Lots of USPS misdirected packages

[mreinsmith]

Has anyone else seen an increase in USPS Ground Advantage misdirections recently

In the last 30 days I've had more than 10

I had one that went from Philadelphia to Nevada to Missouri and finally back to Ohio 

Took 12 days to make the trip

Customers are understandably not happy

[tarotfindsandmore]

They're in really bad shape right now.  I just spent 2.5 hours on the phone with USPS employees both here in WA and in New England.  I had an extremely brightly colored bubble mailer containing a 275 dollar pendant (in a box) make it all the way to Providence, RI, only to just stop moving altogether a full week ago.  This is my first lost item in almost 1500 shipments.  Thank goodness the buyer is a lovely, patient person.   I, unfortunately, am not especially lovely nor patient at this point.

[mreinsmith]

Here’s another good one going to Ohio (note where it went all the way back to NJ) 

************

Moving Through Network

In Transit, Arriving Late

May 20, 2025, 12:05 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 20, 2025, 10:05 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

CHICAGO IL DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

May 20, 2025, 8:19 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

CHICAGO IL DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

May 18, 2025, 2:49 pm

Departed USPS Regional Facility

CHICAGO IL LOGISTICS CENTER 

May 18, 2025, 2:07 pm

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility

CHICAGO IL LOGISTICS CENTER 

May 18, 2025, 11:05 am

Arrived at USPS Facility

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ 08865 

May 17, 2025, 9:36 am 

Arrived at USPS Facility

INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219 

May 16, 2025, 7:14 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 16, 2025, 7:12 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 16, 2025, 2:31 pm

In Transit to Next Facility

May 16, 2025, 10:21 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

May 16, 2025, 5:48 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility

PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER 

May 15, 2025, 11:50 pm

USPS in possession of item

DOWNINGTOWN, PA 19335 

May 15, 2025, 5:03 pm

Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item

DOWNINGTOWN, PA 19335 

May 15, 2025, 1:35 pm

[mreinsmith]

Yike!

Oh, here's another interesting situation 

A package to Texas disappeared so I sent a replacement. When the second one got to Dallas the first one suddenly showed up there

Both were delivered the same day to the customer 

That's happened several times as well 

I just changed my packaging for those items (originally a mailing tube, not cheap) to see if that is the problem 

[tarotfindsandmore]

At least your package is moving! I only know mine made it to RI because my local branch manager confirmed it made it into the container headed there and the other items in that container have been delivered.  It's probably just sitting in some random tub somewhere at the hub.

[oldold-timer]

Whoever is in charge at USPS now should see some of this.  I mailed a package 5 days ago to a buyer 135 miles from my house and today, the package is 250 miles from his town.  Very poor service.

[mreinsmith]

So who did you call to get some answers? Just normal customer service? 

[mreinsmith]

Didn't the FedEx executive get nominated for director? 

Not that's necessarily a good thing

[tarotfindsandmore]

I initially called the 800 number to follow up on the missing mail claim I submitted last Friday.  After wasting about 20 min with that person, I called my local branch.  I, luckily, got ahold of the AM supervisor who could see through the internal software that my package had been loaded onto a container.  He then looked at another tag for a different item on that container to see where the container went.  It went to Providence, RI. 

I then called the first five Providence numbers listed on the USPS website.  The fifth one was a local branch. The clerk at that branch initially attempted to redirect me to the 800 number,  so I explained everything I had already done.  He then gave me the telephone number for the Boston consumer affairs office.  I left a message at that number, then called the 800 number back and told them everything I had just been through.  That rep confirmed that my branch had closed their investigation in Spokane, citing "unable to locate package", and then reopened and escalated the claim.  That rep also gave me the Seattle consumer affairs telephone number.  I called that number, left a lengthy message asking them to please get in contact with the Boston office so that they could get someone out on the floor of the Providence hub to find that package.  

The end...for now.

[mreinsmith]

Despite what must have been an frustrating experience for you

That is very helpful 

Now I know what to ask my local PO, who are normally very helpful

Thanks! 

[meme6253]

I guess they like sending our packages on tour.

[tarotfindsandmore · Accepted solution]

My pleasure! It was a rather long morning but I think it's important to be able to tell our customers what is going on to whatever extent we can.  

Also, it makes it a lot easier to defend ourselves against defects.  I've been sending screenshots of everything I've done to my buyer so she knows I'm not just sitting here with her money while she has nothing.

[johnrj1226]

The more times the packages are  handled, the better chance of a "human error" and  damage.  Never shipped ground service.

[inhawaii]

Government operations are under new management.

[tarotfindsandmore]

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@johnrj1226 wrote:

The more times the packages are  handled, the better chance of a "human error" and  damage.  Never shipped ground service.

---

How are you shipping? 95% of all mail is processed using ground transportation.  Roughly the same amount of UPS, FedEx, and DHL domestic shipments go via ground as well.