Anyone having problems with USPS?

[Kaleb]

We send stuff out and it comes back to us because we got the wrong size of package, or not enough postage. I recieved a letter today because they held a package I've been waiting on because of a measly .20. Is the government hurting that bad?

[Erik Smith]

20 cents times how many packages a day = lots of money. Yes, the USPS is hurting that bad as well.

I have noticed a slight delay in shipping times - maybe a day for priority - but nothing too bad. I had a parcel post package that took 7 working days from the east to the west coast.

[Casey]

  On 11/21/2011 at 6:05 PM, Kaleb said:

We send stuff out and it comes back to us because we got the wrong size of package, or not enough postage. I recieved a letter today because they held a package I've been waiting on because of a measly .20. Is the government hurting that bad?

To be frank, it sounds like the problem isn't USPS, but rather the person doing the shipping. They are many ways and options to ship via USPS, so who knows which you used, how accurate your scale is, etc. If there's not enough postage or the package size is incorrect for the rate/serivce you selected, why should they cover the cost you failed to pay for?

I've never had a single packge lost or damaged in twenty years of shipping via USPS, and I use USPS's shipping opion via PayPal, weigh my own packages, and have never had a single packaged returned for insufficient postage.

[Chillyb1]

I love the USPS. I've never, ever had any problem either shipping or receiving.

[Rob Hall]

True enough about the scale accuracy..I recently sent a package via Priority Mail and had to wait in line at the PO to pay additional postage..I'd weighed it on my scale and printed out my postage at home, but was off by 7 cents. Oh well..a 45 minute wait for 7 cents...I hate waiting in line.

My biggest gripe w/ the PO lately is they closed my local office that was about 2 miles away and now I have to use another one that is about 3.5 miles away (which is strange because there is another one that is closer in a different direction). And they aren't open on Saturdays and the daytime hours are too limited (since I usually work normal 8am-5pm hrs and have a commute).

But, I've had more problems w/ UPS shipments lately...a package from a model car vendor was delivered to the wrong address and UPS swore up and down they delivered it to my house...turns out the driver transposed two digits in the 4 digit house number ...the resident at the other address delivered the package to me a few days later.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Rob Hall

[Kaleb]

The other day we used their scale and paid what their computer asked. We received it again and said we were short on money.

[Modelmartin]

I have had almost no problems with USPS. UPS has been less than satisfactory and the French Postal service has been breaking or misplacing everything I send over there!!

[hotrodblder]

I got an envelope that was supposed to have a part in it. The envelope was in a plastic bag taped closed, and no part. The return address was unreadable, so they went ahead a forwarded it to me, empty. What a system, huh?

[Chuck Most]

I love it when you get a shredded magazine, and they put it in an envelope that says "We Care".

I've had pretty good experiences with the USPS. For an organization that's perpetually bleeding red ink, they seem to do okay as far as getting packages from point A to B goes.

[KevinMoparFord]

They switched our postal route and now my mail does not get here until after 6 PM. Packages are deleivered the last possible day they can. I now only sub subscribe to car magazines that will be delivered in plastic otherwise the same issue that is delivered to my brother who lives in basically the same area will get to me 2 weeks later and usually after I could buy it on the newstand. Covers have been ripped apart like they have been passed around the Post Office before out to deliver for me. My Mopar collector's Guide I paid extra to have the magazine shipped in a plastic bag, first issue I got in the plastic the bag was cut and you could tell the magazine had been gone through. Had to call the post office and complain.

I really want to stay positive about the postal service, but it gets tougher every shipment or dealing with them.

[Guest Johnny]

I think it was two years ago they announced they would no longer send mail postage due and collect at the other end. they evidently have started enforcing it and retuning the mail I had it happen with some medical forms I had mailed out and did not have enough postage on the envelope!

My bad, not theirs!

[mikemodeler]

Like others, I haven't had a problem with packages and find them to be reliable and inexpensive.

Now, if you want to talk about getting my magazines on time, that is another topic of discussion. I typically get "the other mag" like clockwork around the first of the month. When I hadn't received it by the 15th, I sent them an email and said it must have been lost. This past Saturday I went to the mailbox and there was my replacement issue along with my regular subscription issue! (and just for the record I did get my MCM yesterday!) Not sure what the deal is on the model mags as my wife's cooking mags make it here no problem-must be some modelers down at the sorting hub!

[Crazy Ed]

I guess it's all a matter of perspective. I haven't had home delivery for 11+ years and if they closed my Local Post Office (6 miles away, 5 of which are dirt) the next nearest is about 20 miles away. And if I'd rather ship UPS the nearest shipping location is ~ 40 miles away and I like it.

