How Do I Mail Soap? USPS Says No.

[SoapAddict415]

I don't think you'll have a problem the next time you try to mail soap. I've sent soap & body oils to family in Arizona. The USPS worker asked how my body oils were packaged & informed me how to properly package them for mailing (it was just a matter of shrink wrapping the tops & putting the bottles in plastic bags in case of spillage). Sometimes USPS can be very helpful and sometimes not. Hope your next experience is better.

 

[soapmaker]

Please don't feel bad. This is an excellent thread with a lot of helpful info for the next person as well.

 

[SaltedFig]

I've found with post staff here, that there can be quite a different culture in different post offices, and some will interpret the same set of rules in a different way.

I have an alternate suggestion for you, which still allows for you to ask your postage question in an open, direct manner to any counter staff member.

Before you go to the post office, first go to your local shop and buy the cheapest, most well-known soap brand in a package you can find.
It has to be a real soap, not a synthetic, but other than that, all you need is for it to be easily recognized as being plain, ordinary soap.

Take that packet to the counter, and ask them what they need you to write on the shipping documents, to ship soap to your destination.

Whatever that answer is, will be the answer for your soap too.

If you wanted to, you could even show them your soap, and ask them if it would be the same for this soap?
(But I do not believe this extra step is necessary, soap is soap - if one can be posted, the other can be posted).

 

[Susie]

There are no special posting requirements for soap. I researched it before I mailed the first package. And I do receive NaOH through the mail whenever I order it from ED, so if they can mail NaOH, I can mail soap.

When I lived out in the country, my mail person (female) hated delivering to us because we ordered rather a lot, and she had a little bitty car. But I called her boss to report that she was not even attempting to deliver packages. I knew because I was outside waiting on her, and I could see her stop at the mailbox. She was then forced to actually attempt to deliver the packages. Some of which were KOH and/or NaOH.

 

[SoapAddict415]

When I lived out in the country, my mail person (female) hated delivering to us because we ordered rather a lot, and she had a little bitty car. But I called her boss to report that she was not even attempting to deliver packages. I knew because I was outside waiting on her, and I could see her stop at the mailbox. She was then forced to actually attempt to deliver the packages. Some of which were KOH and/or NaOH.[/QUOTE]

I experience that too. I now live in an apartment complex. I order various items through Amazon Prime. Orders placed on Friday are guaranteed Sunday delivery but 9 out of 10 times I get a message from Amazon stating that the "carrier couldn't gain access to my building". That ONLY happens with the Sunday deliveries. I guess good service depends on who you get at USPS and that's a shame because a few "lazybones" make the whole agency look bad.



Sent from my Z828 using Soap Making mobile app

 

[Cylistarr]

I went ahead and simply used a different P.O. to mail my soap. I took the advice of another poster and simply answered "nope, just a bar of soap" and they accepted it without a hitch. I will remember the kiosk and online label printing options though, those are good resources.

Appreciate everyone who has replied!

 

[DeeAnna]

"... I've found with post staff here, that there can be quite a different culture in different post offices, and some will interpret the same set of rules in a different way...."

Yes, that's true here in the US as well. Last year I spent about $4000 on shipping, mostly using the USPS priority mail service.

One particular post office employee was charging my customers for additional postage. I have a commercial account with USPS and the rules say that any additional charges are to be billed to the sender (me) not the receiver (my customer). But the postal worker charged the customer anyway ... and only because that one particular PO person decided to interpret a certain set of rules in a very creative way. Thank goodness my local Post Master is a wizard for solving problems -- when I asked her for help, she took the matter firmly in hand, figured out what was happening, contacted the Post Master in the other PO about the employee, and worked with me to ensure the problem doesn't happen again. So shipping carriers -- USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc. -- all have their problems and their problem employees, but they also have a lot of good folks working for them too.

But as far as the OP's problem -- There is no need to lie. And there is no need to go to another Post Office. Soap is NOT a hazardous material. When the PO employee asks you whether you are shipping hazardous materials, have the confidence in yourself to just say "no". No need to explain the gory details, no need to worry about being arrested at the door, no need to choose your words creatively. A simple, truthful one-word reply is all that's required.

Now when I see sellers turning Priority mail boxes inside out to use for First Class mail packages, or using Priority mail padded envelopes for stuffing boxes sent via UPS ground, or other misuse of USPS mailing supplies -- that steams me. These supplies are included as part of the priority mail service, not for any other purpose, and my shipping rates are higher due to the misuse by others.