USPS- my first theft

boy this is a stinker-
no proof it was stolen but lots of proof it wasnt packaged well-

some live and learn lessons cut deep-

maybe you have good karma and it will find its way home
 
Paul, thanks for that detailed explanation, it's easy to see how a package can be damaged. We do a lot of bulk mailing where I work, and I have had the opportunity to visit a hub during peek hours. It's was simply incredibly to see the volume of mail processed in the short time I was there. You Guys do a great job.
One thing most people don't realize is that even if you are mailing something to your next door neighbor, it still has to go through one of the hubs to be sorted in delivery sequence for the local mail carrier.
Dave
 
collins said:
I'm sorry to hear that...that is totally unprofessional.

Just curious, did you talk to the Postmaster/management or was it a Postal Inspector?

My Dad has worked for the USPS for years and has known a few people who stole medication and the like from people's mail. They were all caught, but were never harshly reprimanded or fired. Kind of ridiculous.
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I'd check that story with your dad. Everyone who has ever worked for USPS knows that theft of mail is punished by immediate removal 100% of the time - that's why there is so little theft. Would you risk a job that will pay you around $1.5 million for an entry-level 30 year career for the sake of pilfering some item out of somebody's parcel? Most theft occurs when they hire temporary Christmas help who have no longterm stake in the USPS, and the timing indicates that might be a real possibility.

Just checked the photos. It doesn't look like anyone rifled that parcel at all. It looks like the inner container just punched its way out through the cardboard envelope during the rigorous automated processing.. Was the inner box addressed? If so, there might still be hope that it can be recovered. Got my fingers crossed for a good outcome...
 
Hope it turns up. Sounds like there's a chance.

I only use boxes, and I tape the dickens out of 'em. If something makes it out of one of my packages, it was forcibly removed.
 
Guyon said:
Hope it turns up. Sounds like there's a chance.

I only use boxes, and I tape the dickens out of 'em. If something makes it out of one of my packages, it was forcibly removed.
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I do the same ...tape that box like it was a hostage!:eek: :D
 
I send out alot of packages, and as anyone who has received one of my packages knows, I package 'em well-enough to survive ANYTHNG that the USPS can toss at-em. I pretty much package the package within a package, with an address also on the inside of the package, taped to the item.
 
I don't think this was attributable to Christmas casuals (seasonal workers). The Christmas mail volumes drop out after the first few days after Christmas. The casuals should be gone before New Years as they're not needed any more. This is an unfortunate thing, but better packaging (which is free) could have prevented this. Even if the contents were stolen I doubt it would have been the same case if you had a box taped to hell with the knife packed somewhere inside in newspaper. The most dishonest postal employee wouldn't want to risk tearing through a package like that at the risk of getting caught and fired. Everyone works within close proximity to others, so the likelyhood of people even having those opportunities are rare in processing. I've seen packages torn open on the machine I work on in the same fashion that yours is. It may look suspicious, but chances are that is what happened. The package probably got caught between a sharp edge and another parcel which tore the contents out of the envelope (with the help of the hard corners of the box inside).
 
DaveinNY said:
Paul, thanks for that detailed explanation, it's easy to see how a package can be damaged. We do a lot of bulk mailing where I work, and I have had the opportunity to visit a hub during peek hours. It's was simply incredibly to see the volume of mail processed in the short time I was there. You Guys do a great job.
One thing most people don't realize is that even if you are mailing something to your next door neighbor, it still has to go through one of the hubs to be sorted in delivery sequence for the local mail carrier.
Dave
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Thanks Dave! We take pride in what we do. You were lucky to take the tour, VERY few people get to see the machines we work on. They're multi million dollar investments, and the Postal Service is only getting more automated. If you're sending that many packages, they probably took you for a tour of the APPS (automated parcel and package sorter). It's a beauty. About 75 computers all interfacing at once. Amazing stuff. I feel lucky to work there. Even though it's not going to be my career, I'm proud to be there until I finish school and get on with the Fire Dept.
 
BTW, I heard they have a APPS the size of 1.5 football fields in Phoenix. That's a LOT of mail being sorted.
 
I'v ehad knives stolen only once by the Postal Service. And the dealer immediately sent replacements. I've also had a package (building retoration material) stolen by UPS - it arrived at the Albuquerque sorting center, but never left.

As much stuff as I have delivered, that's pretty good I think.

