Frustrated with USPS tracking?

[Yankees1964]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

I’m not sure many companies would be lining up for the USPS gig. Unlike Fed Ex or UPS, who could just reject packages when they got overwhelmed (as they did this year, further flooding USPS), USPS has to take everything. Then they deliver to every address in the country (no matter how remote) 6 days a week.

Exactly. Not to mention it would cost multiples more than it does now. Of course leaving all the machines in place that we pulled and scrapped by the new PMG would have made the huge COVID increase easier for them to handle too.

[Mike D.]

Isn’t USPS also not really allowed to make a profit? So, no “make a little extra and then reinvest” like a lot of businesses go.

[Schlesinj]

Not totally related to baseball cards, but quick public service announcement that both credit card bills and payments are all going to be delayed, so pay attention to getting fees and late charges. The credit card companies are aware, of course, but you may need to make a phone call to get things waived.

[sportsnut25]

To really rub some salt in the wounds, the tracking portion of the USPS website has been unavailable this evening.

Now I'll really be guessing if my package will come Monday or will be delayed since it hasn't been scanned in 47 hours.

[jchcollins]

Today's package that finally arrived (a Seaver RC, I was sweating bullets...) was kind of the last straw for me and the USPS with anything shipped of value. It wasn't anything super horrible, but for Priority Mail Insured, $23 - the package was 3 days late, and got maybe half the tracking scans it should have from just outside of St. Louis to me in Winston-Salem, NC. Lately my regular, First Class packages have been both getting more scans en route, and arriving on the whole quicker than Priority Mail.

Clearly not the end of the world as I got the card and am happy, but I will gladly pay the same or more to do FedEx 2 day for cards I sell / buy over a certain price point from here on out. Peace of mind with the USPS just seems to be a thing of the past. I get no updates on shipping for 2 solid days AFTER this package is supposed to be here already, and then wake up this morning to more stories on NPR, etc. about how screwed up the Post Office still is, and to expect more delays. Whatever, I'm done. Yeah, yeah - I get there are legit reasons - but this also isn't rocket science, and has been a festering problem in many areas of the US even before the onset of COVID. Yes, 99% of my USPS stuff does get here eventually, but if I can pay comprable or even more elsewhere for a quicker turnaround and more reassurances, it's time for me to go that route.

[UKCardGuy]

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

I've incurred far more damage over the years with UPS. And I'd rather be boiled in oil, than go through their futile claims process. USPS (even with all their current issues) is still the least expensive and best way to ship, IMHO.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

I'm totally with you, but I prefer FedEx. UPS once left an Angels Media Guide with Nolan Ryan on the cover out in the pouring rain to be ruined on my front stoupe. I've learned my lesson for good at this point with the USPS though. They may be better than nothing, but at least lately they aren't making the grade for what I require to ship anything high dollar.

[carlsonjok]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

I've never had an issue with USPS more significant than misdelivered items that show up a few days late. I have, however, had a bad experience with UPS.



This is what I found when I went to the UPS store to pick up a 1963 Fleer card I sent in to a Sandy Koufax signing a few years back. The card ended up being fine. And, I am aware that one cannot draw a trend line from one data point, but holy moly they abused that envelope.

[tschock]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

As some have already noted, and I can vouch as well. Over the years I've had a few packages from the USPS get damaged, but the packages I receive via UPS (with some regularity) look like the employees pretend the package is the copier from Office Space.

[sportsnut25]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

I'm curious, why doesn't everyone just switch to UPS or Fedex? A UPS ground package from Dallas to Florida with $200 insurance costs $13.10. It's not that much more than Priority Mail. UPS isn't perfect, but it seems much more reliable than USPS these days.

I use UPS exclusively these days for things I mail out. Location by me never has more than one other customer at the counter where as post office always has a line taking at least 15-20 minutes to get through.

Unsure how much more it costs me for the most part, but today it cost me about $1.20 more at UPS than USPS would have charged me (according to online cost estimator).

Never had an issue with UPS, items always arrive when they say it will and in the same condition the package was mailed.