Not too happy with USPS

[Pointman]

I am not too thrilled with the USPS. I have been selling items for about 7-8 years on various sites. Earlier in the year, I had a packaged going out Priority and scheduled a pick-up. The postal carrier did not pick up the package for 3 days, but I still received a pick up confirmation day two. I have since spoken with my Postal Lady and she stated that she was never notified and that it happens all the time. The office did a CYA (cover their A--) by updating that the package was picked up when it hadn't. Two weeks later the buyer notified me that he hadn't received the item. I spent another 2 weeks calling the Post Office customer support line and finally (after a dozen calls) reached someone and they stated that the Post Office had 3 packages lost on the same day/route. The lady told me that it was probably sitting in a warehouse somewhere misplaced and that it would go to public auction once it is found. I didn't buy shipping insurance because the item wasn't that much, but after Priority shipping (which never took place) I was out close to $30 and the seller didn't receive the item that they bought.

Now I pay extra and go through UPS. The way I see it, I have never had problems using them and I have sent easily well over 100 packages personally and have used them for years through my work. I can also at least get a human on the phone the first time I call and get resolution if I have shipping problems, although I may not understand what they say sometimes.

Ranting a bit, I realize. I work for the government and I know about "red tape" and how it runs inefficiently. In 7 years, I have had packages lost before and letters torn in half and remnants sent back to me, easily 5+% loss which is too much. I think that good people work for USPS, but it is operates inefficiently and like the rest of the government, there isn't anyone held liable so why take the extra step and ensure things work smoothly or at all?

 

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[BosnMate]

USPS is over priced poor service. If you buy insurance, good luck collecting. I used to sell video tapes, and they would disappear into thin air. A friend that worked in the back of the building told me that because of affirmative action there are people working for the USPS that can't read, and in fact there were people working in the big distribution centers that only need to be able to read 5 numbers. To check on that, you have to know someone that works for USPS, and will tell the truth, because the guys at the front counter never give a straight, honest answer.

 

[doc-d]

This is the same gov that wants to run healthcare........

 

[Wily Dunk]

I keep having problems with both UPS and Fed Ex.. I've ordered two detectors at different times from different dealers and one was sent to me using UPS and the other was sent using Fed Ex and both times they were delivered to the house down the block.. Both packages had my correct address but the drivers delivered them to the wrong house.. I was lucky both times and was outside and managed to catch the drivers before they left.. Glad I can check the computer and find out when a package is out for delivery so I can keep an eye out for the truck delivering it.. Never had a problem with USPS except it may be dark before the mail is delivered..

 

[vpnavy]

Hey, I am so old that I have experienced problems (at one time or another) with the USPS, FedEx and UPS. The more you ship with one company - the closer you get to having a package lost, etc. Don't get upset - it is inevitable!

 

[Alan Applegate]

Well, someone aught to check the stats of the USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Hopefully my math is okay.....

The USPS handles about 160 billion pieces of mail each year. According to the USPS, 98.7% are handled correctly. That leaves over 1.6 billion that don't!

UPS does about 4.1 billion per year, with a success hovering around 99.4%, so over 10 million don't make it on time!

FedEx ships about 1.2 billion per year, with a success of 99.8%, or about 2.4 million that don't make it one time!

Of the three, FedEx has by far the highest customer service rating, with UPS very close, and the USPS dead last by a mile!

 

[team sidewinder]

USPS is pretty bad alright. I would much prefer to see something I have ordered being sent UPS or FedEx rather than USPS. USPS is sooooo slooow.
And I should add that if your USPS tracking number says it will deliver on a certain day you can sure bet it will be at least a day or two after that date.

 

[Davers]

IMP they are auctioning off folks lost mail/packages to pay for the Obuma care website. lol

 

[Produce Guy]

UPS or Fed EX are my choices.

 

[WVARelics]

I too have had recent problems with USPS. Service anymore is terrible. I received a letter in our mailbox that was mailed and PO stamped June 27 2013, it didn't arrive in the box until Sept 17th!! It looked like it had been riding around in the PO truck the whole time. The kicker was it was mailed about 4 blocks from my house...almost 3 months to go 4 blocks.

 

[SusanMN]

If you send fed ex, be sure it is going to be Fed Ex til delivery. They have a service now where it starts off with Fed Ex but then they transfer it to the USPS for delivery. Its a crap shoot if they'll meet their estimated delivery times and tracking is terrible.

 

[barrywk]

usps carries over 30% of fedex and ups parcels....its more cost effective for the later for fedex and ups....also 160 billion pieces of mail means also letters and junk mail,,,,fed ex and ups doesn't carry letters or junk mail

 

[flinthunter]

Priority Mail comes with free tracking and free insurance up to fifty dollars. If there was a tracking label on it you should be insured. Take your tracking number in and file a claim.

 

[Old Bookaroo]

I've been buying and selling books by mail since Moby Dick was a guppy - fifty years and counting.

I've had one issue with USPS - a book that got caught in a processing machine and was bent in half. Happily it was a trade paperback in print (Meylach's Diving to a Flash of Gold, if anybody cares - I took the fold-out map from it and moved on).

I think the USPS does an extraordinary job. People compare the service to FedX or UPS - but they don't want to pay $15 to pay the light bill when the USPS will do the job for less than fifty cents.

I ship most of my books Media Mail with Tracking (eBay requirement). Some of the smaller items (13 oz. or less) are cheaper to ship First Class.

Items have to be well packaged! I buy on eBay and man sellers just shove a book or pamphlet or map into an envelope and figure that's enough (ignoring my request for careful packaging with instructions).

I'm not disputing anyone else's experience. This is mine.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Exactly!

 

[rock]

I just ordered a package to be delivered 3 days ago. The first notice for delivery was going to come 2 days ago. I just checked and now they say Monday. Thats is 5 days now instead of 2. Its Saturday so I will see if it comes on Monday I guess. It left NJ and Im in N GA and it already went 20 miles south of me. That means they drove rite pass my home. Im tracking it.
My package came today this time on Monday so it took 5 days.