| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
Why do they even bother offering this feature? Just so they can look competitive with UPS and FedEx? Every single time I've tried to use this feature, it never has any information listed at all. They NEVER update it. It's usually on my doorstep before the website even displays that it's en route (which it never does). Useless. This time of year, I wonder if I'm even going to get my shipment at all...? ~SM | ||
| Xl1200r |
I agree - I've always found it pretty lacking for the most part. I feel like it's gotten better lately, but it only updates every evening (if that), so it's not as real time as Fed Ex or UPS. | ||
| Hughlysses |
+1 SM; that's the same thing I've found. | ||
| Swordsman |
Let's just put it this way: I have an order from Fly'n'Cycle that shipped 5 days ago, according to an email. According to the USPS tracking, they've been electronically notified that there will be a pending shipment.  This is exactly why I don't want the Government taking part in my medical insurance. I'll be dead before they approve the paperwork. ~SM | ||
| Froggy |
Well at least they are the cheapest for shipping small items. Fedex wanted $20 to ship a cheesegrater insert from NY to WA. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Here's an interesting tidbit for you: UPS isn't realtime either. Most of the "updates" you see posted are estimates of where your package should be. I've had lost packages originate in NY (coming to me in MN), shown "scans" in Chicago, and "out for delivery" here...when in fact they never made it to Chicago or MN but were in Montana! But at least they make us feel like they are telling us where it's at  | ||
| Andymnelson |
"Well at least they are the cheapest for shipping small items. Fedex wanted $20 to ship a cheesegrater insert from NY to WA." Agreed. But all you need is an account and you get better rates. Anyone can sign up on FedEx.com and then all packages shipped are 20% off normal rates....that's assuming that you're not a volume shipper. I pay about 35-40% less than the standard rates, something that USPS does not offer to me. | ||
| Augustus74 |
UPS in my area sucks. | ||
| Kyrocket |
The USPS lost 3.8 BILLION last year. http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/localn ews/me/2009/me_2009_1116.htm ...and some people want to put the government in charge of our health care. I've had pretty good luck with UPS. Seems every stop my package makes it's scanned and updated. When it gets the last scan at one of two local distribution stations I can expect it within a few hours. USPS on the other hand, I have to agree with SM. Updates are poor at best. I did however send two flat rate boxes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving by USPS to Iraq and they were there in less than a week, even with a holiday in there. Bravo  | ||
| Crackhead |
USPS is not run but the government. Congress does have requirements on them though. congress needs to require the USPS to be open in the evenings. Then shipping and profits will increase. | ||
| Milt |
How much does UPS charge to send a small envelope from Moulton, Mississippi to Noorvik, Alaska? My guess is that it's more than 44 cents. If USPS were to make money, it would have to charge more for first class postage or be able to say "Deliver your own damned letter". It can do neither: [Title 39, U.S. Code, Sec. 101 (a)] The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
They could make money hand over fist......increase the rate for bulk mail. It seems like I get enough junk bulk mail that recycling the paper alone would balance the federal budget (Just kidding, but damn I do get a ton of junk mail). Just charge the credit card companies the same 44 cents (that the average Tom, Dick, or Harry pays)for each "letter" and the USPS would be in the black in no time. | ||
| 12x9sl |
+1 on the rate increase for bulk mail. We get a pile of junk too. | ||
| Crusty |
When I bought parts from Performance Engineering I made a direct comparison between UPS and the USPS. UPS charged over $13.00 and took eight days to deliver a small package that weighed less than a pound. On my next order, I asked if they (PE)would ship it USPS Priority Mail. It cost me $4.50 and arrived in two days. Now, tell me again how UPS is better than the USPS. I have a good story about FedEX as well, but I won't tell it now. (Message edited by Crusty on December 08, 2009) | ||
| Aesquire |
The Post Office is not allowed to make money. It's a non-profit org. under very restrictive Congressional Control. ( caps intentional ) The reason delivery info only gets updated in the evening, is that the scans are not transmitted in real time, but only on the carriers return to the office. Then it's uploaded to Texas, via the WWW. Packages scanned in the morning as out for delivery are scanned by clerks and updated when the scanner is racked, usually 10-11 am. I dare anyone to actually deliver a letter across town, much less to the other side of the country for less than the cost of a stamp. In Rochester NY First Class letters arrive the next day 98+% of the time. Amazes me, and I work there. Bulk mail is the only reason the P.O. doesn't need tax money all the time. It wouldn't have the money trouble it does, except Congress decreed that the USPS would fully fund the old Federal retirement plan, in total, up front, taking the cost of that off Congress's tab. ( and I believe Congress still spent the money & left a useless IOU ) Now, bear in mind that the old Federal retirement plan is only for guys who've been there well over 20 years, since everyone hired ( non-management ) since then has a 101K ( used to be a 401K  ) and a wee little pension, if they hang on for 20+ years. ( how does $1600 a year strike you as a real pension? ) But enough bitching about work, so what if I'm on a fixed income just like Social Security recipients, at least I have a semi-secure job. We only laid off 40,000 last year. Oh, and any money made by the USPS over budget is taken by Congress without even a thank you. Now, before I worked for the USPS, I ran the shipping dept. of a small company. Federal Excess is good, but pricey, and charges extra for