USPS shipping rant

O

otis24

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Ok,
I understand that there are delays in shipping due to Covid and it being the holidays. But how much of a delay is too much? How patient should one be?

I purchased a pistol on Gunbroker. The seller shipped Priority Mail Nov 25th. Tracking has said "In transit, delay expected", or something similar since Nov 30th. How long does one wait before filing a claim? The seller said that he could issue a refund. I really want the pistol. Lastly, one pays extra for Priority Mail. Does USPS issue a refund for shipping when you dont get the delivery service you paid for, or is it pretty much "too bad, so sad, your loss"? The last time this happened, the P.O. said they had a picture of my package (3 Beretta mags) and knew where it was at but no one was smart enough to push whatever button was necessary to get the package moving on down the line. Package was never received.
 
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I currently have a package in transit from Indiana to Georgia. The small package has been traveling to and fro around Atlanta metro area for six days. Possession time in the USPS system, 12 days so far.

Update: Package delivered on Friday December 11.....total travel time 17 days.
 
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Every time I order something I cringe when I see that it is being shipped USPS or sure post. Seems about half of what I order using USPS goes into a black hole somewhere stays for a day or several days before coming out. Sometime it never comes out. Judging from the amount of posts here the problem is wide spread and sure not getting better.
 
I am now in the process of contacting every company I deal with and asking them to stop using USPS to ship. I tell them I would be willing to pay a little more if they would use UPS or Fed X I am Sure I am wasting time with Amazon but maybe if enough people complain the smaller companies will comply.
 
I got a SurePost delivery yesterday that the tracking system said had been delivered four days earlier. I called the seller and they said it's normal now, that USPS log packages delivered as soon as they receive them.
 
I have a doorbell cam so I see what goes on.

UPS literally throws it on the porch in the rain, etc. Fedex is a little better since they don't throw it.

UPS is always a day late, USPS a day early, and Fedex on the day promised.

Once UPS delivered it to the house a block away. It was a $300 item. An old lady was nice enough to bring it to the house. It was 100% correctly labeled and her house number didn't even have any of the same digits as mine.

Once UPS left a C&R assault rifle with a second box containing a case of 762x39 rounds. It sat there for a week while we were on vacation, even though it was clearly marked signature required, hold at station for pickup.

I can go on and on.

Our USPS girl puts packages in the corner of the porch out of the rain. She also rings the doorbell.

NOT shipping by USPS for me is grounds to buy elsewhere. The only issues I ever had with an ultimate delivery was when the item originated with UPS and then was transferred to USPS for delivery.
 
Recently, USPS has : Showed items delivered when they weren't; Not provided tracking info, even with a tracking number.

No complaints with our usual girl. Other guys.....? Deliveries well after 5 PM when they used to come at 1:30.

A plot to blackmail more money for the P.O.?
 
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grover99 said:
I am now in the process of contacting every company I deal with and asking them to stop using USPS to ship. I tell them I would be willing to pay a little more if they would use UPS or Fed X I am Sure I am wasting time with Amazon but maybe if enough people complain the smaller companies will comply.
Click to expand...

I complained to a vendor about this exact thing, where they have a hand-off from UPS to USPS. The customer service rep said "it's outside the delivery date parameters, so we consider it lost and we're going to send you another product.
I said "what if the original shows up?". She said "good for you".
IIRC it was a $40 item. Don't recall who the company was.
 
I once paid twice for a handgun because USPS lost an insured/registered money order, and even after I appealed their original decision not to refund me the amount, the best I could get from them was an apology and $50.
They are my very last shipping option.
This site won’t allow me to fully describe my feelings about that outfit.
 
Thanks for the replies about USPS and shipping. Oddly, I have been told by 2 FFLs that only FedEx or UPS can ship pistols.
 
I’ve problems with heavy boxes containing bullets with USPS for the last 3-4 months. Had one 60lb box sit in a location 2 hours away for 4 days. Finally moved to our hub and sat for 3 days. Finally made it to my post office and sat for several more days. When my mail girl delivered (she had been on vacation) she told me at least at our local hub that due to the Covid and cutbacks, that women will let heavy boxes sit stating they are too heavy! Also, due to increased volume along with lack of employees she now runs a “package only” route starting at 5 am, then goes back in and runs her regular route. We get packages around 630 am now and regular mail 10-12 hours later. They can pay her 20-30 hours overtime each week but can’t hire another person! Only with our Federal Government!
 
Rob613 said:
It’s right on the ATF website...they should know this as FFLs...maybe they just don’t want to deal with it.

