What's with the U.S.Post office these days?

[jaymcminn]

Two pairs of pricey chinos from J.Crew. Shipped UPS with a delivery date of Friday the 9th. UPS handed off to USPS on the 8th, USPS tracking on the 9th showed "delivery attempted, pick up at annex on Saturday the 10th". Aargh. Went to the annex and they couldn't find the package, the dead-eyed automaton behind the counter said it was "probably" still on the truck and I would "probably" get it Saturday. Apparently if they're running behind they'll just key in "attempted delivery". Well, no dice. If it doesn't show up on Monday I will be contacting my credit card company. 

[Big John]

Thank Trump and DeJoy

[Ace-Garageguy]

So far this week and last, multiple deliveries have made it here on time or only slightly late, even one that got a nice free trip to Arizona for some reason.

One of my ongoing local problems has been misdelivery by fill-in drivers when my regular carrier, who is great, has a day off.

This week I met a new off-day carrier when I happened to be in front of the house when he came by.

As I had been tracking and was expecting several packages, I walked out to his truck to see what we had.

Everything sorted together in a big plastic PO box, and the young driver seemed intelligent, organized, and capable.

Hoping this will be the off-day going forward.

 

[TonyK]

Jason, your experience with the J.Crew order is obviously frustrating. We, as consumers need to contact companies to let them know what's going on because they probably have no idea. And I'd tell them I want some or all of my shipping refunded because you had to leave your home to go get it. If they don't respond, I'd never do business with them again.

[Brutalform]

Well, I just read in the news that the mail will be slowed even further as Dejoy plans on trying to make $3 billion in cuts. I’m to the point now where I try not to buy anything anymore. Not trying to sound like a grumpy old man, but I can rant with a huge list of all the things that totally suck anymore. Too much incompetence. No one to call and even complain to anymore. You only get some automated system when you do. I can’t think of any company that will pick up the phone, or reply to an email.  No one cares. 

[TonyK]

I recently had my house painted and sent a payment check on July 20th. The place is in town and they never got the check. They looked around their office once more to see if it got misplaced. Nope. Mail delivery failure. So they came by and I handed them a check.

[bobthehobbyguy]

It's going toget even slower and cost more. Neither rain or sleet nor snow will stop the mail but Dejoy will.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Somewhat surprisingly, all my 20-odd shipments came in relatively  drama-free, with only one getting a free trip to Arizona on the way from one of the Carolinas to Georgia (the map-challenged may have to research why this seems odd), and only a couple bouncing back and forth between the central Atlanta distribution hub and another hub 30 miles from me in the opposite direction.

We've been lectured on this very site that perceived postal inefficiencies are because "it's logistics", the implication being that mere mortals with some common sense can't grasp the arcane and magical complexity of convoluted and illogical routing.

Ummmmm...no.

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

It's going toget even slower and cost more. Neither rain or sleet nor snow will stop the mail but Dejoy will.

I've tried to find something positive to say about Mr. DeJoy, and I suppose on paper his experience as CEO of a postal "logistics" contractor looks good, but a deeper dive just isn't very impressive, so I'll refrain from comment that might stray into "political" territory.

Hopefully, things will improve at the USPS. 

They actually HAVE somewhat as far as my recent experience goes, so there's that.  

[peteski]

12 hours ago, Brutalform said:

You only get some automated system when you do. I can’t think of any company that will pick up the phone, or reply to an email.  No one cares. 

It is all about maximizing profits, and live human staffed customer service costs more money than some computer sitting in a closet (or in the cloud) spewing out  automated menu selection. "Press 9 to go to hell!"

I also find it amusing (and annoying at the same time) when the computer voice tells you "please listen to the menu as the options have changed".  That's Bull!  I have called that same company for few years and the menus and the silly message are the same.  They are basically using psychology to make the listener stay and listen to all the options to minimize misrouting.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Several things are h happening with the post office. What Dejoy is doing the same most of the upper management is doing with most companies. Spending dollars to save pennies.

Second is a change in mail volumes. When was the last time you wrote a letter. The volume of junk mail has been significantly reduced. More  advertising is done on the internet. More companies are pushing for paperless billing.

[ranma]

last week our mail went from being in the box anytime between 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. . Now it's not there until around 6-7:30 P.M. !!!!1

[Miatatom]

1 hour ago, ranma said:

last week our mail went from being in the box anytime between 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. . Now it's not there until around 6-7:30 P.M. !!!!1

Ours has been at all times during the day. At least it's getting here. It doesn't really matter what time to me.

