It was ordered before the current bad weather hit us. I guess the part that gets me is it was at my local post office on the 29th and they sent out for another 3 day ride. Just doesn't instill a great deal of confidence in the system. I am happy to have it finally.
USPS is messed up!!!
- Thread starter Bee-Positive
- Start date
I rarely have issues with the USPS, but Amazon "prime" became so bad we just cancelled the account. I gave very detailed instructions, GPS cords. and even offered to meet them on the road to show then our place. Amazon just could not get anything here, by far the worst delivery service.
One bad anecdote doesn't make a very strong case against USPS.
I run an eBay business. Last year I shipped 635 items by USPS ground.
So, they're not perfect, but not bad either.
I run an eBay business. Last year I shipped 635 items by USPS ground.
- They lost 2 out of those 635 and one of those eventually found its way back to me.
- My 'late delivery' rate is under 0.5%.
So, they're not perfect, but not bad either.
jyoutz
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In my experience, USPS is far more timely and reliable than FedEx. FedEx seldom delivers my packages to my address, always to another location. I don’t have trouble with USPS or UPS, just FedEx.
In order to get an efficient distribution system all courier companies seem to have centralised hubs where everything is sent to and then shipped out from there. Therefore the long travel distances, even if you send something to your neighbour. Normally fairly fast this system can lead to long delays with bad weather.
If you wanted to shorten the distances you would end up with thousands of shipment paths between all kinds of destinations which is impossible to handle at a realistic cost.
If you wanted to shorten the distances you would end up with thousands of shipment paths between all kinds of destinations which is impossible to handle at a realistic cost.
Yeah, I could've sent it differently, but...whatever...For 42-cents ….you CARE HOW IT’S ROUTED..??
You COULD have sent her an email….OR ….if you wanted it delivered more-direct…you could PAY for that delivery-service…. but you only spent 42-cents….and You Got a BARGAIN for that price.
Of course, you also could have driven across town yourself…but that also would have cost considerably more than 42-cents..
BTW, it's been a while since you mailed a letter. It hasn't been 42¢ for about the past ten years. I think it's about 80¢ now.
With the less-than-great service, higher cost, and lately the risk of having it lost or stolen, I haven't mailed anything unless I can't do it online.
Yes, it’s 78-cents for 3-oz of First Class postage. (My 42-cent postage comment was based upon the large number of “Forever” stamps my penny-pincher-wife bought a couple years ago. I guess if I gave it more thought…..I’d realize her postage-stamp-investments have outperformed Berkshire-Hathaway)
@jyoutz : AGREE! Fed-Ex is the WORST! I live rural. Fed-Ex is likely to toss Negotiable-Instruments over-the-fence and on the ground a mile-away…. than follow the Explicit Delivery Instuct’s that are Printed On the Envelope such as “1234 Street, Turn Left at Wooden Trash Receptacle, GATE CODE 1234, House is 1/4 mile on the Right” …(. and is the ONLY BUILDING IN VIEW ON THE HORIZON!)
I get a “Delivery Notice” with a picture of the pkg sitting in the ditch somewhere….and it’s an UN-recognizable location. Even an INSURED PKG… ask Fed-Ex for “proof of delivery” and they will re-send the pic of the pkg sitting in a ditch somewhere and THAT is their “proof”. NO POSSIBILITY of any insurance settlement.
UPS …ALWAYS gets the pkg to my door. Prime usually does, as well. USPS has performed flowlessly for 30+ years out here.
BUT BEWARE: Insurance on a pkg does NOT protect YOU. It protects the SHIPPER.
I once bought a dozen rare airplane parts from a Canadian seller and I paid extra for insurance.
The shipper packaged them poorly in a brown paper bag…and I received an empty torn paper bag.
When I filed for the insurance…. they PAID THE SHIPPER. That JERK not only cheaped-out on his packaging…. He GOT PAID TWICE for the items… Once from ME and again FROM INSURANCE.
I got nothing but a torn paper bag.
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Lil Foot
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Currently in the midst of another USPS demonstration of high Efficiency:
Ordered an item from NC, it arrived at an Avondale, AZ distribution center. (a few miles from my house)
It then went to a distribution center in Las Vegas, NV, then to a different distribution center in Las Vegas, then back to the first distribution center in Las Vegas, then to a Phoenix, AZ distribution center, then to a 2nd distribution center in Phoenix. (a few miles from my house)
It will be interesting to see where it goes next.
