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USPS - Most Worthless Tracking System? - Page 2

post #16 of 47
3/15/07 at 3:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by skalogre View Post
At least they don't have package dunking over the fence competitions like FedEx & UPS do...Ngrh.

I regularly have to ship a lot of fragile items, and it's because of this that I still primarily use USPS, even though I agree with all of the complaints above. I've been told that a package shouldn't be sent UPS unless it can easily withstand being dropped to a concrete surface from shoulder height.
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post #17 of 47
3/15/07 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lawyerdad View Post
I assume it's of some value to the shipper -- not necessarily to the recipient -- in that it provides confirmation of delivery.

Of course, one could argue that it's so useless and shitty, that even confirmation of delivery is meaningless. As other posters have said, it sometimes says "In transit" after it's been delivered. So, it's not too unreasonable to think that it can also say "Delivered" while it is still "In transit" or worse.
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post #18 of 47
3/15/07 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tck13 View Post
I'd like to take this thread one step further and say that the USPS is incredibly poor at just about everything. Tracking, customer service, sending/delivering mail, and whatever else there is.


They are established to do something completely different than the rest - deliver items from point A to B at the lowest price. No other firm will be willing to do anything for 37 cents. Anything.
I am not trying to be their advocate, but you cant disregard it.
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post #19 of 47
3/15/07 at 3:57pm
USPS Delivery confirmation only works if the parcel is scanned in and scanned out. This doesn't always happen.

As a shipper desiring to avoid liability for uninsured stuff, I now get my shipping agent to postmark all my label receipts, as additional proof that I actually shipped the item.
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post #20 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spertia View Post
I regularly have to ship a lot of fragile items, and it's because of this that I still primarily use USPS, even though I agree with all of the complaints above. I've been told that a package shouldn't be sent UPS unless it can easily withstand being dropped to a concrete surface from shoulder height.


For some reason, I imagine the opening scene to "Ace Ventura."
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post #21 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spertia View Post
I regularly have to ship a lot of fragile items, and it's because of this that I still primarily use USPS, even though I agree with all of the complaints above. I've been told that a package shouldn't be sent UPS unless it can easily withstand being dropped to a concrete surface from shoulder height.


If you could only see what happens to your packages when they enter the UPS or FEDEX building, you'd never ship anything anywhere again.
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post #22 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Buster View Post
They are established to do something completely different than the rest - deliver items from point A to B at the lowest price. No other firm will be willing to do anything for 37 cents. Anything.
I am not trying to be their advocate, but you cant disregard it.

39 cents, where have you been?

Jon.
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post #23 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:35pm
I've shipped and received a lot of items and I try to use USPS services whenever I can. While the tracking system does indeed suck (when the package is sent express mail the system does work better), I have never had a package lost nor delayed for any reason of theirs. FEDEX and UPS have lost packages of mine. UPS is the king of losing packages. I have received a tiffany necklace and electronics from UPS that did not belong to me. If you are getting anything from overseas or sending anything overseas, FEDEX will get you or the recipient real good with customs fees. Send a package across the country using USPS priority mail or FEDEX ground or UPS ground and see which gets there first and in better condition (much cheaper also). USPS EMS service is also terrific. I find DHL to be very good for foreign shipments, horrendous for domestic. The best postal service I have ever encountered is the Hong Kong post office and the worst would be Canada's.
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post #24 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
39 cents, where have you been?

Jon.

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post #25 of 47
3/15/07 at 4:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmorel View Post
I've shipped and received a lot of items and I try to use USPS services whenever I can. While the tracking system does indeed suck (when the package is sent express mail the system does work better), I have never had a package lost nor delayed for any reason of theirs. FEDEX and UPS have lost packages of mine. UPS is the king of losing packages. I have received a tiffany necklace and electronics from UPS that did not belong to me. If you are getting anything from overseas or sending anything overseas, FEDEX will get you or the recipient real good with customs fees. Send a package across the country using USPS priority mail or FEDEX ground or UPS ground and see which gets there first and in better condition (much cheaper also). USPS EMS service is also terrific. I find DHL to be very good for foreign shipments, horrendous for domestic. The best postal service I have ever encountered is the Hong Kong post office and the worst would be Canada's.

What? Canada is much better than USPS, by far. Also, whereas I agree that internationally no one is better than FedEx; UPS is hardly the king of losing packages. Pray tell, how many packages have you shipped and received in the last 2 years? Because UPS has only lost 1 package we sent out, and that was an international package to Mexico. Sure, packages get misplaced, but they are always found; and those incidents are few and far between.

Jon.
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post #26 of 47
3/15/07 at 5:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by imageWIS View Post
What? Canada is much better than USPS, by far. Also, whereas I agree that internationally no one is better than FedEx; UPS is hardly the king of losing packages. Pray tell, how many packages have you shipped and received in the last 2 years? Because UPS has only lost 1 package we sent out, and that was an international package to Mexico. Sure, packages get misplaced, but they are always found; and those incidents are few and far between.

Jon.

Jesus, how much UPS stock do you own?

Obviously, in the big scheme of things the number of packages I have sent out (in the hundreds) are nothing as a percentage of the number of packages handled by all these carriers. I'm sure many shippers love FEDEX, UPS and hate USPS. I'm sure the Canadian post office has been wonderful to you. I was simply relaying my experience in the same way you were, the difference being that I did not attack your post. Also, your experience is that packages are always found, my experience is that they have not been. But I guess you are the resident shipping authority so I defer to you.
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post #27 of 47
3/15/07 at 5:09pm
Just heard from one of my buyers.

Just got a coat I had shipped to him.

I am Brooklyn.

He is in Manhattan.

Transit time via Priority Mail: over six weeks.

Since no one had scanned the package into the USPS system, and I had not postmarked the receipt [this is what started me doing so], I had refunded his money.

Since he is a board member, once the thing arrived he PM'ed me and offered to pay once more.
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post #28 of 47
3/15/07 at 5:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmorel View Post
Jesus, how much UPS stock do you own?

Obviously, in the big scheme of things the number of packages I have sent out (in the hundreds) are nothing as a percentage of the number of packages handled by all these carriers. I'm sure many shippers love FEDEX, UPS and hate USPS. I'm sure the Canadian post office has been wonderful to you. I was simply relaying my experience in the same way you were, the difference being that I did not attack your post. Also, your experience is that packages are always found, my experience is that they have not been. But I guess you are the resident shipping authority so I defer to you.

A website documenting the United Package Smashers mishaps:
http://www.unitedpackagesmashers.com/?page=newsroom.php
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post #29 of 47
3/15/07 at 5:30pm
And if they lose your package your indubitably fucked.
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post #30 of 47
3/15/07 at 5:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edmorel View Post
Jesus, how much UPS stock do you own?

Obviously, in the big scheme of things the number of packages I have sent out (in the hundreds) are nothing as a percentage of the number of packages handled by all these carriers. I'm sure many shippers love FEDEX, UPS and hate USPS. I'm sure the Canadian post office has been wonderful to you. I was simply relaying my experience in the same way you were, the difference being that I did not attack your post. Also, your experience is that packages are always found, my experience is that they have not been. But I guess you are the resident shipping authority so I defer to you.

Just FYI: we send out (combined), about 30,000 packages/mailings/etc... per year. FedEx and UPS, and yes even the postal service have their advantages, and disadvantages, but I think that we all agree that the USPS' tracking system leaves much to be desired.

Anyways, if you want to insure things get shipped properly, the only choice is via same-day, hand delivered currier...as long as you are willing to pay for it.

Jon.
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