I hate the USPS

[thecoalition]

United States Postal Service for you boys (and girls) across the water.
Last week I ordered some new Mama Bear's soaps to try out some new scents. Only about 4 or 5 but that came out to about 50 dollars worth. Of course I go with the priority shipping of 2-3 days no big deal. Well...I got tracking number...and it says it was delivered. Yesterday. I have no package. I call the customer care line and they say...someone will contact you in 2-3 days.
Now there are 3 possible scenarios here.
1. The package was delivered to the wrong place
2. The package was stolen
3. The package was never delivered but marked as such

Either way...now I am not a postal worker but I don't think taking items with addresses on them and putting them at the right box/doorstep is too tough a job. Especially since our postman only covers an area that is about 2 square miles. Of course I live in an apartment complex so this clown also has never put a package on my step. Instead he puts the packages on TOP of the mailbox area...which are only big enough for letters.

I'm venting.

 

[AACJ]

United States Postal Service for you boys (and girls) across the water.
Last week I ordered some new Mama Bear's soaps to try out some new scents. Only about 4 or 5 but that came out to about 50 dollars worth. Of course I go with the priority shipping of 2-3 days no big deal. Well...I got tracking number...and it says it was delivered. Yesterday. I have no package. I call the customer care line and they say...someone will contact you in 2-3 days.
Now there are 3 possible scenarios here.
1. The package was delivered to the wrong place
2. The package was stolen
3. The package was never delivered but marked as such

Either way...now I am not a postal worker but I don't think taking items with addresses on them and putting them at the right box/doorstep is too tough a job. Especially since our postman only covers an area that is about 2 square miles. Of course I live in an apartment complex so this clown also has never put a package on my step. Instead he puts the packages on TOP of the mailbox area...which are only big enough for letters.

I'm venting.

Sorry for your loss.

Maybe one of your neighbors are enjoying the soaps? You have to "sniff" around to see. Have you asked your mail person if he/she actually delivered it? I hope it was insured too.

I usually have stuff sent to my work for two reasons, 1) we have a delivery person that signs for it, 2) I eliminate the chance my wife will get to the mail box before me. I already have so much stuff, if I sneak it in, I can just say I had it already.

 

[dpm802]

I can see any number of scenarios where your package may have been lost ... in the future, you might want to choose a shipping option where you get signature confirmation, or even one where you have to go to a central office to pick it up in person.

I've had similar problems with the USPS ...

• my mail gets delivered to a neighbor's house,
• my rent check is sent out automatically by my bank, but it has taken as long as 11 days to reach my landlord.
• letters and packages are damaged in transit.
• when I sent out parcels of shaving gear, I am given the third degree by clerks to find out what's inside. They threw a fit when I tried to PIF a package of Astra blades. (Now, I just lie about the contents.)

As bad as the USPS is, its cost effective, and probably one of the best in the world. Considering the huge volume they carry each day, I really can't think of any better way to do things.

 

[BladeDE40]

Yeah...their tracking system is horrible. I haven't had any problems getting my pkgs yet, but I'm just waiting for it to happen one day.

 

[BurkDarkpatches]

Stupid imperfect world!

Actually, the USPS had a pretty good track record for me until I got here to Ft. Irwin. I've had two non-delivered packages (not including CammyFive's box of Feathers! ;-), which is pretty darn aggravating. UPS and FedEx are 100% for me.

That being said, even UPS has delivered to the wrong house before. Thankfully, I was just the wrong house and not the package recipient.

For _every_ job there are easy tasks for which you can say, "Only a moron would screw that up." Yet we all screw it up sometimes (I'm looking at you Mr. Whataburger-maker! There's supposed to be two tomatoes! Just look at the picture! ;-). Systemic problems are another story....

Steve

 

[BladeDE40]

I can see any number of scenarios where your package may have been lost ... in the future, you might want to choose a shipping option where you get signature confirmation, or even one where you have to go to a central office to pick it up in person.

I've had similar problems with the USPS ...

• my mail gets delivered to a neighbor's house,
• my rent check is sent out automatically by my bank, but it has taken as long as 11 days to reach my landlord.
• letters and packages are damaged in transit.
• when I sent out parcels of shaving gear, I am given the third degree by clerks to find out what's inside. They threw a fit when I tried to PIF a package of Astra blades. (Now, I just lie about the contents.)

As bad as the USPS is, its cost effective, and probably one of the best in the world. Considering the huge volume they carry each day, I really can't think of any better way to do things.

Not sure if your post office has one, but ours has an automated kiosk that I use. All it asks for is the type of pkg, the zip code your are sending it to, weighs it for you, and prints out the postage. Put the postage on the pkg and place it in the box. I used this the last time I mailed out blades.

 

[luvmysuper]

Not sure if your post office has one, but ours has an automated kiosk that I use. All it asks for is the type of pkg, the zip code your are sending it to, weighs it for you, and prints out the postage. Put the postage on the pkg and place it in the box. I used this the last time I mailed out blades.