Ordered an item from NC, it arrived at an Avondale, AZ distribution center. (a few miles from my house)
It then went to a distribution center in Las Vegas, NV, then to a different distribution center in Las Vegas, then back to the first distribution center in Las Vegas, then to a Phoenix, AZ distribution center, then to a 2nd distribution center in Phoenix. (a few miles from my house)
It will be interesting to see where it goes next.
Considering the distance covered and the shipping cost I think you are getting a real bargain hereCurrently in the midst of another USPS demonstration of high Efficiency:
Ordered an item from NC, it arrived at an Avondale, AZ distribution center. (a few miles from my house)
It then went to a distribution center in Las Vegas, NV, then to a different distribution center in Las Vegas, then back to the first distribution center in Las Vegas, then to a Phoenix, AZ distribution center, then to a 2nd distribution center in Phoenix. (a few miles from my house)
It will be interesting to see where it goes next.
Same thing happened to me. Call your local post office and they can have it stopped and shipped to them. Barcode gets damaged and not fully readable so it goes into an endless loop in the area. I watched mine do that over a week and my post office did a hold and transfer that solved it.Currently in the midst of another USPS demonstration of high Efficiency:
Ordered an item from NC, it arrived at an Avondale, AZ distribution center. (a few miles from my house)
It then went to a distribution center in Las Vegas, NV, then to a different distribution center in Las Vegas, then back to the first distribution center in Las Vegas, then to a Phoenix, AZ distribution center, then to a 2nd distribution center in Phoenix. (a few miles from my house)
It will be interesting to see where it goes next.
Big things go missing too. I don't' remember the exact details but it was something along these lines. We were doing a project in Coatesville PA and had electrical switchgear coming from a manufacturer in a southern state. The trucking company couldn't locate it for a couple weeks and then it showed up on a dock in Chicago.
RCW
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We’ve had a few things from Amazon delivered by USPS recently.
Each time the routing updates seemed to have the package going in circles a little before delivery.
Each time the routing updates seemed to have the package going in circles a little before delivery.
EVERYTHING I've ordered from Amazon was delivered via USPS for the past 8 months or so. Causes me a big problem because USPS doesn't deliver packages in my area. They leave a slip in my mailbox telling me I need to drive to town and pick up the package at the Post Office. Not wanting to drive to town is precisely why I ordered from Amazon to begin with!
I was reading on-line that Amazon signed a contract with the USPS so that's why pretty much everything ships USPS now.
Russell King
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Put in a large box for package delivery. You may just need to discuss it with your post office person in charge and the can just leave them at your box?
I don't know about that
Amazon Moves Away from USPS After $9B Loss—USPS Faces Workforce Challenges
The two entities face a crucial turning point, as USPS reports significant fiscal losses and Amazon ramps up investment in its own delivery network. This standoff, if unresolved, could reshape the future of logistics in the U.S.
postaltimes.com
Bill, keep an eye on it. If it comes out this way let me know and I'll try to intercept it and redirect it.
I am finding that many companies have switched to Amazon shipping and orders from them arriving with the Amazon trucks. It seemed to have started after the last UPS rate hike. I like it because there's now accurate tracking and deliveries. Amazon delivers to our house just about everyday between my wife and I along with gifts sent by friends and family.
Not going to happen in the area where I live. USPS doesn't deliver to individual mailboxes. Every few miles they have installed "banks" of narrow boxes like this. I can barely get my hand inside the box to grab my letters.
I can walk to my box - about 1/3rd of a mile. Some people have to drive a few miles to get to theirs. There are a few larger boxes with each of the banks for small packages but bigger packages just get you a slip to tell you to pick up your package at the Post Office.
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Only place I've seen an "Amazon truck" within 170 miles of where I live is their 18 wheelers on Interstate 80. I've seen their delivery vans in Reno only. All my Amazon packages have always delivered to my house via UPS or FedEx until recently. So if their contract with USPS is no longer I'll be cheering.
Lil Foot
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In 30+ years our local post office has never answered their phone.
The only option is to go there and wait in line.
Then the service is less than stellar.