0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How quickly can my order be shipped?
A: We make every effort to ship your order that day or the next business day for in-stock items that don't require alterations. Alterations typically add one or two days to the order processing time. See our "Shipping" page for typical USPS transit days based upon where you live. Some special order shoes are shipped directly from the shoe company to you and will come in a separate shipment. The packing list will indicate this.
Q: When will my backordered item(s) ship?
A: Ames Postal Uniforms maintains has a huge stock in our warehouse and we work hard to avoid any backorders. Backordered items will ship as soon as they arrive to us from the manufacturer. Please call and we should be able to give you the appropriate timeframe depending upon the item.
Q: Can my order be shipped to my Post Office?
A: Orders may be shipped to your home or to your post office address.
Q: What is the cost for shipping?
A: In the Continental U.S., all packages will be shipped via Parcel Select from a third-party consolidator and last mile by USPS; See accompanying chart for estimated shipping time. All packages to Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. Standard shipping mail charge will be $7 for customers in Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands and $10 for Guam. Please indicate whether to charge your USPS Citibank credit card or your personal credit card. Some special order shoes are shipped directly from our vendors to you and would come in a separate shipment. The packing list would indicate when this has occurred on an item.
Q: Do I lose this year's allowance if I don't use it before my next anniversary date?
A: Allotment amounts cannot be rolled over from year to year. Use it or lose it! It is helpful to spend any old allotment money at least two weeks before your new allotment becomes available to avoid processing problems with your credit card bank transaction. If you did not spend all your allotment money before it expired due to an emergency, contact your Human Resource Manager or Station Manager for information on how to proceed. On a case by case basis the USPS may re-allot the unused portion.
Q: Do I have to pay sales tax on my order?
A: Sales tax is not required on orders paid with your uniform allowance. Sales tax may be collected on the amount of your order which exceeds your uniform allowance if you live in a state that requires the collection of such tax. If required, we will apply the appropriate sales tax to your order and include it in your invoice when your order is shipped.
Q: Can anyone purchase items from Ames Postal Uniforms?
A: We can only sell postal-logo items to USPS uniformed employees. However anyone can purchase non-logo items such as shoes, socks, overshoes, gloves, belts, and non-logo hats.
Q: What restrictions are there on what a Postal Employee can buy with their allowance?
A: USPS ELM (Employee and Labor Relations Manual) regulations state that Postal Employees who are required to wear a uniform must select items from the uniform category as prescribed for their appropriate gender and duties and are not allowed to order for others. See the list by craft on our "Authorized Emloyee Uniform Item (ELM)" page. All crafts can purchase shoes on their allowance.
Q: What happens if I go over my allowance or want to pay with a personal credit card?
A: You may pay the remainder of your balance with a personal credit card if you go over your allotment. If you would like to pay for the whole purchase with a personal card, we can only process the order if you provide a USPS uniform allowance card number. This is due to postal regulations and for security purposes.
Q: What is your return policy?
A: Customer satisfaction is our goal. All merchandise in resalable unused condition may be returned for exchange or a refund within one year of purchase. If used and found defective, we will exchange or repair within one year of the purchase date when accompanied by your receipt. Please try on your new garment soon upon receipt to make sure it fits to your satisfaction. Do so before washing or wearing. Trousers or slacks hemmed to 27" or less are not returnable or exchangeable. If you are returning an item and want a different size, we will pay for shipping of the replacement item(s) back to you. You pay for shipping to us. We accept the return of any item that has not been used and is still in the original packaging. When returning an item, use the return form which came in your package, or use the downloadable form here (pdf).
Q: What alteration services do you provide?
A: We custom hem trousers to your inseam measurements. You specify your inseam length when you add trousers to your shopping cart. All other items are factory hemmed to standard sizes. See our "Sizing" page for more information. Trousers or slacks hemmed to 27" or less are not returnable or exchangeable.
Q: I noticed that I made a mistake on my order on the website. What do I do?
A: Forward your confirmation email to our customer support email address with the change needed or call us immediately at 800-733-1243. Leave a message if it's after hours.
Q: I have received my order and there are mistakes. What should I do?
A: If there are mistakes in your order, contact us immediately for assistance. If you are missing items, check your packing slip to make sure that they are not backordered, or if it is shoes check to see if they are being shipped directly to you from the manufacturer.
Q: Is ordering on your site secure?
A: We have security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of information under our control. When accessed using an SSL capable browser, your order is processed on a secure server and your information is encrypted for maximum security. We use a secure server environment, encryption, unique user names and passwords, and other advanced technology to prevent interference or unauthorized access.
Q: What is your Privacy Policy?
A: We ask for information that is required to obtain authorization from the USPS Uniform Program to process your order. In addition, we ask for billing and shipping information. We may, from time to time, ask for information related to feedback in an online survey, or subscription to a newsletter or mailing list. The information you provide is kept confidential and used to support your customer relationship with us. The information provided by you is not disclosed to any outside organization unless required by law or other regulatory authority. Like many companies, we use "cookie" technology to keep track of your shopping cart and the pages you visit. The cookie does not contain any personal information about you and is not used for any other purpose. We also collect certain information from visitors and customers of our website, such as Internet addresses. This information is logged to help diagnose technical problems, improve the quality of our service and administer our website. Our website may link to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these websites. Please check the privacy policy of any website you visit.