As a longtime retail and consumer industry expert, I‘ve had my fair share of experience with needing to cancel a USPS shipment. Just last month, I sent an important package to a client, only to realize afterwards that I had forgotten to include a crucial document inside. Panic set in as I realized the shipment was already on its way.
Fortunately, I knew my options for canceling a USPS shipment, even though it was already in transit. I was able to successfully intercept the package before delivery and have it promptly returned to me. Crisis averted!
I‘m sharing this story because I know how stressful it can be when you need to cancel a shipment for whatever reason. Whether you‘re a seller who made a mistake or a customer with buyer‘s remorse, it‘s important to understand what you can do to stop a USPS package from being delivered.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down all your options for canceling a USPS shipment, including refusing delivery, intercepting a package, and voiding unused labels. I‘ll also provide some insider tips for avoiding these situations in the first place. Let‘s dive in!
Option 1: Refuse Delivery of the Package
The simplest way to cancel a USPS shipment is to refuse delivery of the package when it arrives. Here‘s how it works:
- When your carrier attempts to deliver the package, tell them that you are refusing the shipment.
- If you receive the package in your mailbox or it‘s left at your door, do not open it. Instead, write "REFUSED" in large, clear letters on the front of the package.
- Take the refused package to your local post office and hand it to a clerk. Alternatively, you can give it back to your carrier if you catch them on their route.
As long as the package is unopened and in its original condition, USPS will return it to the sender free of charge. However, keep in mind that you won‘t be able to track the package once you refuse it. In USPS‘s system, it will simply show as "delivered" since it reached your address.
If you want definitive proof that the package makes it back to the sender, your best bet is to take it to the post office yourself and pay for return shipping with tracking included. It will cost a few bucks, but you‘ll have peace of mind knowing exactly when the package is delivered.
Refused Package Volume and Impact
Refusing delivery is a pretty common occurrence. While USPS doesn‘t share exact figures, they state that approximately 2.7% of all packages are refused and returned to the sender. Based on USPS shipping over 7.3 billion packages in 2020, that means nearly 200 million got sent back due to refusal!
All those refused packages can create quite the logistical headache for USPS. In fact, a 2019 report from the USPS Office of Inspector General found that processing and returning refused packages cost the agency over $100 million per year in additional transportation and labor costs.
Option 2: Intercept the Package Before Delivery
What if you need to cancel a USPS shipment before it even reaches its destination? In that case, you‘ll want to use the USPS Package Intercept service. Here‘s how it works:
- Go to the USPS Package Intercept portal (https://retail-pi.usps.com/retailpi/actions/index.action) and enter your package tracking number to check its eligibility. Most domestic mail classes with tracking or extra services can be intercepted, including:
- Priority Mail Express
- Priority Mail
- First-Class Mail
- First-Class Package Service
- Parcel Select
- USPS Retail Ground
- Bound Printed Matter
- Library Mail
- Media Mail
- If your package is eligible, select "Create a Package Intercept Request" and choose whether you want the package redirected to the sender or held for pickup at the local post office.
- Pay the $15.25 intercept fee plus any estimated additional postage using a credit card.
- If the intercept is successful, the shipment will be rerouted as requested. If not, the package will continue on to the original destination.
It‘s important to note that not all mail can be intercepted. Ineligible shipments include:
- Marketing Mail
- Periodicals
- APO/FPO/DPO destinations
- Items sent to a PO Box
- Packages requiring a customs form
- Hazardous materials
USPS also stresses that Package Intercept is not a guaranteed service. They‘ll do their best to catch the item before delivery, but there‘s always a chance it slips through the cracks.
Comparing Intercept Fees
Wondering how USPS‘s $15.25 intercept fee stacks up to other carriers? Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Carrier | Intercept Fee |
|---|---|
| USPS | $15.25 |
| FedEx | $15.25 |
| UPS | $16.10 ($15.90 for UPS Account holders) |
As you can see, USPS is tied with FedEx for the lowest intercept fee, with UPS coming in just slightly higher.
Canceling Unused USPS Shipping Labels
Now let‘s talk about what to do if you‘re a shipper who needs to void a label you‘ve already purchased but haven‘t used yet. Don‘t worry – as long as you request the refund within 30 days of creating the label, you can cancel it and get your money back.
Unused labels are eligible for refund if:
- No USPS barcode scan events show up in the tracking
- The same label hasn‘t previously been refunded
To request a shipping label refund, sign into your USPS Click-N-Ship account, go to the "Shipping History" page, and find the label in question. As long as it meets the above requirements, you‘ll see a "Request Refund" button to initiate the process.
Tips for Avoiding Canceled Shipments
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While it‘s good to know how to cancel a USPS shipment if needed, it‘s even better to avoid these situations altogether! Here are some tips I‘ve learned over the years:
For Customers:
- Double check the shipping address before placing your order, especially the zip code.
- If you‘re unsure about a purchase, look for sellers that offer free returns or at least a generous return policy.
- Contact the seller immediately if you need to cancel or change an order for any reason. The sooner you let them know, the more likely they can accommodate the request before the shipment goes out.
For Shippers:
- Implement a 24-48 "hold" period between when orders are placed and when they are shipped to allow time for cancellations and changes.
- Set up automated address verification to catch any invalid or incomplete addresses before labels are printed.
- Double check orders pulled for shipment against the packing slip to make sure the right items are going to the right destinations.
- Invest in good quality shipping software that makes it easy to void labels and re-route packages if needed.
The Bottom Line
There you have it, a deep dive into all things USPS shipment cancellation. While USPS doesn‘t allow you to cancel a shipment outright once it‘s entered the mailstream, you do have options to stop a package before final delivery by refusing it or intercepting it. You can also cancel and refund unused shipping labels within a certain timeframe.
Knowing how and when to execute these options can make all the difference between a successful shipment and a logistical nightmare. Hopefully the information and tips I‘ve shared here will help you navigate these scenarios more easily in the future.
Now I‘d love to hear from you! Have you ever had to refuse or intercept a USPS package? Do you have any other tips for avoiding or handling shipping mishaps? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy shipping!
