farlymac
PF McFarland
Today the mail carrier claimed I wasn't home to receive a package that needed to be signed for, left a sticker on the door, and vamoosed it out of the building. This package came from Slidell, LA and made it here in good time for once, now I have to wait another day and make a trip to the Post Office to pick it up.
And this is not the first time it has happened. We had one carrier who utterly refused to deliver packages, and would walk into the building with a bunch of pink stickers rubber banded to his wrist already filled out with the "No one home" excuse.
But that's not the half of it. Lately my packages have been getting routed all over the country. I live in just about the middle of the eastern seaboard states, and the mail just seems to whiz by here for some reason. My latest one coming from south Florida went through Orlando, then was sent on to New Jersey before making a u-turn back to Roanoke. Currently I have a package that came from Indianapolis, IN via Columbus, OH, then went to Orlando, FL. I've had a package that was dropped off at a post office 70 miles east of here. The one that really took the cake was coming from San Antonio, TX and first went to the US Territory of Guam which is clear on the other side of the Earth.
I do believe that all the political shenanigans that have been going on with the USPS management have now finally caused a major disruption in the smooth flow of mail, which is just setting them up for closure by the ruling party. That will be a sad day. They've already dropped any guarantees of timely delivery per their Priority and Express services.
Anybody else experiencing delivery issues with the USPS?
PF
And this is not the first time it has happened. We had one carrier who utterly refused to deliver packages, and would walk into the building with a bunch of pink stickers rubber banded to his wrist already filled out with the "No one home" excuse.
But that's not the half of it. Lately my packages have been getting routed all over the country. I live in just about the middle of the eastern seaboard states, and the mail just seems to whiz by here for some reason. My latest one coming from south Florida went through Orlando, then was sent on to New Jersey before making a u-turn back to Roanoke. Currently I have a package that came from Indianapolis, IN via Columbus, OH, then went to Orlando, FL. I've had a package that was dropped off at a post office 70 miles east of here. The one that really took the cake was coming from San Antonio, TX and first went to the US Territory of Guam which is clear on the other side of the Earth.
I do believe that all the political shenanigans that have been going on with the USPS management have now finally caused a major disruption in the smooth flow of mail, which is just setting them up for closure by the ruling party. That will be a sad day. They've already dropped any guarantees of timely delivery per their Priority and Express services.
Anybody else experiencing delivery issues with the USPS?
PF
Mackinaw
Think Different
I haven't. Timely deliveries with no issues at all. Of course I live in a rural area, which may make a difference.
Jim B.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Yeah, it's horrible here too. Just since the new Postmaster General took over, packages taking forever to arrive. I ship a lot of Priority Mail packages, and they are now taking almost twice the stated time to be delivered. The Post Office still prints expected delivery dates for Priority Mail packages, and that info also goes up on the USPS tracking site. About 75% of packages in the last month have been "delayed". Something that rarely happened before this new political ally of the President took over as PG.
I believe the new PG is setting up the failure of USPS (I mean he has stock in UPS) and making vote by mail nearly impossible in the upcoming Presidential election.
Best,
-Tim
I believe the new PG is setting up the failure of USPS (I mean he has stock in UPS) and making vote by mail nearly impossible in the upcoming Presidential election.
Best,
-Tim
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
We had a package to be delivered on a Friday came on Tuesday. Tracking number incorrect. More to do with the US Government wanting to delay delivery. Follow the news.
BronicaLee
Established
I'm in Baltimore, Maryland, and I haven't gotten any mail in a week! They claim "Coronavirus" is the culprit, yet it seems it hadn't been a problem the last four months? The election is going to be disastrous, no doubt about it...
raid
Dad Photographer
It took USPS 3 weeks or so to delver a parcel from Massachusetts to Florida. It seems that a couple of USPS "experts on registered mail" were sick, and the Union forbid anyone else to handle the parcel that requires tracking and signature.In the end, the parcel arrived.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
jwlee
Established
Me too. A package arrived from Amazon. Mailman said Insecured Area and took off. Arranged for redelivery date. Date passed and no delivery. 😡
Bob Michaels
nobody special
My USPS service for many years has been "reasonably good". I have not seen any real drop off in 2020. That is both home delivery and service when I walk in our local post office.
