on Friday  had printed books  wanted to mail out I use the printed postage and then i left the books for my letter carrier

come back later to find those book were not pickup but the letter carrier left the in the bulk area of my apartment mailbox

and they where both under 13oz

[what i ended doing was mailing them today from a regular us mailbox  this morning)but one books had the postage dated  for Friday Dec 19)

The postman can pick them up, they don't have to though.  It's merely a courtesy that a postal carrier picks up outgoing mail from our home mailboxes.  They also may not have realized they were outgoing mail.

I just blue box any outgoing mail anyway, that way I know it gets to the USPS and not stolen out of my box.

I just found something on the USPS about sending out packages.  You can schedule a pickup.  I was on their homepage and clicked on Household.  I saw package pickup and shouted hooray!  I'm in Michigan under a blanket of snow.  Like the rest of the midwest don't drive if you don't have to.  Since I've retired if I can not go out in the snow and cold I don't! 

It would like you to put your package in your mail box for assigned pickup.  If you can't they will pick up within a certain limit.  One of the things they listed was front door.  I noticed back door and other places.

Hope this helps others!

This is the most important part:

	Carrier pickup is free, regardless of the number of packages you're sending. Available for Overnight Guaranteed, 2-3 Day, International, and Return Item(s). Pickup occurs on the scheduled day when your regular mail is delivered. (Do you need to schedule pickup for a specific time?) Packages should be properly sealed and ready for shipment (including postage) at pickup. The deadline for pickup requests and changes is 2:00 a.m. (CST) the day your pickup is scheduled. Maximum weight per package is 70 lbs.

	Package pickup right from your home or office!

Whether it's Carrier Pickup™ or time-specific Pickup On Demand® Service, USPS Pickup Options make shipping or returning your packages quick and convenient.

Carrier Pickup Key Features Free, regardless of the number of packages you’re sending. Your carrier will pick up your package when your regular mail is delivered. Schedule a pickup for the next delivery day, or with the advanced pickup option, up to 3 months from today. Available with Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, International services, Merchandise Return Service and Parcel Return Service. What You Should Know Mailpieces weighing more than 13 ounces bearing only postage stamps as postage, must be taken by the customer to an employee at the retail counter of a Post Office, Contract Postal Unit, or Approved Shipper location. Packages must be ready for shipment before your carrier arrives. Requests must be received by 2:00 a.m. (CST) on the day your pickup is scheduled. Maximum weight per package is 70 pounds. Postage must be applied to each package. For More Information Carrier Pickup FAQs.

Carrier pick up is awesome, and I've used it a few times.  Unfortunately first class and media aren't on the list of types of mail you can schedule for pick up, so mostly I go to the blue boxes.  If you are doing priority packages though, its so convienent!

They don't have to pick up Media Mail at all unless you have also paid for a premium service like Priority mail in the same pickup.

I can't remember who, but there is someone here who send out a lot of books, and she always upgrades one to priority flat rate to get the free pick-up.