Tweet
Then why is it that I have yet to see any tracking information prior to it hitting my doorstep, and sometimes not even then? And why have I had packages travel through my city and across the continent to Washington state? One time it went there, TWICE! The USPS sucks! I have no doubt that the majority of the people who work there are great people. It is the system. Government does nothing with efficiency and there is not a single person that would use USPS if it were not for it being half the price. If I am ordering something from Amazon, that I do not need right away, because I found it on sale, and it is not time-ciritcal, then I choose Super Saver Shipping. Otherwise it is FedEx all the way for me.
-
"A fine beer may be judged with just one sip, but it is better to be thoroughly sure" -
Well, as I just explained - the only USPS service that offers TRACKING is Express Mail. You aren't using Express Mail, so THERE IS NO TRACKING.
What you have is DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. As the name implies, it is updated when the package is DELIVERED. Again - this service is intended for the use of the shipper, not the recipient.
This kind of reminds me of people who slam the BT3 saws because they don't have miter slots or cast iron. Once you understand the services that are available, and what they provide, USPS becomes not just cheaper, but a better VALUE.
Again, as I just exlained it is up to the shipper to take the extra step of printing out a SCAN Sheet in order to show that the Post Office has received it. Order something from me. I guarantee it will show when it is received by the Holland, MI Post Office and when it is forwarded to the Grand Rapids, MI Post Office.
Why doesn't everyone do this? They may simply be too lazy to take the extra step. BUT - in my experience it is because they print the label one day, and then don't bother getting the package to the Post Office for another day or three. That isn't their problem because they just blame it on the USPS. I ship literally thousands of Priority Mail packages a year. I have taken statistical samples and around 85% are delivered in 2 days, 14% are delivered the third day and the remaining 1% are delivered in 4-5 days.
Anyone here a NetFlix customer? Amazing service, right? That is because NetFlix took the time to learn how USPS works and takes advantage of it.
I am that person you say doesn't exist. I prefer USPS over FedEx or UPS for many reasons. One of them is price true, but there are other significant advantages. Depending on what service you are talking about. Is FedEx Overnight Delivery better that USPS Parcel Service if price is not a consideration? Well, yeah but that is hardly a fair comparison since one costs 15x more.
Here are some of the things I like about USPS:- Priority Mail is consistently faster than UPS or FedEx Ground (AND less expensive)
- There are no Customs Clearance fees on international shipments (FedEx or UPS often surprise you with $30 - $50 fees, even if the item purchased cost $5 and weighs 2 oz)
- They never come back and increase the price AFTER a package has been delivered. FedEx and UPS constantly quote one price and then modify it (always upward, sometime by 100%)
- They can deliver to PO Boxes
- They deliver to our troops at APO/FPO - no extra charge
- They deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Marshall Islands, etc - No extra charge
- My mailman gives my dog biscuits every day - even if he isn't supposed to
Doug Kerfoot
"Sacrificial fence? Aren't they all?"
Smaller, Smarter Hardware Keyloggers
"BT310" coupon code = 10% for forum members
KeyLlama.comComment
-
Today I was sending an item for repair from Houston to Dallas.
I took it to UPS and he asked me how soon did it need to get there... overnight or 2-day?
I said, no, the cheapest ground service will work for me.
So he finished the transaction and printed the receipt. I read it... UPS ground commercial.
Expected Delivery date: Thursday July 10. (today is July 9).
So he would have sold me a more expensive service even though it still would not have gotten there any faster and the cheapest was basically overnight.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
-
You talk of a print out sheet, yet I don't get that (I only fill the stuff out at the post office, not online).
But what I DO wonder, is WHAT form is necessary to get reimbursed for the tracking/delivery confirmation?
I've had two packages (one I sent, one sent to me), that NEVER appeared in the computer (I checked as late as 6 months after receiving them).She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
-
I learned how the USPS "works", and will never again ship anything of value using the USPS.
I shipped 16 books, well-packed, in a new box from IL to MD. I insured the package, as these were text books that even at used prices, were worth about $800.
