Post office incompetence !

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BULLWINKLE

BULLWINKLE

Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2010
Messages
691
Location
Georgia
Sorry for this rant but I've got to vent. Second time this week the post office screws up. I wonder if it's local or a national problem. On one package the tracking shows it at distribution center about 10 miles from my house. On the second it arrived at local post office. Both then proceeded to another destination other than my home.
Today's expected delivery has gone from my local post office to another city. Carrier pidgin or pony express would be much more efficient. I hope that my cigars arrive before they go dry and crumbled. They aren't cheap !
I'll get off the soapbox. I'm sure that many of you had the same experience. I will stop looking at package tracking. It's just aggravating.
 
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Post office here gives the most reliable and consistent service of all the package companies local, national and international. I watched a package bounce in and out of Saskatoon to other cities in the province and the one beside for a month before I got mad and cancelled the order. The mail may take a few days longer than some of the private companies but the packages always arrive and if there is taxes and brokerage it is cheap and predictable. I do everything I can to avoid anyone else.
 
Curly said:
Post office here gives the most reliable and consistent service of all the package companies local, national and international. I watched a package bounce in and out of Saskatoon to other cities in the province and the one beside for a month before I got mad and cancelled the order. The mail may take a few days longer than some of the private companies but the packages always arrive and if there is taxes and brokerage it is cheap and predictable. I do everything I can to avoid anyone else.
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Just recently PO delivered 2 sepeate packages about a week apart to an address in 2 other statesand address. Still cant find them. Coupla years ago a package went thru the tracking system to El Paso. According to PO, it is still in El Paso and they cant find it.
 
It's local and national at the moment. A lot of folks left the service due to the pandemic and burn out, and they've had a tough time backfilling. Our town made the news a couple of times because people were going a week or two without getting mail (and you can imagine how that would impact folks who get mail ordered prescriptions)

I will say, it does seem to have been better over the last month or so. Although they last time we left town and had our mail held, they didn't actually hold it for a few days. They just kept delivering it. Which I suppose is better than losing it. I've seen some facility transfer oddities or lack of tracking g updates but eventually things show up.
 
In defense of the post office, they handle millions of pieces of mail daily... their error rate is relatively low, but even a .001 percent of a million is relatively is 10 or more packages .... I was an airlines representative with the post office some years back.... mail was sorted on the docks of the sort center, in my case San Francisco, and was sorted by the bag full... if a bag was marked for Atllanta, it was tossed into a slot or an airline's cart for that destination.. the individual pieces were not sorted, so if a letter/package got put in the wrong bag at origin, it was routed to intermediate destination before the bag was opened and individual pieces sorted... example above, a letter/package destined for Altoona, NY might have to go to Atlanta before it was re-sorted to next destination. When the post office went to the hub system, they actually slowed mail distribution. In those days before the bar code and electronic sort, we still had first class and air mail.... sometimes the first class (we called it green mail because it was shipped in green bags) was actually flown to destination... (air mail was always flown and traveled in orange bags.... high value/registered mail was in red bags and international mail was in blue bags...been out of the airlines now for 47 years, so not sure how or what the post office uses now.)
Now that mail is sorted electronically, it has actually sped up the sort process and moves a little better. But the number of pieces of mail has probably increase exponentially, so the number of pieces in error at the same 0.001% will have increased accordingly. Overall, the post office is rather efficient bases on the number of pieces they handle.
I live in a very small town where people know everybody, so the post office is fairly efficient.

I've also worked with the courier/package companies for about 40 years so I know how they operate too. UPS & Fedex are now world wide and also use a hub system for delivery... a package gets mis-sorted and who knows where it might wind up. Fedex uses Memphis as their sort hub.. a package traveling from the outskirts of a city to another address in the same city will go through Memphis... UPS is owned by or was before I retired by Duesche Post... a German company. .
 
My experience with USPS has been outstanding. Sure, the pandemic threw them for a loop - there was a long period when they didn't have enough people to staff all of the routes in our area, so we learned to deal with getting mail on only five days our of six. Big deal - one day doesn't make that much of a difference.

But there are times when you do have to chuckle at what happens. I recently applied for a renewal of my passport, and had to send the documentation from my home in Saratoga Springs, NY (just outside Albany) to Irving Tx (just outside Dallas). I chose to use priority mail because I could track it.

The package was picked up at my home, taken to the Saratoga Springs post office, and then forwarded to the Springfield MA distribution center. the next day From there it was sent to Albany, NY, - that took another day. From there it went back to Springfieid - yet another day. Finally, it went to Dallas (another day), and finally to Irving. But it was that looping between the Albany area, to Springfield, back to Albany, and the back to Springfield that didn't make any sense.

But it got to its destination, and I got my new passport. That's what matters.
 
