posted on April 3, 2001 08:52:48 PMMail in Canada is slower than you-know-what
Get real.
Anyone that has done a few hundred/thousand cross border transactions knows exactly where the slow down is, and it sure as hell isn't on the Canadian side of the border.
I've shipped numerous parcels from Canada to the US via XpressPost USA, and can tell exactly when that parcel enters the US, and exactly when it's delivered.
Every stinking last time there's been a problem with the item arriving late, it's been due to the USPS.
posted on April 3, 2001 09:21:57 PM
Don't be shy, now- tell us what you really think...
Seriously, though- I've got to say that I've been less than impressed with USPS's performance lately. I don't use priority mail much, but I'm about to quit using it altogether.
In almost three years of selling, I've never had a problem with stuff mailed first class, but priority mail is another story entirely. USPS's advertising has sure done a good job of pounding "2 day delivery" into people's heads... too bad that's not what they really offer.
Approximately one out of every five priority mail packages I send end up costing me extra time in looking up shipping records and answering "Where is my item?" emails. What a pain.
posted on April 3, 2001 09:33:37 PM
Hey Mr.P, that was my edited version.
but priority mail is another story entirely.
Yes, and once the Canada XpressPost USA parcels cross the border, they become USPS Priorty mail.
Whatta joke!
The good news is that every time the USPS screws up & causes one of my parcels to arrive late, Canada Post refunds me the shipping fee, then charges it back to the USPS.
Last month I had one returned that had the USPS Priority Mail stamp on it. No explanation, no nothing? My PO delivery person scratched his head & could offer no explanation as to why the USPS had returned it.
I turned around & shipped it back out [same addy etc] & on the second trip it arrived at it's destination, but was 3 days late. Two refunds for one parcel. Too funny!
posted on April 3, 2001 09:39:22 PM
mrpotatoheadd:
I agree about priority mail. We are now UPS shippers (since the last rate hike), and only use the post office for international deals (Canadians HATE UPS because of their "brokerage fee" ), items under 13 ounces, some items in the 1-4 lb range (when a buyer lives in a "Remote Area" and UPS wants a $2.50 surcharge), items that can go media mail (buyer gets a choice on these), or if a buyer really insists that don't want it shipped UPS.
I love the free tracking and insurance that UPS gives.
Edited becuz of a stupid smiley face.
[ edited by Microbes on Apr 3, 2001 09:41 PM ]
My sentiments exactly. If I get one more email message saying "You said you mailed it Tuesday, and it's Friday already- where's my package?", I think I'm liable to go postal.
Fortunately, most of what I sell is only a couple of ounces (at most) and can easily go first class in a bubble envelope.
>The good news is that every time the USPS screws up & causes one of my parcels to arrive late, Canada Post refunds me the shipping fee, then charges it back to the USPS.
Yup.... See my earlier post about making them refund $309....
posted on April 3, 2001 09:48:28 PM
Geesh, UPS makes the USPS look like knights in shining armour.
I don't hate the UPS because of their ridiculous *International Brokerage Fees*, I hate them because of their pizz poor service.
BTW - Americans also get charged an International Brokerage Fee when items are imported into the USA, so don't laugh too hard.
I closed my account with UPS after several of my parcels were tossed outside on my customers front porch & left to sit there unprotected for several hours. Some of those items were in the $500+ range & I had paid for Customer Signature. Buttheads.
One customer said he heard the parcel hit the door & the truck tires burning off down the road. He was pizzed because the item was of very high value & was told that he would have to sign for it & they would not simply leave it unattended.
The real deal breaker came 2 years ago when I was told that UPS would no longer insure *antiques & collectibles*.
Thanks... I forwarded the refund to the buyer in Austria, but the stupid post office wouldn't just sell me an international money order so I could just airmail it to him (like I would do to Canada), I had to pay for it, send the paper work to St Louis, and they will forward it to Austria... How long is that going to take??? Sheesss
posted on April 3, 2001 10:05:28 PM
I pocket the refunds, as 9 times out of 10 I pay the extra cost for Xpresspost USA. I like to use it for Small Packet items that are of high $ amounts. I get the satisfaction of knowing it has DC, I get to insure it, and I can track it online.
There was a good reason for me not to pocket the refund...
1. I charged him (per TOS) postage plus $10.00 (this was a LARGE package). Postage wound up being $0
2. I was just a little pizzed (as you say) at the Post Office the day I mailed this package, and emailed him and told him that if it was late to let me know, and I would try to get his money back. (he did, and I did )
3. This is a VERY Good buyer, and getting him this money back cost me maybe an hour of my time. It will come back to me... (I believe in Karma)
I always give anyone who express mails payment to me a Heads Up email if their payment is even 5 minutes late, so they can get a refund. (I've cost the post office a fair amount of money with these emails, Like I said earlier, I can beat them over the head with their own rule book!!)
posted on April 3, 2001 10:38:41 PM
I understand, and would have done the same thing. I always charge a fixed shipping fee, and seldom ever mention the fact that I'm shipping it Xpresspost USA. I use it for my own piece of mind, and pay the extra cost out of my own pocket. I doubt I'd be so generous as to pay a $309 tab.
posted on April 3, 2001 11:00:46 PM
Is it just me, or is the last post on page 1 funky? No name and no post time. Looks like Reddeer's post got posted twice, but once without a name!