I have had a couple of truly odd situations lately, but many, many, packages have been late, both domestic and international. This is going back to mid-March, the start of the lock down.
Shipped one package to Poland via priority mail express, supposed to take 3-5 days...that was 6 weeks ago. It just arrived in Poland after being AWOL for a few weeks.
Shipped a lens to Virginia (sold here on rff.)
The buyer emailed me, saying what's going on? "Tracking says it was delivered, but I
don't have it."
Called the 800 number and got nowhere...
Having a good friend who works at the post office, I was able to get a copy of the internal usps scan detail, and since USPS scanning devices have GPS, this also revealed the scanning location (GPS coordinates.)
The carrier was breaking the rules by scanning all his packages for final delivery while sitting in his car, and then delivering them afterwards. Carriers are supposed to scan each package at the actual point of delivery....
So when the item was scanned in the middle of the street, instead of at the addressee, the GPS data revealed this.
I called the local PO in Virginia and spoke to a rep there, who accidentally/inadvertently mentioned another street name, not the street of the buyer. When I mentioned I had the GPS data, the truth came out...
If I hadn't had a friend who works for USPS, this package likely would never have been retrieved.
I shared this info with the buyer, and he decided to check if there was a house on that street, with the same street number. Turned out his hunch was correct...the carrier had delivered it to a house with an identical street number as the buyer, but on a completely different street. The buyer had to go a couple of blocks away and knock on the door of this wrong location, the resident was actually quite spooked and didn't want to answer, due to COVID. But luckily they did admit receiving the package and he was able to retrieve it.
If the carrier had done his job correctly, scanning at the point of delivery, none of this would have happened.
The 800 service was useless, I ended up getting an email weeks later saying they had been unable to locate the package.
Not sure what the deal is with Poland, as that package took three days just to leave the origin city when it was supposed to be all the way in Poland in that time frame. COVID related, or not? Who knows...
The Virginia issue was a carrier that was breaking the rules.
COVID has wreaked havoc with staffing and other issues, according to my friend at the post.
I don't buy into any of the postmaster general conspiracy theories.
Shipped one package to Poland via priority mail express, supposed to take 3-5 days...that was 6 weeks ago. It just arrived in Poland after being AWOL for a few weeks.
Shipped a lens to Virginia (sold here on rff.)
The buyer emailed me, saying what's going on? "Tracking says it was delivered, but I
don't have it."
Called the 800 number and got nowhere...
Having a good friend who works at the post office, I was able to get a copy of the internal usps scan detail, and since USPS scanning devices have GPS, this also revealed the scanning location (GPS coordinates.)
The carrier was breaking the rules by scanning all his packages for final delivery while sitting in his car, and then delivering them afterwards. Carriers are supposed to scan each package at the actual point of delivery....
So when the item was scanned in the middle of the street, instead of at the addressee, the GPS data revealed this.
I called the local PO in Virginia and spoke to a rep there, who accidentally/inadvertently mentioned another street name, not the street of the buyer. When I mentioned I had the GPS data, the truth came out...
If I hadn't had a friend who works for USPS, this package likely would never have been retrieved.
I shared this info with the buyer, and he decided to check if there was a house on that street, with the same street number. Turned out his hunch was correct...the carrier had delivered it to a house with an identical street number as the buyer, but on a completely different street. The buyer had to go a couple of blocks away and knock on the door of this wrong location, the resident was actually quite spooked and didn't want to answer, due to COVID. But luckily they did admit receiving the package and he was able to retrieve it.
If the carrier had done his job correctly, scanning at the point of delivery, none of this would have happened.
The 800 service was useless, I ended up getting an email weeks later saying they had been unable to locate the package.
Not sure what the deal is with Poland, as that package took three days just to leave the origin city when it was supposed to be all the way in Poland in that time frame. COVID related, or not? Who knows...
The Virginia issue was a carrier that was breaking the rules.
COVID has wreaked havoc with staffing and other issues, according to my friend at the post.
I don't buy into any of the postmaster general conspiracy theories.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I've noticed that Priority Packages are taking twice as long to deliver...
I sent our son a box of cookies, he's back from his deployment and in quarantine...
I dropped them off before noon on Monday and I was told they'd be delivered on Friday...he's in Yuma, AZ...it's a four hour drive from our house...he did get them on Thursday, but still it should have been delivered on Wednesday...
