Bent Over by USPS

legion · 11-17-2009, 06:59 PM

So...I ordered a new laptop battery from Amazon.com through a third-party vendor a week and a half ago. I don't remember exactly, but I think my only shipping option was USPS.

Last night I check the "tracking" on the USPS website and nothing. My package has been sitting in Champaign since last Thursday.

Today I check the website and it says that it was delivered yesterday. It wasn't. My wife was home all day. It didn't come. It wasn't on the porch, behind the screen door, or in the mail box. It wasn't at a neighbors house. It wasn't stuffed anywhere around the house.

I went to the post office and they were no help. They told me that I would have to come in between 9 and 5 tomorrow. (Not sure why.)

It was shipped priority mail delivery confirmation. I have a feeling that because the USPS has "confirmed" the delivery, I won't be able to file a claim for the missing package. I have a feeling I'm out $70.

Esel Mann · 11-17-2009, 07:36 PM

Woaaaa there. First sorry for the experience you are, well, experiencing. All is not a loss however.

The reason they can't do anything until tommorrow is because their confirmation process involves a real signature and a real piece of paper. The post office will not receive that until the postman returns from their route. I know, if UPS and FEDEX can do it all electronic, why can't USPS. Perhaps just one of the many reasons they are in the hole.

If that fails, did you use a credit card? If so, contest the charge. The confirmation even if signed has not been signed by either you or your wife. Thus signatures will not match.

Big Ed · 11-17-2009, 07:40 PM

USPS delivery confirmation does not involve a signature at all. Just a scanned barcode.

legion · 11-17-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Ed

USPS delivery confirmation does not involve a signature at all. Just a scanned barcode.

Yep. And that's why I think I'm gonna get screwed.

Embraer · Embraer's Garage

I hate the post office. ..with a passion. My local post office has the worst hours...ever. My mailbox is located inside my front porch (enclosed 3 season porch) and both the FedEx and UPS guys will leave my packages for me. Whenever anything comes from the mailman, he refuses to leave it (even with a note from me). In order for me to get it, I have to somehow make myself available between 0830 and 4:45pm....the worst possible hours for normal working people to go to the post office.

I am expecting a package right now from the USPS, and of course, their tracking software was updated LAST week...when the guy shipped it. with my FedEx discount, I can have stuff overnighted for 75% OFF cost, and then have them email my phone 3 minutes after the package is signed for. man, i hate the post office.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

speak to the postmaster in your city

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I won'tship anything overseas with USPS anymore. It's way cheaper that UPS, but you get what you pay for. 30% of shipments lost in one month. Did they make good on any claims? Not a SINGLE one.

legion · 11-18-2009, 07:56 AM

I stopped by the retail Post Office this morning. I say "retail" because the actual carriers are based in a different building. So I complained, and a copy of the complaint will be faxed to the carrier building, and they will call me if they find out anything (which I doubt will happen).

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstreit

I won'tship anything overseas with USPS anymore. It's way cheaper that UPS, but you get what you pay for. 30% of shipments lost in one month. Did they make good on any claims? Not a SINGLE one.

Try TNT

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

onewhippedpuppy · 11-18-2009, 09:15 AM

Govt efficiency and indifference at its finest. Except for garden variety mail, I don't trust ANYTHING with USPS. They have lost, misplaced, or delayed more items than I can count or remember. Nothing like getting football tickets from KC three weeks later, two weeks after the game.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

A while back, I found out what a PITA their insurance claims procedure is. I shipped a box and it was clearly mangled on the journey. USPS didn't dispute that, but they made me send the original insurance receipts to their processing center; they made it very clear that it had to be the original. WTF? You have the insurance receipt # right there on the frickin' package!! And for some reason, you can't file a claim right away; you have to wait n days for some reason - probably just to shorted the window in which you can file a claim. Then I had to sign and mail a letter OK'ing them to actually pay the guy.

It would be impossible to successfully file a claim without the sender's cooperation.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

I don't find USPS much worse than UPS or FredEx. Be sure you know what service you are buying tho - USPS does not automatically insure all packages, csteit.

I had a bad spat with FredEx a year or so ago. I eventually bludgeoned them into submission but it took a lot of effort. Overall, they seem better than the others, but their ground service is not what the Express service is - that for sure.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

Great stuff.
I bought a textbook a few weeks ago, it arrived Fedex from Malaysia in 3 days!! No joke!
I bought a minuscule switch for my 911 around the same time. It took 6 business days to go 800 miles via USPS.

Looking_for_911 · 11-18-2009, 01:58 PM

The USPS just started my mom's Christmas season off to a crappy start by ruining a package from QVC. It contained a Christmas wreath or some such festive decoration and in shipping the box was pretty well mangled.
Good news is that we re-taped it and sent it back to QVC on their dime so she'll not be out any money.
To most normal people this is no big deal, but this little incident will add fuel to the fire that she needs to have a lousy holiday season!

This I am not kidding about!

legion · 11-18-2009, 03:36 PM

Well, the package showed up today with the words "wrong address" printed across the front. I'm glad whoever got it originally was honest.

stomachmonkey · 11-18-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

Well, the package showed up today with the words "wrong address" printed across the front. I'm glad whoever got it originally was honest.

So it was addressed correctly but delivered to the wrong address.

FAIL.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

I *****ed about USPS earlier, I should give due credit though, since moving to a street where they hand-carry we've got the best mailman EVER!
25 years on the route, engages in meaningful, worthwhile conversation, then recalls later to ask how things are going...

legion · 11-18-2009, 04:28 PM

I know my local delivery guy. He's a good guy. I have no complaints. I've gone to the post office personally to alert his supervisors to the fact that he is a stand-out carrier. I've noticed he always double-checks each address on each piece of mail before delivering. I'm pretty sure he knows most people on his route by name--so I doubt he would deliver a package to the wrong address.

I think it's reasonable to assume that the package was incorrectly sorted and ended up on the wrong truck.

Embraer · Embraer's Garage

another story....

last year I ordered a Dovo straight razor...spent just around $300 for it. Shipped via USPS...and I never got it, yet it said it was signed for. I lived in an apartment complex, with similar sounding streets (old town east drive, old town drive, etc). anyway...some jamoch on the next street over received said package (clearly not addressed to them..yet the letter carrier was ok with that), signed for it, and decided to open it. about 2 days later it dawned on me, that perhaps it got delivered to them. sure enough, i knock on the door, and they hand me the opened package. the seal had been broken on the razor wooden case, and they told me they let their "kids play with it."

who the heck accepts something that's clearly not theirs, opens it, and then allows a small child to play with a surgically sharp object?