Just a heads up on mailing.

mymindisamob

mymindisamob

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We all seem to send and receive a lot of mailed items. I thought this story might move some of us to choose differently how we send items to each other. I will certainly be using Delivery confirmation from now on.
 
i send and recieve quite a few packages, and typically have just sent them back however they came (in terms of service and speed).

recently a package that should have arrived in a maximum of 10 days took about two weeks, and since then i have decided to always use at least Delivery Confirmation. i think that the 60 or 70 cents is worth the peace of mind and the ability to track the package...
 
BTW, I know this isn't necessarily WS&S related, except that we have a quite a turnaround here with the "Pay It Forward" thread and a lot of trading going on.
 
Another tip. Send insured for over 200 bucks or pay the extra two bucks for "signature required"

My brother sent me a package and it was apparently stolen from my mailbox, although I have NEVER in over 20 years had anything taken. The delivery confirmation showed they delivered it. It was insured, but the insurance only insures it in route. Not if it's taken once it's delivered.

If you insure for 201 or pay for "signature required" they cannot leave it in your box. It's a bit more trouble to go to the PO and pick it up later, but for a valuable item it's the way to go:thumbup:
 
I agree. I have had alot of problems with my PO in the past few months. Really starting to tick me off.
 
I sent a parcel to JNieporte in december, he still has'nt gotten it... :( And a while back i sent a MO to Tito in south America and it took like a month and bit. lol

I'm getting pretty pissed with Canada Post too, our carrier likes to sign for mail that has a tracking number. He thern takes a week off and delievers at his convenience.
 
My mailman is outstanding. He brings oversized packages to my apartment rather than make me pick them up at the post office and if I don't pick up my mail he will come and check to make sure that I'm OK. In fact this is the only mailperson that I ever gave a Christmas present to.
 
Probation?! Isn't tampering with mail a felony? Most postal workers are lazy worthless pieces of Sh**. At least the ones I've had to deal with, especially the ones in rural areas, like Ohio, like Bristolville, Ohio...:mad:

Two orginizations that I absolutely loath, is the USPS, and the library. I hardly use either but it seems every single time I need to go to either one, they aren't open.

::Rant Off::
 
There's absolutely no justification for the events outlayed in that article.

That being said, the folks at my post office are always friendly and helpful, and my mail carrier absolutely rocks. He's going to teach me to start a fire via a bow drill soon, and is quite the practitioner of primitive skills.
 
I will admit that my carrier leaves my parcels by my door inside the apt building, which is cool. we all own here and i know all my neighbours real well. If im not in for several days, my elderly neighbour takes my mail/parcels and puts them in her kitchen until i return. :)
 
I try to use FedEx ground when feasible (for me, it's just as easy to go to the local Kinkos/FedEx as it is to the post office. I've found that cost is often very close between the 2, especially for stuff weighing a few pounds. Fedex also includes tracking & insurance (up to $100) at no extra charge.

I recall coming home from work, and noting that UPS had left several packages on my doorstep (although they could have easily put them on the enclosed porch 10" away). Not usually a big deal, EXCEPT: the boxes were marked for signature delivery only, marked ORM-D, and contained 1400 rounds of 8mm ammunition & a 1938 Turkish Mauser. When I saw them there (knowing what I had ordered), I just about blew a gasket. I had a nice chat w/ the UPS supervisor - once I calmed down a bit.

As for the USPS delivery confirmation - it's well worth the money, just for peace of mind (You can also forward it to the recipient, and they can "track" the package as well - especially nice if you are away when things may be delivered)
 
Myself I send all my knives that are shipped in the US USPS Priority mail with delivery confirmation. I send most of them for a cost of $5.45 with 2 to 3 day delivery. You can not really track them but you can usually get an idea where they are and of course when they are delivered. The other thing I do not do is put D P Knives on the package. I just send it with my name for the return address. Doug
 
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That's just scary. Aside from the regular household mail, I send out lots of knives that are pretty costly.. I'm lucky enough to never have had a problem with the few hundred knives knives I've mailed out over the past 3+ years. I always use insurance and delivery confirmation though.
 
if the post office had real time and functioning tracking number system like UPS it never would've gotten that far.

if you ship a lot its only a matter of time regardless of which company you use too
 
"NEWMAN"!....

Signature Confirmation and a bit of Insurance is pretty much standard for me, even if it's out of pocket.

Matador-
 
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My advice..I have used the P.O. exclusively for years...they are cheaper..for the most part faster and I get better service...but here is how I do it..

1. Choose a SMALL post office maybe in a neighboring town. I understand if you are in a large metro area this may not be effective but the reason I do this is so that I can develop a personal relationship with the Post Master...who is also the counter guy. He knows I ship knives and he knows I receive them and always wants to see the cool stuff I get. ( including rubber chickens:D)

2. Always use priority with delivery confirmation. I try not to use insurance because I think it just gives thieves in the post office a heads up if the package is valuable.

3. Always print your label on you puter. Confirm address...and make sure you get a receipt and the stub for your DCN..

4. GET A P.O. BOX then they know you are doing business with them and for the most part a small p.o. box costs $28 a year...heck of a deal..

Ren

Ren
 
Just an FYI. I started this thread to convince the folks I deal with the most to be cautious in how you send gear. I'm sure most of us are, but a reminder shouldn't hurt. I am in no way trying to slander the USPS, regardless of my opinions. I have very sketchy luck with my carrier, and have reported them once. I just think that if we need to send gear to each other, we want to ensure it makes it.
 
Any time you have a problem with the post office, and especially if you have a carrier who is really not getting the job done -- complain. Hidden problems will not be solved. Complaints may not be answered but often are. The followup helps the customer and the postal service.

Two of the stickies for the FEEDBACK forum cover a lot of what you can do to avoid problems:

Sticky: How Should You Package Knives for Shipping?
Sticky: Suggestions for having a good Buying / Selling / Trading experience
 
Hmmm... Detroit. Go figure :rolleyes:.

I just e-mailed J Williams. I sent him a knife two weeks ago today. He still hasn't received it. The first time I trust USPS enough to forgo Priority costs, it bites me in the rear.

Looks like I've learned my lesson. Priority with confirmation on all PO shipments from now on. :grumpy:
 
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