Our local PO is generally pretty good. That said, I can't always tell when our regular carrier is off for a day--but i can sure tell if she's out for a week!! Hats off to the regulars that maintain a high accuracy rate--and to the subs who do the best they can in unfamiliar roles and routes!!!
earl
 
BULLWINKLE said:
Sorry for this rant but I've got to vent. Second time this week the post office screws up. I wonder if it's local or a national problem. On one package the tracking shows it at distribution center about 10 miles from my house. On the second it arrived at local post office. Both then proceeded to another destination other than my home.
Today's expected delivery has gone from my local post office to another city. Carrier pidgin or pony express would be much more efficient. I hope that my cigars arrive before they go dry and crumbled. They aren't cheap !
I'll get off the soapbox. I'm sure that many of you had the same experience. I will stop looking at package tracking. It's just aggravating.
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Yes, I have seen tracked packages go from the local post office back to what I assume is the area sorting and distribution center in a nearby city. It happens rarely.

Sometimes packages are lost. Not often. We just had one from China disappear after it go as far as our local post office. I know that people believe they are stolen, but my gut says that theft by USPS employees is extremely rare. It is my hypothesis that most of the time, the package label becomes lost or unreadable from scraping or other damage in transit.

I have seen packages get mis-routed and bounced all over before they arrive. I tell my spouse, "I hope our package enjoys a nice vacation and gets a chance to see the tourist sights while it visits those exotic places around our beautiful country." ;-)
 
penicillin said:
Yes, I have seen tracked packages go from the local post office back to what I assume is the area sorting and distribution center in a nearby city. It happens rarely.

Sometimes packages are lost. Not often. We just had one from China disappear after it go as far as our local post office. I know that people believe they are stolen, but my gut says that theft by USPS employees is extremely rare. It is my hypothesis that most of the time, the package label becomes lost or unreadable from scraping or other damage in transit.

I have seen packages get mis-routed and bounced all over before they arrive. I tell my spouse, "I hope our package enjoys a nice vacation and gets a chance to see the tourist sights while it visits those exotic places around our beautiful country." ;-)
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I think you are probably correct. When it happens it has always been delivered to me eventually. Usually by 4-10 days late. It just aggravates me now because it's a shipment of pricey cigars. I don't want them to arrive dried out. I don't think they were stolen.
 
BULLWINKLE said:
I think you are probably correct. When it happens it has always been delivered to me eventually. Usually by 4-10 days late. It just aggravates me now because it's a shipment of pricey cigars. I don't want them to arrive dried out. I don't think they were stolen.
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Withdrawals suck
 
Our Post office is constantly delivering my mail to our neighbors.... especially packages. I always give our mailman a card at Christmas with a gift card enclosed. I was so disgusted last year that I said I wasn't going to do it again, but I did. But one more package...

Seven
 
studioseven said:
Our Post office is constantly delivering my mail to our neighbors.... especially packages. I always give our mailman a card at Christmas with a gift card enclosed. I was so disgusted last year that I said I wasn't going to do it again, but I did. But one more package...

Seven
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Doesn't happen here often, but when I lived in Houston, I began to think my address was some different distribution center...

Wasn't post office fault, but we did get a couple of letters addressed to my daughter that lives in California and another daughter that lives in Florida... they both had ordered something for us for Christmas that was drop shipped here... the vendors picked up our address and name of both daughters from the orders...

Also got a letter addressed to Carl Ellis at our address... don't know where that came from, although my next door neighbor is named Carl, but not Ellis... and for a couple of months after we first moved here my mail went to another Charles Ellis...
his middle initial was "A" while mine is "R"... first time he couldn't figure out why someone was sending him pen kits.... postal carrier knew him and didn't look at the house number or street name... he lived near by about 6 miles away on another street and actually works for a body shop on a street that runs off my street..... a quick visit to post office and talk with postmaster (who doubled as one of the clerks at the window). solved the problem.

Also used to work with DHL as a customers....people often referred to them a Dewey, Huey and Louie.... or as "Documents Hopelessly Lost"
I think they are also foreign owned now, but forget who owns them.
 
TellicoTurning said:
Doesn't happen here often, but when I lived in Houston, I began to think my address was some different distribution center...

Wasn't post office fault, but we did get a couple of letters addressed to my daughter that lives in California and another daughter that lives in Florida... they both had ordered something for us for Christmas that was drop shipped here... the vendors picked up our address and name of both daughters from the orders...

Also got a letter addressed to Carl Ellis at our address... don't know where that came from, although my next door neighbor is named Carl, but not Ellis... and for a couple of months after we first moved here my mail went to another Charles Ellis...
his middle initial was "A" while mine is "R"... first time he couldn't figure out why someone was sending him pen kits.... postal carrier knew him and didn't look at the house number or street name... he lived near by about 6 miles away on another street and actually works for a body shop on a street that runs off my street..... a quick visit to post office and talk with postmaster (who doubled as one of the clerks at the window). solved the problem.