Microbes: I've got to know, what did you ship that cost $309?!?!
posted on April 4, 2001 05:14:41 AM
Why dont they raise the bulk mailing rates instead... thats where the loses are coming from......They way I read it they are thinking of stoppping delevery on sat but no change in post offices being open on sat just no delevery.....Anyone rember when they used to deliver twice a day !!!!
posted on April 4, 2001 05:35:38 AM
as a possible solution....
go to a search engine - type in (senator your state) - then send an email...
some info to cite - inflation - priority mail rate increase meant to capitalize on eBay sellers volume bombed (went to parcel post) - mention # of senior citizens who use eBay and post office mail to augment income and pay taxes on that (loss of tax revenue) -
>I've got to know, what did you ship that cost $309?!?!
A very old, large computer. The choices on how to ship it where very limited because of the size, and the fact it was going to europe. The box was one inch shy of the max size allowed, and the ONLY service to Austria that would take a box this size was GXG (2 day express).
It only weighed 37 lbs, but they charged me for 59 lbs because of the size of the box. 59 lbs, 2 day express to Austria.... Darn tootin' I asked for a refund over it being 11 hours late!!
posted on April 4, 2001 11:16:13 AM
I agree that last post on page one was funky! It gave me the ability to edit it too!
As for the topic, my father retired last year after 43 years with the PO as a mail carrier, and I thought he would be shocked when I told him about the news yesterday and the PO announcement.
He said that they have brought that up every couple of years since he worked there! And everytime, the businesses screech so lond to the Postmaster and their congresspeople that it gets put on the back burner.
I guess this falls into the "believe it when I see it" catagory!
posted on April 4, 2001 11:52:46 AM
Malady : Our managers don't even care, and they all got bonuses. We feel we move the mail on our own. We've had a succession of drunks, dope addicts and managers on trial for various thing running our place!!
For everyone else another good article on postal waste:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a good article on Postal Waste, Abuse, & Fraud go to:
posted on April 4, 2001 11:57:37 AM
I have no problem if they discontinue Saturday delivery. This way, I'll save the weekend to spend more time with my family.
Given that such a huge percentage of the Post Office's overall expense is labor, discontinuing Saturday delivery may be a good business decision for them to make.
posted on April 4, 2001 01:31:09 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2001
POSTAL SERVICE BOARD OF GOVERNORS DIRECTS STUDIES ON
FIVE-DAY DELIVERY, POSTAL FACILITY CONSOLIDATIONS
WASHINGTON — Faced with a softening demand for postal products and services,
coupled with rapidly rising costs, the Postal Service Board of Governors directed
management today to study cost-savings associated with reducing delivery service to
five days and consolidating postal facilities.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to universal service with its directive today and
reinforced its call for the need for statutory reform of the laws governing the Postal
Service. Without the needed flexibility of a new regulatory model, the Postal Service
must consider steps such as those requested by the Board in order to pay the costs of
maintaining universal service.
The call to study how the Postal Service can continue to cut costs comes after last
week's announcement that the Postal Service has committed to reduce spending by
$2.5 billion by 2003 and – over the next five years – plans to cut 75,000 work years,
squeeze administrative costs by 25 percent, and reduce transportation costs by 10
percent. And earlier this month, the Postal Service Board of Governors asked postal
management to immediately freeze capital construction commitments that affected
more than 800 facility projects.
"The Postal Service's ability to meet its statutory mandate to bind the nation together
needs to be protected," said S. David Fineman, Board Vice Chairman. "However, the
reality of the marketplace is that the 30-year-old statutory model that governs the
Postal Service is in need of change to protect universal service at affordable rates."
Among the fiscal challenges faced by the Postal Service is a potential loss of $2 billion
to $3 billion this fiscal year. Contributing factors include very little control over some
labor costs, with arbitrated wage rate increases that can exceed the rate of inflation,
escalating fuel costs, changes in the type of mail being processed, an increasingly
competitive communications marketplace, and forecasts calling for the diversion of
some First-Class Mail to electronic alternatives. Employee compensation accounts for
76 percent of Postal Service costs. The law governing postal operations provides
neither a mechanism to control wage rates nor to adjust postage rates quickly in
response to market changes.
The Governors of the Postal Service recently wrote to the President and congressional
leaders, explaining that, "We are taking the steps within our power to sustain the
institution. Long-term solutions, however, require substantial changes to our regulatory
framework."
posted on April 4, 2001 04:40:55 PM
We live in a small ( pop.4000 ) town in the VA mtns. With 5 miles of my house, there are 3 different villages each about 400 people each . Each of these has their own post office, a total of 4 for a total population of less than 6000. Talk about waste!
posted on April 4, 2001 08:52:27 PM
I read about the Postal Explorer CD's on AW, and today when I was at the post office sending out books, I asked the clerk if they had any. He replied, "No, we don't sell any packing materials." While I was waiting for him to finish the transaction, my eyes wandered, and right there on the counter was a pile of Explorer CD's. Duhhhh!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I took three of them, so if anybody
is having trouble getting 'em, let me know at [email protected], cause I have two extra to give away.
I have been mailing books for over 5 years
and I just discovered a "secret" post office
open 7 days a week, virtually no lines, and
within walking distance. Now, with my luck
they will probably close it!
posted on April 4, 2001 11:24:48 PM
I heard the dropping of Saturday services was just ammunition to insure the post office gets their rate hikes as smoothly as possible.
Also heard they need these rate hikes, because they project they will be losing over $10 billion over the next 5 years. The losses are due to technological changes--people turning to electronic methods instead of the traditional postal methods.
The post office admits they are inefficient, too. They really aren't accountable to anyone, and they haven't had to stay competitive until relatively recently.
