It appears I may have had my first issue with USPS....

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338375

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Last week I sold a knife here in the Exchange. I printed the shipping label online, and took the Priority small flat rate box to our local P.O on Wednesday and dropped it off... I waited until a clerk was available because I wanted it scanned, and a receipt printed out.

So I send the buyer a PM and give him the tracking number, and tell him it says scheduled delivery on Saturday the 6th. I figured it might even deliver on Friday the 5th. I get home from work late Wednesday night and check the tracking number to make sure it was processed.
Yep, it shows processed and that it left the local facility in route to the sort facility which is 170 miles from here. That was the last update. :mad:

So it either didn't actually leave the local P.O here, or it didn't get processed at the sort facility. Either way, it is M.I.A.... Guess I will go to the local P.O before work today, and see what they have to say. I'm sure they will be real concerned lol.

I've sent quite a few shipments using USPS over the years, and in all honesty, this is the first time I have had any issue.
 
So what date exactly did you get it scanned into the system at the PO?

I have only had one real issue will USPS. I sold a pair of earrings to someone in PR on the bay. Once it got to PR and said out for delivery there were no further updates. I called the local PR PO and they were very concerned lol! Package never was found. Loss was only $14 so I just refunded the money though I still believe the person actually got the package. It was quite shaddy. Needless to say I will never ship to PR again even though it is technically part of the USPS system.

The other sort of issue I had was like yours. I bought a knife from a guy. He shipped quickly. It went to his local dist center. Then no update for 3-4 days. Next update, it was in PR! I thought, well we will never see that package again. It spent a couple days bouncing around POs down there but eventually made its way up north to me. Don't know what happened to this day.

So do look into it but sometimes it just takes time to fix these little mistakes. Oh, and hopefully if it was anything of value it was insured.
 
I think the USPS is just a mess lately. I had a 2 day priority package take 7 days to reach me and like you - there was no info/update until the posted estimated delivery date, which they also missed!

Very frustrating and they need to get it fixed.

Eric
 
USPS's online tracking system is a complete mess. It is very unreliable. I have sent and received quite a few things via flat rate boxes in the past few months and rarely is it accurate. My number one problem is USPS scanning it as delivered when it wasn't. On several occasions it was scanned delivered and I called up the USPS hotline only to have them tell me it was scanned "undeliverable/receptical blocked" on their system, which is complete nonsense because my mailbox is never blocked. And why show something different on the customers search screen? It's pretty clear they do it to seem as if they are making their promised delivery dates when in actuality they do not. That being said however, they have always delivered my packages (even if late) and they are still the most economical, so I will continue to use USPS.
 
USPS just totally sucks... I sent a money order on Friday from the east coast via overnight delivery. Was supposed to be delivered by Saturday 3pm in Long Beach, CA. Tracking shows it leaving San Francisco on Saturday at 11:40pm !!!! Today is Tuesday and it still hasn't been delivered.
 
Mike, this is frustrating indeed. The package is more than likely sitting in a bin somewhere in a sorting station. It happened to me once, they tracked the package down in 5 days from my letting them know something had gone missing. Took 2 weeks and a visit to 15 states to get a knife from AZ to IL. :D
 
I was sent a package once from Illinois I think, to Florida priority mail. Should have taken 2 or 3 days. I followed the tracking, it went from there all the way to the west coast Washington I believe. Then back to Florida. Took about a week or so. That was really the only problem I've ever had with usps, it was delivered just a little late and a very indirect route.
 
craytab said:
So what date exactly did you get it scanned into the system at the PO?

I have only had one real issue will USPS. I sold a pair of earrings to someone in PR on the bay. Once it got to PR and said out for delivery there were no further updates. I called the local PR PO and they were very concerned lol! Package never was found. Loss was only $14 so I just refunded the money though I still believe the person actually got the package. It was quite shaddy. Needless to say I will never ship to PR again even though it is technically part of the USPS system.

The other sort of issue I had was like yours. I bought a knife from a guy. He shipped quickly. It went to his local dist center. Then no update for 3-4 days. Next update, it was in PR! I thought, well we will never see that package again. It spent a couple days bouncing around POs down there but eventually made its way up north to me. Don't know what happened to this day.

So do look into it but sometimes it just takes time to fix these little mistakes. Oh, and hopefully if it was anything of value it was insured.
Click to expand...

I got the payment on 12/2, and the package was scanned into the system on 12/3.

RevDevil said:
Mike, this is frustrating indeed. The package is more than likely sitting in a bin somewhere in a sorting station. It happened to me once, they tracked the package down in 5 days from my letting them know something had gone missing. Took 2 weeks and a visit to 15 states to get a knife from AZ to IL. :D
Click to expand...

It is frustrating Charlie. I guess considering the number of packages they move, it is bound to happen once in awhile. I'm glad they finally found yours.

I sent the buyer another PM before I went to bed, just to see if by chance he had received it. I hadn't checked the tracking yet since I got up, but I got a PM from the buyer saying he had just checked, and it had been updated finally. He should have it today or tomorrow. That's a huge relief.

It has been 7 days, which is way to long for Priority, but he has been extremely patient.
 
Thats good you located your package Mike,I ship everything priority mail insured,I haven't lost anything yet but I had an insurance check get tore up by USPS and had to have the insurance company issue a new one that took 5 or 6 weeks to resolve.
 
