Scary Little Story About The USPS And Now We Know Why

[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!

[D. Bergin]

Happens all the time. A pretty common story. I think it's fairly unique to the USPS.

When I was working at UPS, we would have gotten reamed, and then threatened to be fired for doing that. They timed absolutely everything and it would have thrown off the whole pattern of the route in their analysis of the day.

[nebboy]

I also was a carrier. He can get written up for doing that or worse. Very bad practice and he is just cutting corners to make his job easy. No one in the USPS should do things that are not in the customer best interest. Hate to be a bad guy but you should call his station and report it. If all his scans are at the same time of day he's manager needs to know.
Johnp

[Bigdaddy]

I've got an Ebay package right now that shows as being delivered to the USPS on Dec 18, with delivery scheduled for Dec 23. Online, it does not show delivery, however the seller was able to get a delivery confirmation # from the PO. Guess I've got a mystery to solve. Luckily it was <$10

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by nebboy

I also was a carrier. He can get written up for doing that or worse. Very bad practice and he is just cutting corners to make his job easy. No one in the USPS should do things that are not in the customer best interest. Hate to be a bad guy but you should call his station and report it. If all his scans are at the same time of day he's manager needs to know.
Johnp

John,
So tell me you are able to (as a mailman) scan your packages in, in the morning without it being delivered but yet have it say delivered. I didnt know you could do that.

[bxb]

System flaw at the USPS.

The system assumes that the postman only scans when delivery is made.

But,

The system allows him to scan any time.

[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

[lharri3600]

Originally Posted by d. Bergin

happens all the time. A pretty common story. I think it's fairly unique to the usps.

When i was working at ups, we would have gotten reamed, and then threatened to be fired for doing that. They timed absolutely everything and it would have thrown off the whole pattern of the route in their analysis of the day.

it sure is:d

[brianp-beme]

I have a PO box at the post office and about 3/4 of the time when tracking indicates that a package has been delivered, it is not there, and I usually have to wait until the next day for it to show up. I was informed by a clerk at the counter once that they scan all the packages, yet quite often these packages end up in carts just feet away waiting to placed in everyone's PO box...eventually.

Brian

[nebboy]

PO box packages are scanned at the same time, the street is a should be scanned at time of delivery or a pink slip (form 3849) should be left for you.

[buymycards]

All the carrier has to do is scan the barcode and hit the delivered button. Our carriers are told that they absolutely cannot do this and we explain the problems that are caused by this, but some carriers don't seem to care.

You should call your Post Office and ask to speak to the Postmaster and file a complaint about this carrier. If the Postmaster is doing his/her job then this carrier won't be doing it again.

I had a carrier in my office who was doing this and I starting running scanning reports at 11:00 and when I saw what was happening I had a discussion with the carrier and made it very clear that this is unacceptable. There is a very quick, simple report that can be accessed by the Postmaster that tells exactly what time a particular carrier scanned his parcels as delivered.

Rick

[novakjr]

Mine just refuses to knock on my door for anything. I get those pink slips all the time, and end up having to pick up ALOT of my stuff. Worst is when there's a package that he just leaves on my step, in the rain, without a knock(despite both cars being in the drive). He's apparently scared of my dog, and WILL not risk interaction.

[EvilKing00]

I have had tracking on a card say was delevered 2 days before. Its nit a good system when they do that

[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.

[thehoodedcoder]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Happens all the time. A pretty common story. I think it's fairly unique to the USPS.

When I was working at UPS, we would have gotten reamed, and then threatened to be fired for doing that. They timed absolutely everything and it would have thrown off the whole pattern of the route in their analysis of the day.

its not unique. ups does it also all of the time to my girlfriend. one time there was even a note that said it was left with a woman. a downright absolute lie. the package didn't even come until the next day.

if you ask me, its criminal. what i wouldn't pay to catch one of them.

kevin

[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.

[pawpawdiv9]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Mine just refuses to knock on my door for anything. I get those pink slips all the time, and end up having to pick up ALOT of my stuff. Worst is when there's a package that he just leaves on my step, in the rain, without a knock(despite both cars being in the drive). He's apparently scared of my dog, and WILL not risk interaction.

I used to get those pink slips all the time, due to the fact i was told i live too far off the main road. I actually got the postmaster out to my house..its only 1/4 mile and should not be a issue.
Now on..i never get a pink slip...but theres always recourse.
Now i get all my magazines shoved in my mailbox with my mail and bubble mailers with cards too. Because they are too lazy to drive up my gravel driveway every other day.
She drives a bat outta hell up the drive and honking like a maniac. One day it was raining, and she thought i was gonna go out to her door. I told her i didnt have shoes on. (which i didnt have on) Talking about pissing her wheaties.
Been thinking of reporting my packages. And now i get my mail at odd times, sometimes after 5pm it seems. Which i thought my main PO closes around 330 or 4pm..and thought they report back there when done? I used to get my mail 2pm every day. Thinking she has other errands like school during her route.

As for the dog...yes postal carriers are afraid, heck even my Direct TV man are. They told us they will sue us if the dog bites him..We told him the dog doesnt like colored people and if the dog gets out its your damn fault.
BTW the dog is a spanador (black lab/cocker spaniel) and most of the time just pees on you or licks you. It under 1yr old pup.

[slidekellyslide]

I've never had an issue with my regular mailman...it's always been a sub. In fact both of my regular carriers are perfect in every way...my residential carrier always brings my packages up, scans them and knocks on my door. The carrier at my shop always asks me if I have a pickup when he delivers the mail and asks what time he should come back for pickup...they are both very friendly as well. Both also got a gift card from me at Christmas.