I sent our son a box of cookies, he's back from his deployment and in quarantine...
I dropped them off before noon on Monday and I was told they'd be delivered on Friday...he's in Yuma, AZ...it's a four hour drive from our house...he did get them on Thursday, but still it should have been delivered on Wednesday...
stevierose
Ann Arbor, Michigan
It's been really bad here. We went out of town for 2 weeks and filed the usual stop and hold mail and packages form with USPS. They held some of our mail but continued to try to deliver packages. Then, about a week into our time away, they decided that we were "vacant" and returned 4 priority mail packages "to sender". These packages contained camera gear and other important things, some from eBay. So they were shipped back to California or wherever. In addition, they returned a bunch of our mail "to sender" including checks we were supposed to get and bills. They lost some of the mail as well. When I inquired at the local PO about this I was told that "no regular carrier is assigned to your area, so a different person rotates through there almost every day" which of course has led to problems and lack of accountability. We are still straightening this out and I still don't have those packages. Had to contact all the sellers as well as getting checks reissued to us and figuring out which bills disappeared. Between the handing of the pandemic, and things like our issues with the PO, Ii's starting to feel like we live in a third world country.
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
We've had a few issues here in Philly. But it has always sucked here in my opinion.
One course of action would be to write a respectful letter, with details of all the problems, then send it to the postmaster general of the US. Maybe send an identical letter to the GAO. Both registered, of course.
Phil Forrest
One course of action would be to write a respectful letter, with details of all the problems, then send it to the postmaster general of the US. Maybe send an identical letter to the GAO. Both registered, of course.
Phil Forrest
Emile de Leon
Well-known
AAA+ USPS delivery service for my business for 26 years now. Never a lost package. I ship pretty much every day of the week.
Some delays due to covid-19 pandemic at this time.
I just just ordered a cam from B&H...should take 1 day to deliver...will take a few more..B&H's delays..not USPS.
Risky job..going thru so much stuff w/Covid on the loose..
I wouldnt want to be a mailman at this time..
No overtime for those guys..
Some delays due to covid-19 pandemic at this time.
I just just ordered a cam from B&H...should take 1 day to deliver...will take a few more..B&H's delays..not USPS.
Risky job..going thru so much stuff w/Covid on the loose..
I wouldnt want to be a mailman at this time..
No overtime for those guys..
Here is one that I failed to mention earlier.
Ship lots of usps every week, many of them tracked first class. These travel with priority mail, generally arrive in two days (pre-COVID) and are great for smaller weight packages.
This one never arrived, so I opened a missing mail case...got a phone call from Redondo Beach CA post office...blah blah blah, we'll find it and return it to you...then they immediately closed the case.
When USPS works, everything is great. When it doesn't, you're pretty much SOL, you'll get zero support, the people who answer the 800 know nothing (that is, if you can actually reach someone), if you do reach someone it's nothing but promises and apologies, and no follow ups.
Or, they'll just close the case.
This was the case, pre-COVID; it's just worse now, as I'm spending far more time following up with customers inquiring about packages that are late, or filing inquiries for lost packages.
Jul 29, 2020
4:13pm
PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CLOSED 12988662
REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278
Jul 27, 2020
2:00pm
PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CREATED 12988662
REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278
July 11, 2020
In Transit, Arriving Late
Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
July 7, 2020, 9:34 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
SAN ANTONIO TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
July 7, 2020, 5:57 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
SAN ANTONIO TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX
July 6, 2020, 6:32 pm
Departed Post Office
WIMBERLEY, TX 78676
July 6, 2020, 5:24 pm
USPS picked up item
WIMBERLEY, TX 78676
July 3, 2020, 9:15 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
DRIFTWOOD, TX 78619
Ship lots of usps every week, many of them tracked first class. These travel with priority mail, generally arrive in two days (pre-COVID) and are great for smaller weight packages.
This one never arrived, so I opened a missing mail case...got a phone call from Redondo Beach CA post office...blah blah blah, we'll find it and return it to you...then they immediately closed the case.
When USPS works, everything is great. When it doesn't, you're pretty much SOL, you'll get zero support, the people who answer the 800 know nothing (that is, if you can actually reach someone), if you do reach someone it's nothing but promises and apologies, and no follow ups.
