Oh, the number of times we have to deal with customers complaining about USPS tracking (and of course blaming us).

The insurance promise sounds good. Again, like you said, it's a question of whether they'll actually honour any of the claims.

The funny thing is that, I now noticed emails come through for each checkpoint that the shipment gets scanned. Which I personally think is a little over the top, but maybe it's somebody's way of saying... 'Ok, is this enough tracking for you people?" lol

I don't know, there's always going to be the haters, but you have to give them credit for trying. UPS makes ridiculous money, and they treat you like they're doing you a big favor every time you use them. If I hear my guy whine about our heavy boxes one more time, I'm going to slap him.

Delivery times have actually become accurate as of late. I've even experienced deliveries a day sooner than promised.

USPS is more and more becoming a viable option ... assuming your ship Priority, that is. Don't get me started on the rest.

For the small less expensive items, they make a good option.

For the larger or more expensive packages - keep your distance.

I don't want to get into a big postal debate, but I've been sending stuff USPS for over ten years, much of which is excess length and fairly valuable... Out of thousands, only had one disappear, maybe 5 damaged.

I noticed a while back that position tracking notifications have been coming through, instead of just delivery confirmations...

I thought UPS was the only carrier that opened every shipping container, and individually scanned every parcel at every sorting facility?

This is what a recent log looked like...

Delivered ORLANDO, FL 32801 July 26, 2013 1:46 pm
Out for Delivery ORLANDO, FL 32805 July 26, 2013 8:12 am
Sorting Complete ORLANDO, FL 32805 July 26, 2013 8:02 am
Arrival at Post Office ORLANDO, FL 32805 July 26, 2013 5:21 am
Depart USPS Sort Facility ORLANDO, FL 32824 July 26, 2013
Processed through USPS Sort Facility ORLANDO, FL 32824 July 25, 2013 11:13 pm
Depart USPS Sort Facility SANTA CLARITA, CA 91383 July 25, 2013
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility SANTA CLARITA, CA 91383 July 24, 2013 11:56 pm
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility xxxxxxxx, CA xxxxxx July 24, 2013 10:41 pm
Electronic Shipping Info Received

Yeah, I've been using USPS for 13 years, and I like them. I have had a few problems, but I have noticed that it has been to certain areas (Brooklyn, I'm looking at you). Some things have gone into limbo and once someone out there opened a package and replaced my widgets with a bunch of cheap Mexican singer casettes(?). I can keep my shipping prices lower than I would be able to otherwise also. I have even redesigned some packaging so it would fit into the small flat rate box, which makes it even more economical.

I've been pretty lucky with USPS.

My main problem is when someone wants a ship to address that USPS DOESN'T deliver to and picks US mail instead of the more expensive UPS Ground. Then I have to deal with having to charge them more dollars because USPS won't deliver there.

I have probably had a few more bad experiences with USPS than with UPS / FedEx / DHL, but I use USPS about 97% of the time (not an exaggeration).

I have used USPS for about 20 years. The issue is the holiday help and the rogue clerks that they won't fire. The system is fine if they just decide to can the bad apples. Those people that are on a power trip need to be shown the door. You just don't tell your top shipper to F--K off. Things don't end up well with that attitude.

I don't want to get into a big postal debate, but I've been sending stuff USPS for over ten years, much of which is excess length and fairly valuable... Out of thousands, only had one disappear, maybe 5 damaged.

I can echo dpd1's experiences with USPS, I sent thousands of large, heavy and expensive boxes all over the world with USPS and was able to track them since around 2005, not at every station, but in a 3 day cycle, do you really need to know when it left point C and arrived at point D? That makes sense only if you aren't sure when it will be delivered. I could count on 3 day delivery all across the continental US 97% of the time and I'm off-continent. At Christmas time, I brought cookies and fruit for the guys, and they took good care of my shipments all year. I have closed that business now - too physical! But I have recently noticed improved delivery times on things I order.

I was amazed to receive something that went priority from Hawaii Friday and they dropped it with me this Sunday. I guess they had somebody just doing packages.

