USPS Horror: Phantom Delivery Confirmation

[t206hound]

Originally Posted by autograf

I'm a homer but..........UPS Store mailboxes are about $15/mo. You can have packages from any carrier delivered there because you have a real street address. PO Boxes are cheaper but you can't have FedEx, UPS or DHL deliver to them. ONLY post office.

I once heard a postal employee talking to a customer about a PO Box and they offer a feature where you can use the post office street address for FedEx and other deliveries.

[cfc1909]

I had this happen. Tracking says it was delivered and I never got it. I talked to the seller on the phone and he gave me a full refund.

3 months later it showed up. I contacted the seller and paid in full.

So sometimes it still works out.


Another time I had a batch of Hindus disappear after the package left the Philadelphia sort facility. A month later the group showed up on ebay and took 13 months to sort out. I finally got them back.

[HercDriver]

My wife ordered something from Ebay not too long ago. When it didn't show up, she emailed the lady who said it had been confirmed delivered. Still nothing. About three days later, it was delivered. How they confirm it without it ever showing up is beyond me.

I always remembered going to the Post Office years ago and seeing all the windows open, with people ready to help. Now, if there are five windows, you're lucky to get two people. At the Post Office by me, one of those two is very good... the other person is always perplexed by anybody wanting to mail anything. He scratches his head, then tries to hit the screen with his pen, which never works. He finally works out that he needs to use his finger to make the touch pad work. After the person pays, he then stares at the package for another 5 minutes, while plunking away at the screen with his pen (he's forgotten it doesn't work by now, then he finally reverts to his finger again). Then the package goes in a box, he wanders around a bit, then takes the next customer. It's pathetic. Where is Cliff Clavin? I want him back...even if he lost Jeopardy. I forgive him for the Three People Who Were Never In His Kitchen.

Take Care,
Geno

[conor912]

I always cut that strip off the top of the shipping label that says "eBay" on it. I feel like leaving that on is just inviting trouble.

[chaddurbin]

Originally Posted by cfc1909

Another time I had a batch of Hindus disappear after the package left the Philadelphia sort facility. A month later the group showed up on ebay and took 13 months to sort out. I finally got them back.

jim,

the philly hub seems to be a problem. i've had at least one package disappear there also.

also another one down in florida where my card would show up on ebay a couple months later.

[frankbmd]

A few years ago my son sent me ice cream for Christmas from a shop in Columbus, Ohio via Fedex with tracking to northern Wisconsin.

After three days he called and asked me if I liked it as it had been reported by Fedex as delivered.

I told him it had not. He could get no information from Fedex. A couple of days later I was out walking and noticed a parcel on a neighbor's front porch. I didn't know they were out of town. I went to check the package on their door step and it was mine.

The good news is that for 6 days the temperature had been below freezing and the ice cream was fine.
When shipping ice cream to northern Wisconsin in the winter, you do not need a lot of dry ice, styrofoam, Fedex, UPS, overnight shipping or priority mail.

[Exhibitman]

I had a registered shipment from London go missing in the NYC post office or customs center. Very rare cards that I really wanted. Got a refund but...

I recently had two packages that I gave to the mailman show as delivered the day I handed them over...to me at my address. Both got to where they were supposed to go but it was touch and go there for a while.

[mrvster]

All these situations sound like A NIGHTMARE!!!

[Rob D.]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

A few years ago my son sent me ice cream for Christmas from a shop in Columbus, Ohio via Fedex with tracking to northern Wisconsin.

After three days he called and asked me if I liked it as it had been reported by Fedex as delivered.

I told him it had not. He could get no information from Fedex. A couple of days later I was out walking and noticed a parcel on a neighbor's front porch. I didn't know they were out of town. I went to check the package on their door step and it was mine.

The good news is that for 6 days the temperature had been below freezing and the ice cream was fine.

When shipping ice cream to northern Wisconsin in the winter, you do not need a lot of dry ice, styrofoam, Fedex, UPS, overnight shipping or priority mail.

Graeters?

[drc]

I had an expensive item shipped to my parents' house, because I live in a multi-story urban condo building where they just leave large packages in the open lobby. The shipper said the item was delivered and signed for, but my parents said they never signed for anything. It turns out the shipper delivered it elsewhere and someone there signed for it. Happily, the package was insured, the shipper admitted the error was theirs and I got my money back. Never saw the item though.

This is one reason to have signature confirmation, as when the shipper looked into the missing package they saw someone other than my parents signed for it.

That was several years back and the only time I lost a package like that. Stands out because it was an expensive item. I also once had a much less expensive item that got caught in the USPS service machinery-- literally, the package was returned 3 months late and the bubble envelope was mangled from the sorter. Luckily, it was a card in a double top loader and it was fine. I also once had an overnight package take 13 days, because the lady at the local USPS put the package in the wrong box. I knew her and she apologized. I remember telling the impatient guy in California "I swear, I sent it overnight like you asked. I'm not making it up."

[digdugdig]

I just had a strange one myself. 2 items I sent out 2 days ago and my neighbor knocks on my door with the 2 items in hand. She offered to re-mail them but I told her I needed to email the recipients of the delay. Out of curiosity, I checked the tracking info and it said that both items were dispatched to sort facility....but ended up in my neighbors' mailbox???
I've heard of "gremlins" before but always "in house"!!
Called the Post Office and my actual mailman called me back with apologies for possibly sticking them in my neighbors mailbox before gettin back to the post office.
Fine and dandy, everyone has had some mail stuck into your neighbors mailbox by mistake...that's being human. What I can't understand, and couldn't get an explanation for, was why did the tracking info say that the items were "dispatched to sort facility" about 3 hours after "acceptance" when they were actually delivered just down the street about 3 minutes after "acceptance".
Whoa...this is giving me a headache...if ya can't trust the US government...whoa...bigger headache!!