority Mail box.
- Use a box that will hold your shipment, but leaves a little bit of room for you to add any padding material.
- If your box has other stickers or logos other than the USPS logo for Priority Mail boxes, you can cross them out with a marker or cover them with your postage label.
- Make sure your box does not have anything loose hanging from it like twine, string, or tape because it can get caught in the sorting equipment.
- Address the package clearly. You can use label stickers or write the address directly onto the package. Be sure to put a return address and include the zip codes. Use ink that doesn't smear so the address remains legible as it travels to its destination.[7]
- Use a permanent marker if you're writing the address directly on the package.
- Bring your package to the post office to measure and weigh it. Before you can ship your package, you have to pay for the correct postage, which means you need accurate size and weight measurements. A postal worker at the retail counter of your post office will weigh and measure the package to determine how much postage it requires. They will also be able to inspect the package to confirm that it has been prepared correctly.[8]
- When the postal worker calculates the necessary postage, be sure to ask about the cost for confirmation numbers as they may cost extra depending on your shipping method.
- Apply the postage to the package. After your package has been weighed and measured, you can purchase the necessary postage to have it shipped. Apply the postage to the package in a clearly visible location. The postage label will include a barcode that will be scanned as it is processed during its journey to be delivered, so make sure the label is easy to find and scan.[9]
- A postal worker can also give the cost to ship for multiple methods so you can compare and choose the best option for your shipping needs.
- The postal worker at the post office will often apply the postage to your package for you if you purchased it from them.
- Postage always goes in the top-right corner of an envelope, but this can vary for packages.
- If you printed your own postage on regular paper, use clear tape and cover the paper entirely so it doesn't get too wet to read or scan.
- Give your package to the postal worker at the retail desk. The postal worker behind the counter can confirm that the package has been properly prepared and the correct postage has been applied. They will then scan the package and process it for delivery. They can also provide you with a confirmation or receipt of the transaction.[10]
- Get a tracking number if desired. Tracking information allows you to follow the package in transit. This is a great feature if you need to check the status of a package or need to verify that it was delivered. It may cost extra for tracking information on a package being sent via First-Class Mail or Retail Ground, but it can give you peace of mind knowing the status of your shipment.[11]
- Tracking information comes free with Priority Mail, Priority Express, and First-Class Mail.
- You can also get a signature confirmation if you need to verify that the package was received by a person.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Someone Smile Posted: 09 Dec 2020 04:00 PM PST Getting someone to smile is always a rewarding and positive experience that not only makes them feel better, but will probably make you feel better as well! By telling someone a joke, giving them a compliment, sending them a handwritten letter, or giving them a gift, there's a good chance you can get them to smile. If all else fails, you can always bring out your greatest weapon: your own smile. There's nothing like being smiled at to make a person smile in return! [Edit]Telling Them Jokes - Know your audience. If you want someone to really appreciate a joke, and smile at it, you need to tell a joke you know will appeal to their particular sense of humor. You can't tell a joke that you know they'll find offensive or dull and expect them to appreciate it. Try to play to their interests and sensibilities to get them to laugh.[1]
- For example, if your friend is a big fan of puns, you could tell them a joke with a pun as the punchline, like "Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere." [2]
- If your friend likes knock-knock jokes, you could tell them this one: "Knock, knock. Who's there? Amish! Amish who? You're not a shoe!"[3]
- Follow the rule of 3. The rule of 3 is a classic joke-telling pattern in which the punchline is delivered in the third line of the joke. The first 2 lines set up the pattern of the joke, while the third line breaks the pattern.
- For example: "I go to Las Vegas to see the shows, eat at the buffets, and visit my money." Here, 2 expected things set the pattern and then are followed by something unexpected.
