Collect on Delivery service is a service that allows the sender to pay and mail postage and the Post Office to collect postage fees and payment from the recipient on behalf of the sender and pays the sender recovering their money back. The recipient has an option of the mode of payment to be used to make the payment and has to pay on delivery of the postage.
USPS offers its customers a Collect on Delivery service. This service is available for use in several mail classes and comes with terms and conditions that need to be followed by the Post Office, sender, and the recipient of the package to ensure its success.
Overview of USPS Collect on Delivery
Collect on Delivery process
To use the USPS Collect on Delivery service, the senders of the postage prepare the item for mailing, take the package to the nearest USPS location or give it to the rural carrier and pay all the fees associated with the postage starting from $8.60. The items are received at the Post Office and mailed to the recipient address provided on the postage. The sender can track the progress of the package and once the package has been delivered to the recipient, the recipient pays the USPS all the fees and payments associated with the package. The fee must not exceed $1,000. USPS then pays the sender depending on the mode of payment they have received from the recipient.
Collect on Delivery restrictions
The following are restrictions associated with the Collect on Delivery services.
- The sender should not drop the postage at the Post Office mail, in a street letter box, rural mailbox, or give it to any carrier for delivery to USPS unless it is the USPS Rural carrier.
- A customer cannot use Collect on Delivery when sending international mail, disputed return merchandise, moving-picture films, and articles sent to or from APO, FPO, or DPO and armed forces agencies shipments.
- A customer cannot use Collect on Delivery for a collection agency or mailing statements of accounts.
- Collect on Delivery items can be combined only with Registered Mail or Registered Mail Restricted Delivery items if purchased with First-Class Package Service-Retail or Priority Mail items.
- Collect on Delivery Restricted Delivery service can only be combined with special handling for delicate items, return receipt, Hold for Pickup, or Signature confirmation classes.
- Amount collected on delivery should not exceed $1,000
Mail classes available for Collect on Delivery
The customer can purchase Collect on Delivery service to use the following USPS mail classes; Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service-Retail, First-Class Package Service-Commercial, USPS Retail Ground, Media Mail, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, and Parcel Select.
Collect on Delivery eligibility
For a mail to be eligible for Collect on Delivery it must have names and addresses of the sender, names and addresses recipient, taken to the Postal Office or collected by the rural carrier, and the fees and payments must not exceed $1, 000.
Payment for Collect on Delivery
Once the package has been received by the recipient, USPS receives payment on behalf of the sender. The recipient can pay in cash, debit card, check, or money order. The payment collected should not exceed $1,000 but for Registered Mail and Registered Mail Restricted Delivery items can have a stated value exceeding $1,000 but the amount collected must not exceed $1,000.
Collect on Delivery shipping details
The following are the information of shipping details of various items sent using Collect on Delivery service
- If a customer mails in-stock orders they will be delivered within 3-5 business days when shipped using USPS default shipping or 1-2 business days using Priority Mail Express service
- The sender is charged a $1.40 handling fee for orders up to $50.00 or $2.00 for orders above $50.00 for stamps and philatelic orders
- The sender is charged a shipping fee subject to the weight and Zip code of retail items to be mailed. In-stock retail items are delivered within 5-7 business days
- Free shipping items are delivered to the recipient within 2-8 business days with Parcel Select Ground service and all the orders have a Leave if No Response release
- Expedited shipping packages are delivered by the Post office within 1-2 business days or 2-8 business days by the USPS distribution center
Conclusion
USPS Collect on Delivery service assures the sender that they will receive their money back from the recipient of the package once the package is delivered. The tracking service available enables the sender to track the progress of the package and be in the know when it is delivered and be ready to expect the fees and payment associated with mailing the package.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long after failed delivery can the package be at the Post Office?
USPS holds undelivered items for a maximum of 10 days.
- Can a sender specify the form of payment that the recipient should use?
No. The sender is not allowed to specify the mode of payment. The recipient of the package will pay using their preferred mode of payment
- How do I contact USPS if my payment has been delayed?
To contact USPS to report payment delays a customer calls 1-800-275-8777
- How long can after delivery of a package can I retrieve a delivery record from USPS?
USPS keeps delivery records for Collect on Delivery for up to two years.
