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pepper

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not sure if this really belongs here but just a heads up to those that don't already know:

an order of mine that was definitely shipped on 7/31 delivery confirmation was marked "delvered" (online) by the USPS three days later (8/3/09). since it was shipped from a state that is right next to mine, that would seem to be an ordinary delivery time.

i never recvd it.

it was not insured, and calls to the USPS (800 and locally) were handled better than i expected; they were friendly but there was not much they could do...and i understand that.

since it was the first problem i've had w/ delivery (i live in a apt complex) i chalked it up as a loss.

on 8/18/09 i open my box and there it is, with "8/18" in sharpie written on the package.

where in the hell it was for those two weeks i'll never know, but one thing is for sure: i damn well will insure ALL of them from now on.

i'm sure the insurance/reclamation process is a hassle, and it may cost a few bucks, but w/o that the receiver of the package is definitely SOL!
 
I've had great service from the USPS. I have had a couple of instances when a package was not delivered for some reason (maybe needed a signature), but showed delivered on the USPS web site. The next day the package shows up, so I guess strange things happen sometimes.

Tom
 
I think what's happening in some of those cases is, the letter carrier is scanning it "delivered" because he made a delivery attempt. Then the piece goes back out for actual delivery at some erratic later time.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I think what's happening in some of those cases is, the letter carrier is scanning it "delivered" because he made a delivery attempt. Then the piece goes back out for actual delivery at some erratic later time.
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I figured it was something like that. I live in a small town and am familiar with most of the Post Office personnel, so most problems are easily avoided.

Tom
 
I've done dozens of exchanges with the USPS and have yet to have any problems that wasn't my own fault. If your package did indeed need a signature, they would have left you a note saying they attempted delivery but was unable to get the signature. They would try 3 or so times before returning the package to sender. At least, in the end, you got your package.
 
One of the problems most people don't realize is that a regular carrier on a route can do wonders, but a replacement can be overwhelmed.

We had a route on Central Park West with just a few buildings -- with hundreds of apartments each, full of extremely wealthy people. LOTS of mail. The regular was there on time, every day, cheerful and efficient. The only time he wasn't was vacation. Three weeks of needing at least 3 people to replace him.

On the average, a regular carrier may be absent from his route about 1/3 of the time. We deliver 6 days a week but the carrier works 5. There's annual leave (vacation) to factor in, sick leave, court leave, military leave, maternity leave. A fair-sized operation can train replacements but even they can't be everywhere at once.

Where DOES mail go when it disappears for a few days or weeks or more? If the inexperienced carrier turns an undelivered piece over o the inquiry window for pickup by the customer, the customer may not know to come in for it. Did the carrier leave a notice? Should he have tried it again the next day?

When the customer comes in to ask about the piece, it may have been misplaced on the very large shelf area and a good inquiry clerk will find it anyway. A lackadaisical or harried clerk will miss it.

Mail in transit has been known to disappear between stations without anyone stealing it. It got left in the bottom of the mail sack, and shows up when the sack is used again, and a more assiduous clerk empties it by inverting it properly.

My post office was average-sized for New York City, and we got something like a quarter-million pieces of mail to deliver each week. Not much room for mistakes.
 
I must say that the mail has worked fine for all of my package shipping. Never a lost package. I usually insure my shipments. Our post offices have a self service kiosk that is very easy to use. I cannot believe everyone waits in line, when they can be in and out in 2 minutes. I think it intimidates some people. People look at me as I am walking out and the line has not moved. If I make eye contact, I ask them if they would like to learn how to use it, they sheepishly decline. I am a little bit lurchy at 6'5" 245 lbs.with a long goatee, I guess I am pretty ugly and scary. They do not know that I am really a "gee golly josh" kinda nice guy who is willing to show them an efficient way to ship. My hats off to the post office, they do fine work.
 
cj65 said:
I am a little bit lurchy at 6'5" 245 lbs.with a long goatee, I guess I am pretty ugly and scary. They do not know that I am really a "gee golly josh" kinda nice guy who is willing to show them an efficient way to ship.
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When I was still working for the Post Office, I was 5'10" 245 lbs. If we got a customer in the lobby who was really upset about something, I would go out there smiling and tell them I was the manager and could help them, and they stopped yelling and waving their hands in the air. :D

It's a shame people go so much by appearance and so little by actually listening and learning.
 
I swear by USPS, there was only ONE time where an overnight delivery was by some miracle misrouted and left an unhappy customer, but USPS did make an attempt to re-route it and deliver it, but at an extra cost. Still, it made it to the destination, a few days late, shipping was refunded and item was returned. So overall I suppose I've never *knock on wood* had anything go missing. You just can't beat $5 for 2-3 day delivery and if printed out online that price includes delivery cofirmation.

As a side note, CNN or one of them channels mentioned USPS might go to 5 days a week due to lack of funding with people using email and such nowadays. I hope that isn't true and is just hype.

My .02, J.
 
Five day delivery comes up from time to time. Since there's about the same amount of mail in the pipeline any given day, with Saturday and Sunday adding about one day's worth, cutting out Saturday delivery would really dump on Monday.

On the other hand, it sure would simplify scheduling along with not paying for that extra delivery day. The same people who want Saturday mail delivery also want Saturdays and Sundays off for themselves.
 
So far I have been lucky with USPS. I have never had a package go lost. I did have one that took 7 days to be delivered when it should have been not over 3.
 
I think there are plenty of horror stories out there involving all carriers. And while I've had my share of bad experiences with USPS, they're still my carrier of choice.
 
I have had many years of excellent service from the USPS as a shipper and receiver. In June, I had an inbound Rat-3. Delivery confirmation showed it delivered on a day I was home and personally accepted the mail from the substitute carrier. There was no knife on that day. Had them check at the PO and nothing found. As it was not insured I am some coin, but a pretty good track record when you think about all the mail they handle.
 
pepper said:
where in the hell it was for those two weeks i'll never know, but one thing is for sure: i damn well will insure ALL of them from now on.
Click to expand...

Understand that insurance is for the shipper, not the recipient. It isn't possible for the recipient to buy insurance or make a claim against it. It is the shipper's responsibility to get the product to you. It is the shipper that needs to make good on it.
 
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