- Another example would be "A man goes into a psychiatrist, and says, 'Doctor, my brother thinks he's a chicken.' The doctor says, 'Why don't you take him to the hospital?' The man says, 'I would, but we need the eggs.'"[4]
- Practice your rhythm and timing. Rhythm and timing are essential to good joke-telling. The rhythm dictates the structure of a joke (the order in which each part of a joke is delivered from setup to punchline), while timing relates to a joke-teller's ability to judge when each part of the joke should be delivered given the responses of the audience.[5]
- Practice telling your joke over and over to get a sense of your command of the best rhythm and timing. You can practice in a mirror, record yourself with your phone, or tell your joke to another person.
- Tell your joke at the right time. Wait for the right moment. If the person you want to tell your joke to is distracted by something else or is in a particularly bad mood, they may not be receptive to your joke or want to pay attention to it. Wait until you have the full attention and focus before you tell your joke to them.[6]
- Some bad moods may be more receptive to jokes than others. If someone is angry or has just experienced a major loss, they probably won't want to hear a joke. If they're just having a bad day or are momentarily upset about something, a joke might be able to cheer them up.
[Edit]Giving Them Compliments - Be specific about why you're complimenting them. The most memorable compliments are ones that include specific examples explaining why the compliment is worth giving. For example, don't just say that someone is kind; give an example of a time when that person was kind.[7]
- Try to use examples that are recent. It may seem odd if you compliment someone for something they did several months earlier.
- For example, you could say "I thought it was really nice of you to plan our friend's birthday party the other day."
- Give honest compliments, not fake ones. People can tell if you're not giving a real compliment. So, don't tell them that they're kind if they're not really that kind. Instead, find something about them that is genuinely worthy of a compliment. Everyone has something for which you can compliment them.[8]
- For example, you could say "I think you're the smartest person on our trivia team. You always know the answers to the tough science and math questions."
- Acknowledge how their character made the compliment worth giving. The best compliments are ones that reflect positively on a person not just in the moment, but on a fundamental level. Think about how their character or personality influenced the act that made them worthy of a compliment and how that makes them unique.[9]
- If you compliment someone for a specific act of kindness, for example, you could tell them that you think they are a kind person in general with a unique generosity of spirit.
- For instance, you could say "It was really nice of you to help that person change their tire. Not many people would do that, and I think it just shows how generous and giving you are."
- Tell them how much you appreciate what they did to deserve the compliment. Showing your appreciation for what someone has done always makes your compliment more memorable and makes them appreciate it even more. Plus it will help to strengthen your relationship with that person.[10]
- You could tell them how much you appreciate having such a kind friend, because it makes you want to be more kind.[11]
- You could also say "Seeing you volunteer at the recycling center made me realize how important the environment is, and now I want to volunteer there too."
[Edit]Sending Them a Handwritten Letter - Use a fountain pen and good quality stationery. A letter worth smiling over isn't just going to be written on college ruled paper with a number 2 pencil. Find a good fountain pen and some good stationery online so that your letter is worth keeping.[12]
- If you can't get your hands on stationery, you could also use a blank greeting card.
- Write the letter in a conversational tone. Your materials should be fancy, but your content shouldn't. Writing your letter like an 18th-century English baron will probably be borderline incomprehensible to your recipient.[13]
- Handwritten letters don't need to be just for someone living far away. It could also be for someone you see frequently.
- For someone living far away, you could write about what's happening in your life, tell your recipient how much you miss them, reminisce over shared memories, and ask them what's new in their life.[14]
- For someone you see frequently, you could write about how much you enjoy spending time with them, your thoughts on activities you've recently done together, and future activities you can plan with them.