Those of you working for Companies that are having problems shipping, check with your Boss/H.R. folks and see if you might be able to ship through them. As long as you cover the cost it's no skin off their nose and makes for happier employees.

[crazyjim]

I haven't experienced any of the problems described here (yet). So far, the only issue I have is very large female delivery person who is too lazy to get out of her vehicle to deliver a package. She sets boxes on top of the mailbox and uses the mail waiting flag to sturdy the box. The flag is only plastic and she's almost knocked it off.

[BKcustoms]

I've never had any problems with the USPS but the P.O. Closing at 4 PM can get really annoying when I can't get there until at least 5 during the week

Edited November 22, 2011 by BKcustoms

[Kaleb]

Well I sent some more stuff out today, we will see how it goes. I haven't had any problems until here recently.

[Lunajammer]

There was a time when carriers had cover your 20-cents-due personally and left an envelope in your box for you to reimburse what's owed. How many people do you think honored that remittance envelope when their package was already in their hands? The USPS has an encyclopedia of rules and whether it's a penny or a several dollars, there's little room for accommodating anything outside the policies, especially when it comes to them picking up the tab.

[Kaleb]

I don't mind paying the .20 but that was one of the multiple items. Such as they write on the envelope needs .37, but it needed to be in a box not large envelope. Yet the item came in an evelope.

[jbwelda]

original poster: i would suggest you stand in line at the counter and have them figure out all your packages and postage. at least then its not gonna come back or if it does you can bring it up with them.

guy with the part in the envelope (or not, as the case may be): i am assuming you put a part into an #10 envelope. those are for flat first class mail only basically and anything else is gonna suffer when they run it through the sorters etc. they will rip open the envelope and the part will fall on the floor or in a grease pan somewhere and is lost forever. they returned what they could of the package to you...makes sense.

i have hardly ever had a problem with the USPS and in fact out here in the country they really bend over backward for you and in fact are on a first name, give cookies at Christmas, basis with everyone. but as for the machinery of the bureaucracy, thats beyond anyones control. the only real problem i have had with USPS has been trying to collect on insurance for stuff that got busted in their care. of course you probably know about that particular catch 22: if it broke it wasnt properly packaged and hence it says right there that your insurance is void if the package is not proper. and that makes sense too.

as for chasing you down for the 27 cents or whatever, of course they do...as a matter of principle if nothing else. i dont think you expect the IRS or say Safeway to let you pay 95$ when you owe 100$. they probably left a notice saying it was being held at the PO? around here the mail lady would just ring my doorbell or probably more likely just put 27 cents more postage on it for me and mention it next time i saw her, but again thats the way it is out in the country.

now if you wanna hear horror stories lets talk about UPS. i swear there is a special thing with UPS where they stab every package with a medieval lance or at least one corner is crushed in 20% of the box width. they got problems.

[crazyjim]

I just read in today's paper that USPS rates for Express and Priority Mail are going up about 3% on January 22, 2012. Makes sense - raise the rates and lower the service.

[David G.]

  On 11/23/2011 at 1:24 PM, crazyjim said:

I just read in today's paper that USPS rates for Express and Priority Mail are going up about 3% on January 22, 2012. Makes sense - raise the rates and lower the service.

The American Way!

David G.

[Erik Smith]

Now...FedEx! Twice in the last year I have received packages intended for other people with an address on a different street AND number. I called and FedEx sent by a driver two days later on the first box. The second box sat on my porch for three days so I finally delivered it myself on my day off. The cool thing is, they scan the package and mark it as delivered - so if you call, they say "we delivered on such and such date". That's nice.

Edited November 23, 2011 by Erik Smith

[crazyjim]

But I believe FedEx & UPS have an automatic $100.00 insurance. If you didn't get your package, file a claim and they pay you. Usually items valued at less than $100.00 don't require a delivery signature.

[Erik Smith]

  On 11/23/2011 at 2:32 PM, crazyjim said:

But I believe FedEx & UPS have an automatic $100.00 insurance. If you didn't get your package, file a claim and they pay you. Usually items valued at less than $100.00 don't require a delivery signature.

That's really not an excuse to leave a package on the wrong street and wrong number then leave the package (waiting for pick up) outside on a porch for three days.

[crazyjim]

I wasn't trying to make an excuse - just trying to provide some additional information as an alternative for the people that didn't get their package. I've had packages delivered here by mistake occasionally and a call to UPS or FedEx has taken care of the issue the same or next day.