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What's Up With USPS?

This never happened to me for 20+ years, but for the second time in the last two months I have a package out for delivery in the wrong city...wrong state! What gives?
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  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    it's the usps.
  • PowderedH2OPowderedH2O Posts: 2,443 ✭✭
    Twice in the last two months I've had packages from other parts of the country get lost on the transfer from the Greensboro, NC Post Office to my post office ten miles away. One finally showed up (a package with one cheap PSA card) after seven weeks. The other is a box and I doubt I'll ever see that one...
    Successful dealings with shootybabitt, LarryP, Doctor K, thedutymon, billsgridirongreats, fattymacs, shagrotn77, pclpads, JMDVM, gumbyfan, itzagoner, rexvos, al032184, gregm13, californiacards3, mccardguy1, BigDaddyBowman, bigreddog, bobbyw8469, burke23, detroitfan2, drewsef, jeff8877, markmac, Goldlabels, swartz1, blee1, EarlsWorld, gseaman25, kcballboy, jimrad, leadoff4, weinhold, Mphilking, milbroco, msassin, meteoriteguy, rbeaton and gameusedhoop.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,713 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I went to ship a USPS Express flat rate envelope today insured for $5,000 and was told insurance was $66. Last month, it would have cost $15 or $20 for $5,000 insurance. This is a 300% increase. In the future, I will simply ship Registered uninsured but comfortable with the Postal accountability. I am also going to look into printing out postage for the first time on less expensive parcels but make sure they are scanned into the system. >>



    Prior to the 5/31 rate changes, insurance with Express Mail was much lower for higher dollar packages due to a discount you'd get by using the Express Mail level of service, but I noticed those discounts no longer apply, so you pay the same amount for insurance using either Priority or Express mail.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    I have third party coverage thru my company, but you guys should check into your homeowners coverage if you are shipping to/from your house. a friend runs a home office and was able to add coverage thru his homeowners for less than $100 for the year...he uses auto owners.

    just a suggestion.


  • << <i>I have third party coverage thru my company, but you guys should check into your homeowners coverage if you are shipping to/from your house. a friend runs a home office and was able to add coverage thru his homeowners for less than $100 for the year...he uses auto owners.

    just a suggestion. >>



    Collect Insure.
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭
    Has anyone had problems with the tracking lately? I dropped off a padded envelope yesterday at my local branch and just put it on the counter with a few other packages. When I looked around to make sure that was ok, a man behind the counter says "we've got it sir, thank you!" So I left, this was about 2:30 and as of 9PM there is no tracking. Has anyone had this happen? Only says the shipper has created a shipping label and will be updated when it arrives at a facility.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,713 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Does anyone know if I print my own labels (tracking), can my mailman scan them in to the system or must it be done by someone at a physical branch? >>



    Your mailperson can scan them upon pickup.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.


  • << <i>Has anyone had problems with the tracking lately? I dropped off a padded envelope yesterday at my local branch and just put it on the counter with a few other packages. When I looked around to make sure that was ok, a man behind the counter says "we've got it sir, thank you!" So I left, this was about 2:30 and as of 9PM there is no tracking. Has anyone had this happen? Only says the shipper has created a shipping label and will be updated when it arrives at a facility. >>


    Just last week I also dropped off a package at the counter and teller who I've known since 1993 said she sees it. 24 hrs later it hasn't appeared on tracking so I go back and the teller said she remembered me and the package and that she did scan it. Fourty-one hrs after it was scanned it finally appeared on the tracking.
    "You tell 'em I'm coming...and hell's coming with me"--Wyatt Earp
  • kingnascarkingnascar Posts: 636 ✭✭✭
    My son and I have had several packages lost in wrong city hell over the last few months.
    Some have taken over a month to be delivered.
    The USPS is a shell of it's former self. SAD!
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Has anyone had problems with the tracking lately? I dropped off a padded envelope yesterday at my local branch and just put it on the counter with a few other packages. When I looked around to make sure that was ok, a man behind the counter says "we've got it sir, thank you!" So I left, this was about 2:30 and as of 9PM there is no tracking. Has anyone had this happen? Only says the shipper has created a shipping label and will be updated when it arrives at a facility. >>


    Just last week I also dropped off a package at the counter and teller who I've known since 1993 said she sees it. 24 hrs later it hasn't appeared on tracking so I go back and the teller said she remembered me and the package and that she did scan it. Fourty-one hrs after it was scanned it finally appeared on the tracking. >>



    My tracking finally appeared some 30+ hours later. Why with today's technology does this take so long?


  • << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Has anyone had problems with the tracking lately? I dropped off a padded envelope yesterday at my local branch and just put it on the counter with a few other packages. When I looked around to make sure that was ok, a man behind the counter says "we've got it sir, thank you!" So I left, this was about 2:30 and as of 9PM there is no tracking. Has anyone had this happen? Only says the shipper has created a shipping label and will be updated when it arrives at a facility. >>


    Just last week I also dropped off a package at the counter and teller who I've known since 1993 said she sees it. 24 hrs later it hasn't appeared on tracking so I go back and the teller said she remembered me and the package and that she did scan it. Fourty-one hrs after it was scanned it finally appeared on the tracking. >>



    My tracking finally appeared some 30+ hours later. Why with today's technology does this take so long? >>




    This delay in tracking showing up has been an issue for some time now. At this point I assume that if I drop off a package to a teller that I see get scanned in, and receive a receipt for, I expect to see it in the system no sooner than a day.

    In general though, I've had extremely good service from the USPS as in packages always reaching their destinations so I've learned to deal with the wait. Though as you say "Why with today's technology does this take so long?" ... I guess the question is, have they upgraded their systems yet to "today's technology"?
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,142 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I bought an item on ebay a few days ago. According to USPS tracking, it was mailed in Dearborn, Michigan on the 11th. 5 hours later, it was in Pittsburgh, PA. Now, as of earlier today, it's in San Francisco CA. Problem is, I live in San Antonio, TX! imageimage


    Steve
  • as for USPS & insurance, I have learned if getting more than 1200 dollars in insurance, then you need to use the 'registered' way. Make sure and use the 'brown tape' so they can stamp the tape. Do Not use clear tape.
    Collecting RC's (mostly 40-60's)
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    I think one problem is the use of recycled tracking numbers. I had one customer who bought something from me on Amazon fired off the most "you are the most incompetent SOB seller...etc" just livid that her package tracking showed it out for delivery 3000 miles away. I wrote her back and assured her that we had her address correct and that I'd check into it.

    Next day I checked the tracking and everything had been corrected in the USPS system and it showed the package as being delivered properly.

    I emailed her and told her the USPS tracking showed the package as "delivered" and did she get it...she never even bothered to respond. Since this incident I've been questioned more than a few times about seemingly "errant" tracking and all but one or two end up the same as above.

  • mtcardsmtcards Posts: 3,340 ✭✭✭
    I have had more issue with the USPS in the past 7 months than I have had in the past 7 years. One package took 60 days to show up, another took 16 days without any updates in tracking to go 600 miles. I am having regular stamped mail take a week to go 10 miles. I have had 3 insurance claims from damaged packages this year alone....one was someone trying to fit a 12 inch wide package into an 8 inch wide mailbox....guess what? They got it in and surprise, it was damaged. Its getting worse as the price for postage goes up...go figure
    IT IS ALWAYS CHEAPER TO NOT SELL ON EBAY
  • It's been pretty sketchy for me as well. I sent an item with sig confirmation. The person admits they received it but the tracking info on USPS says it was not deliverable.

    I had another item shipped by a seller that didn't even post as being accepted, yet, I received the package. At first, I thought the seller was monkeying me around since he could not provide me legit tracking info that would show up on the USPS site. The item did eventually show up and was shipped the very day the seller said it was. The tracking number for the item still does not show up online when I look it up.

    What's scary is the fact that USPS failures can and are costing honest people money when they run in to dishonest buyers.
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭
    Had a customer email me the other day asking where his package was. I figured he got it already because it was shipped so long ago. So I looked up the tracking and this is what I see...

    USPS Tracking # 9405509699939961132188 for those that want to check it

    So I went to the P.O. today and had a long talk with the postmaster. Not sure what's going to happen just yet...