After a couple weeks, I was puzzled that the package hadn't arrived yet. I inquired with the USPS, and they said that I must wait at least 21 days before filing.
26 days after I shipped the package, the recipient contacted me and said my packing list didn't match the the contents, as there were only 9 books. I asked how much the package weighed, and it was much less than when I sent it. I asked about the appearance of the box, and they said it looked like someone had taped together a box out of a larger one. (It appeared that the USPS had damaged the box, and had lost most of the books).
I attempted to file an insurance claim. I couldn't complete the task because since a "package" had arrived, but was damaged, the package had to be inspected by the USPS. The recipient was kind enough to oblige me and took the nearly completed form and the box and books to his local post office for inspection. Three of our beloved civil servants there looked at it, but each refused to sign the form, saying that they wanted a manager to do it and that manager wasn't in. He left a message so that he could make an appointment to see the manager He was never called. (I actually experienced similar problems on my end when I attempted to initiate the claim. Only one person could do it, and that "full time" person never seemed to be in the post office).
The recipient called several times with no success. He stopped back two more times, finally catching the person who could do the inspection.
The manager inspected the box and filed the claim. (Unknown to me, the manager didn't fill out the form properly, and failed to indicate on the form that they the packaging had been inspected).
23 days later, the USPS sent a letter to the recipient that an inspection was necessary, which was now impossible. The USPS refused to pay the claim, refused to take responsibility for anything.
The USPS demonstrated:
-An inability to delivery a package intact, or in a timely fashion.
-An unwillingness to acknowledge obvious damage to an insured package, choosing rather to quietly pack the remaining portion back into the box and send it on its way, apparently hoping no one would notice and file a claim.
-An unwillingness to process an insurance claim when attempts were made.
-Incompetence in completing their own claim form properly.
-An unwillingness to ever contact me, the person clearly marked on the form as the one making the claim and the one to be paid.
The USPS showed me with incredible clarity just how incompetent they are, and how worthless insuring a package with them really is.
BTW - I have seen other carriers lose or damage a package. Never had a problem with those carriers processing and paying a claim - and we didn't have to repeatedly try to even file the claim.
I wonder just how many NetFlix parcels never make it. Their use of the USPS is THE VERY REASON I would be fearful of trying that service.Comment
-
Overnight would have guaranteed deliver by 10:30 a.m. the next day. The ground delivery usually won't arrive until later, so there is a subtle difference. The offer of "2-day" seems fishy, as UPS guarrantees ground delivery to commercial destinations within a reasonable distance.Comment
-
Just checked on my two packages. The one from Maryland will be here today. The other from Portland Oregon was received at the Portland Facility, processed and sent on it's way today. The package from Oregon was from member ot the Penturners.org site and I was a little leary of buying from him because of some issues and they are true, he just lost a future customer, I paid him on the 2nd and he shipped on the 9th, not good supposedly the package was ready to go on the 2nd. I think the first package got caught up in the Holiday weekend backlog of mail and didn't get out until Monday. Funny thing was I sent a package to New Hampshire on Saturday and he got it on Monday. So I will give USPS a brake on this one. Still don't care for their Tracking system.
TomComment
-
I finally have an update on my package. July 3rd it left Amazon's hands, July 7th it is shown as arriving at USPS sorting facility, today (the 10th) it leaves Cincinnati. So they took a week to process it in Ohio, three hours away. Sorry Doug, the USPS sucks!
The regular mail service is horrible also. We get a lot of magazines around here and at least every other month I get one delivered, cover only. Or sometimes, just the plastic bag that is supposed to protect it in an envelope with the note on the back that says they are sorry and almost never damage mail. Must just be my address? Nope, my father, friends, acquaintances, business owners, etc all get the same thing. Perhaps they are using techniques like with Slik Geek to keep the average down? If no claim gets processed, it never happened?
