Online Purchases Shipped via USPS

[ultgar]

USPS Tracking - I ship thousands of packages each year using USPS Priority due to their significantly lower cost (compared to Fedex and UPS) on small shipments to residential addresses. USPS has tracking detail online but if the tracker shows a shipment as "delivered" and there's nothing on your porch or in your mailbox, they can be a bit reluctant to pursue the matter further. They'll insist it was delivered to the right address and refuse to process any claims on your loss (insurance is automatic to $50, higher values must be purchased).

A few weeks ago, an Ebay purchase was confirmed as delivered to my front porch but there was nothing there. I checked the security cameras for "porch pirates".....nothing. Presumably the package was delivered to the wrong address, but where? I called the seller and learned that all USPS packages, when they are scanned by the carrier at delivery, record the GPS coordinates of the delivery address. This scanned information is available to USPS employees but not the general public.

I called the USPS delivery supervisor and gave her my tracking number and asked that she confirm the delivery address using the GPS data. She acknowledged that the package went to the wrong address and sent the carrier to that location to retrieve my package. As a buyer, this helps me (and you) keep the postal carriers honest. As a seller, going forward, I'll now be able to confirm whether or not a customer's shipment went to the right address should a problem arise.

Steve D

 

[Higgins]

Great News!!!!

I just hope that ALL USPS locations will provide that information to us!!

 

[Chucktin]

I didn't know that was the case. I never received one item, inexpensive thank God. Another time another item was "delivered" one day but didn't show up till several days later (no explanation).
Once we got a package for the former owner and we had no forwarding address, shipper told us to trash it, parishable item - fruit. I finally signed up for the email notification. And I put out, black numerals on white board, our street number in 2 places, helped some. My conclusion is that our local delivery is by a "contractor" and they aren't being careful.

 

[3baygarage]

Find out what location your mail is delivered out of too. If your package arrives open with missing parts, it may be worth it to go down there and speak to the manager from in back. I bought a wrench set from a member here a while back, and received a damaged box with one wrench missing.

Sure, it could have been lost in another town, but since the box was not re-taped, I figured there was a shot. First I made a bunch of calls, then decided to head down there. I showed the manager the wrenches and they came back in two minutes with my missing wrench that had been sitting somewhere. I got lucky, you never know.

 

[royesses]

I've had online purchases delivered by USPS priority mail hundreds of times. There have only been 3 or 4 times when they claimed it was delivered but it was not. 2 times my neighbors brought the packages to me and the rest were delivered by the mailman the next day. They have a pretty darn good service at a decent cost. Much less cost than UPS or Fedex and faster too. Good to know about the GPS.

Roy

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Really good to hear about the GPS thing. I sell and buy enough that I'm always checking shipping updates, so that's one more good thing to know.

Thanks OP!

 

[Spulen81]

Good info to know. I've had things show delivered and not show up until the next day or so. I think my local rural carrier just skips my box sometimes.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Another time another item was "delivered" one day but didn't show up till several days later (no explanation)."
Same here.

Glad to hear they have GPS. Had an item disappear, was my mailman, after persistence it reappeared mysteriously on the PO shelf. They canned the mailman shortly after.

Personally I prefer UPS or FedEx, at least with them I get my packages with no worries.

 

[DFB]

All I know is USPS is better than UPS for me. If it doesn't fit my mailbox the carrier will drive up the town road to my driveway and to the door.

UPS has actually left a package in the snowbank down at the end of my drive

 

[Steve_P]

Good to know. I prefer USPS because of price and they also damage way less than UPS or Fed Ex.

So how do you actually speak to someone on the phone at USPS? What number did you call?

 

[Steve_P]

Double post

 

[Ign]

Yes indeed, I've also had the "delivered" and then it shows in my mailbox 2-3 days later. My stuff comes out of a small town PO and they're not incredibly professional. It's just the carriers being lazy sometimes, esp when my mailbox is snowed in I think marking it delivered either makes them look better or makes it so the system stops bugging them about it.

