I need to send a "real"-mail

kime

It's like an e-mail, but it uses real paper or something? I can't figure out how to sign up for an account online, help!

:P

No, but really, I haven't mailed a letter in years. I don't have envelopes or stamps. I need to mail a single letter, does the post office sell envelopes/stamps in single units? I'd rather not buy a pack of anything for the one time I'll send a letter per decade.

bowen

I think the post office sells single envelopes, and you can definitely get a single stamp.

You can also go to your area's equivalent of the dollar store and pick up envelopes for a whole $1 bill. It probably won't be much cheaper to get a single envelope at the post office.

see317

You should be able to get single stamps at the post office. They normally have a vending machine for stamps near the door (because nobody wants to stand behind the guy who's in line to buy a single stamp).
As for buying a single envelope, looks like they do sell prestamped envelopes at the post office , though it wouldn't hurt to call ahead and check to make sure.

kime

bowen wrote: »

I think the post office sells single envelopes, and you can definitely get a single stamp.

You can also go to your area's equivalent of the dollar store and pick up envelopes for a whole $1 bill. It probably won't be much cheaper to get a single envelope at the post office.

It's more of the fact that it's kind of wasteful than the cost. I'll go try then! Thanks to both of you

AngelHedgie

A better question is do you need to make sure that you know where the mail is? Because if you do, well...a stamp isn't going to cut it. You'll need two things, both of which are available at the post office:

* A Certified Mail label, which makes your letter traceable. The label should be attached to the upper center on the envelope.
* A return receipt, which is signed by the recipient and returned to you. This is a small green postcard that is filled out, and attached to the back of the envelope.

Sending mail like this will cost about $5, but when dealing with official communication, it's worth it.

kime

hmmm... It's tax stuff, since I forgot something on my return that I just noticed yesterday, so that is perhaps official-enough to be worth that, yeah. Thanks.

wonderpug

kime wrote: »

hmmm... It's tax stuff, since I forgot something on my return that I just noticed yesterday, so that is perhaps official-enough to be worth that, yeah. Thanks.

I think most people just use Certified Mail when mailing tax stuff. You definitely want to do that at a minimum so that you can have some form of proof that you mailed it on a certain date, just in case it gets lost.

You also don't need to buy stamps for this (or for any other thing you're going to be mailing at the post office face to face with a postal worker). At the post office they can weigh your letter or parcel, charge you for the exact amount necessary, then put a sticker on the item for you indicating postage was paid.

AngelHedgie

kime wrote: »

hmmm... It's tax stuff, since I forgot something on my return that I just noticed yesterday, so that is perhaps official-enough to be worth that, yeah. Thanks.

I would definitely send that certified with a return receipt - that way, you have proof of them getting the documents.

hsu

No need for return receipt for tax documents. Certified mail is enough proof to the IRS that you mailed your tax forms in time. But make sure you go to the post office in person, and have your certified mail form hand canceled, as that's part of the necessary proof.

CelestialBadger

Paper mail? Haha and will you be delivering it by pony? So quaint.

kime

pfft, come on, get with the times.

Carrier pigeon!

In other news, I successfully sent certified mail with minimal hassle. Thanks all! Now back to your regularly scheduled program of the modern age!