What the heck is going on with USPS?

[UrbanCoutureJewelry]

Am I the only one or is anyone else having major problems with USPS? I have had packages re routed to the wrong areas, packages extremely late, and packages marked as delivered but customers saying they did not receive! I can't keep eating shipping cost because of incompetence. I've never had it this bad, I'm going crazy here...

[KiltedWoman]

So far I've had no issues but it seemed like January was bad for some shops due to the closure of many distribution centers and winter weather back East. Seems like they should have the bugs worked out by now!
Are you shipping first class? I wonder if switching to priority for awhile would help.

[ItsyBitsyPaperCuts]

I am shipping first class and I have a lot of packages that will sit at a hub for a few days. It drives me nuts. I haven't had a customer complain yet but I may switch to priority for awhile too.

[Former_Member]

I've had the same problem. Sometimes my packages sit for 2 days at a HUB and sometimes they've been up to 5 days late. The worst is the priority mail. I hate that customers pay extra for expedited shipping and can't get what they've paid for.

[LeedsRadio]

What service are you using - Priority, First Class, Express?
How are you generating the shipping labels and on what stock?
Are you dropping off AND getting a receipt?

[UrbanCoutureJewelry]

I print labels through Etsy and ship USPS normally first class shipping unless a buyer upgrades shipping to priority or overnight.

Recently I had an overnight package not make it on time which I was able to get a full refund on shipping but my customer needed it overnight... Then I had 2 priority packages go right to the city it was to be delivered and tracking info showed them both shipping to a completely different city and is now routed back to the original shipping destination. These two packages are now a over a week late and still have not delivered and I have given a partial refund for the inconvenience. I have had two first class packages marked as delivered and the customers have not received them.

I have also noticed packages going to NY will be scanned as delivered and my customers don't receive them until 2-3 days after it's scanned delivered. I ship out all packages within 24 hours and shipping time is usually very fast but this month has been a mess so far and I'm just irritated since it's out of my control...

[PaperDotCo]

USPS has lost 3 of my packages in the last 2 weeks.
I filed complaint for those and 1 was found and the 2 other packages to UK were never found.
Also, lots of delays last 2 months and takes 3 days extra to reach the destination.

[LeedsRadio]

Yes, but how are your packages getting into the mail-stream?
Do you drop off or do you have scheduled pick ups? Are you using a scan sheet? Do you insist on a receipt?
Are the labels self-adhesive? Are you printing with a laser printer?

I don't use First Class for anything time critical. For packages First Class is a step-child service. When I do use it I tell the recipient it's going to be there in 10 days. First is also no bargain. Across country first for a 9 oz package is $3.60, while Priority small flat rate is $5.25 and the boxes are free.

All of these things matter. I've been shipping with USPS for 14 or 15 years. Maybe 20,000 packages. In that time they have lost only one package (stolen in Italy) and damaged only one. I might have one package significantly late to a customer every 1 - 1.5 years.

And for a while my post office was one of the worst in New York City. If you want ship successfully with them you have to know more about what will work, what is permitted and the USPS' policies than the people in the post office do. This means reading all the boring stuff about classes of mail, and forms, and address standardization, and what type of things can and can't be insured.

If you don't believe this just remember I've had ONE loss in 15 YEARS and also look at what some people have said about my shipping:

www.etsy.com/your/shops/LeedsRadio/reviews

[TheTangledCat]

I agree with Richard. I have a another shop (hand painted glass ornaments) and have been shipping hundreds of packages/year for about 5 years. I think I've maybe lost one package and one item was damaged (my fault). I use USPS priority mail 99% of the time (but first class outside US).

I suggest you also use priority shipping. You sell small, lightweight items - so your cost will not be much higher...the free boxes are wonderful and you get tracking. I also love that the post lady picks up my packages on my doorstep. Priority Mail is well worth the extra few pennies. NOTE: I've NEVER had a customer complain that they received an item too quickly. :) And also, like Richard, I get numerous positive comments about how quickly people receive their product

www.etsy.com/shop/BrushStrokeOrnaments/reviews?ref=shop_info

[UrbanCoutureJewelry]

I drop all packages off at the post office and used to watch them scan each one but now they want me to throw them in a bin to be scanned. I use an inkjet printer and tape the labels on and make sure to not tape over the bar codes.

