I use Priority Mail at least once a week and I have to say it has gone downhill. I have had packages get misrouted several times and another one of my packages got misrouted today! How are your experiences with USPS?
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USPS really ... !
- Thread starter Nikkogi
- Start date
I've had several packages shipped to me fail to arrive or be sent in even the complete opposite direction. Sending I have had less of an issue with though.
It's cheap. You can't beat cheap, especially when you can send a package for $6 anywhere in the united states.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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- 90,915
No, all of USPS doesn't "suck". (Charming metaphor, that. 
) Sometimes items go astray. There may even be discernible reasons for this, which is why USPS can't explain it without the item itself to inspect.
When I was in the business, "the check is in the mail" took second place to "i'm sure i got the address right" as a failed defense.
On the processing side, people may be imperfect, but machines make mistakes faster. Then it's up to imperfect people to redirect the missent item ASAP. Have patience and be glad when they do arrive.
) Sometimes items go astray. There may even be discernible reasons for this, which is why USPS can't explain it without the item itself to inspect.When I was in the business, "the check is in the mail" took second place to "i'm sure i got the address right" as a failed defense.
On the processing side, people may be imperfect, but machines make mistakes faster. Then it's up to imperfect people to redirect the missent item ASAP. Have patience and be glad when they do arrive.
Excellent. Priority Mail in lower weights or for small dense items is one of the great shipping bargains and, having shipped many packages throughout the country, the number of problems as a percentage has always been incredibly small.
If you are experiencing as many as one package in fifty with delivery issues something is very wrong either in the address label on your end or a local clerk repeating the same entry error.
. Very few problem for such a large system for me.
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Over the past seven years, I've received perhaps 500 Priority Mail packages, many containing knives. All but a couple have arrived within what I would consider reasonable time frames, some much faster than expected. Even those which were late did arrive and, because of the way postage was applied, it was impossible to tell if they'd really been delayed by USPS, or if the seller had printed up and applied a franked label, then sat on the package for a week or two. The only things that ever arrived damaged were poorly packed. One fool shipped me a 1/8" thick slab of rock wrapped in a paper towel and stuck in a card stock envelope. Surprise, surprise, it broke. A few knives sent in similar envelopes have arrived with crushed boxes, annoying on a collectible knife, but certainly neither surprising or the Post Office's fault.
I've shipped a lesser, but still significant, number of packages Priority Mail as well, again with no loss (at least not within the US), no reported damage, and only one which went astray for a bit. I did learn a valuable lesson from that, namely that it pays to check your receipt before you leave the counter. When the clerk produces the stamp, it contains the ZIP code, which they've copied from your label. The ZIP on the stamp is then used for routing the package. If they transpose two digits, or type an incorrect one, the package will go to the wrong Post Office. Generally, that Post Office will catch the mistake and the package will eventually get where it was suppose to. Which was what happened to me. The ZIP they enter also appears on your receipt and, if you catch a mistake at that point, they'll correct the error by replacing the stamp.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
I've shipped a lesser, but still significant, number of packages Priority Mail as well, again with no loss (at least not within the US), no reported damage, and only one which went astray for a bit. I did learn a valuable lesson from that, namely that it pays to check your receipt before you leave the counter. When the clerk produces the stamp, it contains the ZIP code, which they've copied from your label. The ZIP on the stamp is then used for routing the package. If they transpose two digits, or type an incorrect one, the package will go to the wrong Post Office. Generally, that Post Office will catch the mistake and the package will eventually get where it was suppose to. Which was what happened to me. The ZIP they enter also appears on your receipt and, if you catch a mistake at that point, they'll correct the error by replacing the stamp.
Paul
My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
- Joined
- May 24, 2005
- Messages
- 2,261
No, all of USPS doesn't "suck". (Charming metaphor, that.
When I was in the business, "the check is in the mail" took second place to "i'm sure i got the address right" as a failed defense.
On the processing side, people may be imperfect, but machines make mistakes faster. Then it's up to imperfect people to redirect the missent item ASAP. Have patience and be glad when they do arrive.
