posted on October 1, 2000 02:29:16 PM
I'm afraid that more items will be "lost" in the mail if the USPS becomes too successful on eBay. This is a great way for them to boost their bottom line.
posted on October 1, 2000 02:34:40 PM
Cassie -
They will get plenty of stuff without having to resort to nefarious deeds.
Most of the items they are stuck with could have been delivered despite outer damage to the label EXCEPT the sender didn't put in an inside address label. Or the recipient gave the wrong address or moved AND the sender didn't put a return address on the packeage.
posted on October 1, 2000 08:21:36 PM
Though more stuff may not be "lost" by USPS with them selling on ebay, it does give out a certain feeling of unprofessionalism to people who use USPS.
posted on October 1, 2000 08:30:25 PM
Hi there,
Talk about things being lost? It has happend to me, but also how about the handling? I received a priority package just yesterday, and it looked like someone kicked a hole in it. Yes, it was busted opened by what look like someone kicked a field goal with it. Luckily the kicked in hole was where the peanuts were and not the item. This has happend more than once with USPS handling. All I ask of the USPS is ordinary care, not to play football with the packages.
posted on October 2, 2000 09:26:48 AM
It is time for all the post office bashers to wake up and point the finger at the most likely culprit - themselves! While I do not deny that lost packages may happen once in a while despite good shipping practices the fact is...
I have shipped thousands of packages and had every one received or accounted for. I pack, label and seal my packages very professionally.
On the other hand I have received hundreds of packages over the years from other eBay sellers and too many have arrived in tough shape.
The reason was ignorant, cheap or bad packaging. Some people don't have a clue. People who want items to arrive in good condition do not send items in flimsy large boxes with a few token shreds of newspaper or in an old grocery bag, with an address label made from an old envelope and attached with reused scotch tape.
It is these same ignoramuses who scream bloody murder when they discover their packaging laziness is not covered by postal insurance - a package must be prepared correctly for the insurance to cover damage. That is why the post office wants to see the original packing materials before settling a claim.
I have never worked for the post office, nor am I related to anyone who ever has, but I depend on their services every day and think they do an amazingly fine job.
Frankly, I wish they would refuse poorly packaged items more often. Recently, a customer in front of me wanted to ship a quart of liquor in a jiffy bag! The postal clerk suggested a box would be better, so they bought a box and took the bottle out of the bag and put it in the box with no protection. I couldn't take it so I intervened and helped them pack it properly. They were genuinely puzzled as to why it was necessary to cushion the bottle!
posted on October 2, 2000 10:19:40 AM
<and it looked like someone kicked a hole in it. >
This reminds me of a cartoon in a magazine many years ago: two postal workers are examining a package. It is literally covered with labels that say "DO NOT BEND", "DO NOT FOLD", "FRAGILE", "DELICATE EQUIPMENT" etc. One postal worker looks at the other and says, "Saaaaay. You're right! It says nothing about CRUSH!"
