USPS tracking entertainment

[OneMan]

Let me tell you some real horror stories about USPS service.
So far this past two months our small company gas lost over $3700.00 worth of merchandise and shipping cost combined because we ship to a customer and it says "delivered" instead of received at facility so the customer in any city we ship to never gets it and the Postal Service can't find it since it is listed as delivered and not 'in transit'. Doesn't make sense to you, me neither but that's what the Post Master in our area says is the reason for us having to resend another item and repay postage since all our merchandise is free shipping.
We are told that a package is never 'lost'. It was mis-directed or stolen but never lost. An if you insure the package, it takes 40 days to receive payment for article. How many customers want to wait 40 days to get what they bought? We then ship another item to the customer and eat the new shipping so we are out two items and both shipping.
Oh if you think that the customers are cheating us then explain why the item is never in the Postal system other than delivered at our business instead of received for shipping.
If the Postal Dept insured against stupidity, they would go broke quicker than they are now. Also tracking numbers are just that, a number not a factual way of tracing where or when a package is going to be handled or received.
UPS, FED EX, DHL we never have a problem with getting items from overseas or sending them there, but USPS is the worst.

 

[Soundguy]

interesting stories.

I've had a few problems with USPS, and with all the major carriers. I remember one was using a package carrier.. guessing ups or fedex back at the time. I was rcving a firearm.. it was shipped.. and you didn't mark the box, etc.. other than special tagging..e tc. in any case.. package didn't arrive.. called cust svc.. basically got the it's lost too bad talk.. at that point I stated asking for contact info and lots of it.. when asked why, I mentioned that under federal law i had X hours to report a lost or stolen firearm and that ATF would be wanting their contat info.

I was put on hold for 5 monutes.. they 'found' the package and the driver was turning around to deliver it.

makes ya wonder.

Mind you this has been many years ago.. and I'm sure lots of shipping regs and laws have changed since then.. but still.... sad service..

 

[sodamo]

Let me tell you some real horror stories about USPS service.
So far this past two months our small company gas lost over $3700.00 worth of merchandise and shipping cost combined because we ship to a customer and it says "delivered" instead of received at facility so the customer in any city we ship to never gets it and the Postal Service can't find it since it is listed as delivered and not 'in transit'. Doesn't make sense to you, me neither but that's what the Post Master in our area says is the reason for us having to resend another item and repay postage since all our merchandise is free shipping.
We are told that a package is never 'lost'. It was mis-directed or stolen but never lost. An if you insure the package, it takes 40 days to receive payment for article. How many customers want to wait 40 days to get what they bought? We then ship another item to the customer and eat the new shipping so we are out two items and both shipping.
Oh if you think that the customers are cheating us then explain why the item is never in the Postal system other than delivered at our business instead of received for shipping.
If the Postal Dept insured against stupidity, they would go broke quicker than they are now. Also tracking numbers are just that, a number not a factual way of tracing where or when a package is going to be handled or received.
UPS, FED EX, DHL we never have a problem with getting items from overseas or sending them there, but USPS is the worst.

I can relate from the customer side. Two recent experiences.
Ordered 2 bearings and the screws for my flail mower. Shipped USPS priority mail flat rate box. Box arrived, looked like it had been opened and reclosed(but not taped), only 1 bearing and no screws. Company resent at no additional cost to me.

About 2 weeks later, same company, 2 items via USPS priority mail flat rate box. This time it arrived, corner split open, obviously mishandled ( probably due to weight). Delivered that it arrived in Honolulu damaged - the small item was missing and again had to be rent. Felt back for the shipper.

Several years ago, I read a rather extensive analysis/history of the post office that also traced private delivery services and their roles through the years. As I recall, this was something of an official analysis but I'll be darn if I can remember the author or title

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[Leejohn]

Private ran no.....

You must be confusing the bulk mail between post offices are moved by private contract carrier (cheapest bid trucking company)....IIRC, only postal employees can actually collect/touch/sort the mail and do final delivery

Bill I was going by a friend that retired from the post office about 7 or 8 years ago. He said that was changed about 10 years before he retired. He said his check can from a private co. When that was done he said they lost out on some retirement and insurace. You are right about only postal employees can actually collect/touch/sort the mail and do final delivery. Uncle sam still has there fingers in there some how, but I didn't go into that with him and can't now because he passed away. I would guess the post masters still get there checks from the big hand over us. Maybe some one that works for the post office could jump in. I sure would like to know for sure.

 

[sodamo]

Here's a variant I've come to dislike - extremely FedEx / USPS:

FedEx SmartPost

When it comes to low-weight shipping for residential customers, consider the efficient, economical FedEx SmartPost service. By utilizing the U.S. Postal Service® for final delivery, FedEx SmartPost reaches every U.S. address, including P.O. boxes and military APO, FPO and DPO destinations. You can even use FedEx SmartPost to ship to Alaska, Hawaii and all U.S. territories...

Been burnt twice. Item moves very well, until it gets to the PO, in our case Honolulu, then it takes another week to get to my PO Box.

What ticks me off is the last time, I wasn't given a choice and didn't know this was the method of choice until after the item shipped.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[OneMan]

I can relate from the customer side. Two recent experiences.
Ordered 2 bearings and the screws for my flail mower. Shipped USPS priority mail flat rate box. Box arrived, looked like it had been opened and reclosed(but not taped), only 1 bearing and no screws. Company resent at no additional cost to me.

About 2 weeks later, same company, 2 items via USPS priority mail flat rate box. This time it arrived, corner split open, obviously mishandled ( probably due to weight). Delivered that it arrived in Honolulu damaged - the small item was missing and again had to be rent. Felt back for the shipper.

Several years ago, I read a rather extensive analysis/history of the post office that also traced private delivery services and their roles through the years. As I recall, this was something of an official analysis but I'll be darn if I can remember the author or title

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

I can state with authority that we have sent 5 items to Hawaii and 2 arrived the first time. Others had to be shipped again and first ones never did arrive according to USPS tracking. In fact they never left the receiving location in TN but couldn't be found and so were never lost just missed directed. (Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, pay no attention I say)...

 

[sherpa]

Here in rural NC mountains we have no problems with USPS or UPS but never never try to get FedEx to deliver anything out here. They claim "customer not home" when we are sitting here waiting on them. We have called the terminal 50 miles away and complain, they just brush us off. I made several post about this issue on here several years ago. FedEx has spies on here and report complaints and then FedEx employees PM you and try to smooth the situation over. Nothing ever changes though, it is a local problem here in NC with me living too far from the terminal.
sherpa