Problems with USPS.....any ideas/suggestions?
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on July 29, 2015, 5:08 a.m. by philktoken8998
Hey everyone,I recently completed a pretty large trade (multiple cards, around 50$ or so) where I sent my cards out no problem but have a ton of problems getting my cards. Originally I apparently was using the wrong zip code but had still gotten all my cards I traded for before from other players (as you can see, I've completed over half a dozen trades here), but then this one, apparently USPS decided to send it back saying that when it was being delivered to me with tracking that it was the wrong zip code.
Finally, after the third time, we figured out the problem, sent it out with tracking for a third time, and it was "delivered" this past Friday to my home. Problem is, IT NEVER CAME. I know that as a fact because I was home all day downstairs working on my internet, which was fucked up for a while, but according to tracking, this set of cards was delivered to my house that day.
We do have a mail slot as well which the mailman always puts the mail through, so I'm very confused as to what happened, and based on the problems the trade had getting to my home, I am skeptical that it ever actually made it to my house. Is there any way people know to get a leg up on USPS in this matter? Because I was there the entire day from around 10am-6pm and the mail never came that day. It said it was delivered around 2:41PM.
Obviously, it has been extremely frustrating for me and the other person I traded with, and I'm not sure what to do since the package didn't have insured but did have tracking, and I know for a fact it never made it to my house. I sent notes to the neighbors close to my house stating what happened and they have responded that my mail was not delivered to their address.
This makes me think of two things:1.) The mail was delivered, not slipped through the mail slot, and stolen by someone (I live in Philadelphia)2.) The mail was delivered to the wrong address-not super plausible since the address was correct and the sender sent a picture of the package with the correct address and it was perfectly legible3.) The mail may be still be in my local USPS office "waiting" to be delivered, because they know that this package was RTS two times. They are waiting for me to pick it up even though it said it was "delivered" on Friday at my address.
Basically, has anything like this happened to people before? Would you recommend me still using USPS or paying for insured shipping? Not sure what to do, and I'm pretty pissed about it, since losing 50$ in cards (mostly mythics or expensive/playable rares) is like a shot in the gut, so any help would be great. I'd really like to get these cards, but at this point I don't think it's gonna happen :/
ComancioEdda says... #3
Usps is ran by a bunch of buffoons
Thanks for the insightful commentary, notamardybum. You really are a contributing and valued member of society.
In regards to you, OP, you should just call the Post Office and ask them about it. Depending on what kind of package it was (there are certain ones that say "carrier leave if no response" depending on if it was Priority, Express, First Class, etc.), they might not have been able to fit it in your mail slot and might have left it at the front door - in which case it's possible it could have been stolen.
If the tracking is reading that it was delivered, then it was probably delivered; carriers have to scan each parcel they carry and it's instantly entered in the computer via wireless connection. Every item needs to be accounted for, so it's unlikely they scanned it as "Delivered" and then didn't deliver it or had the wrong number.
In the future, if you're worried about this kind of thing, I might suggest two courses of action:
Always, always ask the sender to insure your packages. It costs extra, but it's absolutely worth it, especially in situations like this.
Another option is that you can request that it be sent via Certified Mail or request Delivery Confirmation. Both of these things require the recipient to be present and give a signature, and the sender gets confirmation that you received it. If you aren't there to accept the package, the carrier won't deliver it and they'll hold it for you at the PO.
Hope this helps!
July 29, 2015 6:59 a.m.
Ask them where the gps says the carrier was at when it was scanned delivered.
July 29, 2015 8:47 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #5
@ philktoken8998 - I believe USPS Priority Mail is ensured up to $50 regardless of what type of tracking was purchased. If it was sent Priority, you might want to look into that. The best option is to contact the post office and see if they have the GPS location, as mentioned above. Or just ask and see if they have any idea where it went. Sometimes you get lucky and they're actually helpful.
Here comes a little rant, skip to the bottom if you don't care XD
With my past experiences dealing with the USPS, I have to say notamardybum's comment is putting it lightly. I apologize if anyone reading this has friends or family that works for the USPS, but it consists of (in my town at least) the most incompetent, lazy and genuinely unhelpful employees I have ever encountered. Let me explain with two of the most horrifying stories. I'll put it in an accordion in case you don't want to read.
A few months ago I was still going to the post office to get tracking on larger trades. Hah, what a mistake that was. It would cost me anywhere from $2-5 to get tracking to anywhere in the continental US, which was a lot, but I didn't want to risk my trades not showing up (especially after hearing horror stories and my $25 end getting lost in the mail).
One time I went in and asked for tracking on a trade to somewhere in the South East (I'm from MA). The mail clerk said that it would be $7.99, and when I asked why it was different than all of the other times, she couldn't give me a straight answer. I had her ask another clerk, who just said "oh yeah that's right" before I finished asking my question.
I left the post office with my parcel. Thankfully scrotality made me aware of Paypal Ship Now, which allows you to print your shipping label at home and comes with tracking included for about $2.00. Every time. No questions, you put in the weight (3oz works for up to 30 cards) and it gives you a constant price. I printed out my label at home for $2.03 or whatever is was, and drove back to the post office to mail it and show the clerk how much it cost me.
One of her explanations was that the cost varies based on where you're shipping to, which it does not. She also tried to tell me the size of the package matters, but I always send in the same envelope. Anyways, lesson learned:
Paypal Ship Now is an online trader's BEST FRIEND.
