Bad - Usps

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

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I may be jumping the gun here, but I ordered 7 Photon II's from TAD on 11/21. In an effort to "save" $1.65, I went w/USPS -- no insurance, no tracking, no nothing.

I sent an e-mail to TAD today, asking if they knew anything. Haven't heard back yet, but I expect the answer to be "nope, sent it weeks ago...."

Damn it anyway. That was an expensive lesson.

Mike
 
Yup, USPS been really bad lately. I sent a package priority mail insured from NJ to Florida on 11/16. On 11/26 tracking said it just got to a Colorado postal facility(???), was finally delivered on 12/2. Colorado would definitely seem the long way from NJ to Florida.
I hope your package shows up.

Dave
 
And things will get worse. Listen to this. I bought a bowie on Ebay from a fellow forumite here who was nice enough to ship the knife out to me. I sent the check on September 10th to NYC. He (the seller) accidentally gave me the wrong address and two weeks later I get the check back. No biggie...no one at fault. I sent the check again around September 25th or so....guess when he got it? Two weeks ago! No kidding. In the mean time, I cancelled the check (cost $8), wired him the money from Western Union (cost me $40)and am still waiting to get reimbursed by the money order company....over 3 months later! So there is $300 out there that belongs to me. The seller did split the cost of the WU charge. Apparently my check to him was stuck in NYC somewhere...maybe quarantined? Who knows. Technically it wasn't lost but I felt obligated to get the guy his money.

The knife? A Bruce Evans bowie...got a great deal on it but after all the other costs it cost me even more that a new one would have been.

Bruce, you're worth it buddy!
 
Even before the events of 9/11, I have had trouble with USPS. They are worthless in terms of handling packages. I never will send anything via USPS other than regular first class mail. Go UPS or FedEx, they offer better service anyway than the USPS in general.

USPS = buncha lazy bastids.
 
Before everyone jumps on the bashing-USPS bandwagon, I have mostly had very good luck with sending items via the postal service. I think a lot of it depends on which office you go through; the one in Amherst is great. Very friendly, competent people (though they're alway busy). The one the next town over, Sunderland, is terrible. They don't know anything about their products or services, and really screwed up a transaction I had a few months ago, because even when I asked they told me a regular money order was good in Canada. It isn't; you need an international one. Thanks guys.
 
Personally the only service I trust anymore with packages is Fed-Ex. I've had too many problems with UPS lately that makes them almost as bad as USPS...
 
I'm not sure I trust any of them much anymore. Fed Ex is probably the best as far as reliability, since they usually wont leave your $1500 computer sitting on your porch like UPS will. The UPS man will leave just about any package on the porch without a signature. ??? Wazzupwitdat? Generally, I have had pretty good luck with USPS. The most recent package, however, may change my mind about them. I had sent two hunting knives to Kenny Rowe for new basketweave pouches and Kenny told me that the package had been mailed back to me. I kept looking for this package, and finally the package got to my house yesterday(3 December). The package was postmarked 23 Nov. Where has this Priority Mail, Insured package been for almost 2 weeks? Oh well, at least they did get here. And, once again, Kenny Rowe proved his leatherworking excellence.
 
UPS is very bad indeed. Here where I live now, the UPS guy makes a habit of "hiding" packages under the small door mat, ringing the bell, and then running away! Good lord, it's bizarre, and so pathetic it's almost funny....
 
I've never had any trouble with the USPS as long as I use Priority Mail or better. Anything less for packagesis pretty much asking for trouble. UPS has generally been alright for me. There will always be mix-ups but I have never had a really bad experience with either. It's kind of funny sometimes to track a UPS package and see where it goes to finally end up getting to you. I live in Illinois and ordered something from Florida. It travelled the west coast on it's way to me. Go figure.

Happy Flipping,

Mer
 
Originally posted by Danbo
The UPS man will leave just about any package on the porch without a signature. ??? Wazzupwitdat?
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the individual delivery person. Some who are lazy will just leave it there if no one is home and a sig is required. Fortunately the UPS guy who has my neighborhood on his route is very good. If you do a search in What's New, I detailed the trials and tribulations of tryinig to literally chase down my UPS driver to get a knife from him after he tried to deliver it earlier in the day but I wasn't home...I needed the knife the next day for a photo shoot for an article. It's a funny story but at the time I didn't think it was :) UPS generally has been very good for me, save for the time a few years ago when they went on strike and my then new computer was stuck in transit. You talk about someone fit to be tied... :D
 
To this point the only trouble I have had with the Postal system seems to be that they take a lot longer than they say they will. I have never had a piece lost or stolen. When it has taken a few days longer than it should, a person does start to get a little nervous about what has happened to the item shipped. I have heard that, even if the item is insured, USPS is hard to get the money from.