Or, they'll just close the case.
This was the case, pre-COVID; it's just worse now, as I'm spending far more time following up with customers inquiring about packages that are late, or filing inquiries for lost packages.
Jul 29, 2020
4:13pm
PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CLOSED 12988662
REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278
Jul 27, 2020
2:00pm
PACKAGE RESEARCH CASE CREATED 12988662
REDONDO BEACH, CA 90278
July 11, 2020
In Transit, Arriving Late
Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
July 7, 2020, 9:34 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
SAN ANTONIO TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
July 7, 2020, 5:57 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
SAN ANTONIO TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX
July 6, 2020, 6:32 pm
Departed Post Office
WIMBERLEY, TX 78676
July 6, 2020, 5:24 pm
USPS picked up item
WIMBERLEY, TX 78676
July 3, 2020, 9:15 pm
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
DRIFTWOOD, TX 78619
aizan
Veteran
more than half of my recent orders have been delayed for weeks.
6/24 germany - 43 days
6/29 nyc (b&h) - 38 days
7/1 nyc - 36 days
7/2 uk - 35 days
7/8 indonesia - 29 days
thankfully, the other items came in the usual amount of time.
6/24 germany - 43 days
6/29 nyc (b&h) - 38 days
7/1 nyc - 36 days
7/2 uk - 35 days
7/8 indonesia - 29 days
thankfully, the other items came in the usual amount of time.
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Twice (not recently) I had a USPS package disappear. In both cases I wrote directly to the postmaster general. The first package was an XPAN I sold. The postmaster sent out a federal inspector to investigate. When I gave the inspector the serial number on the phone, he said "perfect!" and sounded very pleased. I wasn't out any money, because the buyer had already paid. He never asked me for a refund! He told me, "That's OK, I have another one!" I learned that the buyer had picked up a package from the post office one morning without having to sign for it. He denied (to me) that it was the XPAN. But it seems that he picked up the XPAN without signing, and decided to claim he didn't get it. They didn't tell me for sure, but I think they caught him.
The second item was a 15mm CV lens that they either lost, or else it was stolen. Again, I wrote to the PG. It took forever, but they eventually made good on the insurance.
Now I'm sweating out an M4P I sent to Youxin for cleaning. Probably should use UPS or FedEx.
The second item was a 15mm CV lens that they either lost, or else it was stolen. Again, I wrote to the PG. It took forever, but they eventually made good on the insurance.
Now I'm sweating out an M4P I sent to Youxin for cleaning. Probably should use UPS or FedEx.
Whoa! I hope your M4P arrives safely, if late...
Would you mind sharing the contact info you used for the postmaster? Do you mean *THE* postmaster general, or your local postmaster?
Would you mind sharing the contact info you used for the postmaster? Do you mean *THE* postmaster general, or your local postmaster?
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
I just got a text saying that the M4P is out for delivery! Almost safe now!
I'll dig out the address for the PG. It's in the basement.
I'll dig out the address for the PG. It's in the basement.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
A good USPS story although 10-12 years ago.
My sister in Atlanta was returning my ContaxG 21mm Biogon to me via UPS (United Parcel Service) when her outgoing box was stolen from the receptionist desk before UPS picked it up. Immediate diligent efforts, including much help from KEH in Atlanta, had no results. I was forced to conclude my Biogon was lost forever.
One month later the USPS (US Postal Service) delivered the box. It had been opened and crudely repacked / resealed, showed no postage just the UPS shipping label. I followed up with my local postmaster to thank them. They had no clue how, when, or where my lens ever got into the postal system but delivered it my address from the UPS label in spite of no postage.
My sister in Atlanta was returning my ContaxG 21mm Biogon to me via UPS (United Parcel Service) when her outgoing box was stolen from the receptionist desk before UPS picked it up. Immediate diligent efforts, including much help from KEH in Atlanta, had no results. I was forced to conclude my Biogon was lost forever.
One month later the USPS (US Postal Service) delivered the box. It had been opened and crudely repacked / resealed, showed no postage just the UPS shipping label. I followed up with my local postmaster to thank them. They had no clue how, when, or where my lens ever got into the postal system but delivered it my address from the UPS label in spite of no postage.