Pointman
Silver Member
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?
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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