Rant on shipping

[ultrarunner]

Hope it was insured?

25 years ago I was tasked with shipping a small medical laser valued new at 40k and used at 5 years old 10k

I decided to have the freight company pack and ship and paid a little under $300.

Took some grief for paying the shipper to pack it as I was suppose to do that… I also insured it for 10k

Anyway it arrived damaged and the leasing company was billing the hospital 12k.

All I can say is good forward thinking on my part for professional packing and insurance… plus I found on the leasing company site they were selling same for 10k

In the end the packer/shipper had to do all the legwork and the leasing company got 10k as payment in full.

As a postscript I was praised by the medical chief of staff for using a packer shipper with insurance…

 

[kenmbz]

Fedex drivers
Had to dig it out since the truck was heavy enough to plant it pretty deep.

 

[Jstpssng]

Here's an example of privatized mail service; I ordered two books last week. They are being shipped via "DHLGLOBAL".
Estimated time to get here from Georgia is 11 days.
Yeah, let's privatize the mail service.

 

[JethroB]

I mailed a sizable check recently to a relative across the country via USPS Priority Mail ($10.10). Estimated 3 day delivery became 17 days. He eventually received it to find the envelope had been opened and the check was missing. I had already placed a Stop Payment on the check at day 10. A few days later my bank called to say someone had changed the payee name (washed it) and attempted to deposit it.

That’s 2 of 3 checks undelivered I mailed to him in six months. I’ll be sending wires from here on. The question that bugs me is why did the thief put the empty envelope back in the mail box?

 

[NoTrespassing]

I mailed a sizable check recently to a relative across the country via USPS Priority Mail ($10.10). Estimated 3 day delivery became 17 days. He eventually received it to find the envelope had been opened and the check was missing. I had already placed a Stop Payment on the check at day 10. A few days later my bank called to say someone had changed the payee name (washed it) and attempted to deposit it.

That’s 2 of 3 checks undelivered I mailed to him in six months. I’ll be sending wires from here on. The question that bugs me is why did the thief put the empty envelope back in the mail box?

Had one stolen and washed from a city box. Bank covered it after I filed a police report. I no longer use city or rural boxes. I will mail from inside the post office but don't send checks.

 

[goeduck]

I mailed a sizable check recently to a relative across the country via USPS Priority Mail ($10.10). Estimated 3 day delivery became 17 days. He eventually received it to find the envelope had been opened and the check was missing. I had already placed a Stop Payment on the check at day 10. A few days later my bank called to say someone had changed the payee name (washed it) and attempted to deposit it.

That’s 2 of 3 checks undelivered I mailed to him in six months. I’ll be sending wires from here on. The question that bugs me is why did the thief put the empty envelope back in the mail box?

Maybe thinking that if the envelope was delivered, the recipient might not open it for a while, giving them more time for the washed check to process?

I am curious if you mailed it at a Post Office? Every 3 months I need to send my LLC's funds to my trust company so they can report federal taxes and deposit it, etc. I always mail them in the Post Office certified so I can track them. I never thought that an envelope might be opened if the Post office has possession of it all the time, but I guess anything is possible.

 

[JethroB]

Maybe thinking that if the envelope was delivered, the recipient might not open it for a while, giving them more time for the washed check to process?

I am curious if you mailed it at a Post Office? Every 3 months I need to send my LLC's funds to my trust company so they can report federal taxes and deposit it, etc. I always mail them in the Post Office certified so I can track them. I never thought that an envelope might be opened if the Post office has possession of it all the time, but I guess anything is possible.

I mailed it through counter service inside the local post office and tracked it daily. It got stuck at one facility for 10 days. I didn’t mention that it was clearly apparent that the envelope had been opened. So, did the theft occur within the postal system or from my relative’s apartment complex mail stand? Will never know ….

 

[goeduck]

I mailed it through counter service inside the local post office and tracked it daily. It got stuck at one facility for 10 days. I didn’t mention that it was clearly apparent that the envelope had been opened. So, did the theft occur within the postal system or from my relative’s apartment complex mail stand? Will never know ….

Sometimes it is a week to go across the country (WA to NJ), the last time it took 1 day to get to that NJ distribution center, plus a few days to deliver. When it is a week, I am on pins and needles. They will take a wire, but that is expensive and a pain. I wish they did free ACH transfers.

 

[ponytug]

I mailed it through counter service inside the local post office and tracked it daily. It got stuck at one facility for 10 days. I didn’t mention that it was clearly apparent that the envelope had been opened. So, did the theft occur within the postal system or from my relative’s apartment complex mail stand? Will never know ….

When a a priority mail item gets stuck, I report missing as soon as the Post office permits, and turn on movement alerts. Personally, dollars to donuts it was stolen in the Post Office, unless your relative has a lot of mail theft. To my way of thinking, there isn't a good reason for a priority mail letter to get hung up.

I knew someone who mailed checks, (and cash!) in magazines to deter thieves. He said that he never had a problem...

All the best,

Peter

 

[Oaktree]

I mailed it through counter service inside the local post office and tracked it daily. It got stuck at one facility for 10 days. I didn’t mention that it was clearly apparent that the envelope had been opened. So, did the theft occur within the postal system or from my relative’s apartment complex mail stand? Will never know ….

I believe the post office photographs/scans every item before delivery. Maybe your relative could ask to see the scan of that piece of mail to see what it looked like it when the carrier got it.