How long will my package be at the post office?

November 19, 2008 6:08 PM

How long does the United States Post Office hold a package for a missed delivery?

I recieved a "Sorry We Missed You!" notice on 11/5, stating the package was available on 11/6. Being lazy, I forgot about it until now. Various places online said they will hold it between 10-15 days, but that I would get a redelivery notice. I haven't gotten any other notice. Will it still be at the post office?

posted by Loto to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Best bet is always to call the Post Office listed on the back of the paper. They may even send it out again if you ask. Oh, and the re-delivery notices have been inconsistent in my experience.
posted by mhz at 6:19 PM on November 19, 2008

Shipped USPS Priority Mail. Just a datapoint.

Sat at the foreign PO for ~33 days.

Notice Left, November 07, 2008, 3:20 pm, MYTOWN, STATE ZIPXX
Bullet Processed, November 05, 2008, 8:35 pm, NASHUA, NH 03063
Bullet Processed, November 05, 2008, 1:01 am, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01152
Bullet Unclaimed, November 04, 2008, 10:48 am, KEESEVILLE, NY
Bullet Notice Left, October 02, 2008, 12:22 pm, KEESEVILLE, NY 12944
Bullet Arrival at Unit, October 01, 2008, 1:56 pm, KEESEVILLE, NY 12944
Bullet Processed, October 01, 2008, 12:59 am, ALBANY, NY 12288
Bullet Processed, September 29, 2008, 10:19 pm, NASHUA, NH 03062
Bullet Electronic Shipping Info Received, September 28, 2008
posted by SirStan at 6:32 PM on November 19, 2008

The piece of paper I get says "please pick it up within 30 days." but there's no real threat of return.

I think they'll hold international ones longer, because they're such a pain to return.
posted by rokusan at 6:36 PM on November 19, 2008

Take the notice down to the post office and ask. If you're close enough to the post office, that is.
posted by curagea at 8:54 PM on November 19, 2008

Usually they tell me about a week.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:06 PM on November 20, 2008