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Your recent USPS experience, good or bad? — Parallax Forums

Your recent USPS experience, good or bad?

CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
edited 2014-05-05 19:27 in General Discussion
Hello.

I have several parcels "stuck" with USPS, interesting, whenever I'm only lucky one or others also facing same problem?

Parcel stuck since march: Processed Through Sort Facility
2014-03-28, 08:09:00, ISC NEW YORK NY(USPS)

This is my parcel, delivered and I got it, but it was delivered for me to Wilmington, DE, while tracking says:
Delivered
Apr-11-14, 10:49 AM, PITTSBURGH, PA 15237
:D

Another parcel stuck for 6 days in sorting facility:

Dispatched to Sort Facility
2014-04-10, 13:35:00, GREAT LAKES, IL 60088


So what is your recent USPS experience?

Comments

  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2014-04-15 22:53
    I think you're just lucky. :)

    In the last four years I have have shipped (probably) over 800 items via USPS. I've had four problems.

    Two envelopes that "never arrived" (probably thrown away accidentally by the recipient).
    One envelope delivered "shredded" with contents partially missing.
    A First Class package that "disappeared" into the postal system for two weeks before finally being delivered.

    UPS and FedEx on the other hand... well, let's just say I have stories to tell thanks to them.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-04-16 00:13
    I've never had any problems with USPS. (Knock wood. I just mailed my 1040 with one stamp and no tracking.) I suspect there are regional differences, however.

    Well, there is one possible issue, though. Whenever I receive a check in a windowed envelope, the corner of the flap behind the stamp (i.e. above the amount) has been opened. I'm not the paranoic type, but this happens with more consistent regularity than by chance.

    -Phil
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,107
    edited 2014-04-16 01:45
    I sent two packages last week: one to Anchorage, one to the Dallas area. Priority Mail. The package to Anchorage arrived today. The package sent to TX is in limbo somewhere....

    My ire toward USPS was misdirected. I used a neighborhood postal center. Dropped off on Wednesday last week. They didn't actually give it to USPS until Saturday (when I expected the packages to arrive at their destinations).
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2014-04-16 02:33
    I've noticed some delays since the beginning of the year. But I'm not sure how much of that is due to all the snow storms this winter.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2014-04-16 12:37
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    Whenever I receive a check in a windowed envelope, the corner of the flap behind the stamp (i.e. above the amount) has been opened. I'm not the paranoic type, but this happens with more consistent regularity than by chance.

    So much depends on individual employes. The postmaster of a local post office spent years surreptitiously following the correspondence of local customers. She's now facing felony grand theft charges. She has been very nice and helpful to me for years, but apparently had too much time and too few scruples.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2014-04-16 12:56
    CuriousOne wrote: »
    So what is your recent USPS experience?

    Waiting in line on tax day ;)
  • Brian_BBrian_B Posts: 842
    edited 2014-04-16 13:09
    Hi,
    From Parallax to MN, 2 days allways (except once at xmas it took 3 days).

    From digi-key (MN) to mpls suburbs (MN) always 3 days (go figure).

    Brian
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-04-16 21:01
    Brian_B wrote:
    From digi-key (MN) to mpls suburbs (MN) always 3 days (go figure).
    What?!! From DigiKey to small-tourist-town, WA: 2 days by Priority Mail, without fail. 'Same from Rocklin, CA to here.

    -Phil
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2014-04-16 21:18
    Since you asked.

    I used to live in Carlsbad CA, and had a PO box for my business address because I don't allow walk-ins at my office. On Jan 6th I put in a forward to my home address. I figured I'd get at least 6 months of mail at home using my old PO box as a proxy, then get a new PO box in my new town, and tell all of my clients to send their checks to it.

    Nope!

    Jan 18th I got the forward confirmation. Still no checks, no business mail, no personal mail being forwarded. I started charging late fees, etc. Eventually I called the Carlsbad PO and told them I wasn't getting anything. The manager there, Susan, a really nice lady said, "Oh gosh, so sorry we put your mail on vacation hold". So I went there and picked up a stack of checks from clients whom I now owed deep apologies to.

    Long story short that happened three times over three months, each time I gave the PO the benefit of the doubt. Finally the third time she made sure the mail was forwarded instead sitting there on vacation hold.

    Where is my mail since then? Nobody knows. I had to file an extension because of 1099's. So far three pieces of mail have been forwarded in the last 48 days. All AAA insurance papers, no income. I have in front of me a piece of that mail that was picked up in a parking lot in Carmel Valley, CA. It has the yellow sticker with not only the correct PO box, but also the correct forwarding address, on top of that is a computer printed "RETURN TO SENDER". How that ended up in a parking lot in Carmel Valley is beyond me. Just another piece of the puzzle.

    Yeah, I know, I should have been on top of it and just established a new PO immediately. Lesson learned.
  • SapphireSapphire Posts: 496
    edited 2014-04-16 21:26
    To the OP,

    Any parcel going through an ISC (International Sorting Center) is not in the hands of USPS. CBP (Customs and Boarder Patrol) has possession of it and they can take as long as they like to inspect and process it. Some parcels never leave if they are deemed to have items undelcared or illegal. Not saying that is the situation in your case, but USPS has no control over how long parcels stay there. I've has stuff clear in 24 hours, other times it takes weeks.