Shipments are definitely insured up to $50.
Another story: My dad ordered a relatively nice watch, which obviously came with a tracking number. The UPS does the long-distance travel, and then brings it to the USPS for local delivery. We see that the watch is out for delivery (and with something expensive, I usually watch the tracking number) but it never showed up. Our mail came, but no watch. I called the post office as it was closing and told the woman (who was the only competent person I've encountered there) that it was out for delivery but didn't show up with out mail. She said she'd go ask the driver who had just gotten back, and he said that he didn't deliver mail to our house so he didn't bring the package (which was the size of a fist). Err, we got or mail today, just no watch? The driver didn't have a good explanation.
The woman, after work, drove to my house to personally deliver the watch. It was one of those moments that make you remember that there are, however rare they might be, caring people out there.
Never go to the post office again. Use Paypal's Ship Now. A First Class Mail Parcel (2-5 day shipping) for 3oz will have you covered for any trade up to 30 cards or so, and will cost a constant $2.03 and is insured up to $50. You can easily add more insurance, and increasing the weight by a few ounces only increases the price 20-30 cents. Tracking comes with it, and you just have to print out the label and slap it on the envelope.
July 29, 2015 11:08 a.m. Edited.
JakeHarlow says... #6
I have indeed been forced to tolerate incompetency, apathy, and general buffoonery from USPS in my days. So I would have to stand with notamardybum on this score.
I use UPS instead. They are prompt and professional. Their company is not government funded, so it must make efforts to provide quality service. USPS employees, on the other hand, work for an organization that has no incentive to provide consistently high service. It's a government entity so it's in no danger of "going out of business," no matter how hard they drop the ball on some people or how little pride they (many of them, not all) take in their work.
My brother used to work for USPS and I was appalled by the things he told me about its employees and operating practices. Now, there are good Post Offices as well as bad, but there's no excuse for the inconsistent service quality offered by USPS. Where I live now, the Post Office is relatively fine, but when I lived in upper Manhattan, it was beyond awful. Deliberate lies were told to me about my mail on a regular basis and I lost multiple packages. I was promptly refused any recourse. I switched to UPS for anything that remotely mattered to me (like Magic stuff) and I have not once been given cause to regret it.
Switch to UPS. There's too great a risk that you'll run afoul of bozos if you rely on USPS. Just don't bother.
July 29, 2015 11:28 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #7
Well put, JakeHarlow. What do shipping costs look like for UPS?
July 29, 2015 11:39 a.m.
JakeHarlow says... #8
Only slightly higher. For example, I recently sent a 75-card Modern deck worth approximately $700 to a friend in New Jersey (I'm currently in Jacksonville, FL). I got tracking and insurance, with rush processing for UPS Ground Commercial. It took four days to reach my friend. The total cost was $10.77. I used one of their smaller Express boxes to ship the item. The weight was 2 pounds billable. It arrived a day early without a scratch on it. Great service.
Obviously, you can ship smaller items for prices comparable to those of USPS. It is quite worth it, in my opinion.
July 29, 2015 12:30 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
I'll have to look into it. I know there's a UPS facility near me now, but I'm not sure if my school's mail rooms can send them.
July 29, 2015 12:33 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #10
Your school very likely uses USPS. I would be very cautious about this.
Look up any UPS stores in your area. You can literally bring your item unpackaged there. The staff will show you how to pack the item and then they'll print a label and give you all the shipping options. I've never been disappointed in them.
July 29, 2015 12:37 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #11
They do use USPS.
I just looked and the nearest drop box is on campus, but the nearest store is nearly 3 miles.
July 29, 2015 12:43 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #12
Do you have access to a vehicle or bus system?
Hell, even popping the item in your backpack and riding your bike over wouldn't be the worst idea.
July 29, 2015 12:56 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #13
I mean, I can rent a ZipCar lol. I actually just realized that the store is kind of on the JHMI route. Lot of work for what's often $10-20 trades though.
EDIT: Oops, JHMI = university shuttle that goes between different campuses.
July 29, 2015 1:21 p.m. Edited.
JakeHarlow says... #14
It is extra work, for sure. But the guarantee of service and peace of mind is totally worth it. Try to fit it in with other errands, etc. Or just wait until you need to ship multiple items.
July 29, 2015 1:32 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #15
True true. Can I use my own bubble mailers or do they need to be UPS "brand"?
July 29, 2015 2:43 p.m.
philktoken8998 says... #16
I see this thread has touched off a little nerve at USPS. Thank you for all your responses everyone. It sounds like my best bet is to ask for the GPS signal when it was marked as delivered. Also sounds like I'll be using someone else besides USPS now to see how that goes.
July 30, 2015 8:35 a.m.
JakeHarlow says... #17
You can use your own bubble mailers that you buy from various places, including office supply stores, Wal Mart, etc. They'll take any sort of packaging so long as it has space for them to affix a UPS Shipping Label. Their own supplies are comparable in price and in many cases marginally cheaper than examples found elsewhere (not sure about bubble mailers specifically).
notamardybum says... #2
Usps is ran by a bunch of buffoons who are incompetent, useless, and they don't care. I would take it to your post office and explain it to them. But because the package was not insured, they will just tell you that it wasn't insured and sorry.
I recently had a package rts, I was the sender, and it ended up in maine. I live in california...
Usps sucks
July 29, 2015 6:23 a.m.