I hate the US Mail...................

RonBurgundy · August 29, 2007 1:04PM

Exhibit A: Tickets to a college football game on Saturday mailed out to me last Friday. Still no tickets yet. If I don't receive them tomorrow, I won't be able to fedex them to my friend who is using them and I'll have to eat them.

Exhibit B: 14 days for a recent package to reach Maryland.

Exhibit C: 10 days for a recent grading submission to reach me from CA.

This system is broken and doesn't work anymore. It's indefensible, really, but the sad part is nobody seems to care.

Ron

gosteelers · August 29, 2007 1:10PM

For Exhibit A: How were the tickets mailed?

RonBurgundy · August 29, 2007 1:15PM

First class, have had them mailed to me for years with delivery time being 2-3 days. What's bizarre is that this week we've not had a single envelope in our mail (bill, check, etc.), it's all been magazines. And did I mention that 2 people were arrested at our post office by the Feds for stealing gift cards and checks out of the mail?

Ron

pandrews · August 29, 2007 1:16PM

you should drive them there yourself, then you wouldnt have to whine about it..

Leiascards · August 29, 2007 1:26PM

Should have used express mail on the tickets.

mosaic · August 29, 2007 1:33PM

For stuff that you don't ever want to fall into 7+ day limbo, ya gotta do priority at the very least.

Also, our mail carrier sometimes just doesn't deliver occasionally. Yep, for no reason I can discern, our entire building simply won't get mail roughly one weekday a month (and I don't mean holidays).

This week, our regular carrier is on vacation... nothing like watching the mail come at 5:50pm.

RonBurgundy · August 29, 2007 1:38PM

Should have used express mail on the tickets...........

Sure, if I had a choice as to how they were being sent to me, I would've requested that. I didn't.

Ron

grote15 · August 29, 2007 1:39PM

Sender should have definitely sent the tickets priority mail at the very least. The mail is slow at times, but very reliable, IMO. And registered mail is definitely the safest way to ship anything high-end.

mcholke · August 29, 2007 1:39PM

<< Exhibit A: Tickets to a college football game on Saturday mailed out to me last Friday. Still no tickets yet. If I don't receive them tomorrow, I won't be able to fedex them to my friend who is using them and I'll have to eat them.

Exhibit B: 14 days for a recent package to reach Maryland.

Exhibit C: 10 days for a recent grading submission to reach me from CA.

This system is broken and doesn't work anymore. It's indefensible, really, but the sad part is nobody seems to care.

Ron >>

Ron same issue on Exhibit A, waiting for Ohio State tickets that I need to ship off as well coming from OSU. What school are you waiting on?

BobaFett72 · August 29, 2007 1:42PM

funny, when our regular carrier is off; our mail arrives 3 hours sooner

good luck with your tardy packages; ive had good luck in general with buying/ selling stuff; BUT the post office lost 200 pages of legal documents for a lawsuit that were sent next day express. they turned up 6 months later

"we found them in between two counters, must have fell in there"

gee thanks,

glad i had copies lol. morons!

RonBurgundy · August 29, 2007 1:47PM

I'm waiting on Buckeye tickets as well.

Ron

mosaic · August 29, 2007 1:49PM

Go Michigan!.... right!?

rube26105 · August 29, 2007 1:59PM

BUT the post office lost 200 pages of legal documents for a lawsuit that were sent next day express. they turned up 6 months later

"we found them in between two counters, must have fell in there"

gee thanks,

glad i had copies lol. morons!

sounds like my luck bobba!
the mail does goofey thing sometimes,i sent a package to australia once, got it back, only 6 months later,have no idea where it was inbetween,there is black hole in the po that sucks things up,then sometimes spits em back out if you are lucky!
randy

RonBurgundy · August 29, 2007 2:51PM

Who is this "Michigan" that you speak of?

hill33 · August 29, 2007 4:08PM

How strange that I can send a parcel from Australia and it reaches PSA in 3 days, yet you guys can't send something across your own country in that time!

Carew29 · August 29, 2007 4:52PM

On avg from Vancouver to PSA--5 DAYS!! I can drive to it in 1. Takes about 17 hours... I've done it before. Way to go USPS

mkg809 · August 29, 2007 11:25PM

I made a trade with a guy in Australia. He mailed my items in January and I have yet to receive them.

goose3 · August 30, 2007 12:16AM

all of you that are advocating Priority Mail.....it's a FARCE!!!!

there's no "priority", no guarantees, nothing. It travels in the same channels and with First Class.

