Problems with USPS

Priority or Express is key to using USPS successfully. Sig required is helpful and I add that for knives. I never use postal insurance, it puts a target on the package & they will not pay a claim. My knives are covered by collectinsure.com. I do have a FedEx account and use it some, but the post office is more convenient for me and less money. It also helps if packages are professional looking with a printed click n ship label .
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I always use USPS priority but will now use Signature required. I may look into the FedEx express avenue. I'll have to check out collect insure.com as well because I'm sure as you all say I'm outta luck trying to recover anything from my USPS claim.
Really bums me out because USPS had been so reliable until this year.
 
Similar thread over in Traditionals. I was asked to share my experiences and am post #63. The whole thread is pretty interesting esecially the pics on page one.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/oops.1566046/page-4

Another situation to relate. We make and sell many other items besides knives. Years ago we mailed two wildrags (silk scarves that cowboys use), through USPS to Italy. Two wildrags at that time were about $60. After about two months the customer emailed and said he'd never received them. We ran the tracking. Well it stopped once it left the US so dead end. I told him we would replace the wildrags and UPS shipping was $100 (compared to the $30 I think it was for USPS) so asked him what he thought about buying some other items that would make that shipping more resonable. He did add a couple of knives. UPS picked it up here in Tehachapi Ca on Friday morning. Monday morning I had an email from my customer in Italy telling me how much he liked everything and that the extra shipping was worth it. UPS had got it to Italy and through customs and delivered over the weekend! Several months later I received the two original lost wildrags back. The package was covered in Italian writing, looked like a 747 had landed on it and then had been run over by a truck or two. Probably can't blame that one on USPS though.

Check that post above Robert Erickson Robert Erickson . They will deny your claim and then probably pay on appeal.
 
Everyone has a different experience. I once had the USPS damage one of my knives. They crushed one end of the box. They would not pay, and I almost didn't get the knife back. I think their insurance is a waste of money.
On the other hand, UPS was bringing me 29 CPM 154 blades back from Bos heat treating. They e-mailed that they would deliver between 2:00-6:00 PM. They didn't come till 11:00 PM and then they left the box at the gate (Which was open) by the street entrance. Anyone could have picked the box up.
For the most part I have had a better experience with USPS despite the insurance denial than the other shippers.
 
I have shipped 1-2k packages over the past several years and have some experience w/ UPS and USPS (I don't use Fedex because they are annoying to me, super nit picky and not close to me to pick up and drop off so not convenient).

This is an important point for you Robert... In most of their scanners, USPS has GPS which will show the address they were at when they scanned your package for delivery. I have had items mis-delivered before (by a sub) and my mail lady (who is awesome) checked with her supervisor who looked it up and found the address they had been mis delivered to. She then went back to that address and requested the packages and got them back. In your case, it will require fighting it hard though since it will be out of state.

First point is that I use stamps.com software for printing through the USPS which costs $15/month. However, it let's me use a private insurance company (PIP) which, with my one experience on a claim with them was a breeze and they covered the work I had performed on my customer's knives.

On my actual claim through USPS (prior to using PIP insurance) it took about 6 months and several appeals to get paid. In fact, I was on the final appeal before I would have no recourse. So keep at it!

My UPS story, which I'm in the process of... I packaged several knives up in a box, then put that box in a padded envelope and shipped UPS ground. My customer received the padded envelope with a bottle of vitamins inside!! One end had been ripped opened and taped back shut. UPS denied the claim stating that I had improperly packaged the knives according to their packaging standards (even though they never asked how they were actually wrapped in sheaths and folding knives in bags preventing opening). UPS Packaging standards do not state that they will deny a claim when packing in an envelope, and they even provide envelopes (UPS express) for shipping.

I called to appeal and once they heard that I had double packed them (in a cardboard box then a padded envelope) the lady overturned the 'ruling'. I may not be so lucky next time - was about to take them to small claims court.

Anyway, take it FWIW. Hope you get your $$!
 
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