    Very frustrating!
    opcbaseball.com
  • tsalem, your link is not working for me. Just a heads up.
  • "Into the Abyss" -- AKA Link
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>tsalem, your link is not working for me. Just a heads up. >>



    I know, I tried to fix it and still didn't work so I just added the tracking number
    opcbaseball.com


  • << <i>

    << <i>tsalem, your link is not working for me. Just a heads up. >>



    I know, I tried to fix it and still didn't work so I just added the tracking number >>



    Yeah, I went and looked it up and it shows acceptance and then nothing.. Man, this is getting ridiculous.
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>tsalem, your link is not working for me. Just a heads up. >>



    I know, I tried to fix it and still didn't work so I just added the tracking number >>



    Yeah, I went and looked it up and it shows acceptance and then nothing.. Man, this is getting ridiculous. >>



    From May 26th and package was due on the 28th
    opcbaseball.com
  • tsalem, I think we all need to start asking our local postmasters what is going on nation wide with this issue because it's becoming more prevalent. Surely, if enough people complain, they will have to do something.
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>tsalem, I think we all need to start asking our local postmasters what is going on nation wide with this issue because it's becoming more prevalent. Surely, if enough people complain, they will have to do something. >>



    When I was talking to the lady at the front counter (not the Post Master), she said "these problems are happening everywhere" in disgust and she recognized all the late deliveries. Sounds like they are very aware of the issues but we'll see if anything get's fixed...
    opcbaseball.com


  • << <i>

    << <i>tsalem, I think we all need to start asking our local postmasters what is going on nation wide with this issue because it's becoming more prevalent. Surely, if enough people complain, they will have to do something. >>



    When I was talking to the lady at the front counter (not the Post Master), she said "these problems are happening everywhere" in disgust and she recognized all the late deliveries. Sounds like they are very aware of the issues but we'll see if anything get's fixed... >>



    Interesting. Thanks for the information.
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭
    Got a phone call today from the USPS. The postal worker told me he had the package I shipped and he was in Atlanta Ga.

    Last tracking history was May 26th. Anyways he told me the label got wet and could not be read. He said the contents were fine.

    Package being redirected to NJ where it should have been 20 days ago - got lucky on the one!!!!
    opcbaseball.com
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,887 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I ended up getting my package a couple days late. USPS has more weird tracking than it used to, but I must admit I eventually get the package almost always.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,713 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I ended up getting my package a couple days late. USPS has more weird tracking than it used to, but I must admit I eventually get the package almost always. >>



    +1

    I don't mind waiting a bit as long as the package gets there, but the tracking is frustrating at times.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • recbballrecbball Posts: 1,521 ✭✭✭
    9400109699937616401600


    Carrier:

    USPS


    Status:

    ACCEPTEDIN TRANSITDELIVERED

    DELIVERED IN/AT MAILBOX

    Jun-03-15, 12:50 PM, HALES CORNERS 53130

    OUT FOR DELIVERY

    Jun-03-15, 07:52 AM, FRANKLIN 53132

    SORTING/PROCESSING COMPLETE

    Jun-03-15, 07:42 AM, FRANKLIN 53132

    ARRIVAL AT UNIT

    Jun-03-15, 05:48 AM, FRANKLIN 53132

    Departed USPS Facility

    Jun-02-15, 21:45 PM, OAK CREEK, WI 53154

    Arrived at USPS Facility

    Jun-02-15, 17:26 PM, OAK CREEK, WI 53154

    Arrived at USPS Origin Facility

    Jun-01-15, 11:08 AM, FOREST PARK, IL 60130

    Departed USPS Facility

    May-29-15, 02:22 AM, DES MOINES, IA 50395

    Arrived at USPS Origin Facility

    May-28-15, 02:34 AM, DES MOINES, IA 50395

    Departed Post Office

    May-26-15, 18:27 PM, CHICAGO, IL 60631

    Acceptance

    May-26-15, 10:27 AM, CHICAGO, IL 60631
    ARRIVAL AT UNIT

  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    just curious if any of you guys that are having problems, ship $2-$3K+ a year in shipping costs w/ usps, have talked w/ fedex or ups on a bulk account?

    talked w/ my fedex (GROUND) rep and they are about to be aggressively pursuing small / home business ran enterprises. they smell the blood in the water w/ the usps and considering the 50+ semi-local facilities that have been closed nationwide, their routing system / usual flow is completely off. our local mail (sav, ga) was one of the facilities closed and now all of our stuff is going thru jax,fl and is causing a solid 2-3 day lag, on a good day.