Some trips are unbelievably quick with USPS. I am in upstate NY, and if I mail to a decent sized city in CA, it can get there the next day. I am not kidding. Contiguous states it is generally next day, but the NY-CA is just miraculous to me. That has never happened with UPS. In fact, right now I am waiting on a UPS shipment from Harrisburg, PA that was sent on the 31 and was supposed to be here today but won't be arriving until the 5th. I could drive to Harrisburg in about 3 hours.

I have seen their new boxes and now it looks like Priority comes with $50 insurance. I have already filed 4 claims for "lost" packages.

We use USPS and I like them, but their staff are so rude when I call on behalf of customers. Eventually, we will also offer FedEx or UPS as a carrier.

Yeah, I'm just hoping the insurance thing doesn't blow up in their face. I've noticed the gauge of cardboard on the new boxes is half what the old ones were, and those were by no means great. Pretty soon they're going to be paper. Now that insurance is included, I don't think a cheaper box is going to help them. But hopefully it works out.

If you have things lost, it is sometimes best to call the office at the other end directly. Assuming it got that far. Lots of times they can actually do stuff and look around, whereas the support people are just going to stumble around on the computer and blow you off.

I wonder if they will have a proper API now. In terms of technology FedEx and UPS are way ahead of them (from my perspective). We do use SmartPost and SurePost from FedEx and UPS, but I don't have to deal with USPS directly in those scenarios.

I have a feeling that it's probably the same crap in a new wrapper.

I wonder if the insurance covers packages that are scanned delivered, but the customer claims no delivery.

And how does reimbursement work? Do you always have to get the customer to sign the form? I think I remember seeing that on the old forms.

My claim was denied!
I just received the letter in the mail today. I just appealed online.

The tracking shows it was delivered but the customer claims non-receipt.

I have been having more of these lately. Seems like 5 to 7 orders per month.

How does FedEx handle a package that a customer claims non-receipt?

I don't think that any service is going to pay on something that shows as delivered, are they? Unless there's evidence that they took it to the wrong place. It's mainly for stuff that's lost. Of course, there could be a legit time when they still screwed it up and delivered it to the wrong place. But I've found that to be very rare. That rate would obviously go up if you're sending out tons of stuff. I don't know, maybe there's just a lot of dishonest people out there.

I don't know, maybe there's just a lot of dishonest people out there.

Yeah, there are. At the same time, it's surprising how many honest people there are - and that it's even possible to use the honor system where every pkg doesn't require a signature.

Of course, there could be a legit time when they still screwed it up and delivered it to the wrong place. But I've found that to be very rare.

Yeah, same here. If I had to put a number on it, I would say about 1/4 are actually lost, where 3/4 are gaming the system. That's what makes it so frustrating when these things happen. Because you know, there's a 3 out of 4 chance the person you're talking to on the phone is ripping you off. And there's nothing you can do about it but send a free replacement with Signature Confirmation, which they will have to pick up at the post office because that's the way that always works out. Of course the numbers change around Christmas. Last year was really bad. I would say 4/5 lost order claims were actually legitimately lost - just by the sheer volume. I'm sure people didn't suddenly become more dishonest because it's December.

My claim was denied!
I just received the letter in the mail today. I just appealed online.
The tracking shows it was delivered but the customer claims non-receipt.

Oh well. That's what I figured. That's why I didn't even raise an eyebrow when I saw the new insurance option. My claims would be 99.999% of the kind mentioned above. In fact, I don't know if I've ever had a package that simply disappeared in transit. So maybe that number should be 100%. Sorry to be morbid, but you would think after all this time, I would have fell to some sort of accident, a plane crash, where all my packages were onboard. That shows how reliable air travel is. It's mind-boggling if you really think about it.

Last year was really bad. I would say 4/5 lost order claims were actually legitimately lost - just by the sheer volume. I'm sure people didn't suddenly become more dishonest because it's December.

Yes, I recall there was a period around that time where my damage rate shot way up. The worst it has ever been. And I believe that was around the time they announced some big cutback plans. I have a feeling there was some animosity involved.

I have had the problem where people claim non-receipt and it is very likely that the package was taken by someone in their building, someone who, like them, has access to the "secured area" where the carrier is supposed to leave a package. In that case, I don't resend. I refund and tell the customer I can't accept any further business from them because their mailbox is insecure and that they should get a PO box.

What happens if you use FedEx and they customer claims non-receipt?