Avoid USPS to/from Northern Alabama

Options
messydesk
messydesk Posts: 20,829 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I have an inbound registered package "stuck" in the Birmingham, AL, USPS facility for a few weeks. The person that sent it also has a couple packages being sent to him that have disappeared into the Birmingham black hole. Apparently, this has been a systemic problem with Birmingham since a facility in Huntsville was closed in 2010.

It would seem best to use UPS or FedEx to send to northern Alabama (ZIP codes 35xxx, 362xx).

John
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution

Comments

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,116 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Thanks for the heads up 👍

  • Flatwoods
    Flatwoods Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I've pretty much quit selling online because of shipping. I don't need the hassle

  • johnny010
    johnny010 Posts: 1,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I quit using USPS too much risk.

  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,829 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    If you need something to read, here's the OIG's audit report on the Birmingham Processing and Distribution Center's service performance. The irony is they didn't find any issue with handling registered packages, but that is what has gone missing there.

    Linky

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • logger7
    logger7 Posts: 9,872 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    I've had several registered/insureds in the last few weeks, to call them "snail's pace" would be generous. It's as if there is no incentive for them to get them to their destination.

  • Coinbert
    Coinbert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Gerry Fortin posted on his daily blog that he has an Express package missing in Chicago since last Wednesday. There are (or were) 5 PCGS CAC seated dimes in the package. He is sending out a list to dealers.

  • BAJJERFAN
    BAJJERFAN Posts: 31,666 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @messydesk said:
    I have an inbound registered package "stuck" in the Birmingham, AL, USPS facility for a few weeks. The person that sent it also has a couple packages being sent to him that have disappeared into the Birmingham black hole. Apparently, this has been a systemic problem with Birmingham since a facility in Huntsville was closed in 2010.

    It would seem best to use UPS or FedEx to send to northern Alabama (ZIP codes 35xxx, 362xx).

    Have someone from your PO call them. I've had nothing but great service from the USPS lately.

    theknowitalltroll;
  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,829 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @BAJJERFAN said:

    @messydesk said:
    I have an inbound registered package "stuck" in the Birmingham, AL, USPS facility for a few weeks. The person that sent it also has a couple packages being sent to him that have disappeared into the Birmingham black hole. Apparently, this has been a systemic problem with Birmingham since a facility in Huntsville was closed in 2010.

    It would seem best to use UPS or FedEx to send to northern Alabama (ZIP codes 35xxx, 362xx).

    Have someone from your PO call them. I've had nothing but great service from the USPS lately.

    The shipper has had many contacts with Birmingham, which has no interest in investigating, since their job is to distribute mail, not get involved with issues. He's also escalated elsewhere. One escalation had customer service in the Chicago area calling Birmingham. There was no answer, so they closed the case. The only responses he ever got was he just needed to wait. He's having flashbacks to the Lily Tomlin's Ernestine the operator sketch, "We don’t care. We don’t have to. We’re the Phone Company."

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • BStrauss3
    BStrauss3 Posts: 3,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    File a missing mail request (search) - it often triggers things.

    -----Burton
    ANA 50+ year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
    Author: 3rd Edition of the SampleSlabs book, https://sampleslabs.info/
  • acsb
    acsb Posts: 162 ✭✭✭
    Options

    On a similar note, two out of the last four media mail packages that have gone through Indianapolis disappeared.

  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,829 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @BStrauss3 said:
    File a missing mail request (search) - it often triggers things.

    That was initiated 2 weeks ago. More recently a claim has been filed. I hope the shipper has good records of what was shipped, because denying claims is one thing USPS does quite well.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • Coinbert
    Coinbert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Update. Good new. The Gerry Fortin Express package was located and delivered in the Chicago area yesterday. Took a lot of phone time to get accomplished.

  • fiftysevener
    fiftysevener Posts: 943 ✭✭✭✭
    Options

    Since it's Registered Mail they could find out who handled it last. They would know where to look for it (if they really want to find it).

  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,829 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Options

    @fiftysevener said:
    Since it's Registered Mail they could find out who handled it last. They would know where to look for it (if they really want to find it).

    I'll refer you to the Lily Tomlin bit above. According to the shipper, after all his many communications with involved parties, they couldn't care less about it. If it never shows up, this will be the second inbound package to me in a year that has gone missing -- both registered.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Comment As ...

Categories