It seems I have some reading to do... There is always room for improvement. Thanks for the advice.

[RayOfLightJewels]

This is kiltedwoman, I use the same method as you do, Urban Couture and never an issue so maybe it is incompetence at your local post office. Is there another post office within easy driving distance?

[UrbanCoutureJewelry]

I have two different post offices that I drop at and notice one is much better with getting my packages out on time and the other is more convenient but not that great. I have not had any problems with slow shipping until this year...

[LeedsRadio]

@Urban Couture

Individual post offices often make up rules (or ignore them) to make things easy. Don't EVER leave a package without a receipt. If something got lost/stolen before they got around to scanning it, you would have no claim because you can't prove that you handed it off to them. Also, if goes into a drop box, what happens if they empty it after official hours?

When you hand over a package to the USPS you are not handing them cardboard you are handing them money. USPS specifically says that you can bring packages with postage that is generated online to a retail window.

If you have more than one package use a scan form. You may find that some retail clerks don't know what to do with a scan form. When I moved my shop last year, none of the clerks in my new station had ever even seen one. I went to the manager and explained that I ship commercially and that I use scan form and that she should teach them how to use them. Within a month everyone did.

Stop using inkjet. Inkjet printing smears when even slightly wet. Small packages are often carry by mailmen in pouches or carts that are canvas and so not water proof. If the bar code is smeared it cannot be read. If label is sufficiently smeared not only can they not deliver the package, they can't return it. And cardboard is so hydroscopic that smearing can happen from behind plastic tape. Remote? Maybe but if it happens even once a year think of the headache!

You can hold a laser printed label under running water and it will not smear.
Laser printers now have lower costs per printed page as well.

Use Avery or similar high quality labels. They save enormous amounts of time and the base is MUCH more rugged than a sheet of paper. The adhesive is strong and fully covers the back so even the barcode is held fast to the carton.

[UrbanCoutureJewelry]

I will definitely look up info on using a scan sheet since this is new to me. One post office I go to will let me scan my own items so I will probably start doing that again. I have a Dymo printer that I have not used yet, will that work too or is the laser printer better?

[Former_Member]

i´m having issues with usps as well. back in february i shipped to bracelets to a customer in the US. 4 weeks went by and nothing arrived. i demanded an investigation in my local PO and usually if things don´t show up after 4 weeks they are lost and i can file an insurance claim and get my money back. i refunded my customer and waited for the result of the investigation which took over 2 months resulting in a message saying my package was delivered at the beginning of april. so i have been SOL and did not get my money back. needless to say i was rather angry

[HollyODesigns]

After reading this thread, I decided to check on the status of my deliveries since it's been a few days. Well, it turns out the package I sent Monday is saying it still needs to be scanned!! I called main hotline and finally got a customer service rep on the phone. It's funny the rep for tracking is "not available at this time" but using a different reason I suddenly can speak to someone. She said it is likely the post office didn't scan it and just shipped it. She said wait a few more days to see what happens. Can we say stressed?! The piece is an OOAK piece and cannot be recreated. Well sure enough, I just got an email saying the package is at the post office in the town it is being delivered too. Thank goodness!!! This makes me worry about using the same post office though. I like to know where my package is, and if it's not being scanned, how will I know?! I'm so ready for the weekend......lol.

[LeedsRadio]

@Urban Couture

I've never used a Dymo printer. Since I need a laser printer to print flyers, maps and receipts for walk-in customers it would be an extra piece on the desk.
Try it and test the labels to see how resistant they are to smudging and smearing when damp. Can't be worse than an inkjet. And if you're printing on self-adhesive labels your package are going to a whole new level of pretty.

[Former_Member]

USPS is phasing out being able to purchase 1st class shipping on packages in many smaller areas and through many private shipping outlets. This has already happened in our area. Service most definitely depends on each facility, as Richard stated, and on each individual employee you deal with. We've had this experience in the past year. From very good service, to terrible, to good again.

In the past 1.5 years, I've had the same experience with odd tracking records, skipped and spotted tracking along the route, though all packages were delivered.

USPS is going through some big changes. Agree with Richard that we should all begin asking for drop-off receipts. For international packages, I've actually taken photos of the packages being dropped off sitting on the USPS counter. :)