And don't even get me started on our government's ability to collect the trash around here! If I had to write a check out payable to the sanitation department, they would not get one. Instead it is lumped in with another utility."A fine beer may be judged with just one sip, but it is better to be thoroughly sure"Comment
-
I had a nearly identical situation happen with UPS. Two items shipped in a bigger box, one of the inner boxes was delivered with the label from the outer box taped to it. Weight and size were drastically different than what was on the label, but UPS was unwilling to admit there was a problem at first. Then they tried to blame it on the customer.
Like any large organization, you can run into individuals or units that are poor representatives. All I can say is that for the thousands of packages I ship each year, USPS remains my preferred shipper. UPS and FedEx are still in business because they have some definite strengths too. YMMV and isn't it wonderful to have a choice?
Want to get back at USPS? You can ship an 11" x 8" x 5" block of lead to Alaska or Hawaii or even Guam for under $10. Upgrade it to 12"x12"x5" for $2 more. Tell the recipient to refuse delivery and they have to return it to you at no extra charge.
Doug Kerfoot
"Sacrificial fence? Aren't they all?"
Smaller, Smarter Hardware Keyloggers
"BT310" coupon code = 10% for forum members
KeyLlama.comComment
-
David
This guy has some kind of disablility, I think both physical and a little mental. He has some nice wood for turning. I will let him know when the package gets here that I was not happy about the delay in shipping. He was involved rectently in a big Dust UP on the other site and I bought from him, like others, as away of helping him and encouraging him to not quit the site. It is my understanding that this is his only employment as he is on disablity. He is also very sensitive about comments or criticism. I will do it in a PM or Email directly to him not on the site. Or maybe he is like rest of us and gets sidetracked on another projecet, been there done that.
TomComment
-
My experience has been that it isn't a few individuals that are poor representatives. It is a systemic problem. Poor service is encouraged in the USPS system.
What was the ultimate outcome for you with the UPS? Did they make good on the claim? I couldn't get anywhere with the USPS. I ran into an absolute brick wall. Even though I did everything correctly, presented receipts for every lost item (which took me a number of hours to locate), properly submitted the necessary paperwork (which took a couple hours because the USPS prides itself in being unresponsive and unavailable), made numerous phone calls to follow up (because the USPS NEVER once contacted me about anything with regard to my claim), my reward was a complete loss. Because THEY improperly processed the claim, it was MY problem and I had no recourse.
I'm quite thankful that I do have a choice. I'm also happy that your experience has been positive. I'm not optimistic that it will always be that way, however.
At work, we recently had a package lost by either UPS, Fedex or DHL (can't remember which). They paid on the claim. What was remarkable was that the package was quite over-sized - it was a large projection screen, about 10 to 12 feet long.
Two or three weeks after the claim was paid and the replacement screen received, the missing one also arrived!!! (How did they misplace something so big??) We called them up and invited them to recover the package that had already been replaced.Comment
-
Thankfully, in this case I was not the direct shipper. For a while, I experimented with selling some products on eBay (in this case TV Wall Mounts) and drop-shipping them direct from a large distributor.
I was not happy with the distributor's performance so I got out of that market. The one good part about it was that they were the ones that had to resolve it with UPS. I was eventually able to get the distributor to replace the lost one while they battled it out with UPS. I am not sure if they ever did get their claim honored, but I do know that 5 weeks after the fact they were still working on it.
With my own shipping I don't pay for insurance. After 5 years and many thousands of packages, I have had about 10 people initially claim they didn't receive their package. Of those, we were able to determine that one had been delivered to the wrong address, and eight had been properly delivered but misplaced by the customer, their family or office staff. Only one person maintained they never received it, but there were several things which made me believe he was trying to scam me. In all cases, I was please with the delivery confirmation service as it included the information necessary to resolve the issue.
USPS would have to lose hundreds of packages to equal what I would have paid in insurance. So, given their exemplary track record, it is far cheaper for me to "self-insure."Doug Kerfoot
"Sacrificial fence? Aren't they all?"
Smaller, Smarter Hardware Keyloggers
"BT310" coupon code = 10% for forum members
KeyLlama.comComment
LCHIEN
Comment