As a former Rural Carrier, customers do not see the efforts of USPS workers to try and get missent or mislableled items delivered properly to their destinations. If you have any doubts, be sure to have your items insured and require a Signature Confirmation. I've had cases on my route where mail was being stolen right after I delivered it to the rural mailbox. Other carriers even saw the vehicle following them from several hundred yards away stealing mail, called the sherriff and were soon arrested.
No, all of USPS doesn't "suck". (Charming metaphor, that.
When I was in the business, "the check is in the mail" took second place to "i'm sure i got the address right" as a failed defense.
On the processing side, people may be imperfect, but machines make mistakes faster. Then it's up to imperfect people to redirect the missent item ASAP. Have patience and be glad when they do arrive.
+1 to both of these....
I have received a lot of shipments through the USPS over the past several years and with the exception of a couple of minor carrier errors.... everything has been great.
I have no complaints and highly recommend the USPS.... :thumbup:
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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- Apr 6, 2000
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- 90,915
The best gotcha by our Postal Inspectors:
I got a call from a customer who was sure mail was stolen from his locked mailbox. He even asked his carrier, who was sure he had delivered the described envelopes. I called the Inspectors who told me, yes, a very clever thief was stealing mail from locked boxes, but they had just caught him, and had my customer's mail ready to go back to him. The Inspector called the customer, who then called me back, amazed and very happy.
What happened? The carrier smelled a rat and told his supervisor who got the Inspectors involved. Quick street surveillance found a man going into buildings after the carrier let them. The man had a bunch of mailbox keys, tried them on different boxes, and stole mail that looked like it might be valuable.
When they took him in, he squealed on the others in his ring of thieves and they all ended up in Federal court. ZAP!
I've had a few problems with sending stuff. Lost and/or damaged, all taken care of though. :thumbup:
At our automotive company we mainly use UPS to send out. Contract pricing is by far cheaper than USPS for us as our packages are 5 to 80lbs most of the time.
Real time ground tracking and guaranteed (1, 2, 3 or Ground) delivery time is a big bonus.
But I've had similar problems with damages too, no one is faultless.
Getting the problem fixed with UPS is faster for us since we have an account.
All of these companies are just providing a service. Sometimes you get bad service, most of the time you don't.
At our automotive company we mainly use UPS to send out. Contract pricing is by far cheaper than USPS for us as our packages are 5 to 80lbs most of the time.
Real time ground tracking and guaranteed (1, 2, 3 or Ground) delivery time is a big bonus.
But I've had similar problems with damages too, no one is faultless.
Getting the problem fixed with UPS is faster for us since we have an account.
All of these companies are just providing a service. Sometimes you get bad service, most of the time you don't.
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- Sep 27, 2007
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I have used USPS Priority mail almost exclusively for a number of years now and have had VERY good results. My customers have never been let down and that makes me a satisfied customer of the USPS:thumbup: Nobody is perfect and I will admit that sometimes it feels like when it rains it pours when you're having bad luck with shipping, but overall I think they do an excellent job.
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I might also add that some time later I delivered mail that was stamped "Recovered Stolen Mail". How or where it was found was unknown to me but it was delivered to the customer. Most Carriers are diligent and proud of their routes and loyal to their customers. We see many of of our customers every day and do our best to see that they are well served.
Yes and AMEN!!!!
My Dad retired from the USPS many years ago and that is exactly how it was with him.
Most, if not all on his route; he considered friends... and he always wanted the best for them & gave them his best.
That is just how it was.......
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
My Dad retired from the USPS many years ago and that is exactly how it was with him.
Most, if not all on his route; he considered friends... and he always wanted the best for them & gave them his best.
That is just how it was.......
When I took over as manager, I got a special assignment: realign the routes, many of which were way too long, because of growth in the neighborhood.
After I assigned the new routes, one old carrier came to me privately, practically in tears, begging for his old route back. I tried to understand, but the old route was one of the heaviest on our station. It wasn't even a wealthy neighborhood, which might have influenced some carriers, looking forward to Christmas.
He was worried that the carrier who got the part that had been taken off the route wouldn't be as sympathetic to the older people in the projects as he was.