USPS Incompetence is UNACCEPTABLE

[jeffb2021]

I'm having the most unbelievable and constant issues with the USPS, and it's making me sick!!!

My first issue surrounded scheduling pick-ups...I would package and schedule pick-ups for the next day, and for WEHATEVER reason the USPS would pick up the packages and not update the tracking numbers for however long they felt like it! Some cases a whole week before any updates, and of course this affected my late shipping rate to 13% which in reality wasn't actually true, but because the USPS does whatever it wants it reflects on me.

So, since I work during the day and CAN NOT get to the post office, I started dropping all items off at the post office lobby drop box. This works for the most part, but I still have to use pick-ups for larger items that won't fit in the lobby drop slot...

This week I dropped off 10 items that are pretty time sensitive off at the post office lobby drop box and for WHATEVER REASON there has not been NO UPDATES to ANY of the 10 tracking numbers in 2 full business days...I call the local number and the guy said he would 'Look into it' and of course there is no updates still, and of course the buyer is already writing me asking me why I haven't mailed the packages yet??? It's like NO MATTER WHAT I DO, the USPS will screw me every time!!!! I dropped the items off late Monday night/Early Tuesday morning, which means that the 4PM time the mail is collected those tracking numbers should have been updated that night...but they weren't or the next night, and  so I go to the USPS website and spend an hour filing missing mail reports. I also wrote a letter in BOLD red letters that I drove to the post office and slid under the door...because they always seem to get away with this incompetence and it is truly hurting people!!!

It's not just one post office, or mail person, there is truly a systemic problem with the USPS, and meanwhile they raise the rates (WEHICH IS A JOKE) and now I pay more for bad service? They have totally lost multiple items that were never found, they don't SCAN when they pickup, they don't collect the mail when they claim they do, and in the meantime I get people who want refunds (That I have to give) because the USPS can't do it's job that they are paid to do!!

I can't even tell you how much I've spent sending items through FedEx or UPS to avoid using the USPS, and honestly I would send smaller items through FedEx/UPS if it wouldn't totally wipe me out financially because continuing using USPS is going to end my ability to sell anymore anyway.

I can't do this...I can't do everything right, only to be undermined by an incompetent USPS. They get hundreds of millions of dollars (This is documented FACT) and they still fail to perform at any acceptable level.

It's disgusting that they can ruin people's lives and not be held accountable! Also, it's unbelievable how much money I've spent  using a service that has failed so many times and is causing me nothing but trouble!!

They don't even accept any accountability!

I'm sure some people have no issues using the USPS, and God bless you, but I know I have gone out of my way to overcome any potential issues only to find other issues that are beyond my ability to understand!

It's lunacy! 

Can we start a petition?? I mean there MUST be others who are having never-ending issues with the USPS that are causing them hardships, and potentially their seller status! I know it's causing my late shipping % to go through the roof! (I already select 3 business days to ship) which isn't even how I operate! I package and ship the same day, and I still have a 13% late shipment rate and I can't stand it!!!

Thank you USPS for charging me so you can also screw me!!! 

[1786davycrockett]

"Media Mail is no longer a viable option for a business transaction."

I strongly disagree.  Most of my sales are via USPS Media, and I have little to no problems with on-time delivery.

I attribute this to the very professional post office branch where I ship most of my packages, as well as being on a direct line to the next USPS distribution center.

Don't take the wind out of USPS Media yet!

[maxine*j]

---

@dnasilver wrote:

Sorry to hear you are having so many issues. It seems some folks have constant issues with USPS and others nothing. For us, we have had one issue in the last 5 years. The item was delivered a week late. Maybe talk to your local Post Master.

---

Definitely true.  I have only the very occasional, minor problem with USPS.  But I know that others have real, and ongoing, issues.  Service seems to vary from region to region, generally, and from one post office to another, particularly.  It shouldn't, but it surely seems to.

I can't think of a fix or advice for those with bad service except, if it's at all possible, to work with the Post Office in another town nearby.

-

[maxine*j]

---

@toysaver wrote:

Media Mail is no longer a viable option for a business transaction.

---

I wonder if that is  true.   I don't use it as a seller, but I buy several books a month -- just commodity books, reading copies, silly murder mysteries and the like -- and I find that those sent Media Mail arrive as quickly as they ever did, which is usually surprisingly quick even if they're coming from the other side of the country.   And Media Mail is what keeps the price down for commodity books.   Tough call, I guess, for sellers who haveto worry about impatient buyers, but I hope most continue to use MM.

-

[agun2355]

I've been having issues with USPS. The items I've shipped as a seller are moving fine but the items I've purchased are getting lost in New Jersey.  The only 3 items I purchased in July have all gone missing there. One hasn't been scanned in 19 days, the others 11 and 7 days. Two of the packages are first class and the other is media mail. When I try to submit a missing mail request online I get an error message every time. As a result I have completely shut down my buying. If it was only one item missing I would shrug it off and continue as usual but 3 straight is a big problem. 

[gamersbaystore]

Without media mail its like $5 to ship a movie or book, no one is going to pay that. If they want faster service then they need to pay for it. I offer first-class, but its rarely ever selected by buyers at checkout. Either way, I'm not paying for their shipping.

[gamersbaystore]

I'd imagine all those cancelled commercial flights are clogging up the system. Those flights don't just carry people, they carry your mail too! USPS is also extremely short handed on labor as well, which just exacerbates things.

[mtgraves7984]

@jeffb2021 

I can sure empathize. Lord knows we don't need anyone to help make things go wrong.

I hate to hear you're having USPS problems... I ship using USPS exclusively, and have only lost one package (last Spring) in all of my years selling here. It would have been the carrier that I'd have recommended. Hang in there...

[agun2355]

You make a very good point.

[abmo-7339]

Use another service if you don't like USPS or their prices. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Unfortunately, I have found over the years that the only sure-proof method of getting an Acceptance Scan is to make sure you see it happening.  Either take it yourself & use the APC, which can use at night at all the PO's around here or watch the carrier scan it.  

I've also used huge laminated signs that I had made up to tell them they need to scan it now & not wait for it to get to the sort center.   But frankly, after 6 years of dealing with this, I still find that if it isn't my regular carrier, they skip the pick up altogether.  

They are really bad at pickups & esp if they are sub carriers.  I have gone to extensive lengths that include daily texts to my carrier & him texting me his schedule to make sure that my items are picked up.  But even after years, if there's a sub, it doesn't get done or it gets done & not scanned.  Unfortunately, if you want an Acceptance Scan, which you absolutely DO need to maintain your metrics, it's on you to make sure you get it.  Some stations are great, some carriers are great & some aren't. 

[carolynnq]

I feel your pain. For about a year, my PO was never scanning media mail or parcel post packages and I send a lot of packages media mail. Delivery times were fine, but they wouldn't get scanned for 24-36 hours when they reached the distribution center 400 miles away. Very frustrating. I complained but the postmaster said he didn't have the staff to do it. About 3 months ago, they started scanning all packages again. It's a relief to not have that late shipment cloud hanging over my head.

[dascot1]

2 packages I ordered on March  6 arrived in Jacksonville on March 7 where they remain if I’m lucky. I’ve been to 2 Post Offices in person and waited 56 minutes to talk to a postal worker in Jacksonville and not one USPS employee can tell me where my packages are or why 2 other deliveries passed right through within 3 days of shipment. To the individual who has only experienced one problem in 5 years, go stick your head back in the sand, I live 58 miles from Jacksonville and could walk and retrieve my packages faster.

[dascot1]

When you pay for service you should get it! Got it.

[kh-vince]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.