3 ms·

Only one test per address. Multi-family homes are sol. Top on their FAQ is "sorry to people living in apartments. Put in a request."

davidw 5y ago
Is it better to get tests to a bunch of people ASAP or wait until all the bugs have been worked out?
- willis936 5y ago
  I am not expecting perfection, but I am expecting the people who need the resources the most actually get access to it. Sfh in sprawlland benefit from some at-home tests that would cost them a negligible amount?
  - davidw 5y ago
    As a YIMBY, I'm very cognizant of the benefits of multifamily housing. But apparently their system has some problems with it. Would it be better to wait until the system is perfect for all addresses or go with what is functioning now and get tests to people?
  - ahahahahah 5y ago
    But again, your entire premise is wrong. It's not 1 request per physical building. People in apartments are able to get free tests from this just fine. You've made up a totally wrong hypothetical scenario and gotten all upset about what happens to people in your imaginary world.
    - willis936 5y ago
      How is my premise wrong? This isn't reddit, I'm going to need a bit more. People in mfh have more hiccups than those in sfh. How does this not advantage the advantaged?
      - squeaky-clean 5y ago
        I live in a MFH and we have 3 actual addresses for the units as far as USPS is concerned. Also for some stupid reason the units are #1, #A and #B but I don't think that's USPS's fault.
everly 5y ago
I was able to make an order to my apartment. And it’s four tests per address, not one. I don’t see where it says anything about apartment-dwellers being out of luck in the FAQ.
- willis936 5y ago
  One request per address*.
  - aceki 5y ago
    It's four, and you can still get at-home tests reimbursed by your insurance plan: https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-test-for-free https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-tes...
    - willis936 5y ago
      Four tests are in one request. It's one request per address.
      - xeromal 5y ago
        And every address with a unit number counts. What's your point? I live in a 3 flat in Chicago and each floor has it's own unit designation including mine. BSMT. haha
        willis936 5y ago
        I live in a mfh that has individual units and got kicked back. Your anecdote doesn't negate my point: mfh have more hiccups.
khuey 5y ago
Worked fine at my apartment building. 123 Main Street Apartment X is correctly recognized as a different address from 123 Main Street Apartment Y.
mike_d 5y ago
It is based on the postal service database, so if your address was properly split with the postmaster or if you have a history of receiving mail using multiple apartment numbers at the same address... you are probably fine. Seems like a reasonable compromise to prevent scalpers from using Apt 1, Apt 2, Apt 3, etc. at their house.
- willis936 5y ago
  You'd think that, but that isn't the case. Look at the top option. https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry https://www.cnet.com/health/usps-offers-solution-for-people-struggling-to-order-free-covid-19-tests/ https://www.cnet.com/health/usps-offers-solution-for-people-...
  - mike_d 5y ago
    If your address isn't in the postal database you should fill out that form and contact them. Your second step should be to call your local postmaster and figure out what is going on. It is possible your landlord didn't know any better and just told you to use an apartment number. Having an entry on a support contact dropdown simply means they want to route those requests differently than general support questions. It does not indicate that the problem is widespread.
    - willis936 5y ago
      My address is in their database. USPS has no issue doing their job every day. I filled out the form.
- ruined 5y ago
  seems like it would be possible to allow placing the order, and have a human review before the items ship. and what are scalpers going to do, compete with a free service?
  - reaperducer 5y ago
ruined 5y ago
this is a larger issue than perhaps a lot of people think it is. huge numbers of low-income people (think the people serving you food) in high-CoL cities are living in roommate situations, where several independent adults share a single address, often subletting. i'm already aware of several people in this situation who have been denied an order by this website.
SamBam 5y ago
Our multi-family home is still "Unit 1," "Unit 2" and it understood that just fine. If you have no division at all in your address then you're going to have trouble.

davidw 5y ago

Is it better to get tests to a bunch of people ASAP or wait until all the bugs have been worked out?

willis936 5y ago
I am not expecting perfection, but I am expecting the people who need the resources the most actually get access to it. Sfh in sprawlland benefit from some at-home tests that would cost them a negligible amount?
- davidw 5y ago
  As a YIMBY, I'm very cognizant of the benefits of multifamily housing. But apparently their system has some problems with it. Would it be better to wait until the system is perfect for all addresses or go with what is functioning now and get tests to people?
- ahahahahah 5y ago
  But again, your entire premise is wrong. It's not 1 request per physical building. People in apartments are able to get free tests from this just fine. You've made up a totally wrong hypothetical scenario and gotten all upset about what happens to people in your imaginary world.
  - willis936 5y ago
    How is my premise wrong? This isn't reddit, I'm going to need a bit more. People in mfh have more hiccups than those in sfh. How does this not advantage the advantaged?
    - squeaky-clean 5y ago
      I live in a MFH and we have 3 actual addresses for the units as far as USPS is concerned. Also for some stupid reason the units are #1, #A and #B but I don't think that's USPS's fault.

everly 5y ago

I was able to make an order to my apartment. And it’s four tests per address, not one. I don’t see where it says anything about apartment-dwellers being out of luck in the FAQ.

willis936 5y ago
One request per address*.
- aceki 5y ago
  It's four, and you can still get at-home tests reimbursed by your insurance plan: https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-test-for-free https://www.cms.gov/how-to-get-your-at-home-OTC-COVID-19-tes...
  - willis936 5y ago
    Four tests are in one request. It's one request per address.
    - xeromal 5y ago
      And every address with a unit number counts. What's your point? I live in a 3 flat in Chicago and each floor has it's own unit designation including mine. BSMT. haha
      - willis936 5y ago
        I live in a mfh that has individual units and got kicked back. Your anecdote doesn't negate my point: mfh have more hiccups.

khuey 5y ago

Worked fine at my apartment building. 123 Main Street Apartment X is correctly recognized as a different address from 123 Main Street Apartment Y.

mike_d 5y ago

It is based on the postal service database, so if your address was properly split with the postmaster or if you have a history of receiving mail using multiple apartment numbers at the same address... you are probably fine. Seems like a reasonable compromise to prevent scalpers from using Apt 1, Apt 2, Apt 3, etc. at their house.

willis936 5y ago
You'd think that, but that isn't the case. Look at the top option. https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry https://emailus.usps.com/s/the-postal-store-inquiry https://www.cnet.com/health/usps-offers-solution-for-people-struggling-to-order-free-covid-19-tests/ https://www.cnet.com/health/usps-offers-solution-for-people-...
- mike_d 5y ago
  If your address isn't in the postal database you should fill out that form and contact them. Your second step should be to call your local postmaster and figure out what is going on. It is possible your landlord didn't know any better and just told you to use an apartment number. Having an entry on a support contact dropdown simply means they want to route those requests differently than general support questions. It does not indicate that the problem is widespread.
  - willis936 5y ago
    My address is in their database. USPS has no issue doing their job every day. I filled out the form.
ruined 5y ago
seems like it would be possible to allow placing the order, and have a human review before the items ship. and what are scalpers going to do, compete with a free service?
- reaperducer 5y ago

ruined 5y ago

this is a larger issue than perhaps a lot of people think it is. huge numbers of low-income people (think the people serving you food) in high-CoL cities are living in roommate situations, where several independent adults share a single address, often subletting. i'm already aware of several people in this situation who have been denied an order by this website.

SamBam 5y ago

Our multi-family home is still "Unit 1," "Unit 2" and it understood that just fine. If you have no division at all in your address then you're going to have trouble.