    anyways, if ya give them a call (i would wait til aug 1) and discuss a ground account, you could get a pretty decent discount off base rates. we ship (not cards) via ground and only takes 3-4 days tops to cali. another side note: fedex air is getting ready to phase out third day saver as their ground logistics is closing the gap and there really isn't a need for it any longer. to make up, fedex air has added a 2nd day AM option which is amazing. but back to ground, you'd be surprised at the distance they can deliver a package in 1 day. from here we can get ground packages to all of fl, tn, sc, nc, al, ms, in a day. packaged delivered, deal done.

    anyways, i'm pretty confident that w/ the discount off base rate that you guys could get, coupled w/ not having a package weighing on your mind for 5, 10, 20+ days might actually be worth the extra buck or so. plus ya get free supplies (bubble packs) & first $100 of insurance for free, to boot, which might offset the additional bucks for the shipping. the ability to set your pick up time at the end of the day vs having to run to the post office doesn't hurt either.

    i don't claim to know much, but i do know shipping and headaches...

    to have these packages hanging over your heads and the time wasted in dealing w/ the usps / customers (potential loss of customers) and expecting something to change anytime soon is just barmy. w/ the digital age upon us, advertising thru direct mail and the money that was generated for the usps is diminishing each day while costs are going up.

    in this age of instant downloads, amazon drones, verruca salt mentalities, people just don't have the patience to have a package derailed for 10 - 20 days.

    "don't care how, i want it now"
  • Despite problems, you can't beat USPS in terms of price + end-point reliability (percentage of items delivered safely), even if they're slow.
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    price is a factor, but so is time and lost customers. and when i'm talking time, i'm not referencing delivery days. i'm talking waiting on the phone, standing in line at the local post office to talk to someone that generally doesn't care to begin with and is frustrated herself in dealing w/ the same ol, same ol. time spent writing a nice cordial email responding to an angry customer that you did your part. time responding to a usps thread about how terrible it's gotten....

    i guess it's borders along the line of you really didn't notice how terrible the commute to work was until you got a car with cold ac. then ya look back and say "what the hell took me so long? the commute w/ ac is literally a breeze!".

    you pay for what you get, i guess. in the end, it's not the solution for everybody. just need to weigh the necessity of costs vs convenience and is it worth the added costs to ship it and forget it and is my current shipping method getting increasingly better or worse over the course of the past year...
  • I recently hit my 1000th individual selling transaction. Small beans, I know. But, I have had 0 lost items and under 10 where I needed to have a conversation with a buyer due to their fears about misrouting. Horror stories on Internet forums stand out because, well, they're horrible. The truth is that the vast majority of items are delivered properly, those that have issues are overwhelmingly eventually resolved, and other carriers have their issues, too. And USPS charges me 2.03 to send my bubble mailer across three time zones, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

    Edit: #nojinx
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭


    << <i>Edit: #nojinx >>



    you know you just did, right? image




  • << <i>I recently hit my 1000th individual selling transaction. Small beans, I know. But, I have had 0 lost items and under 10 where I needed to have a conversation with a buyer due to their fears about misrouting. Horror stories on Internet forums stand out because, well, they're horrible. The truth is that the vast majority of items are delivered properly, those that have issues are overwhelmingly eventually resolved, and other carriers have their issues, too. And USPS charges me 2.03 to send my bubble mailer across three time zones, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

    Edit: #nojinx >>



    its like when people freak out abouot the one plane crash and forget tht thirty thousand others landed safely on just that day alone.
  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm in AZ, so not sure why this went north or what it was doing for several days between MO & WI, hopefully it eventually makes it here....

    Departed USPS Facility
    2015-06-17, 02:09:00, OSHKOSH, WI 54901

    Arrived at USPS Facility
    2015-06-17, 01:21:00, OSHKOSH, WI 54901

    Departed USPS Facility
    2015-06-12, 03:11:00, HAZELWOOD, MO 63042

    Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
    2015-06-11, 20:32:00, HAZELWOOD, MO 63042

    Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
    2015-06-11, 19:17:00, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63128
  • DanBessetteDanBessette Posts: 6,421 ✭✭✭
    Don't worry, most people in Wisconsin wish they were in Arizona. I'm sure your package will feel the same! image
  • WhiteTornadoWhiteTornado Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭
    Looks like I'm the latest to experience this "new and unimproved" postal service. I had a package ship 2-day Priority from Anaheim, CA on Saturday 6/20. On Monday 6/22 it showed it as going to Rochester, NY, whereas I live in Maryland. Then today it moved to Jamaica, NY, which is apparently in Queens. They also added the helpful message on the tracking info, "The package is delayed and will not be delivered by the expected delivery date. An updated delivery date will be provided when available.".

