Request: USPS Complaint Forum

[Kevin]

A quick search of USPS reveals about 9,000 threads about lost packages, stolen packages, trashed cards, etc. etc.

Any luck with a package eventually turning up? With USPS rectifying the situation?

[CardPadre]

I have them searching for a priority mail box that went missing “in transit” for me right now. The only thing they can do besides finding it is to pay any insurance they are obligated to. Not really any other way to rectify it.

[tlhss]

I recently had a package shipped to me that was miss-routed. I did contact the post office and they got it moving in the right direction. It was weeks late, but it did get to me without damage.

[jayshum]

Apparently the Indianapolis Distribution Center is a known USPS black hole right now. A package I shipped arrived there on March 4 and didn't update for 6 days (just the generic In Transit to Next Facility) until March 10 when it somehow arrived again at the Indianapolis Distribution Center. If finally left there on the 11th and will hopefully be delivered today or tomorrow.

I went to my local USPS office in the middle of the disappearance, and they told me not much could be done (even though they were aware that location had problems) and that I had to wait 15 days to file a lost item report. Hopefully that won't be necessary at this point.

[sonnyu2]

Delayed packages show back up all the time. And yes USPS will pay out on a properly insured / submitted / documented claim.

USPS processes and delivers 23-million packages every day. Based on that, the actual rate of lost mail, delayed packages, damaged packages, etc. is extremely low.

You typically only hear about the few "bad" USPS transactions, not the millions of successful deliveries that happen every day.

Package your item correctly and label / address your package correctly, and your package will get delivered successfully 99.999% of the time.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

We've been known to ship a package or two. Have never had anything go missing via USPS yet, knock on wood.

[ncinin]

I iive Indiana and was told by my local post office that three distribution centers in Indianapolis were consolidated into one with new equipment and workers are mad and are calling in sick,etc and slow playing learning the new system,etc and some packages may sit there for days before processing.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

We've been known to ship a package or two. Have never had anything go missing via USPS yet, knock on wood.

Scott, you should know better than to say something like that a week after an auction ended and you're shipping out a lot of packages.

I hope your perfect streak continues.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by ncinin

I iive Indiana and was told by my local post office that three distribution centers in Indianapolis were consolidated into one with new equipment and workers are mad and are calling in sick,etc and slow playing learning the new system,etc and some packages may sit there for days before processing.

Thanks for the info. My package definitely sat there for days before it finally moved on.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by sonnyu2

Delayed packages show back up all the time. And yes USPS will pay out on a properly insured / submitted / documented claim.

USPS processes and delivers 23-million packages every day. Based on that, the actual rate of lost mail, delayed packages, damaged packages, etc. is extremely low.

You typically only hear about the few "bad" USPS transactions, not the millions of successful deliveries that happen every day.

Package your item correctly and label / address your package correctly, and your package will get delivered successfully 99.999% of the time.

True, just like luggage on flights, almost everything gets delivered eventually although there are delays at times which can be frustrating since usually there isn't much that can be done other than wait and hope for the best.

As to claims, I've never had to try to file one, but I have definitely read posts on the board about people having significant issues getting a claim paid. Like other insurance, getting paid for something through a claim isn't always straightforward and fast.

[jchcollins]

My general experience with missing mail or lost packages is that the USPS (albeit politely sometimes...) does not give a F.

If they can still track your package and have an idea, the customer service is decent. But if something goes missing for weeks on end and feels like a black hole situation, I've been told in no uncertain terms before to forget about it. This last happened to me probably some 5-7 years ago when a package inbound to me with trade items (including a Mantle) went into a hole in the distribution center about 20 miles from me. Never did resurface, and for all I know is still either gathering dust under a sorter somewhere, or is now in the collection of a shady employee as we speak.

[sb1]

I have also used the USPS near exclusively for over 20 years and have only had one go missing(Postal employee theft), which was eventually recovered. I will say that parcels with tracking and/or signature required rarely go undelivered(delayed no doubt), first class stamped mail is more haphazard.

Also I will say that a PO Box(at a real post office) is a huge benefit, as most packages that are "lost" are usually either misdelivered on a mail route or taken by a opportunist passing by. My incoming packages are signed for and stored for my pickup, no worries of another person handling it or a nefarious party heisting the package.

Lastly as someone who regularly visits the PO I know the clerks and postmasters and when something get bogged down, they can provide a much more detailed tracking history down to the bin that the package is in at a sorting facility and when it was last scanned. Which is valuable information if you have to track down a stuck package. If you are nice to them they will be quite helpful.

And, worst case, the one or two times way back in the 1980's and 1990's before tracking and private insurance, the two times I had packages not get delivered I was promptly paid each time right after the 60 or 90 day waiting period.

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

We've been known to ship a package or two. Have never had anything go missing via USPS yet, knock on wood.

I almost didn't want to reply out of fear of angering the USPS gods but man I've shipped thousands of packages without any issues. Knock on wood with both fists.

[skil55voy]

I live in Indianapolis. USPS had a lot of problems with the new distribution center. Tracking would show the package as delivered but, it hadn't shown up in my box. It was actually "delivered" to the post office in Danville and then delivered to my house the next day. There have been other problems: showing what looked like a package being routed through the distribution center 3 or 4 times etc.. So far no lost packages and my local post office has been very helpful when I have needed to trace something that showed as delivered when it was still floating around in the system. So far no lost packages and a lot of the problems have been cleared up.

[grandslamcardscria]

Wow, I guess I have crap for luck. In the past 2 years I have 3 lost packages. 2 of them on the way to Santa Anna for eBay auth (argh)
USPS is pretty good about cutting a check for $100 on a $1000 package. Props to them for that at least. Smfh


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[Leon]

I have recently had mail take several weeks to a month that would normall take 3-4 days. And that is normal first class/ground shipping as well as a priority package (it wasn't very priority apparently). They did eventually get to their destinations though, but really late.

And a tintype. They had USPS covered wagons when this was made. (not my picture)

[gonefishin]

I might be wrong, but for the money I rank USPS #1 by far. I would rank UPS 2d and FedEx 3rd.

As a matter of fact, FedEx is looking for a misplaced/lost package for me right now that came from England. It made it to Memphis and customs but then went into the dreaded black hole.

We all base our thoughts on our individual experiences, and I dread something coming to me from FedEx.

Since USPS went to flat rate packaging and advantage I haven't had a single problem. My fingers are crossed!

[ibuysportsephemera]

I hate to say it but USPS is the best. Over 10,000 ebay transactions since 1997 and only 2 or 3 packages lost.


Jeff

[Leon]

Don't get my wrong guys, I still almost solely use USPS. They generally do a great job, but recently a few things slipped. My incidents were with board members so they were very cool about it. Not a big deal. All is well that ends well.

[nwobhm]

25 years ago a small USPS flat rate box cost $3.50 and would frequently travel from east coast to west coast in 2 days. Calculated for inflation that is $6.50 in 2025 dollars.

In the last 2 weeks packages traveling 700-800 miles are taking between 7-9 days. My PO Box had someone else's package in it yesterday.

Experiences with Fedex and UPS aren’t any better. The quality of service from all three are bad compared to years ago.