Also used to work with DHL as a customers....people often referred to them a Dewey, Huey and Louie.... or as "Documents Hopelessly Lost"
I think they are also foreign owned now, but forget who owns them.
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Great DHL descriptions. Delta Airlines has been called:
Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport
Departs Even Later Than AirTran
My personal favorite:
Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive
———————————————-
Some years back, I was a road warrior, traveling for work. Did it four years before I burned out on it. Actually, of ALL the different airlines I flew on, Delta was by far the best ! I just find the acronyms very funny.
 
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BULLWINKLE said:
Great DHL descriptions. Delta Airlines has been called:
Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport
Departs Even Later Than AirTran
My personal favorite:
Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive
———————————————-
Some years back, I was a road warrior, traveling for work. Did it four years before I burned out on it. Actually, of ALL the different airlines I flew on, Delta was by far the best ! I just find the acronyms very funny.
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Love the Delta description....

I worked by TWA -- "Try walking across" "Travel with American"
 
monophoto said:
My experience with USPS has been outstanding. Sure, the pandemic threw them for a loop - there was a long period when they didn't have enough people to staff all of the routes in our area, so we learned to deal with getting mail on only five days our of six. Big deal - one day doesn't make that much of a difference.

But there are times when you do have to chuckle at what happens. I recently applied for a renewal of my passport, and had to send the documentation from my home in Saratoga Springs, NY (just outside Albany) to Irving Tx (just outside Dallas). I chose to use priority mail because I could track it.

The package was picked up at my home, taken to the Saratoga Springs post office, and then forwarded to the Springfield MA distribution center. the next day From there it was sent to Albany, NY, - that took another day. From there it went back to Springfieid - yet another day. Finally, it went to Dallas (another day), and finally to Irving. But it was that looping between the Albany area, to Springfield, back to Albany, and the back to Springfield that didn't make any sense.

But it got to its destination, and I got my new passport. That's what matters.
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Springfield, MA has 2 regional centers. They do different types of sorting in each building
 
BULLWINKLE said:
Great DHL descriptions. Delta Airlines has been called:
Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport
Departs Even Later Than AirTran
My personal favorite:
Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive
———————————————-
Some years back, I was a road warrior, traveling for work. Did it four years before I burned out on it. Actually, of ALL the different airlines I flew on, Delta was by far the best ! I just find the acronyms very funny.
Click to expand...
Back in 1999 - 2002 I flew Delta constantly from WA to NY for work. They were great. Switched to Alaska years ago as they were better for west coast travel. I flew Delta for the first time in ages a couple years back and your acronyms were spot on.
 
InkyMike said:
Back in 1999 - 2002 I flew Delta constantly from WA to NY for work. They were great. Switched to Alaska years ago as they were better for west coast travel. I flew Delta for the first time in ages a couple years back and your acronyms were spot on.
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They were good when I flew them. Everything goes downhill these days. Not surprised the acronyms fit now.
 
InkyMike said:
Back in 1999 - 2002 I flew Delta constantly from WA to NY for work. They were great. Switched to Alaska years ago as they were better for west coast travel. I flew Delta for the first time in ages a couple years back and your acronyms were spot on.
Click to expand...
When I worked for TWA, Delta was still privately owned and was considered the best airlines out there, especially for those of us who were pass riders... they paid higher than the other major airlines and if you were an airline employee (any airlines) and a pass rider on Delta, if there was room, it was automatic first class. Unfortunately, in those days policy was that you could only get one off-line pass per airline/per year... so I could only ride Delta once a year... and United frowned on trading passes with other carriers. My family lived in Texas and Oklahoma... TWA only flew to Oklahoma, so it was a problem visiting my dad in Texas. In those days Continental was about 5th in line for size and near bankrupt, so not best carrier to ride and they only flew into Dallas then. Southwest did not exist yet, and a lot of the carriers we see now also didn't exist.
After Delta went public, service went down hill.
 
FWIW, several years ago, my wife got in a hurry at work, ordered a present for one grandson. She didn't proof read the address. So...the mystery is where the present wound up. Lady at the PO said there was a street, XXXX. Could have been delivered there. I checked and the numbers only went to 150, lower than ours. She wasn't excited when I told her UPS saw the address wasn't valid, got the correct address and delivered TWO packages on TWO different occasions. There was a time here when delivery was hit-or-miss or delivered to another address with the same number but totally different street name. Worried that my medications would be delivered to the other place when they were on vacation. Lady was nice enough to bring our mail to us.
Story: I was told of a country in Africa that had the postal workers go on strike. Mail piled up behind the post offices. When the strike was over, instead of delivering the mail, they burned it!
 
I read a story once about mail delivery in England... the sender didn't have a name or an address, but described the recipient on the envelope... an old man who walked with a cane in a certain neighborhood... the letter was mailed and delivered in 3 days.
I've heard they also have mail delivery on Sundays.
 
One Christmas my Father was happy to get a card from his sister in Denmark. A couple weeks later he got a second. :confused: He thought the old girl was loosing it until he saw the post date on the envelope was from the previous year.:rolleyes:

Hey Bullwinkle did you get your stogies yet?

Pete
 
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