 

[ultgar]

Good to know. I prefer USPS because of price and they also damage way less than UPS or Fed Ex.

So how do you actually speak to someone on the phone at USPS? What number did you call?

I called the post office that sorts my packages and loads the mail onto the trucks for the day....speak with the local delivery supervisor.

 

[mjs3350]

I had an ebay purchase that was delivered to the wrong address, confirmed via USPS GPS, and was not retrieved. I opened a dispute, and Paypal ruled in favor of the seller because the tracking info said it was delivered, even though GPS showed it being delivered somewhere else. I don't think the seller should lose money in that situation, but neither should I have. It was $25, so it wasn't worth getting the police involved, which is what Paypal said I'd need to do. I rarely consider ebay purchases anymore as a result.

 

[JVB]

I never knew they could gps that. Good info to have. Our usps and ups have been great.

On the other hand fedex has given us a few issues. They are all independent contractors it seems like.

Most noteworthy experience

Ordered a case of ammo and it shows delivered but was not at my home. After many calls fedex claims they will look into it. About 2 days later an older lady from the street back brings it to us . Her address was the same number as ours but 1 street behind. I wonder what her reaction would have been had she opened it. I live in a housing plan and all streets are marked well. Never did hear back from fedex either.

 

[jimreed2160]

I rarely use USPS "insurance"--self insurance works better for me. Once I had a package "delivered" but it was just the wrapping--contents were MIA. USPS refused my claim and even ebay refused to help because package was "delivered".

 

[L5wolvesf]

Good to know. Thank you

 

[malibu101]

While the link below is from Britan. It made me think that they track the carriers down so far as to the backyard versus the front porch.

http://www.wfmz.com/news/odd-news/d...ackage-convicted-of-stealing-puppy/1031571545

 

[anndel]

Great News!!!!

I just hope that ALL USPS locations will provide that information to us!!

They do. I had a similar incident where my package from Rock Auto was misdelivered to an address several houses away by a substitute mailman. When I asked USPS at my local post office, they said they'll track it down. When I asked my usual delivery person, she too will look into it and came back the next day with it and said via GPS coordinates, it went to the wrong house AND those people were on vacation. Sometimes USPS's online tracking system ***** and is so vague compared to UPS and FedEx.

 

[ultgar]

On the other hand fedex has given us a few issues. They are all independent contractors it seems like.

Most noteworthy experience

About 10 years ago, I shipped a pair of jackstands to a customer (via Fedex) who asked me to add the note "Leave box on Porch". He came home to find the jackstands on the roof of his 911 (Porsche).

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

About 10 years ago, I shipped a pair of jackstands to a customer (via Fedex) who asked me to add the note "Leave box on Porch". He came home to find the jackstands on the roof of his 911 (Porsche).

 

[JVB]

About 10 years ago, I shipped a pair of jackstands to a customer (via Fedex) who asked me to add the note "Leave box on Porch". He came home to find the jackstands on the roof of his 911 (Porsche).

Reminds me of this instant classic.

The kids were told to dress as elves ..... well the photo says 1000 words elvis.

 

[Jeffgage]

If you are not able to get ahold of someone at your office. Call 1800 ask usps. They will have to respond to you. Tell them u want a call back. Any office that has at least a couple hundred people can check and see on the computer when and where the carrier scanned the package usually within a few feet. We are hiring a lot of new people and they get in such a rush that they deliver but are off 1 or 2 streets. Same number wrong road.

 

[trekgod3]

Yeah but is the GPS info sensitive enough to tell the difference between your house and the one right next door?

 

[Jeffgage]

Yes it can tell the difference between houses. The only issue is if its scanned in the mailbox and there are 3 or 4 in the same spot it can't tell 1 from the other. But it can tell if the mailman scanned it in front of ur house or ur neighbors

 

[SuperXero]

I really hate usps but they are the cheapest. I use them exclusively for my ebay sales. Their priority mail is meaningless sometimes, it'll get there when it gets there. Many times I have redelivered packages to my neighbors when their packages show up at my house.

