New (to me) USPS issue

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

On eBay last week I purchased a card which I expected would be delivered today. I received today's mail but not the card in question so I checked the USPS tracking. It shows now not only that it was delivered this morning but that it was given to me personally and that I signed for it. No such thing happened. How concerned should I be that it was lost or stolen and I'll never receive it?

I thought signatures were not being obtained due to COVID so anything that was sent with signature required wasn't actually being signed for by the recipient.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I thought signatures were not being obtained due to COVID so anything that was sent with signature required wasn't actually being signed for by the recipient.

If so, this should be a little more obvious to anyone purchasing or expecting this service. I was in the same place as the OP last fall, when I heard the postal carrier arrive on a day I knew a card was to be delivered with signature confirmation. He left, no package, but it showed up shortly that it had been signed for. It showed up on my porch a short while later, but it made me very nervous!

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

If so, this should be a little more obvious to anyone purchasing or expecting this service. I was in the same place as the OP last fall, when I heard the postal carrier arrive on a day I knew a card was to be delivered with signature confirmation. He left, no package, but it showed up shortly that it had been signed for. It showed up on my porch a short while later, but it made me very nervous!

A similar thing happened to me in January. I got the email that a package had been signed for without me actually having the package. I chased down the postal worker, who told me that due to COVID they were allowed to sign for it themselves and leave it. The package was in my mailbox. It makes the signature confirmation absolutely pointless. I was not happy about it, but at least I got my card safe and sound. FYI, FedEx does still knock and ask for a signature. I requested that a valuable card to be sent to me using FedEx recently for just this reason. I keep wondering what would have happened if the package was stolen out of my mailbox after showing that it had been signed for and delivered. I doubt that things would have gone my way on any claim to get my money back.

[Jewish-collector]

Is it any different for registered mail ?

[forceplay sport]

I'm convinced this is about numbers and making it work. My thought is they cant make the delivery they say they did to keep their numbers good, and of course it will show up the next day. This has happened to me several times, USPS has turned into a complete joke and they need to clean house starting at the top.

[steve B]

Fudging delivery times etc isn't all that new in general.
USPS has been pretty good, but the others?

Back a few years ago UPS advertised something crazy like 99% on time delivery.

I had a package I really wanted... So I looked at tracking.
Due Tuesday!
Tuesday, no package.
track
Due Wednesday!
No package.

It finally showed up Friday, with a "delivered on time!" note in the tracking.
Not hard if you get to change the expected delivery date.

[timzcardz]

USPS' temporary COVID procedures DO NOT include them signing for it themselves without your knowledge . . .


From: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-...ness-Customers . . .




Will there be any modifications to Certified Mail® or mail requiring signature deliveries with customers? If so, how will this be supported?

One significant measure being implemented is a temporary modification to mail handling procedures for mail that requires customer signatures. We recognize the close proximity and additional handling that occurs when employees must ask customers for a signature and government issued identification when required. To reduce health risks, we are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures. Effective immediately and until further notice, our employees will follow the temporary process below for signature service items. This process applies to all letter carriers:

• Avoid ringing the doorbell when possible. Knock on the customer’s door. Avoid areas that may be frequently touched when knocking.
• While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name.
• For increased safety, employees will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
• If there is no response, employees will follow the normal Notice Left process.
• If there are delivery points on the route where social distancing recommendations are difficult to follow, alternative delivery methods can be explored. (Industry Alert – 3/20/20)"

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by timzcardz

USPS' temporary COVID procedures DO NOT include them signing for it themselves without your knowledge . . .


From: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-...ness-Customers . . .




Will there be any modifications to Certified Mail® or mail requiring signature deliveries with customers? If so, how will this be supported?

One significant measure being implemented is a temporary modification to mail handling procedures for mail that requires customer signatures. We recognize the close proximity and additional handling that occurs when employees must ask customers for a signature and government issued identification when required. To reduce health risks, we are temporarily modifying customer signature capture procedures. Effective immediately and until further notice, our employees will follow the temporary process below for signature service items. This process applies to all letter carriers:

• Avoid ringing the doorbell when possible. Knock on the customer’s door. Avoid areas that may be frequently touched when knocking.
• While maintaining a safe, appropriate distance, employees will request the customer’s first initial and last name.
• For increased safety, employees will ask the customer to step back a safe distance or close the screen door/door so that they may leave the item in the mail receptacle or appropriate location by the customer door.
• If there is no response, employees will follow the normal Notice Left process.
• If there are delivery points on the route where social distancing recommendations are difficult to follow, alternative delivery methods can be explored. (Industry Alert – 3/20/20)"

Just because that is what is posted doesn't mean it's happening. I have had several packages requiring signature left without any attempt at contact from my carrier.

[JollyElm]

You guys don't seem to understand.

When timzcardz wrote, "USPS' temporary COVID procedures DO NOT include them signing for it themselves without your knowledge . . ." with "DO NOT" in all caps, he was specifically pointing out that this shouldn't have happened.

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by jayshum

I thought signatures were not being obtained due to COVID so anything that was sent with signature required wasn't actually being signed for by the recipient.

Yea that is correct - They cant risk running into a zombie at the front door

[Pat R]

I would think the simple solution for people that have mail delivered to their residence would be to leave a notice that they have a package at the post
office that requires a signature.