How to Reroute a USPS Package? A Guide for E-commerce Sellers

For U.S. e-commerce sellers asking how do you reroute a USPS package, rerouting means trying to change what happens after the parcel is accepted into the USPS network. In practice, rerouting usually maps to three outcomes: redirecting to a new address, holding for pickup, or returning to sender. What you can do depends on eligibility, timing, and the latest tracking scan.

Pick the Right Reroute Path

Redirect address

Choose this when the customer entered the wrong address, a unit number is missing, or your post-purchase review flags risk after the label is already in use. Once USPS has accepted a parcel, you typically cannot edit the label and “fix it later.” The seller-controlled approach is usually Package Intercept, provided the shipment is eligible.

Hold for pickup

One common seller workflow is USPS Package Intercept hold for pickup, which moves the package to pickup instead of doorstep delivery when risk is high, such as gated access, mailroom confusion, porch theft, or a customer who cannot receive the package during delivery hours. A hold can be requested through intercept in some cases, or through recipient-facing options when USPS makes them available for that tracking number.

Return to sender

Choose this for cancellations, confirmed fraud, undeliverable addresses, or situations where recovering the parcel and reshipping correctly is the lowest-risk outcome. Return to sender is often an intercept outcome, but it still depends on eligibility and how far the package has progressed.

Check Eligibility Quickly

Read key tracking scans

Use tracking to pick the next action instead of guessing. It prevents wasted steps and keeps your customer messaging aligned with what USPS can realistically do.

Confirm domestic and service limits

USPS reroute mechanisms are not universal and can vary by mail class, barcode, and processing stage. Confirm current rules on the official USPS page before you promise a reroute: USPS Package Intercept. Recipient-side actions are explained here: USPS Delivery Instructions.

Verify who can request changes

From an operations perspective:

• Sellers usually have the strongest control when Intercept is available.

• Recipients sometimes see Delivery Instructions or pickup options for a tracking number, but those options can be unavailable or disappear as the package advances.

Transit damage also drives “reroute” tickets that are really reship requests. Protective pack-outs reduce those preventable follow-ups on fragile items and cosmetically sensitive products. Stock padded bubble mailers to standardize protection, reduce “arrived damaged” complaints, and keep fulfillment consistent across your team.

Seller Method: Package Intercept

Best use cases for sellers

Package Intercept is most useful when a customer reports an address mistake shortly after shipment, you detect fraud indicators after the parcel is already moving, you want to push the shipment into a safer outcome such as hold for pickup, or you want the parcel returned rather than delivered.

Submit an intercept request

Use the steps below as a quick SOP for how to intercept USPS packages as early as possible in the tracking lifecycle.

1. Confirm the latest scan is not “Delivered.” “Out for Delivery” can still be worth attempting for high-value orders, but expectations should be conservative.

2. Submit the request using the official portal: USPS Package Intercept request portal.

3. Select the outcome that matches your goal, such as redirect, hold for pickup, or return to sender.

4. Message the customer clearly: USPS may accept the request and still be unable to execute it if the package progresses too far before it can be pulled.

Fees and failure reasons

Package Intercept is a paid service and it is not guaranteed. The most common failure driver is timing, meaning the package is already too close to final delivery. Other failures come from eligibility limits tied to mail class, barcode type, or USPS processing state.

What to do if intercept fails

Use a consistent fallback plan so your support team stays aligned.

• When tracking is still moving, re-check status later and adjust expectations rather than repeatedly submitting requests.

• When it flips to out for delivery, shift to same-day mitigation in the next section.

• When it is delivered, move immediately to the delivered-issue workflow and apply your replacement or refund policy based on margin, risk signals, and customer history.

Customer Options You Can Guide

Delivery Instructions

For some packages, customers can request delivery preferences through USPS. When it appears, it reduces support load because the customer can take direct action.

Hold for pickup steps

Many sellers prefer USPS Package Intercept hold for pickup for high-value orders, because it reduces theft risk and creates a clear pickup handoff when the option is available. When USPS offers “Hold for Pickup” for a tracking number, it can be the cleanest option for customers dealing with access issues or theft risk. Provide customers with this short checklist:

• Tracking number

• Full name that matches their ID

• Preferred Post Office location if USPS prompts for it

USPS explains the service here: Hold for Pickup Service.

Why the option may not show

The Delivery Instructions or hold option may not appear because:

• The shipment is not eligible

• It is too early or too late in the delivery workflow

• USPS systems do not expose the option for that item or address

When the option does not show, the seller-side path is usually Intercept (when eligible) or escalation to the destination Post Office in time-critical cases.

Time Critical Situations

When it is out for delivery

Once tracking shows “Out for Delivery,” think in terms of risk control rather than a perfect reroute. The realistic goals are preventing a failed delivery attempt, avoiding an unsafe drop, or arranging pickup when possible. Set customer expectations that last-mile changes are limited.

Contact the destination post office

For high-value orders, contact the destination Post Office with the tracking number, the recipient name and address, your requested action (for example, hold for pickup where possible), and a short reason such as address correction or fraud prevention. Results vary based on route timing and whether the parcel is already with the carrier.

Delivered Issues

Misdelivered packages

When tracking shows delivered but the customer cannot find the package, start with verification before reshipping. Confirm the exact address printed on the label, including unit number. Ask the customer to check household members, neighbors, building staff, parcel lockers, and any safe locations. When it is still missing, start the official USPS workflow here: Missing Mail and Lost Packages.

Delivered but not received

Before replacing an order, collect consistent evidence so decisions are defensible and repeatable.

Standardized mailers also reduce handling issues that can trigger reships and support tickets, especially for soft goods shipped at scale. Stock poly mailer bags to keep pack-outs consistent, improve throughput at the packing station, and reduce packaging-related complaints.

Conclusion

For sellers, rerouting is primarily a timing and eligibility problem. Use Package Intercept when you need direct control, guide customers to Delivery Instructions or pickup options when they appear, and pivot quickly to delivered-issue workflows once tracking confirms delivery. Consistent pack-out standards reduce reships. Restock the mailers you rely on most before peak volume.

FAQs

Can a seller reroute a USPS package after shipment?

Sometimes. The main seller-controlled tool is USPS Package Intercept, but it depends on eligibility and whether the parcel has progressed to last-mile delivery or delivery confirmation.

How late can you submit Package Intercept?

Submit as soon as the issue is identified. Once a parcel is out for delivery, the chance of a successful change drops sharply.

Can you reroute to a PO Box?

It depends on eligibility and what USPS accepts in the intercept workflow. When the redirect address is accepted by the portal, it may work. Otherwise, use hold for pickup or a return-and-reship plan.

What if Intercept is not available?

For sellers still asking how do you reroute a USPS package after shipment, the answer is usually timing plus eligibility, with Package Intercept as the main seller-controlled path. Guide the customer through Delivery Instructions when offered, contact the destination Post Office for time-critical high-value holds, or treat it as a delivered issue and use the USPS missing-mail workflow plus your policy on replacements and refunds.