 

[6PTsocket]

Usually USPS works OK but a few packages have taken scenic tours of the USA before arriving. I had an Amazon package go from Atlanta to NJ and back to Atlanta and back to NJ before I got it. An ebay purchase started out in an LA suburb, went to a distribution center, then to NJ and back to a totally unrelated destination in CA where it was marked "delivered" It mysteriously showed up a few weeks later. I had a Rockauto package start out in Rochester NY and picked up by DHL. It made it to NJ, where they turned it over to USPS who sent it to a small office way out on Long Island. I watched work it's way back through distribution centers in NY and NJ until I got it. Those tracking reports can be some fun reading. Lately I see stuff is not always getting scanned. A package will be tracked part way, disappear for a while and show up at my door.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Higgins]

Ya, Sure................

If it's our regular carrier we have no problems at all. She normally will honk her horn, and we'll meet her in the driveway, or she will deliver the package to the front door wrapped in a clear plastic bag.

Then there are the other times where packages have been left on the retaining wall, side steps, sitting on the driveway, leaning on the light pole, on the hood oh the jeep. in the garden numerous times. Then their was the time they left a package on the seat in our bobcat. Would have NEVER looked in there in a million years at it was 40 ft away from any door. Even filed a claim for item being undelivered!

When we redo our security system i'm installing 2 cameras. One pointed right at the mail box, the other at the driveway entrance. That way we may have a chance of figuring out where to look for packages !!!!

AL

 

[4 FN 27]

All I know is USPS is better than UPS for me. If it doesn't fit my mailbox the carrier will drive up the town road to my driveway and to the door.

This use to be the case for our house only it is the long driveway. The old postal carrier would drive up the driveway with the mail and a package and ring the door bell. If my wife answered she would hand her the whole pile. If she didn't answer she would leave the package and put the mail in the box.

Now we have a new person delivering since the old retired. We get our mail 2-3 times a week. Some of it is ours and some the neighbors up and down the street. If there is a package we get a pick-up slip noting it is too dangerous to take the driveway...even in the summer...and my wife has to go to the Post Office to pick up the package. My driveway is like a freeway.

In the last 4 weeks the mail has been delivered between 6-10 pm at night.

The UPS guy...he delivers the wife's stuff to the house and my stuff to the shop.

 

[Jason280]

This is why I have a PO Box....only downside is you can only pick up packages during business hours, but it's worth it.

 

[AE2]

The one I hate is Sunday delivery. I live in a small town. According to tracking, a Sunday package will be delivered to the local post office then taken to the hub 20 miles away and then comes back to town. I'm certain the Sunday delivery folks make to attempt to deliver if they aren't in the mood. When I had a PO box, I never go the package on Sunday. The last time I tried to have it delivered to the house, they said they didn't have access. After that I removed Sunday delivery from my address on Amazon.

 

[Packard V8]

The miracle is most packages make it. The nightmare begins when one doesn't. Doesn't matter if it's USPS, FedEx or UPS, the insurance is worthless.

While on the other coast, I shipped a box to myself; the FedEx office weighed it and charged for 25#. I was home and at the door when the FedEx delivery came. The box was obviously empty so I opened it and wrote on the digital receipt that I would be filing a claim and had the delivery man sign it was an empty box. After three weeks and a dozen phone calls, they just wore me down and I never collected a cent. Turns out, FedEx has subcontracted their claims to a third-party firm who is paid on how few claims they pay on.

jack vines

 

[Asport]

Good information to know. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Ign]

I've also had 2 packages just recently bounce from origin to within a day of me and back to origin and back toward me again.

Logistics whaaa???

 

[6PTsocket]

I worked for USPS as a lot of years . The packages are scanned as they go down the conveyer. Sometimes the scanner locks onto the return address instead of the destination address and back it goes. The conveyer kicks packages off into hampers for that destination so nobody actually looks at it.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[JJ13]

This use to be the case for our house only it is the long driveway. The old postal carrier would drive up the driveway with the mail and a package and ring the door bell.