[Dave Van]

I got a new personal best!!!!  Package left Sugarland TX, went through to wo TX PO before being sent to Wash DC. From there to Roanoke VA.....OK getting closer. Then Greensboro NC. Charlotte NC was a good stop, visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Vacation over back to Greensboro. Where next??? Who knows but I hope it's in WV somewhere. 

[peteski]

3 hours ago, Dave Van said:

I got a new personal best!!!!  Package left Sugarland TX, went through to wo TX PO before being sent to Wash DC. From there to Roanoke VA.....OK getting closer. Then Greensboro NC. Charlotte NC was a good stop, visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Vacation over back to Greensboro. Where next??? Who knows but I hope it's in WV somewhere. 

Didn't you in the past defend the USPS that this seemingly random movements are part of their efficient routing logistics?  Or am I confusing you with someone else?

[Dave Van]

35 minutes ago, peteski said:

Didn't you in the past defend the USPS that this seemingly random movements are part of their efficient routing logistics?  Or am I confusing you with someone else?

Not really defended. I did state once that I got a package from CA (3000 miles) overnight and was shocked!!! If I send something to my daughter 100 miles away it can take a week......so if that is defending...YES I did. Many more posts about packages going in circles for many days or passing through the same city 3 times. Thx

[peteski]

Sorry Dave, must have been someone else.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

Didn't you in the past defend the USPS that this seemingly random movements are part of their efficient routing logistics?  Or am I confusing you with someone else?

I believe that was someone else, i pretty well remember who it was, and I'll refrain from announcing who it was just because I'm such a nice guy.  

EDIT: On another note, I have a package that's been "out for delivery" since 6 AM today, supposedly going to be here by 9 PM. They're kinda running out of time...but it's raining, and everyone knows distances between mailboxes expand dramatically when it rains. For what it's worth, the PO is only 2 miles away, and I would have been more than happy to go get it myself.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[TECHMAN]

What alternative have you used with BETTER service/results than our infamous USPS?    I have a parcel (resin parts order, model car parts) that arrived in the local Post Office at 6:57am this morning, FOUR trips down there, and now they tell me it will be TOMORROW morning before I get my package........    And they "wonder WHY" they are losing money.......      Anyhow, who do you use and how has the service been?

DJ

PS: And for the record, I DID remain calm, civil and respectful to the workers.......

PSS:   USPS Official Website is where the information on the arrival time comes from

Edited September 27, 2024 by TECHMAN
addition

[Greg Myers]

You will find nothing better than the USPS. 

[lordairgtar]

I'm a long time user of the USPS. Never had a single problem with receiving parcels. mine are delivered directly to my home. If it doesn't fit my mail box, it's delivered to my door.

[Muncie]

52 minutes ago, TECHMAN said:

What alternative have you used with BETTER service/results than our infamous USPS?    I have a parcel (resin parts order, model car parts) that arrived in the local Post Office at 6:57am this morning, FOUR trips down there, and now they tell me it will be TOMORROW morning before I get my package........    And they "wonder WHY" they are losing money.......      Anyhow, who do you use and how has the service been?

DJ

PS: And for the record, I DID remain calm, civil and respectful to the workers.......

PSS:   USPS Official Website is where the information on the arrival time comes from

Getting to the post office is part way there.  The parcels still need to be sorted and set out for pickup at the post office or delivery to a street address. I believe "arrived at post office" and "available for delivery" are two different statuses on the tracking page. It depends on workload and how many available people are there to get things sorted and set out.  Usually the same day/morning, but sometimes things happen. You did good by being respectful to the USPS workers. They can't control it either and they remember how well they are treated.  Most of them are good humans like the rest of us.  

[rattle can man]

They get to my door or box eventually. It's getting there that takes forever. An order from Texas took 10 days via 8 postal facilities to get to KS. I could have driven there and back in 2 days.

[Greg Myers]

At what cost to you, time, fuel, conveyance?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Waiting for the PO delivery and watching your tracked packages travel all over the country for no good reason (yeah, I know, it's complicated "logistics" I'm too stupid to understand) is a great way to train yourself not to let idiotic things you have zero control over ruin your day.

I used to get incensed regularly watching the moron-moves via tracking, and it never made anything get here one minute quicker.

A few things HAVE been mis-delivered locally by reading-challenged carriers who apparently aren't too good with numbers either, but if/when that has occurred, to date I've always found somebody reasonably competent at the local PO to sort it out.

Yeah, it can be maddening...but only if you let it.