Burke, as far as things on my end are concerned, that little mixup with the money order was no big deal. I thought things went pretty well actually. I know that it was a pain for you to have to go back and spend the time getting another money order (while still having the money outstanding for the first one) and then to have to pay for getting it to me a second time. Except for the slight delay, it all went fine from my end.
 
Get this. I pulled up the UPS website early this morning and noted that my new computer had made it to the UPS station in my town. Knowing full well that nobody will be home when they attempt delivery, I tried to locate the phone number for the local UPS station. The toll free number does not give the number, only the location of the local station. I already knew that, thank you. I finally found the number after doing some real Barnaby Jones detective work, and called the local station. The female that answered, after I informed her that I wanted them to not attempt delivery and to just set the box aside and I will pick up after work, informs me that the driver has to attempt to deliver the package. I tell her that nobody will be home, and that I want them to NOT waste their time. Again, I tell her that I will just come by about 4:00 and grab the package. Note that it is very early and the driver should not have yet begun his deliveries. She tells me in a smartass voice that the driver must attempt to deliver the package and that I can take the little yellow slip and call to arrange for me to pick up the package TOMORROW. I said I want my package today, and that I will just come by and get it after work. She again tells me that it is UPS policy that the driver must attempt to deliver. At this point, I am pissed off and frustrated and hang up. What morons! Doesnt common sense ever play a part in people's thinking these days?
Now, I have to go home and grab the little slip of paper and go track down the driver and get my package.
 
I sent a package from PGH.PA. to San Francisco CA.on 11/21.It took 9 days to get there.It was a 3 day priority mail.I just sent a package the other day and insured it for $100.If They loose it will they pay Me $300.?LOL.tom.:rolleyes:
 
UPS is by the far the most inept packaging company. I recently had a package supposed to by two day air take two weeks. Checked the tracking status "Phila, PA - Incorrectly Routed". I thought maybe the sender put my address incorrectly. Nope. Everytime I get a UPS tracking number and a promised arrival date... it is always one to three days later (or 12 days for the last one.. and it cost $58 to send it!).

As far as USPS. They are the best (standard delivery on Saturdays!). Never had a lost package from them. Even though the service lines are slower than mud. Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service, so don't bag on them for that. Usually all my Priority Mails are delivered 1 - 3 days, but since 12/1 it's been 1 - 7 days (A lot of X-mas cards and presents).

FedEx has been good to me. FedEx Ground (subcontractors) and Airborne are on my s-list for non-deliveries.


$0.02
 
So far, I have not had any problems with USPS as far as priority mail, but I've noticed delays in delivery. What normally takes 3 days seems to take 5. :rolleyes:
 
I have shipped and received ALOT of packages through USPS Priority Mail, and have NEVER had a problem! True, that SOMETIMES their 2-3 day "average" delivery is way off, but still, I think it's the "best bang for the buck".:).
 
I normally much prefer USPS, but they are really sucking the last few weeks. I'll chalk that up to the holidays, but it's still frustrating when your last 3 "Priority" packages that normally take 2 days to travel cross country are running about 6-7 days...it's like they were sent UPS:p
I can't stand UPS...
 
I think with 9-11 and the Anthrax matter it depends what post office it is going through. I am sure some hubs have been fubared by the anthrax threat. Of late I have both sent and received several packages USPS priority mail between Wisconsin and Arkansas and had great luck with them all. Very very fast. Beat UPS hands down, due to Saturday being a delivery day. In the past prior to 9-11 and the anthrax my experience was the same from other locations as well. I also have heard equal horror stories about UPS.
 
Keith,

as far as things on my end are concerned, that little mixup with the money order was no big deal. I thought things went pretty well actually. I know that it was a pain for you to have to go back and spend the time getting another money order (while still having the money outstanding for the first one) and then to have to pay for getting it to me a second time. Except for the slight delay, it all went fine from my end.
Click to expand...

Yeah, everything worked out in the end, but both of us were out the money for international shipping (not cheap) one time more than we should have been. It would be interesting to see a "Consumer Reports" style investigation of the different shippers. For me, USPS is convenient, comparably priced to others, and simple to use. I've never had a problem with delivery times. It was really just this one time that the incompetence of a particular office caused a problem with an out of the ordinary (international) transaction.
 
Since the horrors of 9/11, The airlines {commercial} that were used to a great extent by the USPS have severely curtailed the amount of mail they will fly. It is my understanding that they still do not accept the amount they used to prior to 9/11.

I use ONLY USPS. I too have had to wait longer than I expected at times, but they are by FAR better than the other carriers I have had experiences with. I know a UPS guy that uses mostly USPS.


Everyone has good and bad experiences with all. I do not post in threads bashing other carriers for this reason. I am posting here because I am a proud employee of the US Postal Service.

Just my opinion...
 
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