I also use this for outgoing.
You can choose to ship using a tracking number as well (though that didn't help the OP)

I have had really good experiences with the post office (knock on wood).
I am on the third floor, and two separate carriers have brought packages up to my door that wouldn't fit in the "mailboxes" downstairs.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I don't want to jinx things, but I've never had any problems sending anything out or receiving anything sent to me via USPS. However, their delivery in general is pretty erratic. I regularly get mail that should be going to the same numbered house on our cross-street. Everything from packages to bank statements. We just walk over the next day and either give it to them directly or put it in their box. The funny thing is, I'm never missing anything. Our carrier always stops to talk, so I guess she knows who we are.

Anyway, I hope that they've delivered your package to somebody who will realize the mistake and bring it back to you. Good luck--all is not lost yet!

 

[coolbluewater]

Yeah, I got a similar order boosted from my front porch last month.
I feel your pain.

 

[Newfie]

United States Postal Service <<<<SNIP>>>>
I'm venting.

Yeah...their tracking system is horrible. >>>>SNIP

I used to live on the border between Michigan and Ontario, 20 minutes from Detroit / Windsor Tunnel / Bridge.

I had easy access to USPS for packages to my US Brethern of Shaving and Cigar Boards. And of course, I used Canada Post for packages bound for Canadian addresses.

I will say this - Thank your lucky stars you have USPS, 'cause I bloody well wish I still had access to them.

 

[C Reed]

After having the Royal Mail for so long it amazes me how bad USPS is. I only ever got one miss delivered letter in the 5 years I lived in the UK (i had a few miss marked ones but they made it to the marked address). I even got a letter addressed to "the house on the North East corner of XXXX road and YYYYY road, London W11" from a friend whom had stayed but could not remember the house number.

I've lived in Manhattan for 2 years, I've gotten mail to all over NYC, one letter to the Bronx ended up in my downtown mailbox, a couple to brooklyn, and mail all over the LES ends up with me.

 

[professorchaos]

I feel your pain.

 

[mretzloff]

I am sorry to hear this.

The USPS is awful, and what is worse is, we have no alternative. UPS, Fedex, etc. have too high of prices and really are not that much better either.

 

[Doc4]

I tried to post a response in this thread earlier, but the USPS delivered it to this thread:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1995358#post1995358

 

[mretzloff]

I tried to post a response in this thread earlier, but the USPS delivered it to this thread:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1995358#post1995358

See, the problem is, you did not get insurance. You should have insured your post


That is another thing that irks me. I am not sure how it is in Canada, but here they try to sell you insurance and delivery confirmation. Maybe it is just me, but if they sell insurance, does that not mean their service has a lot of room for improvement?

 

[JoshD]

I usually have stuff sent to my work for two reasons, 1) we have a delivery person that signs for it, 2) I eliminate the chance my wife will get to the mail box before me. I already have so much stuff, if I sneak it in, I can just say I had it already.

I am going to have to start doing this. She is starting to wonder how man Superspeeds I need.

Josh

 

[garyg]

I may be a function of where you live (smaller suburb where I know the the names of the last 4 postal delivery folks over 18 years) or the how (apartment where the boxes all look the same & the neighbor grabs your mail "by mistake"). I haven't had a mis-delivery here in 5 years, and that one example was a bill when the mortgage was being sold to another company ..

I believe that the USPS does a decent job, but their business model is changing. Try getting someone else to take an 8 ounce package with an old Schick safely across town for less than 3 bucks, delivered the day after it was mailed, as happened here today & yesterday.

 

[warlandsboy]

I will say this - Thank your lucky stars you have USPS, 'cause I bloody well wish I still had access to them.

My sentiments exactly!

 

[thecoalition]

well i called the front office that will accept and sign for ups/fedex (so i would assume usps too) but they didn't pickup and when i got home no one was in. so i will try them again tomorrow. i also double checked the mama bear shipping and tracking number again bc vicki said she sent out my sample 2 days after my package. and my package actually "arrived" at 10:03am on april 1st. funny because swmbo was home that whole day and when i got home nothing was sitting on the mail box.
this leaves a possible window of 6 hours in which it disappeared.

anyway i have a ticket in with usps - not sure what they will actually do about it if the box never shows up. if i could have chosen other than usps i would have but its the only choice i get from mama bear at this time so if i want her goods its what i have to take.

<looks at mama bear and gives puppy eyes for fedex choice> *whimpers*

 

[82R100]

In my experience their tracking makes them look worse than they are. I haven't actually lost anything through the postal service in decades. The weak link in the chain seems to be the letter carrier at the destination end. We did have one for two or three years who delivered to incorrect addresses at a terrible rate, but always within the subdivision.

I hope your stuff shows up. I wouldn't give up hope yet.


- Chris