Now we have a new person delivering since the old retired. If there is a package we get a pick-up slip noting it is too dangerous to take the driveway...even in the summer...and my wife has to go to the Post Office to pick up the package. My driveway is like a freeway.

Depending on distance to the house and package size/weight, the new carrier should be walking them up to the house or using a hand truck. Only time this doesn't apply is if there is a dog issue at that house or one loose in the neighborhood...or an apartment high rise building with no elevator. I think we are required to climb 3 levels, any higher, if there is no response or no call box, notice is left for pickup at the post office.

The reason the carrier is not driving up your drive (rural may be different than city delivery) is also because of the aforementioned GPS tracking. All carriers are explicitly instructed there is to be NO driving on driveways for safety reasons. Even if there is a clear view to verify the driveway is unobstructed and has an easy turn around for a customer that doesn't mind. If it requires backing up, forget about it.

The noose is getting tighter and tighter and your old carrier may have been ignoring orders. USPS tracks EVERY time we back up or do a U-turn in an intersection. Discipline avoidance and overall safety keeps me from all but slightly backing into the end of a drive to turn around if no other options are available. Sticker on the dash reads "AVOID BACKING WHENEVER POSSIBLE", yes, in all caps, and yes this has been the policy for decades.

 

[CJ2A]

Depending on distance to the house and package size/weight, the new carrier should be walking them up to the house or using a hand truck. Only time this doesn't apply is if there is a dog issue at that house or one loose in the neighborhood...or an apartment high rise building with no elevator. I think we are required to climb 3 levels, any higher, if there is no response or no call box, notice is left for pickup at the post office.

The reason the carrier is not driving up your drive (rural may be different than city delivery) is also because of the aforementioned GPS tracking. All carriers are explicitly instructed there is to be NO driving on driveways for safety reasons. Even if there is a clear view to verify the driveway is unobstructed and has an easy turn around for a customer that doesn't mind. If it requires backing up, forget about it.

The noose is getting tighter and tighter and your old carrier may have been ignoring orders. USPS tracks EVERY time we back up or do a U-turn in an intersection. Discipline avoidance and overall safety keeps me from all but slightly backing into the end of a drive to turn around if no other options are available. Sticker on the dash reads "AVOID BACKING WHENEVER POSSIBLE", yes, in all caps, and yes this has been the policy for decades.

I believe rural carriers do not have to drive down a driveway if it's 0.25 miles or longer. A rural carriers pay is based upon the routes evaluated time. This may be a reason why this gentleman is receiving a notice, it may be faster to leave the notice then to actually deliver a package.

I was called into the office and instructed not to back up anymore, specifically into parking spaces at business and apartments. They stated it was a time waiting practice and a safety issue. Notice the emphasis was on it being a time wasting practice. I then asked about driveways, the room went silent. They finally agreed that I shouldn't drive down a driveway unless I could do a uturn without backing up. Between walking the parcels down and picking up Amazon, my route went from an 8 hour route to 60 minutes over. After going through a 271g, management fixed the issue. A CCA now does my mounted (they dead head 11 blocks to start it, I drive past all those mailboxes to get to park and loops at the end of the route.) Why? Because they know the young kids will just ignore the rules to get done early. They even have the CCA's making an illegal turn onto a street to save time.

 

[Ign]

WOW. Somehow UPS pulls it off, in MUCH larger vehicles to boot. They have to 3-point to get out of my place and they're here 4 outta 5 weekdays on average.

Maybe we should be training drivers to use their mirrors....?? Crazy talk I know...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

After going through a 271g, management fixed the issue. A CCA now does my mounted (they dead head 11 blocks to start it, I drive past all those mailboxes to get to park and loops at the end of the route.) Why? Because they know the young kids will just ignore the rules to get done early. They even have the CCA's making an illegal turn onto a street to save time.

What is:
CCA?
mounted?
dead head?

 

[Chucktin]

Dead head is catching a ride without a fare or a duty. He's saying they ride from one spot to another and then do their task.