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

USPS is not that reliable. I've been waiting on packages where the tracking states it was delivered to my mailbox (after being posted it was sent out for delivery) and I had to wait 2 days before it actually DID show up in my mailbox. Maybe whoever does the updates is psychic.
 
I find the USPS to be the best. Occasionally Packages don't arrive when planned - especially during this time of year... I was supposed to get a package Thurs. last week, went dark on tracking from Friday on... - ended up coming in Monday. Last time this happened I had to wait a full week after the ''guaranteed" 2 -3 delivery. I'd ship USPS over fed ex / ups any day and twice on sunday (even tho they are closed :D )
 
spketch said:
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...)
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Actually, the USPS gets the best bargain of all -- a 100% guarantee of full payment regardless of how well they've kept their end of the bargain. Maybe it's just me, but I find it odd that a paid service with an advertised promise of 2 to 3 day delivery can be routinely dismissed without refund, partial or otherwise, with a "Sorry, we don't guarantee delivery times with Priority Mail." And despite all of this, I continue to use USPS over UPS or FedEx because they're much more reliable with far less damaged packages in my experience. It's an industry that gets away with quite a bit because we tolerate it with a shrug, having no other options. Perhaps there's a connection between the two.

spketch said:
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.
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Yes, and here are the disclaimers from USPS:

If the shipment is not delivered by the scheduled day and you file a refund request, the USPS will refund the postage unless: 1) the delivery was attempted but could not be made; 2) the delivery address was incomplete or inaccurate; or 3) the shipment was delayed by circumstances beyond our control as outlined in Paragraph 13.

13. Circumstances Beyond Our Control: We are not liable if a shipment is lost, misdelivered, damaged, or delayed because of circumstances beyond our control. These circumstances include: terrorist activity; strikes; labor actions; an "act of God," for example an earthquake, cyclone, storm, or flood; "force majeure," for example war, plane crash, or embargo; import/export clearance delays; any defect or characteristic to do with the nature of the shipment, even if known to us when we accepted it; or any action or omission by anyone outside USPS, FedEx Express, or their agents, for example the sender of the shipment, the recipient, or an interested third party, Customs or government officials, or other carriers or third parties with whom we contract to deliver to destinations that we do not serve directly. We are not liable even if you, the sender, did not ask for or know about a third-party delivery. We are also not liable for electrical or magnetic damage to, or erasure of, electronic or photographic images or recordings.
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We do have other options, from USPS themselves. Use priority express with insurance and you'll be covered.
The 1-3 day delivery times for regular priority are advertised as an estimate, not a promise. Maybe they could be more clear on that to prevent frustration.

OP, sorry to derail your thread. I won't comment on this any further. I'm on the other end right now, waiting for a priority package that was mailed out on the 6th and still appears to be stuck in TN. A bit annoying but no big deal on my side as the buyer.
 
rodblder said:
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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I also have shipped hundreds of packages of custom work I do and never have lost any with USPS....now UPS and FedEx have both lost packages and I used them only a few times.
 
I hate to sound like I am blaming the victim. I'm really not. But the Postal Service has been increasingly automated for many years now. OCRs (Optical Character Readers) scan addresses and print bar codes and shunt mail to bins to send them on their way.

Clearly and correctly printed addresses would save a whole lot of the problems I used to see. Computers insist on clear instructions. I supervised those OCRs and later, the carriers delivering the mail. We got complaints, of course. When we could check, we found many of them came from handwritten or poorly printed addresses.

Of course that's not the whole problem, but anything you can do to avoid sending your mail all around the country helps you and USPS! :)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I hate to sound like I am blaming the victim. I'm really not. But the Postal Service has been increasingly automated for many years now. OCRs (Optical Character Readers) scan addresses and print bar codes and shunt mail to bins to send them on their way.

Clearly and correctly printed addresses would save a whole lot of the problems I used to see. Computers insist on clear instructions. I supervised those OCRs and later, the carriers delivering the mail. We got complaints, of course. When we could check, we found many of them came from handwritten or poorly printed addresses.

Of course that's not the whole problem, but anything you can do to avoid sending your mail all around the country helps you and USPS! :)
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I'm still not real sure what happened to this package. It all worked out in the end though, just took a few days longer than it should have.
I have always had good service using USPS, and will continue to use them... I will use UPS or FedEx if I need to, or if someone prefers them for whatever reason. I've seen how UPS handles packages, and it ain't perrty. They could care less if it gets damaged.
 
338375 said:
I'm still not real sure what happened to this package. It all worked out in the end though, just took a few days longer than it should have.
I have always had good service using USPS, and will continue to use them... I will use UPS or FedEx if I need to, or if someone prefers them for whatever reason. I've seen how UPS handles packages, and it ain't perrty. They could care less if it gets damaged.
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Yes,the packages I receive from UPS look like they have have been handled very roughly,and occasionally with some damage to the inner contents as well.A lot of times when I order things I'll ask how it's being shipped,and if it's being shipped UPS if I can I'll ask for extra packing material.I personally like USPS better than UPS I just think they do a better job in general.One thing I also do now is,a tip I got from a the USPS clerk some time ago,is I write the mailing info on the package with a sharpie and cover the whole package with packing tape to protect it from water damage.I also over package stuff I get corrugated boxes from work that are perfect size for unto a 4 1/2" blade knife,once I pack a knife in one they're so tough you can stand on one without any problem.
 
I shipped a Priority Mail 2 Day package (online printed label) from Texas to California recently that took 9 days to be delivered, but most of mine get delivered within 3-4 days. Lately I have noticed that the packages that I drop off early in the morning aren't getting scanned in and posted as Accepted until late in the day, so I have gone back to the practice of going through the line and having them scanned in, This morning I was dropping off a package and was told by the clerk that they weren't supposed to be doing that anymore and that I would have to just drop them off in the future. She scanned that one for me and said the reason was due to holiday work load.

I learned years ago from my neighbor, a USPS manager, to cover all seams with tape and to reinforce every corner. He told me I would not believe the number of damaged packages they see that could have been prevented with a some added tape and the glue down Priority boxes come apart frequently. I tape over the shipping label leaving only the barcode exposed.
 
In the past I have hand written addresses on packages. My hand writing is very neat, but I have found purchasing postage online, and printing a shipping label is very simple, and it gives one more record of the shipment...

I too completely tape the shipping label, and all corners, edges, and the flap even though it has adhesive. I pack the contents tight enough that no movement can be noticed when shaken. Another thing I do is to put the knife and its box if it has one, in a freezer bag. Seal it, and fold it tight, and tape it as well. That way if for some reason the box gets liquid on it while in transit, the contents stay clean and dry.
 
One more security measure I used to take is to put a duplicate mailing label inside, especially inside that waterproof bag, in case the "dead letter office" gets a package with the label missing.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
One more security measure I used to take is to put a duplicate mailing label inside, especially inside that waterproof bag, in case the "dead letter office" gets a package with the label missing.
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That's a great idea Ed. I never thought to do that
 
Mis delivered packages will be a thing of the past. Now, my delivery supervisor can look up a tracking # and give me a GPS address were it was delivered. It is a "real time" system so the customer gets a "notice left" e mail alert as I scan the package at the door. The supervisor can send me a text message with further instructions from the customer if needed. We started this new system last month. It seems to work pretty good so far.
 
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