-Bob
 
I too have had my "package" come up missing from the USPS. Contacted seller and was given a tracking number. Package was supposed to be delivered by 12/19/06 (I paid extra for guaranteed delivery by 12/22). I tracked the package from the seller to DHL here. The package arrived there on 12/18 at 0630AM. Package was then delivered to USPS office in town at 1330PM on 12/18. I never received the package. After the holidays I contacted the USPS and they claimed they never had the package. I was able to provide them with the name of USPS employee who actually signed for the receipt of the package. They then said that it may have been missplaced and that they would check into it and call me the next day. A week later, no package and they never called back. I called USPS again and they asked if the package would have fit in my mailbox and I told them no. So now they're saying that it was probably delivered and left at my door and someone came up and stole it! What a bunch of BS! So much for our illustrious United States Post Office's quality service! I contacted the seller and explained the situation and they called DHL and the USPS to verify it and they promptly sent another item but this time through UPS. I had it in 2 days. The USPS can lose all of these valuable items and wash their hands of it but they sure as hell can't lose the bills and junkmail I still get. Whoooh!, that felt good to vent.
 
pkdmslf said:
I too have had my "package" come up missing from the USPS. Contacted seller and was given a tracking number. Package was supposed to be delivered by 12/19/06 (I paid extra for guaranteed delivery by 12/22). I tracked the package from the seller to DHL here. The package arrived there on 12/18 at 0630AM. Package was then delivered to USPS office in town at 1330PM on 12/18. I never received the package. After the holidays I contacted the USPS and they claimed they never had the package. I was able to provide them with the name of USPS employee who actually signed for the receipt of the package. They then said that it may have been missplaced and that they would check into it and call me the next day. A week later, no package and they never called back. I called USPS again and they asked if the package would have fit in my mailbox and I told them no. So now they're saying that it was probably delivered and left at my door and someone came up and stole it! What a bunch of BS! So much for our illustrious United States Post Office's quality service! I contacted the seller and explained the situation and they called DHL and the USPS to verify it and they promptly sent another item but this time through UPS. I had it in 2 days. The USPS can lose all of these valuable items and wash their hands of it but they sure as hell can't lose the bills and junkmail I still get. Whoooh!, that felt good to vent.
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If items are valuable, spend the money to insure them. I just insured a package for $1000 for only $11.75, it doesn't make sense (to reasonable people) to try to scrimp on shipping when you're dealing with valuable things you care about.

You must be right about the Post Office. That's probably why they're the biggest delivery service and second largest employer in the nation next to Wal-Mart. You have it all figured out. You should get an award.

It really doesn't matter which delivery service you use. Given enough opportunities, ALL of them will screw something up. That's just how it is.

The last time I sent something through UPS I spent $40 on 2 day delivery that ended up taking 5 days. I could have sent that same package through the post office for $6 and gotton it in 3 days.

I DID however have ONE problem with the P.O. in ALL of my dealings. A while ago I had a priority package coming to me that hadn't been delivered over the course of a month. It was insured, so I claimed it and got my full cash value back and it ended up being delivered 2 months later (must have been lost in empty equip). I ended up with my money and my package. Kinda funny.

No business or organization is perfect, especially when they're as large as the Postal Service OR UPS (which is also a GREAT service along with FedEx).

-Paul
 
I use 'em all and prefer USPS because of convenience and cost/speed ratio being high. FedEx/UPS ground is cheaper, but slower than Priority Mail.


Sorry to hear about your woes, MSCantrell. :(



I've had to collect insurance on a package with FedEx....man, what a huge hassle...and no, I ain't going into details about it because it'll just make me angry! :mad:

:foot:

Sorry....the beast unleashed...
 
if it was just a matter of the knife box breaking out of the package he should get it back as he said he had put the money order in the box. I havn't used a money order in a while but you used to have to put your name and addr on them. i assume you still do.
 
pbubsy said:
I DID however have ONE problem with the P.O. in ALL of my dealings. A while ago I had a priority package coming to me that hadn't been delivered over the course of a month. It was insured, so I claimed it and got my full cash value back and it ended up being delivered 2 months later (must have been lost in empty equip). I ended up with my money and my package. Kinda funny.

No business or organization is perfect, especially when they're as large as the Postal Service OR UPS (which is also a GREAT service along with FedEx).

-Paul
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I've sent and recieved many hundreds of packages, letters, etc. through the USPS through the past several years. Maybe thousands, when it comes down to it. I've sent boxes and packets to many countries, basically all over the world, and the PO comes through spectacularly, IMO, almost always. In all of my dealings with them, I've encountered only two real problems, one of which I'm sure wasn't their fault. Once, a knife was lost on it's way to South Africa and the guy never got it. Or so he said. But, that could have been the fault of the SAPO or SA customs confiscating it. Just last week I sent a letter to Philadelphia via Express mail and it arrived three days late, oddly. But, I got my $14.40 back from the PO, since they dropped the ball on it. Sure , you get the occaisional piece that goes through slow, for some reason, also, but overall they do a phenomenal job getting an unbelieveable amount of mail and parsels to their destinations every day.

The best thing to do is pack well, first of all. Then ship it with the appropriate amount of security, of which they offer many options, including Priority mail, Express Mail, Signature Confirmation, Delivery Confirmation, Insurance, etc. Take advantage of their premium services, if you're sending something valuable and have more piece of mind.
 
Looking at the photo of the torn package, I would bet that's where the knife sat in the package at the time.
I know zippo about the machinery used by the USPS (I know zippo about all machinery) but I would think there would be some other "evidence" on the package beyond the tear if the knife, while still inside the envelope, got caught in a moving part on said machine.
I am sorry but to me that tear looks like it was done by human hand.

Just sit tight however, GigOne will have this baby solved any second..........
 
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