USPS Rant

[ctfjr]

I am active on a photography forum and over a week go i purchased a lens from board member in Texas. He sent it 'priority mail' on the 24th. The post office sent me a text saying it would be here on the 26th. It is still not here


Moving Through Network
Arrived at USPS Facility
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410
March 1, 2025, 7:00 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility
WEST PALM BEACH FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 1, 2025, 6:38 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility
WEST PALM BEACH FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 1, 2025, 1:52 pm
In Transit to Next Facility
February 28, 2025
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
COPPELL TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
February 26, 2025, 3:02 am
USPS in possession of item
DALLAS, TX 75225
February 24, 2025, 3:20 pm


Is it any wonder why people use alternative shipping methods?

 

[Botamon]

They are all bad. Actually, I still find UPS to be a bit better than the rest.

I ordered a part from Geno's Garage in Georgia. Geno's shipped it the same day. FedEx acknowledged they had it on the 18th of February. As of Sunday, the 23rd of February it had not moved, still in Georgia, and delivery still stated it would deliver the past Thursday!

I did finally get the part - many days after it was supposed to deliver.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Doing crazy product development "stuff" I get a lot of "odd" things shipped to me, often 4+ packages a day. I've had USPS, UPS, and FedEx lose things, but it's not often and they're all "really, really good" compared to anything in a 2nd-World Country. (3rd-World--just expect your stuff to get stolen.) If I were to rank Best to Worst DHL is #1, FedEx #2, Amazon #3, USPS #4, UPS #5 (to the point I've repeatedly documented cases of UPS blatantly committing what I believe any court would judge as fraud).

I'll note FedEx last-mile delivery is franchised so depends on the driver/local owner and in some places is reportedly terrible, here it's great.

 

[drygulch]

I am active on a photography forum and over a week go i purchased a lens from board member in Texas. He sent it 'priority mail' on the 24th. The post office sent me a text saying it would be here on the 26th. It is still not here

I ship things regularly via USPS (only cost effective way for me to offer free shipping on some things). I've got all kinds of stories.

Most recently was shipping from GA to out west somewhere, and got notified it was delivered the next day. Turns out they had delivered to some random address in AL. Label was generated automatically, no human error there.

Sadly there's no practical remediation with USPS.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

umm,, what were the weather conditions between Texas and Florida ? That has a huge bearing on delivery times. Also truck do breakdown..... Any major storms ( power failures )??? Airport closed due to plane crash ?? Any protests in those areas ??
there's a lot of factors that can affect the arrival time !

I've had computer chips sent from Thailand using UPS to me here in Ontario, Canada, most come in a week. Once in 3 days... thailand->India-> germany_> Hamilton-> me !

 

[drygulch]

I've had computer chips sent from Thailand using UPS to me here in Ontario, Canada, most come in a week. Once in 3 days... thailand->India-> germany_> Hamilton-> me !

He's referring to USPS (United States Postal Service) rather than UPS

 

[Scm]

USPS delayed one of my recent packages due to "weather" at a time when there was nothing really happening with the weather, to, from and in between. I was always under the impression growing up that they would deliver "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" By far FedEx has been the best so far as long as its not sent "smart"post that uses the USPS for the final mile. That package took and extra 3 weeks.

 

[bird dogger]

For the most part I've always had good service with USPS. Both with sending and receiving packages. More recently there has been some delays and rerouting of packages through mistakes, I assume. But they eventually arrive.

However, a while ago I purchased a small item from someone only 250 miles away in Bismarck, ND. (same state) The seller didn't want to take a personal check even though I told the person they could cash the check and wait as long as they wanted before sending the product as I was in no hurry. Instead, they wanted me to send a USPS Postal Money Order for the almost $30 item. I told the seller I'd have it int the mail the same day.....and it was.

About 2 weeks later, the seller called and asked when I would send the money order. I emailed her copies of the purchase receipt and said it was mailed the same day. Let's give it a few more days to show up and if it doesn't, I'll cancel it and send cash. Another week with no show.

At the post office with the same employee that I purchased the money order from and who put the addressed & stamped envelope in her outgoing mail drop, I related what was happening and what do we do about it? It was going to cost me $20.18 to put a tracer on that money order and stop payment on it!
Even though the money order was purchased right there, fee paid, envelope stamped and handed directly to the postal clerk to mail, and it couldn't make it to the destination 250 miles away in the same state?? I declined the option and said I'd never purchase another postal money order again, ever.

About a week later the original money order showed up at its destination and the seller mailed the product to me. Even the seller was pissed at the USPS service and said she would not require a money order from now on.

 

[drygulch]

I think a good rule of thumb would be to not ship anything via USPS you can't just walk away from. Most of my stuff gets delivered in a reasonable time though, sometimes fairly quickly.

 

[KKBL]

It does seem like the USPS has gone down hill in the last few years. An important letter from Social Security for my wife was mailed and post marked February 11 but was not delivered until the 21st. Ten days for important mail, but we get all of the junk mail right on time.

