USPS Strikes Again!

UffDa

UffDa

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USPS strikes again. I mailed a knife a few days ago. This time I insured it. ($350) Tracking showed that it was delivered. Yesterday, the buyer sent me email stating that he didn't receive it. Another WTF! He went to the post office this morning and they told him that it was delivered. He checked with his neighbors and it was delivered to one of them, so all is good on that one. I guess that things have changed. It used to be that you had to sign for insured mail.

I sent another package that weighed 34 pounds. When I checked tracking, there were big red letters saying that it has an insufficient address. WTF? I figured that the person delivering it didn't want to carry 34 pounds. I sent email to the buyer and he replied that the package was delivered. Tracking still shows a problem. ???

I am almost afraid to mail anything anymore.
 
I pay for signature confirmation, if that's what I want to happen. Just because I buy the insurance, I've never figured that that would trigger USPS to get a signature. Maybe I misunderstood what you wrote?
 
Priority even with insurance has never had a signature included for free. It is an add-on. You might be getting confused with registered mail, which has a signature included.
 
Just because you pay for signature required doesn’t prevent the mail carrier from leaving the package on the porch and logging in that someone signed for it—complete with name of signatory, person not even home—this has happened here several times.
 
They raised the limit on when a signature requirement for Insured was automatic from $200 to $500 some time ago, so now you have to pay for it if you are below that level.
Still no guarantee, but getting it can help on a claim
 
annr said:
Just because you pay for signature required doesn’t prevent the mail carrier from leaving the package on the porch and logging in that someone signed for it—complete with name of signatory, person not even home—this has happened here several times.
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You can also specify that only the recipient can sign for it. That stops the drop n' scrawl for the most part I've noticed and should prove a big problem if the signature doesn't match .
 
WValtakis said:
You can also specify that only the recipient can sign for it. That stops the drop n' scrawl for the most part I've noticed and should prove a big problem if the signature doesn't match .
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So what is their game? Why not just do the job correctly?

(If I have something as important as requiring a signature, I’ll use a different service.)
 
annr said:
So what is their game? Why not just do the job correctly?

(If I have something as important as requiring a signature, I’ll use a different service.)
Click to expand...

Which service do you use that never screws up. I have heard complaints about all of them, and people who say they would never use each of them. Many are also much more costly than USPS. I have received pretty good service from USPS, but think it best to give them all the help I can to get it there( intact) and delivered correctly.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
Which service do you use that never screws up. I have heard complaints about all of them, and people who say they would never use each of them. Many are also much more costly than USPS. I have received pretty good service from USPS, but think it best to give them all the help I can to get it there( intact) and delivered correctly.
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Nothing is perfect. Risk mitigation can be expensive when one attempts to drive it to zero. Cost benefit analysis (and experience) tells me the USPS, properly used, is the best of the options.
 
Ref insurance and signature requirement:

Currently only package insured for sums in excess of $500 come with "free" signature requirement, otherwise you will have to pay for it even if the package is insured for exactly $500.
 
WValtakis said:
You can also specify that only the recipient can sign for it. That stops the drop n' scrawl for the most part I've noticed and should prove a big problem if the signature doesn't match .
Click to expand...

I believe that on USPS.com you also have a choice of Adult Signature in addition to the choice of Direct Signature both of which bear a higher cost than just Signature which is the least costly option. I believe that Direct Signature means that only the Addressee must sign for it.

For those who have lost faith win the Priority Service and are looking into FedEx & UPS, neither of which are 100% fail proof, may also want tp consider Express Mail which is in the same ballpark coastwise as the latter. Express Mail does carry a higher standard as opposed to Priority Mail.
 
kreole said:
Priority even with insurance has never had a signature included for free. It is an add-on. You might be getting confused with registered mail, which has a signature included.
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That is not true, but it has been awhile. When a package was insured, the delivery person would leave a notice and I had to go to the post office and sign for the package. No more.

As has been said, there is nothing to prevent the person delivering the mail from signing for it.

The problem as I see it is that our mail is delivered by contractors. They are not USPS employees, for what that is worth.
 
As with so many things in life these days - it all depends on the person doing the job. So many people these days do not take pride in their work, are lazy, take short cuts, and really don't care. They are more interested in playing on their cell phone than interacting with a human being. :(

It's amazing how much of a difference the right or wrong delivery person can make.
 
If you want real peace of mind, the ONLY option is "Registered Mail" First Class (or Priority) -- no insurance required -- just additional ~$14 or so that provide an iron-clad guarantee the goods will be delivered to the recipient or returned to sender, a register maintained all along (well, an electronic register these days). It doesn't matter if the tracking# if updated or not, if its registered, it will be delivered. Here is the sticky thread having the gory details on Registered Mail service! :)

Alternately, "Adult Signature Required" may be a better option to tack on insured mail. The economy and competition is forcing USPS to invent ways to make more money, so most services these days are individually priced.
 
Our local PO was closed because "too busy." Now we drive 28 miles across the county line to get to/from a PO. Tell me again about competition and the economy. Try ineptitude ans indifference.
 
So what I'm getting from this thread is this...... it's a 50 50 shot if you just mail something normally. The more money you spend with add ons the greater chance your mail has of actually getting delivered. So basically USps has found a great way to get us to pay more.
 
Casinostocks said:
For those who have lost faith win the Priority Service and are looking into FedEx & UPS, neither of which are 100% fail proof, may also want tp consider Express Mail which is in the same ballpark coastwise as the latter. Express Mail does carry a higher standard as opposed to Priority Mail.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is true. Regrettably, I have found it hit or miss, too. On one occasion a special (different) delivery person came by on a separate delivery run, and I signed for the package. The second time, I have no idea who delivered it or exactly when, since it was "dumped" on the front porch. Bear in mind, I arranged my schedule to receive those packages.
 
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Brhowser87 said:
So what I'm getting from this thread is this...... it's a 50 50 shot if you just mail something normally. The more money you spend with add ons the greater chance your mail has of actually getting delivered. So basically USps has found a great way to get us to pay more.
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I would say the odds are closer to 99% that it gets delivered, but when your sending expensive items such as knives it doesn't hurt to get even better results, and you certainly won't be happy if you fall into that 1% that don't make it. I have sent in thousands of letters and bills and maybe 3 haven't made it. Of those 1 made it but it took 4 years:). I have also sent hundreds of packages all of which made it. Not saying every one was delivered to the right address at 1st, for I know a couple were not, or that they took the most direct route to the destination, but it all worked out in the end.

of course there are some thieves( and opportunity), but what profession doesn't have them-politics, police even priests?

But it only makes sense to use the carrier you are comfortable with. I am fine with USPS, but if you're not then don't use them.
 
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From what has been mentioned previously there are ways to ensure your package gets to the right person. This costs extra. If one is focused on low cost shipping, the consequence is increased risk.
 
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