- Seal the letter with a wax impression. There are several options when using a wax impression for letters. You can purchase pre-made seals online with adhesive backs if you don't want to do too much work, or you can buy wax and impressions for making seals on your own.[15]
- If you make your own wax seals, you can buy wax and the impression of your choosing online or at a craft store.[16]
- To make the seal, use a butane lighter to melt the wax so that it drips onto your envelope to seal the bottom of the "V" on the back flap, then press the impression into the wax. You can also find wax sticks for use with a glue gun at craft stores and online.[17]
- Mail the letter. Write the recipient's address in the center on the front of the envelope, and your own address in the top right on the front of the envelope. Then, visit your local post office during its operating hours and ask if your letter will require any special postage for mailing. Pay the postage and then give your letter to a post office employee to be mailed.[18]
- Because stationery and wax seals add to the weight, you will most likely need to pay a little extra for your postage.[19]
[Edit]Giving Them Gifts - Give something you know the recipient will appreciate. Don't just give money. Give something that appeals to your recipient's interests and sensibilities. Focus on giving experiences rather than material goods, especially experiences that you can share together.[20]
- The gift doesn't have to be expensive, and something that costs a lot might seem like overkill anyway. Spending a few dollars on a short activity could be just as well received as something more elaborate.
- For example, you could give them tickets to a concert by a musician that you both enjoy, so that you can spend time together.[21]
- Giving shared experiences will not only strengthen your relationship, it will show them that you appreciate their company and want to spend more time with them.[22]
- Wrap the gift. When you give a gift, it should always be wrapped. You can easily find wrapping paper online. Choose a wrapping paper that you know they will appreciate. If they like Star Wars, for example, you could wrap their gift in Star Wars wrapping paper.[23]
- Even experiences can be wrapped. If you give someone concert tickets, for example, you can put the tickets in a small box and wrap the box.[24]
- Include a thoughtful message with the gift. Don't just give the person their gift, include a card with a thoughtful message in it. Use the message to tell them how much you appreciate them and why you think they deserve the gift.[25]
- For example, you could write "Since you planned our friend's birthday party, I thought you deserved your own gift. So, I bought us concert tickets so we could spend some time together!"
- Figure out the best time to give the gift. Don't give them the gift when they're busy or preoccupied or they won't fully appreciate it. Choose a time when you have their full attention. You can also consider giving them the gift when they seem sad, because it might cheer them up.[26]
[Edit]Smiling at Them - Pick the right time to smile. Numerous studies have shown that smiling produces a positive reaction in other people and often gets them to smile back.[27] But, if you smile at someone at the wrong time, its impact is lost. Make sure the person you're smiling at is giving you their full attention and is in a receptive mood for a smile.[28]
- For example, it might not be a good idea to smile at someone while they're mourning another person's loss at a funeral, or while they're trying to find their keys.[29]
- On the other hand, it might be a better time to smile at someone if you're having a conversation with them, comforting them after a bad day, or telling them a joke.
- Smiling at someone might make them smile even if you don't know eachother.
- Smile with your whole face, not just your mouth. People can tell if you're giving them a fake smile, so make sure your smile is genuine. Don't just smile with your mouth or show your teeth, crinkle up your whole face and especially your eyes. That way they know you're giving them a smile with your whole attention.[30]
- Try practicing your smile in the mirror while you think of pleasant thoughts. That will give you a gauge of what your most genuine smile looks like.
- Look them in the eyes. Eye contact is the surest way to show someone that they have your full attention, and the best smiles are given when you're focusing entirely on the person at whom you're smiling.[31]
- Eye contact will also make your interaction more memorable for the other person, so the impact of your smile will last longer.[32]
[Edit]Sample Ways to Make People Smile [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Use an Oatmeal Bath Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:00 AM PST Oatmeal baths are a tried and true way to soothe away your itchy, irritated skin. Believe it or not, these baths can help with a variety of issues. If you have a lot of colloidal oatmeal (a medicinal type of oatmeal) lying around, take a peek at this list to see how oatmeal baths can possibly help you in the future.[1] If you just have regular oats, grind them to a fine powder with a food processor so they'll be ready to mix with your bath water![2]
[Edit]Soothe itchy skin.[3] - Whip up a simple bath with 1 cup (129 g) of colloidal oatmeal. Fill your tub with lukewarm water, then sprinkle in the colloidal oatmeal. Relax and unwind for about 15 minutes, which can help relieve your itchy skin. When soaked in water, oatmeal does a great job of sticking to your skin, which helps protect and soothe your skin.
