This thread breaks my heart. In the UK, we’ve been getting these for free and in bulk for ages. Meanwhile, my elderly parents are struggling to get any at all.
Fortunately I’ll be headed stateside relatively soon and can bring supplies to them.
Noting that technically, the “proper” website is COVIDtests with an s. But obviously the version in the subject line will redirect.
Color me embarrassed 
I’m sure hoping the multi-family at the same address is fixed soon, everyone deserves easy access to their tests.
How physically large are these tests, in their original packaging as mailed? Does it fit in the typical little apartment mail-room mailboxes? Or does the carrier have to come to my door and leave it on my doorstep in the rain (assuming it ever rains again)?
Will they mail it to a P. O. Box?
Have y’all noticed that the Covidtests site has a FAQ page, and have y’all read it? It specifically answers a few of the questions that have been raised in this thread. Here is the FAQ page:
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No, you cannot get another order of tests each month. Each mailing address is allowed ONE order of FOUR tests and that is all. However, the FAQ calls this the “initial program”, seeming to leave open the possibility that they may allow more later.
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No, you cannot get additional tests if there are more people living at one address. You get ONE order of FOUR tests per residential mailing address, and that’s all.
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No, you cannot give a P. O. Box as your mailing address.
HOWEVER, if you have insurance, your insurer is mandated to provide, or reimburse you for, EIGHT tests EVERY MONTH (ETA: Per covered person on your plan). You might have to buy them from a local drug store, paying for them up front, and then submit the receipts to your insurer for reimbursement. (Save those receipts!) Or your insurer might make deals with various local providers to give you tests at no up-front cost to you. Or your insurer might have you order tests from them, to be mailed. Whatever. You will need to get the information from your insurer about how to get the tests.
If you have insurance, see this page for details about the program. (This is the same link that @BigT posted and discussed several posts above.)
Okay, I just gone done ordered mine. Got order confirmation in the e-mail immediately.
The order form seemed to already know almost everything about me – My name, address (even the apartment number), city, and zip, all got auto-filled. Strangely, it didn’t auto fill the state. And I had to enter my e-mail address. Where is it getting all this information?
ETA: TBH, I’m actually more interested in getting those free masks that I’ve been reading about. Am I just supposed to go to any local pharmacy and ask for them? Is there some on-line site for ordering those?
Perhaps it’s your browser that’s automatically filling in your personal information?
I think that’s more-or-less obvious, but where is my browser getting that information from? I don’t recall having filled in a similar form from USPS any time recently, from which it could have saved such stuff. On top of which, I clean things out from time to time (cookies, cache, forms, search history, etc.)
If USPS has a database of past submissions, could they have pre-loaded that information into the HTML they sent me, perhaps from some long-forgotten thing I submitted?
I think that you are giving the USPS much more credit for tech skillz than they deserve. My browser recognizes and automatically fills my shipping info into any site I use but never auto fills my email addy unless I start typing it.
Drifting back on-topic, WaPo has an article about this. It seems that Louis DeJoy is taking great pains and pride in making this project a success, as it is a massive undertaking for which USPS has not historically been well prepared. He seems to hope that this will be the feather in his cap that rehabilitates his miserable reputation. His background in logistics is a plus.
For anyone who might need it, there’s also a phone line where you can order these tests:
I registered for Informed Delivery with the postal service some time ago (found it alarming I’d received no mail in a week, not even ad flyers which are apparently no longer a thing anyway). Just checked what’s on tap in the near future and have an expected delivery date and tracking for my test order. They’re claiming ETA Tuesday, 25 January, but since my package is in Nevada and I’m in central California, Monday isn’t improbable.
My test kit was delivered today. - Actually, it might be from the state, which just started taking orders for free kits a day or 2 ago.
Did you get a tracking number? The order number returned in email isn’t a USPS tracking number. I haven’t seen anything in email since I placed it on 20-Jan.
Actually the initial email answered my question:
Once your package ships, you’ll receive a tracking number and updates on the expected delivery date.
Mine were in the mailbox today. Note that these have an expiration date in July, while the ones I bought from Walmart.com have a date in October.
Not that I was expecting much but I haven’t received any notice after 6 days.
Nor I either after 5 days.
I did get an immediate confirmation when I placed the order, so I know I gave my e-mail address correctly.
I got nothin’.
I’ve been in the shipping business for over 30 years including product launches. I can honestly say the Post Office has taken on a big project. It would be interesting (to me anyway) what they’re up against. How many manufacturing plants are involved, what volume and piece count is expected per day, etc… At some point it becomes an I Love Lucy episode at a chocolate factory. Just what freight handlers want after the Christmas chaos.
I got my tests today. @Senegoid they aren’t that big. It’s a 8x11 poly envelope but the test box is like 2 cassette tapes in size.
It’s a single box with 4 tests inside. Made in Korea.
I ordered my tests as soon as they were available. My boyfriend ordered his right away but didn’t get them yet. Mom ordered hers a day after me and lives down the street and hasn’t gotten hers yet.
My Informed Delivery said I had a package from “HHS” today. And also I got a separate email from the USPS that said my tests I ordered were coming today. That email had a tracking number but said they were out for delivery so I didn’t need the tracking number.
The box says store at 36-86 degrees F and it was 20 today where I live. So what did being outside half the day in those temps do to my tests?