Amazing USPS

[BBrad]

I need to check the weather report from Hell . . . it may have frozen over!!

After years of declining service and frustration, I have had an amazing experience this week with our illustrious United States Postal Service!

I shipped four razors and one lighter that I sold on eBay on Monday 8/30, via First Class parcel. Two packages were going to the west coast, two to Virginia, and one to Minnesota.

All five arrived at their destinations and were delivered on Wednesday, 9/1!!

Are they getting better or was this just a fluke? 48 hours for a coast-to-coast delivery, and everywhere in between?

 

[Merkur25]

I need to check the weather report from Hell . . . it may have frozen over!!

After years of declining service and frustration, I have had an amazing experience this week with our illustrious United States Postal Service!

I shipped four razors and one lighter that I sold on eBay on Monday 8/30, via First Class parcel. Two packages were going to the west coast, two to Virginia, and one to Minnesota.

All five arrived at their destinations and were delivered on Wednesday, 9/1!!

Are they getting better or was this just a fluke? 48 hours for a coast-to-coast delivery, and everywhere in between?

I had a very similar experience just recently. I shipped a brush to a B&B member in Oregon and it took 48hrs as well.

I think they are finally getting their **** together....I probably just jinxed myself

 

[milwaukeemadass]

While not 48 hours, I ordered my Merkur late Tuesday afternoon and it was shipped via USPS from CA and got here to Milwaukee this morning (Fri). I was honestly surprised because I was expecting it to get here maybe Tuesday or Wednesday next week in typical slow-boat fashion.

 

[Ruger Packer]

I'm in the south central US and I've always had good service via USPS. Its FedUPS.... opps, excuse me.... FedEx and UPS, that are always slower for me.

 

[ezmike]

Overall my experiences with the USPS have been great. On rare occasion I've had a problem but most of the time my packages arrive on time or early.

Mike

 

[iamdarkangel2005]

I can honestly say depending on the postal office! I am currently having trouble with some packages.... VERY UPSET!

So it depends! I guess!

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

For as much crap the USPS takes--they do generally do a good job---pretty much everything I've ordered over the years takes 2 days when finally shipped by the shipper.

Keep in mind--they still dwarf UPS and Fedex in terms of number of parcels shipped.

 

[BladeRunner001]

I need to check the weather report from Hell . . . it may have frozen over!!

After years of declining service and frustration, I have had an amazing experience this week with our illustrious United States Postal Service!

I shipped four razors and one lighter that I sold on eBay on Monday 8/30, via First Class parcel. Two packages were going to the west coast, two to Virginia, and one to Minnesota.

All five arrived at their destinations and were delivered on Wednesday, 9/1!!

Are they getting better or was this just a fluke? 48 hours for a coast-to-coast delivery, and everywhere in between?

I've had pretty good experience with USPS. We shouldn't be too hard on our postal workers. They seem to be overworked and underpaid. The fact that the USPS has had a $3-4B losing Quarter is no moral booster either. They are doing the best they can. Frankly, $4.85 for Priority/delivery confirmation, small box and 2-3 days delivery is a pretty good deal to me .

 

[Tripnastic]

I recently bought something on Ebay on a saturday morning. It was shipped USPS flat rate that day and got here Monday afternoon. Phoenix to St.Louis.

 

[raisindot]

For me, USPS is getting much, much faster, at least based on some recent Ebay purchases.

Last Monday I won an auction from a seller in VA. Item shipped on Tuesday, arrived yesterday.

On Aug 22nd I bought an item from a Hong Kong seller. They estimated delivery times to be up to 30 days. Item arrived yesterday.

For both items, shipping was free.

Jeff in Boston

 

[nEver-Ready]

I'm in the south central US and I've always had good service via USPS. Its FedUPS.... opps, excuse me.... FedEx and UPS, that are always slower for me.

Agree. Also, I know my USPS postal carrier, who knows where to put packages that are too large for the box to keep them out of sight. He is a regular who is friendly, responsive and responsible and looks out for me. I never see the same Fed Ex or UPS driver twice. It is also possible to stop delivery easily with USPS if you are away. I've had at least two items stolen that were delivered by Fed Ex ground and left in plain sight of the street on days when no one was home. I always prefer USPS.

 

[woodfluter]

I agree with the positive sentiments. I'm in the Southeast US too, but have received stuff from all over dependably and in good condition, quite often within 48 hours. I do think the competition from UPS and FedEx has been an incentive.

- Bill

 

[PlayerPiano]

I too am a fan of USPS (when they're not giving me junk mail!). It's fast, cheap. And I figure with less actual mail they've been focusing on their package infrastructure lately.

 

[BBrad]

I've had pretty good experience with USPS. We shouldn't be too hard on our postal workers. They seem to be overworked and underpaid. The fact that the USPS has had a $3-4B losing Quarter is no moral booster either. They are doing the best they can. Frankly, $4.85 for Priority/delivery confirmation, small box and 2-3 days delivery is a pretty good deal to me .

Can't disagree a bit, BladeRunner! Although, in my area, the Postal Service starting wage is quite a bit higher than the region's mean hourly pay, so I can't address the underpaid part.

My original point is that I never thought I'd see the day when the USPS would provide a level of service superior to (and a cost lower than) their parcel-delivering competition.

With fast service, accurate tracking, and fair prices it seems they are serving the needs of the postal customer/citizen. They deserve our support and patronage as long as they provide service like this!

 

[Shavely Manden]

Remember, USPS is a service that specializes in small, residential deliveries for a reasonable price. ($0.44 for a letter, ~$3 for a first-class package -- for small stuff, USPS can't be beat!) Sure, they've got their flukes, but I've really been happy with USPS in general. And I absolutely love the automated post machine in my local PO...I can mail packages at two in the morning if I want!

 

[cooncatbob]

The USPS has been super fast this past week, I've been getting packages cross country in 2 days 1st class.

 

[shecky]

Priority Mail almost always beats Fedex or UPS, pretty much across the board. Usually by a pretty good margin, too. Fedex/UPS shines when it comes to larger, bulkier packages.

 

[glassmtn99]

Considering the amount of mail they move, I think the USPS does a great job. I only wish we could stop the junk mail though.

eric.

 

[gaj90027]

Priority Mail almost always beats Fedex or UPS, pretty much across the board. Usually by a pretty good margin, too. Fedex/UPS shines when it comes to larger, bulkier packages.

I have never priced anything cheaper at FedEx or UPS, USPS is cheaper by far. Even large bulky packages are dirt cheap as long as you don't mind parcel post which is just as fast as FedEx or UPS ground anyway. I mailed a 30lb box from Los Angeles to Lincoln, NE for $19.00 via parcel post and it only took 4 days.

I really HATE doing business with vendors that only offer UPS or FedEX. Both delivery companies are so completely inconsistent here in the city as far as if they feel like leaving the package at your door or making you come to their warehouses in skid row to pick up the package. As a working guy (way too young to retire yet) I will never ever be home during FedEX or UPS hours to sign for a package. This surely has to be an issue for them when it comes to answering the questions of "why don't more people use our service"?

 

[PedroNavaja]

Priority Mail almost always beats Fedex or UPS, pretty much across the board. Usually by a pretty good margin, too. Fedex/UPS shines when it comes to larger, bulkier packages.

Not exactly true. Priority Mail within Florida takes two solid days, UPS deliveres ground parcel within Florida overnight. I'm sure its thesame in other states.