 

[Speed25]

Doing crazy product development "stuff" I get a lot of "odd" things shipped to me, often 4+ packages a day. I've had USPS, UPS, and FedEx lose things, but it's not often and they're all "really, really good" compared to anything in a 2nd-World Country. (3rd-World--just expect your stuff to get stolen.) If I were to rank Best to Worst DHL is #1, FedEx #2, Amazon #3, USPS #4, UPS #5 (to the point I've repeatedly documented cases of UPS blatantly committing what I believe any court would judge as fraud).

I'll note FedEx last-mile delivery is franchised so depends on the driver/local owner and in some places is reportedly terrible, here it's great.

I haven't had much delivered via DHL, but one instance really stands out. I ordered some car suspension parts from Australia and they were delivered the next day, technically before they left due to the time zone difference. I don't have a clue how they got it to the east coast of the US so friggin' fast, but I was impressed for "free shipping".

Meanwhile, I've got a FedEx package that's been stuck at the local hub for over a week. FedEx is definitely the worst around here by a fair bit.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

He's referring to USPS (United States Postal Service) rather than UPS

yes I know but all 'delivery' services are similar..... usually 'hub ' based and depend on weather

 

[TheOldHokie]

I am active on a photography forum and over a week go i purchased a lens from board member in Texas. He sent it 'priority mail' on the 24th. The post office sent me a text saying it would be here on the 26th. It is still not here


Moving Through Network
Arrived at USPS Facility
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410
March 1, 2025, 7:00 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility
WEST PALM BEACH FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 1, 2025, 6:38 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility
WEST PALM BEACH FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
March 1, 2025, 1:52 pm
In Transit to Next Facility
February 28, 2025
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
COPPELL TX DISTRIBUTION CENTER
February 26, 2025, 3:02 am
USPS in possession of item
DALLAS, TX 75225
February 24, 2025, 3:20 pm


Is it any wonder why people use alternative shipping methods?

Actually I have shipped and recrived thousands of items via Priority Mail and I can probably count the number of times a package has been significantly delayed on my fingers. Its my prefered service.

Dan
.

 

[airbiscuit]

Fed Ex is the bottom of my list.

 

[NCL4701]

I haven't had much delivered via DHL, but one instance really stands out. I ordered some car suspension parts from Australia and they were delivered the next day, technically before they left due to the time zone difference. I don't have a clue how they got it to the east coast of the US so friggin' fast, but I was impressed for "free shipping".

Meanwhile, I've got a FedEx package that's been stuck at the local hub for over a week. FedEx is definitely the worst around here by a fair bit.

I suspect you’re serviced by the Greensboro/Colfax hub, same as I am. I’ve had several items that tracked to the local hub, sat there for days, then started moving away, eventually getting stuck in “Chicago” which I’ve come to understand is FedEx code for “it was on that plane with Tom Hanks and his buddy, Wilson the volleyball”. FedEx has no competition for worst in this area.

 

[jaxs]

Cutting labor cost increases profit,trained labor force is sop today.

 

[itsaz]

The USPS lost a certified letter that I mailed to a local address. Then they declined my request for a refund for the fee. Tried to call the Postmaster and his voicemailbox was full. Went to see him and his office was locked.
I now refuse to support them. Now all my bills come by email and I pay them electronically.
Trump has DOGE looking at them!

 

[D2Cat]

The famously mismanaged U.S. Postal Service (USPS), also plagued by scandals for secretly spying on Americans, lost a staggering $9.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September. The loss marks a substantial increase of $3 billion over the previous year when the agency reported an already hefty $6.5 billion deficit. In the meantime, taxpayers continue bailing it out despite a well-documented history of transgressions and exorbitant debt.

Here's the whole story. https://www.judicialwatch.org/usps-9-5-billion-loss/

 

[jyoutz]

The famously mismanaged U.S. Postal Service (USPS), also plagued by scandals for secretly spying on Americans, lost a staggering $9.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September. The loss marks a substantial increase of $3 billion over the previous year when the agency reported an already hefty $6.5 billion deficit. In the meantime, taxpayers continue bailing it out despite a well-documented history of transgressions and exorbitant debt.

Here's the whole story. https://www.judicialwatch.org/usps-9-5-billion-loss/

Keep in mind that the USPS was never intended to turn a profit or break even. From the earliest days of our country it was intended to be a service that the nation pays for. Government is not a business. Having said that, improving efficiency is always a good thing.

 

[jyoutz]

The USPS lost a certified letter that I mailed to a local address. Then they declined my request for a refund for the fee. Tried to call the Postmaster and his voicemailbox was full. Went to see him and his office was locked.
I now refuse to support them. Now all my bills come by email and I pay them electronically.
Trump has DOGE looking at them!

Trump’s appointment of DeJoy was intended to break the USPS so it could be privatized and become as bad as FedEx at even higher cost to the public. But of course it would allow for profits to investors.