Per several clerks at my local PO.

itzagoner · August 30, 2007 12:28AM

what Goose said

Leiascards · August 30, 2007 12:39AM

The only guaranteed service offered by the USPS is Express. Priority moves no faster than regular first class and can take as long as 3 weeks to recieve.

originalisbest · August 30, 2007 12:52AM

The only slight advantage to Priority is you can put tracking on it. Otherwise it doesn't really move faster.

Leiascards · August 30, 2007 12:59AM

You can put tracking on First Class as long as it is more than 3/4" thick. You can also put it on larger items sent parcel as well as media mail.

bishop · August 30, 2007 1:18AM

<< I made a trade with a guy in Australia. He mailed my items in January and I have yet to receive them. >>

No reason to panic yet I guess

Alfonz24 · August 30, 2007 1:22AM

<< Exhibit A: Tickets to a college football game on Saturday mailed out to me last Friday. Still no tickets yet. If I don't receive them tomorrow, I won't be able to fedex them to my friend who is using them and I'll have to eat them.

Exhibit B: 14 days for a recent package to reach Maryland.

Exhibit C: 10 days for a recent grading submission to reach me from CA.

This system is broken and doesn't work anymore. It's indefensible, really, but the sad part is nobody seems to care.

Ron >>

Wait until we (US) get national healthcare.

FanothoseYanks · August 30, 2007 2:49AM

I sold a couple of 1961 Topps high number PSA 8's Sunday night. The buyer paid immediately, and I shipped USPS first class insured on Monday at 4:15 CDT. When I got home yesterday, the buyer had already gotten his cards and left positive feedback. You can't beat that kind of fast service. The mail service is like any other large organization - they have some idiots and crummy people, sure, but generally, they do a real good job for the money, IMHO.

chaz43 · August 30, 2007 3:03AM

<< I sold a couple of 1961 Topps high number PSA 8's Sunday night. The buyer paid immediately, and I shipped USPS first class insured on Monday at 4:15 CDT. When I got home yesterday, the buyer had already gotten his cards and left positive feedback. You can't beat that kind of fast service. The mail service is like any other large organization - they have some idiots and crummy people, sure, but generally, they do a real good job for the money, IMHO. >>

Very true. chaz

stitzen · August 30, 2007 3:24AM

It's the problems of a system that is flawed and one that has no direct competition.

If there were other companies that were allowed to directly compete with the USPS, they'd have to actually lower rates (nstead of raising them every 6 months) and would actually have to be time sensitive with mail.

Sucks to hear of your situation Ron, chalk it up to yet another inept government agency.

RonBurgundy · August 30, 2007 3:52AM

Stitzen has it exactly right. The USPS is a government run, Soviet style monopoly that would fold with their current business practices if they had to compete directly with others. If you really think you "can't beat it for the money", imagine what you'd be saying if they actually had to engage in capitalistic competition.

Ron

FanothoseYanks · August 30, 2007 4:34AM

If the mail service were opened up to true capitalistic competition, we would have what we already have with cable TV, cell phone services, and Internet providers. A lot of companies of various sizes would spring up, offering a bewildering array of services and prices, with all kinds of special offers available, such that one can never be sure that they actually got the best deal or service. We might even have to subscribe to a particular mail service. As time went by, any of the smaller companies that performed well would be bought up by the bigger ones. The good relationship we had with the company we subscribed to would be gone, and we'd have to either adapt to the rules of the company who bought ours out, or move on to a new one. Various obstacles would be in place to make changing services a hassle, so most would stay in place. After a few years of cannibalization, few companies would be left, and services might not be available in all areas, because of course, its not profitable to haul mail out to the sticks. Then the government would have to step in and mandate universal service. The remaining capitalistic services, in righteous outrage, would declare the need to substantially raise prices in order to meet this communistic government rule.
So much for any of us saving any money on shipping by doing away with the postal service....

RonBurgundy · August 30, 2007 5:05AM

LOL at the previous post, particularly using cable tv (which are not 100% competitive) and cell phones (which are highly competitive and therefore benefit the consumer).

The current system is indefensible. It does not work anymore. Period.