    Overall, I'm pleased with USPS. Most packages arrive the day expected, or the next day. Rarely any damage, and at a reasonable price. That's more than I can say for UPS and Fed Ex who charge a lot more and tend to smash a lot more.
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2014-04-17 03:39
    Hmm, it seems like these 20 pieces of star shaped led mounting PCBs I've ordered, were made from pure plutonium? :)
  • CuriousOneCuriousOne Posts: 931
    edited 2014-04-17 22:02
    I've contacted USPS support and they said that that particular parcel still in customs, so they have no control over it. In 30 business days, it will be either forwarded to them, or returned to sender or whatsoever, so then will be the status update.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2014-04-17 22:20
    Since this is a personal experience thread, I'll reply with mine: USPS is my preferred carrier. I've never had any problems.

    Interesting note: about half the mailmen around here (Boston) don't wear uniforms. This is the first place where I've seen a mailman who could drop his mailbag and (to stereotype a bit) join a gang. He'd fit right in. Sagging pants, wallet chain, and all.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-04-18 05:43
    Mostly good for 2014. Two Ebay parcels in limbo at sorting centers, but sellers replaced. I love it when USPS tracking clearly exposes their mistakes.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-05-04 04:35
    All my USPS experience is at the receiving end, outside of USA. Never had a problem. Usually it takes 6-8 days to Norway. I recently got a package by USPS shipped to Japan, took just four days. My only problem with USPS is that only a few, e.g. Parallax (cheers to Parallax!) will use the USPS First-Class Mail International which is cheap and reliable. Many will use the much more expensive options instead. There is no difference in shipping time, the only difference is that the expensive options provide tracking. Except that they don't, because as soon as the item leaves USA there is no more tracking until it arrives. So it's all just a waste of money.
    But as far as shipping time and reliability is concerned, +1 from this international customer on the receiving end. Just be aware that the higher-priced shipping options give you exactly the same as the lowest priced ones, when you ship internationally - certainly for reasonably small packages at least.

    -Tor
  • UnsoundcodeUnsoundcode Posts: 1,532
    edited 2014-05-04 06:04
    This is not about USPS but is related to ordering and delivery and my personal experience.

    UPS have a convenient system called "UPS My Choice" which allows you to go online and schedule a specific delivery day or reroute your package.

    My wife received an e-mail from UPS asking her to confirm her recent "My Choice" application, she called UPS and informed them she had never applied in the first place and that she wanted it cancelled.

    Three days later she got a call from a company that sells home theatre equipment asking if she had made an online order for $400 worth of goods, the lady that called did not ask any other questions but did tell my wife there was suspicion about the order and told my wife to contact her financial institution.

    So you can see where this is going and how it works, all a criminal needs are an email, phone number, name and address and credit card number non of which seem too difficult for them to obtain these days. Armed with this information they can buy stuff and have it delivered wherever they want without you even knowing

    We were fortunate that we were attentive with our email, which initially just appeared strange, it is not until all the pieces come together that you fully realize what is happening. We were also fortunate the home theatre company made the call to our home to verify the purchase, although my wife and I only have two bank cards each that did help us identify very quickly which card was at risk.

    I'm sure "My Choice" works well when set up correctly but as businesses and the internet make things easier and more convenient for the customer it also exposes loopholes for the wiley criminal.
  • PJAllenPJAllen Banned Posts: 5,065
    edited 2014-05-04 12:19
    Q: Your recent USPS experience, good or bad?
    A: Good.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-05-04 12:56
    Q: Your recent USPS experience, good or bad?
    A: Good.

    Sender, (not Parallax), sending out on time, BAD
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2014-05-04 16:18
    Recently sent a package from the San Francisco area to Phoenix, AZ. Took a week after going through New York and Miami!? <grumble>

    @
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2014-05-04 17:32
    I have had items shipped on my UPS account with the wrong recipient zip code on the paperwork, it sat in Miami a week, no effort on their part to call me or the receiver. Then they returned it to the wrong address in San Fran due to reading my account number wrong. I had them stop the truck and remove my stuff from it, but only after hours of phone calls to corporate with beyond psycho threats. S I changed over to Fed Ex. Recently sent a box to Toronto from Atlanta, they repackaged the box in customs, swapped paperwork, the box say in limbo a month, then ended up at some place in Indianapolis.Cost me hours of phone calls to straiten out plus repair the damage they did when repacking. If you ship often with any of the carriers, you will have problems at some point, it doesn't matter who it is. They are all great when stuff goes well, but they are all equally as bad when things do no go well.
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2014-05-04 18:39
    I really prefer to use USPS over "Big Brown and Fed-axe"...lol
    '
    I really like the service I get from them.
    '
    Their just about always cheaper too! (USPS)
  • blittledblittled Posts: 681
    edited 2014-05-04 19:39
    I don't trust USPS tracking. One package I had was posted as being in the sorting facility when it was actually already delivered!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2014-05-04 19:56
    'Just received another check in the mail, in a window envelope, so it was obvious that it was a check. Once again, the flap above the check amount was torn and lifted. This happens too consistently to be by chance. I think I shall request the sender to tape that side of the flap down next time and see what happens. :)

    -Phil
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-05-05 05:50
    blittled wrote: »
    I don't trust USPS tracking. One package I had was posted as being in the sorting facility when it was actually already delivered!
    I've noticed that tracking has become less and less useful over the last few years, with every carrier. Now it's reached bottom and has become completely useless. At best you will be able to verify that the delivery has been made, which may be good for the sender but of no value for the receiver. This seems to be a global phenomen. I remember back when you could follow the shipment in real time. But status isn't updated realtime anymore.

    -Tor
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2014-05-05 19:27
    My experience has been very good. Faster than UPS Ground to Louisiana too.
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