May a licensee mail handguns through the U.S. Postal Service? | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Click to expand...

Thanks, I bet its this part of the regulation that is a real PITA for the shipping FFL:

"Any person proposing to mail a handgun must file with the postmaster, at the time of mailing, an affidavit signed by the addressee stating that the addressee is qualified to receive the firearm, and the affidavit must bear a certificate stating that the firearm is for the official use of the addressee. See the current Postal Manual for details."
 
Currently I have 2 incoming items MIA with USPS Priority Mail. And I have payment for some 5906 mags sent Priority Mail on 11/28. Shows leaving the Hamlin PA PO. And that's it. No updates. I messaged the GB seller with the tracking number to show I sent it.
My company sent out our monthly statements to our customers as usual. We're getting multiple calls from them saying that they never got them.
As this point. I'll send payment via PayPal (if non-gun) or take the 3% hit and pay by credit card.
And for sure pay extra for either UPS or FedEx shipping.
The USPS is broken.
 
Seems to be a common thread to this thread. USPS has gone to the dogs. I placed an order for a router/modem with Wal-mart.com, on November the 9th, (a special 2 day Black Friday sale). It still wasn't here as of last week, so the wife call the local store and complained. They had an upgraded model waiting for me to pick up at the service desk. I still had to fork out another $57 bucks, but the other is cancelled and we're fighting for a refund.

The whole entire world, from top to bottom, has gone nuts since the cootie virus took over the news. Oh how I miss the 80's! No internet and everything worked just fine, beepers, payphones and all!
 
I had a similar situation this summer. I won a shotshell press on FleaBay, it shipped July 25th, showed up at another facility in the same state a day later (on USPS tracking) then went AWOL. Tracking said "In transit, delayed" for like a month. Seller was upright guy, refunded my money. It suddenly reappeared on tracking like 2 weeks later, and was finally delivered, looking like it went through the war. I repaid the seller, so all ended well. But I get it. USPS is really hurting
 
bigwheelzip said:
I got a SurePost delivery yesterday that the tracking system said had been delivered four days earlier. I called the seller and they said it's normal now, that USPS log packages delivered as soon as they receive them.
Click to expand...


That seller is lying to you. The postal service doesn't do any such thing. Wake up.
 
kraynky said:
Seems to be a common thread to this thread. USPS has gone to the dogs. I placed an order for a router/modem with Wal-mart.com, on November the 9th, (a special 2 day Black Friday sale). It still wasn't here as of last week, so the wife call the local store and complained. They had an upgraded model waiting for me to pick up at the service desk. I still had to fork out another $57 bucks, but the other is cancelled and we're fighting for a refund.

The whole entire world, from top to bottom, has gone nuts since the cootie virus took over the news. Oh how I miss the 80's! No internet and everything worked just fine, beepers, payphones and all!
Click to expand...
Yeah but then 3-6 weeks for delivery.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk
 
Patrick L said:
...was finally delivered, looking like it went through the war. I repaid the seller, so all ended well. But I get it. USPS is really hurting
Click to expand...

I cringe and cross my fingers virtually every time I place an order these days. Doesn't seem to matter who the carrier is. Crushed containers, holes, missing items, etc. The heavier the package, the more likely the damage. :mad:
 
I sent a wood gun stock off to a guy once for refinishing. He sent it back when he was done and the stock was cracked completely in half and I had added full value of the stock via insurance when he shipped it back to me. I filed the claim. Usps asked for pics. I sent clear pics. They emailed me back that since it was a firearm they weren't going to refund me. I contacted the atf via email and asked them since when is a gun stock considered a firearm. They replied back since never. I forwarded that email to usps and told them I wanted my money by the close of that business day or id get a lawyer and take them to small claims court as I knew I was in the right. Five hours later I received an email saying they'd be sending me a check and I got it a few days later.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk
 
I have a shotgun coming(I hope) USPS. Yesterday morning tracking showed it would be delivered late yesterday. Then later tracking showed In Transit with the notation that although delayed the item was in the system, would just be late.
What has happened after it left Woodlawn TN, if it did, is a mystery. It was a 20GA. Coach Gun that my daughter wanted to go with her other home protection guns. It took some looking and luck to find this one. PLEEZE don't be permanently lost!
 
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I sold an item and the person sent a money order 12-3 with tracking and It sat it the same place it was mailed from until this morning. When I get the money order It's going to be too late for him to get it by Christmas.
 
Rob613 got it right. I have a S&W 66 coming from Florida by way of FFL to FFL USPS. (I hope)
 
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