Rant on shipping

[Alan W.]

USPS is a joke anymore. Even the local postmasters are complaining about it. They are tired of getting ripped everyday due to late mail.
Our electric bill gets to us one day before it is due. So I take it to the co op and pay it. When I asked them why our bill was coming from out of state instead of there like it use to she replied that it was cheaper to use that service instead of doing it themselves. I then asked if they fired the employees that did it before. She said that positions were created for those employees. And we wonder why the rates keep going up.

 

[Chewwy]

Currently delivery by Amazon is the best, UPS comes in second, USPS is close third, FedEx is pretty worthless.

Prior to Amazon, UPS was great and always had the same driver. USPS was darned good to but I believe that was due to the driver (a really pretty blonde gal). FedEx was ood to but they only delivered mail type items ( i.e., no parcels).

I have had three different Amazon deliveries on the same day. Doesn’t seem efficient but it gets it done.

The worst time is close to Christmas when UPS and FedEx are using temp workers.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

FedEx left a $350 box of motorcycle parts at the end of our road yesterday. 1/4 mile from our house.

Luckily a neighbor witnessed it and brought the package in and called us.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

And, USPS has yet to find/deliver a package that last scanned on February 6th. Still working on that refund from the vendor

 

[LouNY]

I must be lucky, I have had only a few shipping issues. USPS does a good job, UPS usually does a good job, Amazon is often very good, Fed Ex usually gets the job done.

 

[jyoutz]

Currently delivery by Amazon is the best, UPS comes in second, USPS is close third, FedEx is pretty worthless.

Prior to Amazon, UPS was great and always had the same driver. USPS was darned good to but I believe that was due to the driver (a really pretty blonde gal). FedEx was ood to but they only delivered mail type items ( i.e., no parcels).

I have had three different Amazon deliveries on the same day. Doesn’t seem efficient but it gets it done.

The worst time is close to Christmas when UPS and FedEx are using temp workers.

Amazon doesn’t deliver to our rural areas. They deliver to the post office and the PO does the final delivery.

 

[Chewwy]

Amazon doesn’t deliver to our rural areas. They deliver to the post office and the PO does the final delivery.

Amazon does that here for some Sunday deliveries. I usually take the option for delayed delivery to avoid Sunday USPS delivery because they are just as bad as Christmas season temp hires.

 

[Jstpssng]

And, USPS has yet to find/deliver a package that last scanned on February 6th. Still working on that refund from the vendor

I had the same experience with FedEx two years ago, who was supposed to be delivering a Cabela's order. It tracked all of the way to our USPS distribution center, where it allegedly was turned over to the for final delivery. 6 days later it was suddenly down in Connecticut at FedEx's distribution point, where things go to disappear. After 6 more days it headed west, to Phoenix if I remember correctly. As long as it moves within 6 days there is nothing the vendor can do, so I finally cancelled the order.
7 days later, which was a day after my refund was processed the order finally arrived.
I then contacted Cabela's trying to get my refund reversed but it turned into such a cluster that I gave up. Somewhere I still have the gift certificate which was part of the refund but I have no intentions of using it.

 

[ruffdog]

I have had some bad luck with USPS this year. I think the workers are fine but the sorting machines are goofing up. I have a feeling it will get much worse before it gets better, if ever. PS...I generally have had good service from all the carriers in the past.

 

[caver]

I forgot to add that another package that was running late, USPS, finally shows up at the post office. I go there to see if I can pick it up. Not without paying an intercept fee that was like $18 ?? So I save them time and a few pennies and you want to charge me more?. I'll wait for it to show up tomorrow.
Also in the past 2 months I've had 2 UPS deliveries after 7pm. One was almost 8 and the one a couple days ago shows up at 8:16 pm.

 

[ultrarunner]

USPS is a joke anymore. Even the local postmasters are complaining about it. They are tired of getting ripped everyday due to late mail.
Our electric bill gets to us one day before it is due. So I take it to the co op and pay it. When I asked them why our bill was coming from out of state instead of there like it use to she replied that it was cheaper to use that service instead of doing it themselves. I then asked if they fired the employees that did it before. She said that positions were created for those employees. And we wonder why the rates keep going up.

This… this is a real problem where none had existed.

Invoices often say if paid by mail allow 10 days.

All well and good until the invoice arrives 3 days before the due date.

Many times the only way to pay in such a short time is online or in person.

Postmark use to be proof of timely payment but some government agencies no longer accept post mark as proof or only if you pay extra for proof of mailing receipt.

We can send men to
The moon but sending a letter across town via the mail is hit or miss?

The HOA has had lots of issues since shifting to an out of State remittance processor.

I think it’s all a plot to push automated online payment direct from bank account.

When First Class cost a nickel back in the 60’s mail across town was the next day and it was common to have a morning and afternoon delivery just before Christmas… just saying

10 years ago all the renters paid by check or money order… now I only have one by money order, none by check and one by cash… all the others pay through apps…

 

[goeduck]

I only pay by check if there is a fee to pay online or by credit card. In the last 2 years it has only been a roof repair contractor, an appraiser and an HVAC contractor that received a check. So basically everything is online. My tenants pay by an automatic ACH (transfer from bank to bank) scheduled in advance on predetermined days of the month. Our local property taxes can be paid by ACH with no fee. I'd rather pay online than have a check with my bank routing number and account number in the questionable mail service. The delivery lady we have is great, no reflection on her, but in between and at the other end is what I worry about.

 

[jyoutz]

This… this is a real problem where none had existed.

Invoices often say if paid by mail allow 10 days.

All well and good until the invoice arrives 3 days before the due date.

Many times the only way to pay in such a short time is online or in person.

Postmark use to be proof of timely payment but some government agencies no longer accept post mark as proof or only if you pay extra for proof of mailing receipt.

We can send men to
The moon but sending a letter across town via the mail is hit or miss?

The HOA has had lots of issues since shifting to an out of State remittance processor.

I think it’s all a plot to push automated online payment direct from bank account.

When First Class cost a nickel back in the 60’s mail across town was the next day and it was common to have a morning and afternoon delivery just before Christmas… just saying

10 years ago all the renters paid by check or money order… now I only have one by money order, none by check and one by cash… all the others pay through apps…

I set up a bill paying checking account and have my bills direct paid on the date of my choosing. I know how much to deposit in the the account to pay bills and have a cushion. Periodically I adjust the deposit amount based on changes to bills (mostly utilities). Simple and I don’t waste my time writing checks and mailing them anymore.

 

[kenmbz]

I had to post a check to the gas company, it was handed to the mailman direct Jan 30, did not arrive yet :-(

 

[NoTrespassing]

I avoid USPS whenever possible. I had a check stolen out of a roadside USPS city box and it was washed for about $3k. My father still sends a lot of letters and bills by mail. I guess he's supporting his employer He sends checks to Atlanta Postal Credit Union and they get lost all the time

 

[NoTrespassing]

I pay power bill online by CC and get 1.5% cash back, also save the stamp price.

 

[kenmbz]

I still have some companies charging $2.95 to $5.95 for using CC.

 

[ruffdog]

I still have some companies charging $2.95 to $5.95 for using CC.

Yep, same here. A stamp is much cheaper and I have never had a problem (so far) with outgoing mail.

 

[jyoutz]

I still have some companies charging $2.95 to $5.95 for using CC.

Just have direct payment from a checking account. No charge for this.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I still have some companies charging $2.95 to $5.95 for using CC.

Yea, our power company doesn't charge for CC usage.

Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles does charge for CC, so I pay our three license sticker fees of $151 each year with a $100 bill, a $50 bill, and a $1 bill in person at the drive through window.