ggardenour
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posted on March 15, 2008 05:50:41 AM new
I have three orders that were shipped out over 10 days ago that have not made it to the buyers. Of course they were shipped via 1st Class mail w/o tracking. Anyone else having issues with USPS?
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capolady
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:12:07 AM new
No - nothing lately. First mistake was not using a delivery confirmation. I learned long ago to never ship a package w/o a d.c.
Gets you in trouble everytime.
I hope you didn't accept Paypal for these items - that could be a real problem.
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riverfarm
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:21:20 AM new
First thing to suggest to buyers is that they check their p.o. to see if their package is sitting there. Sometimes a carrier will decide not to leave a package, but forgets to put a pickup note in the mailbox. Or the note gets lost.
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hwahwa
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:21:49 AM new
call the post office,sometimes they reroute mail to a different distribution center due to local weather or construction work,so mail takes longer.
I have a case where the buyer won 4 items from me and I shipped 4 packages,one without DC.
One night I got a call from her saying she did not get that package (with no DC) and went through my auction listings and picked out 2 popular items as replacement.
Then she bidded and won another item and cant pay as she does not have money.
Always use DC ,you never know.
*
Lets all stop whining !
*
[ edited by hwahwa on Mar 15, 2008 06:26 AM ]
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merrie
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:38:22 AM new
I agree with all here, never send a package with out DC. Buyers know about DC and if you cannot prove it was delivered, you are scr**ed.
Do have people check with their PO. I have had packages returned to me that people did not pick up. They claim they did not get the notices. I do not know who is telling the truth.
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vintageads4u
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:40:48 AM new
Greg: I had some items with DC go missing for almost a month. Turns out that although they were FIRST CLASS PARCEL they were treated as PARCEL POST. All eventually arrived.
I echo always use dc especially if you are using mailing tubes. These are often too long for mailboxes and sit at the post office unless there is a dc. I also use the Scan form that shows they were picked up and are in the system.
You can file a missing package report (http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/mailthft.htm)
and you can also contact the post office at the delivery point.
Good luck
Beth
Antique Ad Shop
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neglus
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:42:56 AM new
I never use DC. It doesn't make sense to send a postcard with DC. In order to qualify for DC, the card has to be packaged to a certain thickness (1/4". 1/2" meaning you have to put it in a bubble envelope and ship as a package even though it weighs one oz and could be shipped for $.58. Doesn't make sense to spend so much on postage to avoid a small number of INR disputes. If someone says they didn't receive the postcard, then I refund.
Greg - I have seen an increased number of lost or delayed shipments since Christmas. One item took a month to arrive!
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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ggardenour
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:43:20 AM new
For some reason I was under the impression that you couldn't get DC with First Class. Am I all wet on that?
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merrie
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:54:09 AM new
Yes, you are "wet," you can get DC on 1st class, but it costs a dime more.
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deichen
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posted on March 15, 2008 06:59:06 AM new
I use DC with priority mail and probably should use it on my other mailings as well. I print my DC online (the free one), is there a deal on DC that is not applied to Priority or is it full cost at the PO?
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neglus
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posted on March 15, 2008 07:27:54 AM new
You can use for First Class papckages but not letters:
Delivery Confirmation
Delivery Confirmation service provides the mailer with information about the date and time an article was delivered and, if delivery was attempted but not successful, the date and time of the delivery attempt. Delivery Confirmation service is available only at the time of mailing. No record is kept at the office of mailing. Delivery Confirmation service does not include insurance, but insurance may be purchased as an additional service. Delivery status information is available on the Internet at www.usps.com or by calling 1-800-222-1811.
Available for: First-Class Mail parcels, Priority Mail, Parcel Post parcels and Media Mail parcels.
Not available for: restricted APO/FPO destinations, U.S. territories, possessions, and freely associated states in DMM 608.2 (except for Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and ZIP Codes listed in DMM 503.9).
May be combined with: COD, insured mail, Registered Mail, and return receipt for merchandise (Form 3804). Restricted delivery and return receipt is available if purchased with insurance for over $200, COD, or Registered Mail.
Use Form 152.
Priority Mail—$0.65
First-Class Mail—$0.75
Parcel Post and Media Mail—$0.75
Free when you print Priority Mail postage and labels from usps.com.
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http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards?refid=store
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deichen
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posted on March 15, 2008 07:51:35 AM new
Thanks Neglus. I should probably start including that in my shipping on first class and media.
