posted on January 24, 2001 01:01:46 PM
I am really getting frustrated with my local post office since the price increases went into effect.
The counter worker insists the postmaster put the proper amounts into their computerized machines and I believe they are wrong. She said he used the disk that was sent to him.
On 1-16 I sent a package which weighed 3 pounds 4.3 ounces - priority mail with delivery confirmation. I expected the package to cost $5.55; I had to pay $6.75. Am I reading the priority chart wrong?
On 1-22 I had two packages - one weighing 29# with delivery confirmation going media mail, and the other weighing 9#, no dc, also going media mail. The total was $21.70. When I got home and double-checked my receipt, I see the first package cost $11.10 and the second package $10.60. Huh? The second package was obviously also figured at the 29# rate - on a computerized scale. I should have caught that mistake at the post office. I lost all profit on that transaction. Ugh!
Today I took another priority package. It weighed about 5 1/2 pounds, delivery confirmation as well. My calculations show it should have gone at $7.95. Their computer showed $9.90. I paid it, but threw a mild fit in front of other customers and told the counter worker to find out what the problem was. Either show me where my figures are wrong (I took my printed sheet from the post office internet site to show her) or get the postmaster to fix this because I was going to start complaining a lot louder.
These dollar amounts are going to add up to a lot of money real fast.
Just wanting to vent to others who will understand.
posted on January 24, 2001 01:22:03 PM
yo joe
seems to me the charts read this way...3.95 up to 2#........5.15 for 2.01#-3#.......6.35 for 3.01#-4#............anything over 5# the rate changes based on the zone you are shipping to..........this is the way the weight breakdown has always been........time to shave some weight.......
posted on January 24, 2001 01:30:45 PM
Packages under 1# is $3.50. If the clerk doesn't push a button you are overcharged 45¢ @ $3.95.
I don't know if this in unintentional or not, but the other day at a post office I don't frequent that much (another town) a "new" clerk helped me and tried to coax me to pay $3.50 for priority when I intented to use 1st Class at about $1.18. I let her know that I was aware both are just as fast but one is cheaper.....Mmmmmm.
posted on January 24, 2001 01:31:17 PM
Unfortunately, you were charged correctly on each of those transactions.
As the previous poster said, you need to read the charts as "MAXIMUM" not "MINIMUM" weight.
1 LB Priority = $3.50.
2 LB Priority = $3.95.
3 LB Priority = $5.15.
4 LB Priority = $6.35.
That means for 0 to EXACTLY 1 LB (no ounces) you pay $3.50. If you 1 LB and even ONE TENTH of an ounce (e.g. 16.1 ounces) you will be charged the 2 LB rate.
Therefore since your package weighed over 3 LB, you were charged the 4 LB rate.
Anything over 5 LBs is charged via "zones". Look at the ratefold chart for Priority mail again. Notice zones 1,2,3 (and probably 4?) are the same price for 5 LBs? Now look at zone 8. It's significantly higher.
The farther your destination zip code (relatively speaking), the farther the zones, and the higher the cost.
Unfortunately I have to side with the post office on this one.. they charged your per their rates. I strongly disagree with their need for the 20% priority mail price increase, but unfortunately we have to pay the price so to speak.
posted on January 24, 2001 02:35:46 PM
Yikes! Zones! I completely forgot and you all are correct. I've been shipping for over four years now and should have remembered this, but I mostly ship bookrate ... priority packages have been very lightweight and infrequent.
I was definitely overcharged on the nine pound package going media mail, but I should have caught that at the post office.
Thanks for the link for the zip code/weight/rate. I have used that in the past and will certainly do so in the future.
It's just been one of those weeks. No bids on any of my auctions (a first!), no business from my website (very rare), and when I was first trying to type this reply, I spilled a full glass of cola all over my good IBM keyboard; it is now draining in the kitchen sink and I am typing on a weenie Packard Bell keyboard again.
I'll try again next week.
Thanks for the responses. I'll chat with the window clerk tomorrow. She is really quite nice and I do like her; I'm sure I owe her an apology.