    Well, thanks, Captain Obvious! image
  • CollectorAtWorkCollectorAtWork Posts: 859 ✭✭✭
    I thought I read for Priority Mail packages, the Postal Service used UPS to take care of most the delivery until the package reached the local post office.

    Even if you used other delivery services like Fed Ex, there can be problems: Link For example, at least with the Postal Service, you have a mail box. When I receive packages from UPS, FedEx, they tend to leave packages at my door, throw them into my backyard, etc.

    Even though I probably ship around 200 packages a year, I don't believe I've lost a package yet (knock on wood). (An international package did get lost coming to me however). Probably about 5-10% of the packages I ship however are "slow" and a few go the extreme roundabout about way that I've seen in threads like this. So, I'm constantly tracking these packages wondering what's going on like everyone else. They've all eventually gotten there, however.

    For first class packages, my current theory is that a few of these are inadvertently placed in the parcel postage bin instead of the first class bin, so they get shipped at that rate instead of the first class rate. Therefore, instead of arriving in 3-4 days, they get there closer to 2 weeks.

    However, I'll still continue to use the Postal Service instead of others due to the cost savings. This is similar to why I don't insure any packages with a value under $200. The money that you save by not insuring all of those packages will be able to pay for that odd package that does get damaged or lost in the mail. So the same rationale holds for continuing to use the Postal Service. The money that I save by using the USPS instead of FedEx or UPS will cover that odd package that would be lost by the Postal Service and not by the other delivery services.
  • jfkheatjfkheat Posts: 2,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here is my latest USPS mess. It is a cheap item so I'm not overly concerned.
    James

    June 24, 2015 , 5:00 pm
    Arrived at USPS Facility
    GREENSBORO, NC 27495

    The package is delayed and will not be delivered by the expected delivery date. An updated delivery date will be provided when available. Your item arrived at our USPS facility in GREENSBORO, NC 27495 on June 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination.

    June 21, 2015 , 2:36 am
    Departed USPS Facility
    CINCINNATI, OH 45234

    June 20, 2015 , 1:04 pm
    Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
    CINCINNATI, OH 45234

    June 20, 2015 , 11:49 am
    Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
    MAINEVILLE, OH 45039

    June 16, 2015 , 4:13 pm
    Shipment Accepted
    MAINEVILLE, OH 45039

    June 15, 2015 , 11:21 pm
    Shipping Label Created
    WEST CHESTER, OH 45069
  • BunchOBullBunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
    I had a package postmarked August 26, 2013 arrive yesterday. The mailer looked like it had been sent yesterday, so it likely fell behind something large and sat for 2 years.
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭
    Here we go again...

    My PSA order for 60+ cards shipped out Priority mail on July 2nd and still nothing.

    Very frustrating!
    opcbaseball.com
  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,887 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Here we go again...

    My PSA order for 60+ cards shipped out Priority mail on July 2nd and still nothing.

    Very frustrating! >>



    What does tracking say?
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭✭
    Delayed...

    It's been at the same location since the 9th. It's at a location it never should have gone to

    I contacted PSA today to run a trace
    opcbaseball.com
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    the definition of insanity is...

    sorry to hear, tom!
  • Making the same argument again and again and hoping to persuade people?

    How many who posted above *lost* their item? How many eventually had it delivered but didn't post the happy update?


  • << <i>Making the same argument again and again and hoping to persuade people?

    How many who posted above *lost* their item? How many eventually had it delivered but didn't post the happy update? >>



    Whether their item was ultimately lost or not, it can really mess with a person's nerves while it's going down. And it can create a major inconvenience for sellers that are on the bad end with an impatient buyer. Especially, for the seller who is selling because they need the funds to pay their bills and can't afford to refund and hope to recover something later. That alone is why I am fine with people posting their horror stories.
  • I'm sorry, I don't speak Troll.
  • begsu1013begsu1013 Posts: 1,943 ✭✭
    not sure what you two have going on, but i gotta agree with what sultan said on his last reply, regardless of whether or not he may be a "troll".
  • I never said not to post horror stories. I disagreed with your conclusion that what has been presented makes USPS unreliable. Nothing that SoS said disagrees in any way with what I have ever said.
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