Ron

pandrews · August 30, 2007 5:07AM

<< If the mail service were opened up to true capitalistic competition, we would have what we already have with cable TV, cell phone services, and Internet providers. A lot of companies of various sizes would spring up, offering a bewildering array of services and prices, with all kinds of special offers available, such that one can never be sure that they actually got the best deal or service. We might even have to subscribe to a particular mail service. As time went by, any of the smaller companies that performed well would be bought up by the bigger ones. The good relationship we had with the company we subscribed to would be gone, and we'd have to either adapt to the rules of the company who bought ours out, or move on to a new one. Various obstacles would be in place to make changing services a hassle, so most would stay in place. After a few years of cannibalization, few companies would be left, and services might not be available in all areas, because of course, its not profitable to haul mail out to the sticks. Then the government would have to step in and mandate universal service. The remaining capitalistic services, in righteous outrage, would declare the need to substantially raise prices in order to meet this communistic government rule.
So much for any of us saving any money on shipping by doing away with the postal service.... >>

exactly.. as someone who mails hundreds of packages each month thousands of miles for a few cents or few dollars each, i'm completely satisfied with the USPS.. sure there are screw ups, but not quite what i would call "inept" considering the amounts of mail they process on a daily basis..

gosteelers · August 30, 2007 5:42AM

If the item is that important, express and/or registered should have been used, simple as that...

ctsoxfan · August 30, 2007 7:34AM

<< all of you that are advocating Priority Mail.....it's a FARCE!!!!

there's no "priority", no guarantees, nothing. It travels in the same channels and with First Class.

Per several clerks at my local PO. >>

Agreed - though the free boxes are nice.

lawnmowerman · August 30, 2007 8:22AM

<< I made a trade with a guy in Australia. He mailed my items in January and I have yet to receive them. >>

You are aware that alot of Australians are descendants of convicts from England?

Your so ripped off

Sorry

jmbkb4 · August 30, 2007 8:43AM

<< If the item is that important, express and/or registered should have been used, simple as that... >>

I agree Mark.

Further, I LOVE the USPS and really believe that it is one of the few attributes of the US gov.

I will always use USPS.

If the OP doesn't like it, he can pay extra and use UPS or -- !!! -- pay extra for guaranteed USPS shipping.

To the OP: you paid for 1st class (read, regular) shipping. If it was that important, you should have paid for the better service level.

pomobileclk · August 30, 2007 9:46AM

I work for the USPS

The USPS is the ONLY one to provide UNIVERSAL SERVICE to every address in the USA ,6 days a week starting at 41 cents. If competition were to come about, companies would only be interested in the big cities and they would forget all the isolated and rural areas where there would be no profit to be made. If competition were to come about, I would be willing to bet that the further you live from a major metropolitan area, the more you will be paying for service, maybe getting only 2 or 3 days of service a week. Did you know that UPS, Fed Ex, and DHL drop ship their packages at the PO everyday for the Post Office to deliver because they either won't deliver to those addresses or it is too costly for them to do it.

See what happened to the Royal Mail in England after they went private and some of the cuts they are proposing to maintain profitability.

grote15 · August 30, 2007 10:30AM

I've shipped hundreds of packages via first class and priority mail, and there's no doubt, at least in my own experience, that the priority mail boxes from the PO arrive more quickly that the plain first class packages, no matter what the PO clerk claims.

diamondman · August 30, 2007 12:58PM

I hate everyone does this make me a racist ? if so please send cash to heal my problem 10's and anything higher have paypal acct if u dont have cash. pls send money. will even take personal checks to much beer and 3 ball tonight

yawie99 · August 30, 2007 1:23PM

<< Further, I LOVE the USPS... >>

I do, too. I don't understand why they catch as much flak as they do.

bhl2359 · August 30, 2007 1:33PM

<< I'm waiting on Buckeye tickets as well.

Ron >>

Go Gators!

RonBurgundy · August 30, 2007 10:07PM

Do y'all enjoy those Soviet style "breadlines" when you go into mail packages? Or is it those APC machines that work half the time that attracts you to the post office? How about the nearly annual postal increases for the same reason...."we can't cover costs"?

And to whomever said this: "To the OP: you paid for 1st class (read, regular) shipping. If it was that important, you should have paid for the better service level." Perhaps you should try reading the thread. I said I didn't have a choice how the tickets were being shipped.....they were being shipped to me, and as it turns out, several people have not gotten their tickets so it appears the USPS may have a nice contingent at the game tomorrow. And is there anything wrong with expecting that a package that I sent first class should make it to Maryland in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS?

