Scary Little Story About The USPS And Now We Know Why

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by batsballsbases

Had one of those scary little stories about the USPS today and wanted to pass it along. And we wonder why they have such problems. I was tracking a package on the computer this morning and saw that it was in my home town at 7:36 this morning (yes it was a card) as I was watching it all of a sudden it posts up Package Delivered! I never get my mail until at least 2:30 in the afternoon so I was very surprised to see it delivered. Went to the mailbox NO MAIL. Went about the day and around 2:45 I see the mailman delivering the mail. (This person wasnot my regular mailman) I start to tell him the story about watching it on the computer and how all of a sudden it was delivered. I think I caught him off guard a bit as he told me something that surprised me . It was him when he picks up the mail in the morning he scans ALL of his packages in showing that they are delivered! First of all I didnt know you could do that. I said to him why would you do that? I think he knew that it shouldnt be done like this but wouldnt tell me that. I said what if the package never really came but yet SOMEONE scans it in as been delivered. What recourse would we have knowing that the package says delivered but was lets say lost or stolen? He hesitated and said to me the reason that he does it this way is because his route takes to long and to stop and scan delivered at each stop would be very time consuming! And His supervisors are watching the time on his route. Can you believe that! Just found that mind boggling! Just to let you know the package was there with all the rest of the mail!

That would explain a lot of things. The same thing happened to me on a recent transaction with a board member. He sent the card from South Dakota. It was shown as being delivered...and yet no card. 3 days later it showed up.

Z Wheat

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

That would explain a lot of things. The same thing happened to me on a recent transaction with a board member. He said he sent the card from South Dakota. It was shown as being delivered...and yet no card. 3 days later it showed up.

Z Wheat

I am the board member in this example. I have had horrible luck with USPS for the last 3 months with over 25% of my paid tracking items. Everything from taking 1 month to be delivered to stuff being delivered in those "sorry" bags that looked like a truck run over the package several times.

[slidekellyslide]

A few years ago I also had a package show as delivered, but it was not delivered that day...It was a one of a kind Nebraska Indians cabinet photo and I immediately called the post office to have them track it...they told me it had been delivered....I asked them to contact the mailman, and they did, he claimed he delivered it.....I asked my neighbors if they had gotten it...nope, none of them had gotten it. So I called the police to tell them I had a package stolen...the police showed up to my house and made a report. A few hours later the mailman delivered it to me. I have no idea why he lied to post office about delivering it. It was not my regular mailman, but a sub. I called the police to let them know it was delivered and the officer told me that he contacted the mailman at which point the mailman suddenly found the package.

[andybecker]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

A few years ago I also had a package show as delivered, but it was not delivered that day...It was a one of a kind Nebraska Indians cabinet photo and I immediately called the post office to have them track it...they told me it had been delivered....I asked them to contact the mailman, and they did, he claimed he delivered it.....I asked my neighbors if they had gotten it...nope, none of them had gotten it. So I called the police to tell them I had a package stolen...the police showed up to my house and made a report. A few hours later the mailman delivered it to me. I have no idea why he lied to post office about delivering it. It was not my regular mailman, but a sub. I called the police to let them know it was delivered and the officer told me that he contacted the mailman at which point the mailman suddenly found the package.

that's crazy. newmanesque.

[ValKehl]

Changing the subject slightly, what is the scanning procedure the USPS carrier is supposed to follow when picking up packages? I live in a high-rise condo for seniors with restricted entry, and my wife and I sell regularly on eBay (mostly our yard sale, church sale, garage sale, thrift store, etc. finds). We leave our outgoing packages on the floor next to the bank of mailboxes for the carrier to pick up when he delivers the incoming mail. At times, I have observed the carrier take the packages out to his truck, whereupon the carrier either (1) scans the bar codes on the labels as he puts the packages in his truck before driving away, or (2) tosses the packages into his truck without scanning them and drives away. Am I correct in thinking that (1) is the appropriate procedure?
Val

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Changing the subject slightly, what is the scanning procedure the USPS carrier is supposed to follow when picking up packages? I live in a high-rise condo for seniors with restricted entry, and my wife and I sell regularly on eBay (mostly our yard sale, church sale, garage sale, thrift store, etc. finds). We leave our outgoing packages on the floor next to the bank of mailboxes for the carrier to pick up when he delivers the incoming mail. At times, I have observed the carrier take the packages out to his truck, whereupon the carrier either (1) scans the bar codes on the labels as he puts the packages in his truck before driving away, or (2) tosses the packages into his truck without scanning them and drives away. Am I correct in thinking that (1) is the appropriate procedure?
Val

I have an ebay pickup every day at my shop Monday through Saturday and they always scan them when putting them in the truck. I did have one nightmare scenario about 6 months back....the post office scanned every single package that day as delivered. Nearly 100 of them...I had at least 50 emails from buyers asking why their packages were delivered to Lincoln, Nebraska.

[batsballsbases]

another little funny story about tracking I found out. With the new postal changes that were made when you send out one of those brown bubble mailers now first class the tracking comes with it. Its so funny I found this out thru a friend of mine who told me of this but yet everytime I go to the post office my postal person constantly asks me do you want it FIRST CLASS WITH TRACKING ! The tracking is 95c extra. I then proceed to tell her that now the tracking is included on first class. I show her that if when you get your slip and punch in the PID # tracking will come up even thou you didnt pony up the extra 95c . She then tells me I DIDNT KNOW THAT! And we wonder why the USPS is going in the toilet.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I am the board member in this example. I have had horrible luck with USPS for the last 3 months with over 25% of my paid tracking items. Everything from taking 1 month to be delivered to stuff being delivered in those "sorry" bags that looked like a truck run over the package several times.

Ben,

You did nothing wrong in out transaction. Maybe I should have worded the reply better. You were completely honorable in the transaction.

Regards,