twiceblessed
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posted on October 7, 2001 08:26:56 PM
really weird that I've mailed hundreds of packages in the past couple of years and only ONE had gotten 'lost in the mail' but in the past couple of weeks I've gotten many emails from people whose package haven't arrived yet! One was mailed well over a month ago and the others were mailed 2 - 3 weeks ago. What is the postal system doing with my packages!? I have no idea what to tell people anymore as the clerk at the post office claims that there should be no big delays.... anyone else having problems?
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mballai
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posted on October 7, 2001 08:36:55 PM
It's not missing, it's likely delayed or just wayward. Under the circumstances, I wouldn't worry for another couple of weeks. If you aren't using DC or insurance, you may be out of luck. Rerouting wayward mail doubles the estimated time of delivery. Talk to your postmaster about filing forms that might help locate your packages. Be patient.
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vvalhalla
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posted on October 7, 2001 09:36:22 PM
The mail is crazy now. Some packages arrive super fast others take three times as long. I'll bet the difference is that some mail makes it on a jet and some go by different means.
dendude
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doormat
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posted on October 8, 2001 01:28:42 AM
Yes, mail is running awfully slow. I notice the problems seem to be with a particular batch I send on a given day.
As for the clerks, I don't think they are exactly kept up to speed, if you know what I mean.
I have e-mailed the post office and they are fairly quick to respond but all they say is tough luck sucker. If you want guarantees,
use express mail.
Last e-mail I sent them, I asked if I should just plan on looking for my items at the USPS auctions, but they ignored my snyde remark as I'm sure they do with everything else I say to them.
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rarriffle
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posted on October 8, 2001 02:36:32 AM
I have one that was going across town 4 weeks ago and has never arrived. I could have driven it there in 20 minutes but wanted it to be a big surprise. Well it is a big surprise!!! It is a no show.
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litlnemo
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posted on October 8, 2001 02:49:53 AM
An item was sent to me on March 26. It never showed up. I talked with the seller, and I was pretty sure she was telling the truth that she had mailed it. She said she would make it up to me, never did, but then again I didn't bug her much about it -- I've been in her shoes and I figured I'd give her a break.
The package appeared on September 26, postmarked March 26. It was in fine shape, no evidence of abuse or having been misdelivered. Perhaps it sat on a shelf in the PO for 6 months; I don't know. But it did eventually appear.
I was already outside the PO before I noticed the postmark and realized it was my wayward package, so I didn't get a chance to ask the PO staff about it.
I suppose the package spent the summer vacationing at the beach, or something. 
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gravid
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posted on October 8, 2001 04:43:54 AM
I have incoming payments late.
I have a bunch of kitchen timers that went out just before the attack that are just gone....
I think they went through and tossed a huge volume of mail that fit a certain profile that might be a bomb and won't tell us.
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capotasto
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posted on October 8, 2001 05:34:25 AM
"I have a bunch of kitchen timers that went out just before the attack that are just gone"
LOL you didn't wind them up before you mailed them, did you?
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ladyatana
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posted on October 8, 2001 08:12:24 AM
[ edited by ladyatana on Oct 8, 2001 12:53 PM ]
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sun818
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posted on October 8, 2001 10:42:15 AM
A lot of packages I sent 9/24 is just arriving now. I tell my buyers that the further they are from me, the longer it may take to deliver a package. Then I send them a link where they can plug in their zip code for a mileage estimate:
http://tekgems.com/91405.htm
Either the mail flowing better or this is helping the buyer understand the delays.
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LaneFamily
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posted on October 8, 2001 11:01:35 AM
9/18 - 9/24 are just now being delivered. I have got so many e-mails stating exactly what every above has been saying. I ship 150-200 packages a week so you can just think how many e-mails I am getting.
I have basically a form letter I send back telling them they will be lucky if it shows up in 14 days.
I think I will also put a link to this thread so they can see they are not the only ones.
I have been very lucky with most of them, only a few hot heads so far and no negs. I am waiting, I am sure one will come. Thanks for starting this thread.