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LtRay
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posted on March 15, 2008 08:09:14 AM new
I have a First Class with DC that was mailed 2/26 Florida to Michigan that has still not arrived. It has not had any shipping updates either. Most if my missing or delayed packages are usually scanned at a bulk mail center when they have been in they system have been in the system that long.
I am reshipping the order today but am requesting a scan at the counter this time.
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deichen
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posted on March 15, 2008 08:15:40 AM new
I always get a scan at the counter. Some PO's here won't do it, I don't argue, just end up going to one that will.
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on March 15, 2008 10:57:56 AM new
The first thing that comes to mind is how are you putting the addresses on the packages. Are you writting them on or are you using labels that are printed out on the computer?
If you are hand writing, this could be the reason. Having many friend that work for the P.O., they tell me the number one reason packages or letters get lost is from hand written addresses. That is because there are far too many people out there that have horrible handwriting, me included.
They all tell me that if people printed out labels for everything, that 95% of the packages that get lost would get lost anymore. It's not that they are lost, but in their undeliverable depot because they simply cannot make out where it's suppose to go.
I like Neglus also don't use DC for my first class packages, but always use a computer printed label. I have yet to have one that got lost.
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deichen
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posted on March 15, 2008 11:30:30 AM new
I always use a computer label, copy and paste, so I don't input it wrong.
edited because I made a typo!
[ edited by deichen on Mar 15, 2008 12:39 PM ]
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glassgrl
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posted on March 15, 2008 12:26:21 PM new
This is what had me confused when they first changed the postage amounts. I was used to mailing Birthday cards (with money) and such via first class with DC. I thought you couldn't do it anymore.
Then I read up some more and you can - you just have to pay more and it's called a "package" rather than an envelope.
I always print out a bunch of SCAN ME PLEASE on bright pink paper, cut one out in the shape of an arrow and tape it right below the DC pointing to it.
From Endica:
How do I know which mail type to pick?
Postcard Maximum size of 4 1/4" x 6" x 0.016"
Envelope Maximum size of 6 1/8" x 11 1/2" x 1/4"
Large Envelope (Flat) Any item larger than the Envelope size and less than 3/4" thick
Flat Rate Envelope USPS supplied Priority or Express Mail envelopes
Flat Rate Box USPS supplied Priority Mail boxes (there are two standard sizes)
Package (Rectangular) Parcels over 1/4" thick and less than 108" in combined length and girth (or 130" for Parcel Post)
Package (Non-rectangular) Parcels that are not rectangular in shape, such as tubes, rolls and other oddly shaped items
It costs $1.31 to mail a first class small brown envelope with packing peanuts in it.
[ edited by glassgrl on Mar 15, 2008 12:28 PM ]
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carolinetyler
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posted on March 19, 2008 04:23:02 AM new
Delivery Confirmation is great, but only if the carriers and distribution centers actually scan the item - I had a problem in December/January where my packages weren't getting scanned in at some points in their travels.
There were several packages that made it all the way to the buyer without having been scanned even once! There were also one or two that didn't make it there, weren't scanned, so I couldn't even prove that they had been shipped!
I contacted my local postmaster, and the performance manager for my area about ensuring scans were being done, and it's gotten much better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Caroline
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photosensitive
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posted on March 19, 2008 05:00:36 AM new
We had a problem with a purchase from our cyber mall shop. The DC number showed it in transit but never delivered long after priority should have arrived. The buyer was not answering emails and we were bracing for a charge back from PayPal. Had the post office call the buyers post office and found it had been delivered but not scanned when it was.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
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LtRay
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posted on March 19, 2008 11:36:56 AM new
I print all of my postage online.
I suspect any package that has printed postage is scanned by the PO some where along the way. If no where else other than the sorting center. There is no reason for an update to not show on line.
Think about it, regardless of what the USPS website says about tracking, you know these packages are not going from deposit to destination without someone or a machine checking the weight printed on the label.
I have only ever really had 1 package disappear from the system. It had been mailed to a gated resort community that had its own private post office. I filed a suspected fraud report with the postal inspector. My local post master called me to ask me about the claim and I explained that I suspected the receiving contract post office was not scanning or returning packages.
The package magically appeared on my door step about 3 months later totally smashed. It had the receiving post offices stamp and an "undeliverable at this address" label.
I still suspect the contract post office intentionally destroyed the package out of retaliation of my fraud claim.
On another note, my recent package to MI is still MIA so I'll be filling another fraud claim <g>
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