Scott Hanson said:
Thats good you located your package Mike,I ship everything priority mail insured,I haven't lost anything yet but I had an insurance check get tore up by USPS and had to have the insurance company issue a new one that took 5 or 6 weeks to resolve.
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It's funny you mention that Scott. I almost always use Priority too, but with the exception of a couple knives that were worth a decent amount of money, I never buy the extra insurance over the $50. From what I've read it can be a pain filing a claim, so I self insure :D
I started questioning my decision to do that, when I thought this one was gone lol. I figured if it didn't show up by tomorrow (Wednesday), I was just going to refund the buyer his money, and start dealing with the process, unless he wanted to give it a little more time. I would leave that up to him.

I am relieved that he will be getting the knife soon though. I know how it is when you buy something, you want it as soon as possible. Patience may be a virtue, but it's different if you are waiting for a new knife :D
 
I've had items shipped UPS to me from other places although none ever lost,some of the stuff looks like it was handled pretty roughly during shipping from UPS.The last knives I sold to customer he bought 2 knives and with shipping was $375.00 shipped and insured.I insure for full value of the product because I would hate to eat that kind money if somethings lost in the mail.It was about $12.00 to ship from Racine to West Aliis one day delivery.I've never had and item lost during shipping,but for a few dollars it gives me a little piece mind.
 
Tis the season..............this time of year all the carriers are overwhelmed by volume. Some locations/areas can get behind, so patience and early shipping is essential.
 
Tis the season! We've noticed Priority Mail packages that usually get there in 2-3 days now sometimes take a week to arrive. The choke points we've identified are San Jose, Portland, Salt Lake City and Dallas. If your package goes through one or more of these cities, add a few more days. Five weeks from now USPS delivery times will be back to normal.

FedEx and UPS delivery times have increased from 1 week to almost two weeks. USPS is faster, more reliable and less expensive.

Chuck
 
I was waiting for some Stingray to come last week. It showed Saturday as the delivery day .. That came and went and when I checked tracking last night it showed delivered last Thursday . I have never lost a package I have sent and I have never not received a item I have purchased. Seller said he would refund me if it does not show. Hopefully it does . Feel like I am trying to fleece him in a way.
 
Hey Mike,you think 7 days is bad,last year at this time I sent a couple to Guam,USPS priority took 41 days to get there. I was a nervous wreck:D
 
barcbsa said:
USPS just totally sucks... I sent a money order on Friday from the east coast via overnight delivery. Was supposed to be delivered by Saturday 3pm in Long Beach, CA. Tracking shows it leaving San Francisco on Saturday at 11:40pm !!!! Today is Tuesday and it still hasn't been delivered.
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Hope your MO wasn't on this truck.

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2014/12/08/christmas-packages-burn-after-ups-truck-catches-fire

To the OP - Patience...carriers are swamped this time of year. The sheer volume of packages seems endless.
 
Alpha Knife Supply said:
Tis the season! We've noticed Priority Mail packages that usually get there in 2-3 days now sometimes take a week to arrive. The choke points we've identified are San Jose, Portland, Salt Lake City and Dallas. If your package goes through one or more of these cities, add a few more days. Five weeks from now USPS delivery times will be back to normal.

FedEx and UPS delivery times have increased from 1 week to almost two weeks. USPS is faster, more reliable and less expensive.

Chuck
Click to expand...

That explains it. It went through Portland, and San Jose :D

SBuzek said:
Hey Mike,you think 7 days is bad,last year at this time I sent a couple to Guam,USPS priority took 41 days to get there. I was a nervous wreck:D
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I would be too :D I guess 7 days isn't so bad. I just got home from work and first thing I did was check the tracking. It has been updated, and was delivered Tuesday afternoon at 2:18 :thumbup:

silkworm said:
Hope your MO wasn't on this truck.

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2014/12/08/christmas-packages-burn-after-ups-truck-catches-fire

To the OP - Patience...carriers are swamped this time of year. The sheer volume of packages seems endless.
Click to expand...

That's not good :eek: . I know all the carriers are swamped this time of year. Everything worked out fine. I don't like for someone to have to wait a week to get something, but it was totally out of my control. The buyer was very cool about it
 
It's funny how we give USPS, UPS and FedEx a break this time of year due to being overwhelmed with volume, but they never seem to give us a break any time of the year.

"I'm a little short on money because of the holidays, can I pay you in a couple of weeks to deliver my packages now?"

Has anyone ever received a partial or full refund for a late delivery from any of these couriers? I realize USPS doesn't guarantee Priority delivery times, but wouldn't it be nice if they afforded us that same luxury of a non-guarantee with our money?

"Oh, I'm sorry you didn't receive the full price for your services, but I don't guarantee full payment - it's just an estimate. Merry Christmas!"
 
dejard said:
It's funny how we give USPS, UPS and FedEx a break this time of year due to being overwhelmed with volume, but they never seem to give us a break any time of the year.

"I'm a little short on money because of the holidays, can I pay you in a couple of weeks to deliver my packages now?"

Has anyone ever received a partial or full refund for a late delivery from any of these couriers? I realize USPS doesn't guarantee Priority delivery times, but wouldn't it be nice if they afforded us that same luxury of a non-guarantee with our money?

"Oh, I'm sorry you didn't receive the full price for your services, but I don't guarantee full payment - it's just an estimate. Merry Christmas!"
Click to expand...

For about $5 you can send a package across the country and it usually arrives within a few days. USPS even supplies the box. That's one heck of a bargain in my opinion, even if they get a bit backed up around the holidays (which shouldn't be a surprise as it happens every single year...)

They do offer a money back guaranteed option called priority express. Seems like a waste of money to get a toy just a few days sooner but feel free to use it if you'd like.
 
I've shipped hundreds of priority mail and registered boxes over the last 10 yrs and never had a problem. must just be lucky.................
 
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