Jim
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ladyatana
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posted on October 8, 2001 11:25:26 AM
[ edited by ladyatana on Oct 8, 2001 12:54 PM ]
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bettylou
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posted on October 8, 2001 12:48:23 PM
Our experiences are very similar. A customer e-mailed yesterday to say a package I shipped 9/14 had finally arrived on 10/5. That's, what, 21 days in transit.
I can bear the disruption in normal postal routine, I can even deal (not happily) with the hate mail we get because of the delays, but I cannot stomach USPS's continued lies on this subject.
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mballai
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posted on October 8, 2001 01:17:51 PM
FWIW if you are using USPS, it pays to make a really first rate printed label complete with barcode and zip+4 code. This speeds up your package delivery time and I do think it is more likely to be treated properly enroute.
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Zazzie
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posted on October 8, 2001 01:30:16 PM
I take packages to the USA for another person. Their addresses are scribbled on the package and they use only the 5 digit postal code.
I print mine and use the expanded postal code. He's got missing orders and all mine have been delivered in a reasonable amount of time.
Another tip is-----NEVER NEVER use RED INK for the address. The post office's scanner doesn't see red and it has to be hand done.
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dlandau69
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posted on October 8, 2001 06:14:45 PM
I guess I've been extremely lucky, then. No troubles, no cranky emails. Usually I use the computerized DC -- maybe that's been helping. FYI, I'm in NJ and priority mail is going to California, for example, in 2-3 days.
I'll go find a big piece of wood to knock on, now...
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cin131
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posted on October 8, 2001 06:23:56 PM
I'm so glad to see this thread! I am waiting on 3 payments from Canada. 2 of the auctions closed 3 weeks ago, and one closed 2 weeks ago. The buyers don't seem like deadbeats, they respond to my emails, sent their addressess, etc. And one has even said she was soooo sorry and was sending out another payment. (I told her not to worry, but she insisted!) Those are the only one's I'm having any delays on.
cindy
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unknown
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posted on October 8, 2001 06:38:24 PM
Never use Handwritten address labels.
Also 5 digit zip is fine, I think they only use the 9 digit zip for fully automated letters.
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twiceblessed
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posted on October 8, 2001 09:53:30 PM
oh I am SO glad to see I'm not the only one whose packages are MIA! I guess I'll have to temporarily revise my EOA notice and include a little note that the mail is running laaaaaaaaaaaaaaate nowadays! Thanks!!
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immykidsmom
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posted on October 8, 2001 10:20:35 PM
not to pooh-pooh anyone's experiences above.......... simply ringing in with how things are for me. I'm on West Coast, Seattle, no pkgs missing so far. No more complaints about slowness than I usually get.
("I ordered on Oct 2nd, today is the 5th and I ain't got it yet!" "No, and you never will"
I ALWAYS handwrite my address labels. Have to. My printers have been down (dead) about a year+. My handwriting is not wonderful but I print carefully all in caps and no punctuation. Have not heard a peep about it. I do plan to get another printer and print out the addresses and tape on.
Am I imagining things or are more customers from the East, especially New York and New Jersey buying? It sure seems that way.
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blacklabel
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posted on October 9, 2001 02:03:54 PM
I was told by the Post Office that since the events of Sept 11th, most packages (including Piority Mail) is being sent by truck/train.
Any that make it onto airlines are affected by flight delays and cancelations.
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abacaxi
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posted on October 10, 2001 07:00:29 AM
Mail usually flies "space available" on commercial flights to supplement the USPS fleet of planes, so with the number of flights way down, space isn't as available.
We're going to have to deal with it, and warn customers.
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gravid
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posted on October 10, 2001 08:58:33 AM
Last week I had a strange experience. With all kinds of mail late I got an email thanking me for such quick delivery and telling me they left positive feed back for an item I sent in a video priority box. I sent it from Michigan in the morning and it was delivered the next afternoon in California!
I have never had it that quick before.
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