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by pawpawdiv9

As for the dog...yes postal carriers are afraid, heck even my Direct TV man are. They told us they will sue us if the dog bites him..We told him the dog doesnt like colored people and if the dog gets out its your damn fault.
BTW the dog is a spanador (black lab/cocker spaniel) and most of the time just pees on you or licks you. It under 1yr old pup.

The DirectTv man wasn't offended when you told him your dog didn't like "colored" people?

Jeff

[ibuysportsephemera]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

I've never had an issue with my regular mailman...it's always been a sub. In fact both of my regular carriers are perfect in every way...my residential carrier always brings my packages up, scans them and knocks on my door. The carrier at my shop always asks me if I have a pickup when he delivers the mail and asks what time he should come back for pickup...they are both very friendly as well. Both also got a gift card from me at Christmas.

I have a great relationship with both the counter guy at our PO as well as the delivery person. They are very friendly and go out of their way to be helpful. I also gave them a little something at Christmas.

Jeff

[Ease]

My regular carrier is also great, no complaints at all, but I'm a USPS fanboy. The first class tracking "glitch" or whatever it is has been great, free tracking # with first class postage. I'm surprised it has gone on this long...

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Ease

My regular carrier is also great, no complaints at all, but I'm a USPS fanboy. The first class tracking "glitch" or whatever it is has been great, free tracking # with first class postage. I'm surprised it has gone on this long...

You get free tracking if you use click and ship online..also through ebay you get a discount on shipping. I don't think it's the same for everyone, but think mine is 18% or around there.

[Ease]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

You get free tracking if you use click and ship online..also through ebay you get a discount on shipping. I don't think it's the same for everyone, but think mine is 18% or around there.

Nice, so its been there the whole time with the click and ship thing? Seems like I was paying 95c or so for a tracking number up until recently, what a waste.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by novakjr

Mine just refuses to knock on my door for anything. I get those pink slips all the time, and end up having to pick up ALOT of my stuff. Worst is when there's a package that he just leaves on my step, in the rain, without a knock(despite both cars being in the drive). He's apparently scared of my dog, and WILL not risk interaction.

I had this problem when I lived in an apartment. There was a main mail hub, but we all had outside doors on the main level so UPS and FedEx always delivered. USPS though kept leaving slips. My wife was a stay at home mom and purposely didn't take a shower one day waiting for a package to arrive (she didn't want to miss it by being in the shower). I happen to come home for lunch also and saw the USPS guy at the mail hub. After lunch he was gone and no package. I went to the mail hub and we had a slip saying we weren't home.
I contacted the USPS office via email and phone call. The next day the box was in my mail box with a hand written letter on my email stating "YOU ARE A LIAR!". So I contacted the USPS again because the package was suppose to be signed for, which I hadn't done since it was in the mail box. When I contacted them I also told them about the note. The postmaster contacted us shortly and drove to our place and got a copy of the hand written letter from my wife and said that she had been looking for a reason to get rid of this driver for a while now.

It really is about contacting the local office.

Now I live in a community where they walk house to house and the mail slot is attached to the house. So I don't ever have this issue anymore. They never knock or ring the bell, but I rather they didn't as I have young ones that nap around the time they deliver so no complaints there.

[Exhibitman]

My stuff all goes to the office. I have trouble only when there is a substitute mail carrier. I have seen them use rolled up catalogs like hammers to jam bubble mailers into the box, despite notes on the box to turn around and knock on my door, a drop box on the door, etc. They also like to avoid knocking and leave the dreaded pink slip. One 'Newman' used to leave a single pink slip listed as the last chance before the mail was returned, on the first attempt. I have also had them pick up a package and scan it as delivered on the spot.

The only recourse is to go over their heads. I am currently having trouble with a substitute destroying letters by jamming in catalogs again, so I am taking phone photos of the damaged mail and then taking them with me to the post office to speak with the management there. The phone complaint route was ineffective.

pawpawdiv9: "colored people"? Really??? Been watching too many 1930s movies???

[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,

[auggiedoggy]

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!

Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.

[ElCabron]

Originally Posted by pawpawdiv9

We told him the dog doesnt like colored people and if the dog gets out its your damn fault.

So this is a real thing that someone posted here? I guess we'll just let it slide because it's the dog that's the racist, right?

Happy f**king birthday, Jackie Robinson!

-Ryan

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by ElCabron

So this is a real thing that someone posted here? I guess we'll just let it slide because it's the dog that's the racist, right?

Happy f**king birthday, Jackie Robinson!

-Ryan

Whoa...didn't even see it, and now I see Jeff questioned him about the comment, but he never replied. Sad.

We still have a poster here who liked to hang out on skinhead websites....maybe he still does, I don't know.

[steve B]

Or.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6CFoZQYXMc

Steve B

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by steve B

Or.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6CFoZQYXMc

Steve B

Wow talking about getting lost it the mail! Thats why you never want to piss off your garbage man!

[toppszl1]

This is funny the other day I went to the post office, I've had 2 clients say they didn't get their winnings from ebay, I said to the post master if I didn't get it back and my customer didn't get it, where is it?

She replied [I]It's [B]lost in the mail!!

It's amazing that I can give refunds to customers for mail that isn't delivered, she replied send it certified for $3.10, so that means they will pay special attention with a little more money, it's amazing they say it with a straight face, no wonder the USPS is in the dump,

Just my .2 cents