weekend or special delivery. Great planes & business setup though. The Post Office uses Fed Ex planes to carry mail, believe it or not. ( the history of Air Mail is the history of aviation. A real drama with tragedy, scandal, corruption, and heroism. Charles Lindbergh was a Mail Pilot. ) UPS called "ooops" by shippers everywhere, does a pretty good job, but their labor relations are....well, troubled. I have to say I'm on the workers side on their drama. No matter which carrier you use ( and I'd prefer you us the Post office, since it's my job ) pack anything you send like you are going to throw it down a flight of stairs. Not joking. ( if you saw a UPS facility you'd freak out, with chutes & belts & pkg's falling through space...into bins full of boxes that fell in at all angles ) Now, if you want to use the Post Office as an example of why you don't want socialized medicine, go ahead, Obama did. short version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqUmuZnmf7A long version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5SGo8MiuAo Or in other words, don't worry about my tax paid health insurance 'cause it will suck as much as the Post Office.  ( a lot of us are a little unhappy at the dig. UPS is allowed to make money, we are not. The President's comment was disingenuous. ) | ||
| Aesquire |
Thanks Crusty. I do wish our image wasn't shaped by that guy on Seinfeld. Or Cheers.  | ||
| Dentguy |
if you saw a UPS facility you'd freak out, with chutes & belts & pkg's falling through space...into bins full of boxes that fell in at all angles I worked for UPS for a few years. Full time delivery for a few years and 3 different Christmas seasons in AM preload and the primary with air/split route delivery after that. Nothing there to freak you out unless being very efficient freaks someone out. There are plenty of belts, rollers and chutes (you can't move 25,000 plus packages on a regular day in 3 hours without them), but I can assure you there were no "pkg's falling through space...into bins full of boxes that fell in at all angles". Not at the center where I was and there was no tossing of anything. People were sent out the door for those things. I worked in just about every area at the UPS where I was. It is very efficient and plenty of care is taken with packages. But, things do happen and UPS pays out tons of money in claims every year. I'm not saying those things aren't happening somewhere else. It just didn't happen where I was. UPS runs a tight ship. Christmas season is silly. My busiest delivery day by myself was 325 stops in 8 hours. I ran to every house all day. | ||
| Court |
I'm headed to the post office now to mail Buell stuff . . . I go twice a week, go late at night and use the automated deal . . . poster tube JUST fit. I went to the main post office in Staten Island the other day because I had to mail a guitar. When I got there . . the place was empty and there was one clerk. It took him 27 minutes to mail the guitar. When I left . . . there were 19 people waiting in line and PISSED. As I walked out I walked past the folks and said . . . "this is the same group that wants you to put your life and health care in their hands". My heart goes out to the postal carriers . . . those folks work their asses off . . . it's just piss poor management. I'd love to see the USPS privatized, the folks get better conditions and better treated. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I have UPS packages dropped at a local Chevy garage for me...usually around 3:00 PM. I get a call from the Chevy garage that I have a package and pick I it up at around 5:00 PM. Log on when I get home and sure enuf...........delivered at 3:00 PM and signed for by Greg. :-) | ||
| Aesquire |
Not knocking the UPS guys. They work hard, and the pile I saw WERE Christmas insanity. Ok, better tip, ( still pack like it will fall down stairs ) don't ever put a pin or other small object in a letter envelope. Mail goes 70mph through rollers in the sorters, and a pin will jam with a hundred letters piling into it at highway speed. Use a bubblewrap envelope instead. | ||
| Dentguy |
Yes, pack everything like it will fall down stairs because sometimes they do. Sometimes they fall out of package cars (trucks) also. When I worked at UPS we had a driver leave his back door open and a wedding dress (boxed) fell out the back and was run over by a car. Not enough packing for that. Not enough people to calm down the angry bride either. I've got some other crazy UPS stories like supervisors following drivers around to see if they leave their package cars running or keys in them. They would steal them when they weren't looking, leaving the driver standing there and wait for them to call in. Stories for another day. | ||
| Swordsman |
Aesquire, I have no problem with USPS's actual delivery service. That's why I always opt for them if given a chance. I'm just annoyed with their online tracking, which appears to be nonexistent. If they're not going to update anything, they shouldn't pretend like you can actually use it. ~SM | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Speaking of packaging........I got a rifle in the mail a couple days ago for a customer that ordered it thru Gunbrokers.com. It was boxed in a triangular box with NO packing. A foot of the barrel was sticking out the end of the box when I got the box at the package window... WOW! | ||
| Sycho |
Far too many people don't care about, or no longer want a UNITED STATES Postal Service! Just like everything else they want it NOW and CHEAP! Track-n- Confirm works if it's done properly. If it's done on their own computer and then just dropped into the system with no scans, then it won't be recorded until it's delivered. } | ||
| Swampy |
I had a USPS money order dissapear...from the mail. There is no way to check if it was cashed until you wait 30 days, then you have to file a report with your local postmaster, then they have to contact the postmaster general and they will start an investigation. So you may get an answer in a couple of months. Western Union or any of the private ones you can check on-line at any time to see if it was cashed. Yep, I want my government running my healthcare! |