Jeesh.

Ron

pandrews · August 30, 2007 10:25PM

<< Do y'all enjoy those Soviet style "breadlines" when you go into mail packages? Or is it those APC machines that work half the time that attracts you to the post office? >>

i have no idea what youre talking about because i print my own postage and pay for it online..

neenish · August 30, 2007 11:09PM

<< 

<< Do y'all enjoy those Soviet style "breadlines" when you go into mail packages? Or is it those APC machines that work half the time that attracts you to the post office? >>

i have no idea what youre talking about because i print my own postage and pay for it online.. >>

Ditto. I print mine online and if need be, I use the priority mail kiosk w/o having to wait in line. So far I've mailed hundreds of items via USPS and no problems yet (knock on wood). I've also noticed my priority mail items do arrive faster than most first class items.

FanothoseYanks · August 31, 2007 2:49AM

My local post office is small and there are frequently 5 or 6 people in line. It has been my observation that the main reason for the line is the customers not knowing how to wrap packages or what kind of service they want. The clerks very patiently assist and advise the customers but it does take time. I don't mind because they are uniformly efficient and friendly. I'm on a first name basis with all of the clerks and the postmaster too. Once when I was out of registered mail tape and mentioned that I couldn't find any at the stores, they gave me a roll. In contrast to that, the local UPS "Customer Service Center" gives me a 30 minute window (6:30-7:00) to pick up my packages. When I get there, they are routinely surly, and act as if it is a great imposition on them to have to go in the back and find my package. A couple of times, they couldn't find it, even though I had had to call beforehand to verify that it was there.
In seven years buying and selling on Ebay(almost 2400 feedbacks), I have never had a package that I shipped become lost, and only twice have packages shipped to me been lost. To me, that is satisfactory service.
All things are a matter of perspective. If I had had several bad experiences with the p.o., I would probably feel as Ron does. However, with that said, and not really wanting to get into politics, this country would be better off if its citizens would stop knee-jerk bashing of government agencies and government spending.

MeteoriteGuy · August 31, 2007 3:09AM

USPS is a very good and low cost service. I haved used it to ship over 50,000 the packages the last few years and have recieved a few thousand myself.

Overseas shipping is where I worry.

Also, postal rates are not controled by the USPS, but rather Congress. But since gas did go up, what 33% the last couple years, I don't have a problem with the 5-10% increased they passed onto us.

Anyone willing to deliver a letter for me for $1.00?

Mark

stitzen · August 31, 2007 3:15AM

Funny to see people jumping in to defend a huge, bloated agency like the post office.

Why wouldn't competition be good? Why wouldn't people want more choices? What would be wrong with that? Choice means lower prices and better service. Do you think if there was one cellular carrier in the US, that they would have good rates or service? Of course not. What about TV provider? How competitive would cable be if there were no satellite providers?

Would the post office really be able to raise rates as often as they do if there were competitors?

Choice and competition are good things.

pomobileclk · August 31, 2007 4:09AM

Since 2002, the Post Office has only raised it's rates 2 times.

CDsNuts · August 31, 2007 4:15AM

Let's also make the distinction between a PO in a small town and one in a major city. Completely different animal. Every time I go to mine, I always have the pleasure of listening to a conversation about who's turn it is to go on break and whether they're going to KFC or Wendy's for lunch.

gosteelers · August 31, 2007 5:17AM

As far as the shipping of packages is concerned, the USPS can get away with rate increases because their competition in this regard (UPS and FEDEX) sucks...

Leiascards · August 31, 2007 5:21AM

While I don't like the USPS who else will send an item cheaper? And how many items actually get lost via USPS compared to UPS and Fed EX(which is the worst shipper ever) I

grote15 · August 31, 2007 11:11AM

In this day and age, anyone who still waits on line at the post office is living in the dark ages. Why waste time on line when you can print postage, DC and insurance right from your computer? You don't even have to leave the house as they'll come and pick up your packages, too.

The USPS is by far the least expensive, most reliable way to ship a low-value item via first class mail or a high-end item via insured and/or registered mail. Just do a Google search for FedEx and UPS losing high end items in transit and refusing to reimburse for insured value and anyone who chooses to ship anything of significant value that way is taking a serious risk.

I hate the US Mail...................

Comments