- Scientific evidence also shows that oatmeal has some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, which are great for your skin.
- Don't use hot water in your oatmeal baths—this can actually irritate your skin.
- If you don't have any colloidal oatmeal on hand, blend 1 cup (129 g) of oatmeal in a food processor first until it turns into a powder.
[Edit]Give your itchy dog some relief.[4] - Fill your tub with lukewarm water and mix in ⅓ to 1 cup (43-129 g) of ground oatmeal. Stir the powdered oatmeal into the bath water until it looks milky, and coax your furry friend into the tub. Gently ladle the bath water over your dog's fur and skin, waiting 10 minutes for the oatmeal to really soak in. Rinse off the leftover oatmeal with warm water until your pet's fur and skin is completely clean. Then, guide your pooch out of the tub and towel-dry them off.
- Small dogs only need about ⅓ cup (43 g) of colloidal oatmeal in the bath, while bigger dogs might need ½ to 1 cup (65-129 g).
- If your dog still seems itchy after the bath, call your vet for advice.
[Edit]Treat eczema and psoriasis.[5] - Fill up your tub with lukewarm water and mix in the colloidal oatmeal. Stir the powder into the bath water and soak for about 10-15 minutes. Towel-dry yourself off as you step out of the bath, so your skin is damp but not dripping wet. Then, rub your moisturizer of choice into your skin right after.
- A nice soak in an oatmeal bath can help loosen some of the psoriasis "scales" on your skin.[6]
[Edit]Soothe a yeast infection.[7] - Give yourself temporary relief by soaking in a lukewarm bath. Yeast infections can leave you with an overwhelming itch and burning feeling that just won't go away. While it's best to tackle yeast infections at the source, an oatmeal bath can give you some relief from the more obvious symptoms.
[Edit]Cope with itchy chicken pox.[8] - Enjoy a 20-30 minute oatmeal when you have chicken pox. Cool or lukewarm water can help soothe away the itch—it's really up to your personal preference. Since chicken pox tends to flare up all over, give yourself 20-30 minutes to soak instead of the usual 15-minute bath.
- If you plan on washing up during your oatmeal bath, choose a mild soap that won't irritate your skin even more.
- Pat your skin dry after the bath instead of rubbing it.
[Edit]Treat poison ivy rashes.[9] - Take quick oatmeal baths to cope with the itchiness. Poison ivy, sumac, or oak rashes are no fun, especially if they're all over your skin. Soak in the tub for a few minutes and see if the oatmeal helps relieve any of the itchiness.
- When you're not soaking in an oatmeal bath, treat the rash with calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, or a cool compress.
- Antihistamine pills might also help make the itching go away.
[Edit]Soothe away hives.[10] - Draw a cool oatmeal bath for yourself if you develop hives. Hives are typically the result of an allergic reaction, and are very unpredictable. Fill your tub with cool water, then sprinkle in some colloidal oatmeal. Soak in the tub for a few minutes and see if your hives go away.
[Edit]Take a bath if your skin is irritated from cancer treatment.[11] - Cancer treatments can really ravage your skin with unpleasant side effects. You may notice unexplained rashes, or feel like your skin is sunburned. Add some colloidal oatmeal to your bath to help ease away these unpleasant symptoms. Lukewarm or cool water is best for these kinds of baths.
- Always talk to a doctor if you're dealing with any unexplainable side effects from your treatment.
- There are a lot of skincare products out there with oatmeal included, like cleansers, emollient creams, and lotions.[12]
- Aveeno is a really popular brand of colloidal, bath-ready oatmeal.[13]
- Oatmeal baths can also help with pesky bug bites.[14]
[Edit]Warnings - Oatmeal baths are a great home remedy for itchy and uncomfortable skin, but they're not a permanent solution. Talk to your doctor for more specific suggestions for your condition or ailment.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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