abellanti

I know there was a recent thread on the USPS, but I wanted to warn you guys about using them to ship bikes or high value items. I recently sold a 2003 De Rosa frame on ebay and decided to ship USPS priority, insured with signature. This is the first time I chose USPS over bikeflight/ FEDEX. I pre printed the label on ebay, boxed the frame up and dropped it off at the post office. A couple days go by and I notice there is no activity on the tracking number, so I decided to stop by the post office and inquire. They said they have no record of me dropping the box off, nor can they locate it anywhere. A couple weeks go by and nothing. I filed a claim, however, it was denied, as they have no proof it was dropped off. I'm going to fight this as long as I can! BEWARE!!!

Bianchigirll 

You didn’t get a receipt when you dropped it off? I’ve had issues with my idiot carrier but never had the post lose something.

Lazyass

My last 3-4 USPS packages have ended up getting stuck somewhere with no tracking updates for like a week.

abellanti

No, I didn't get a receipt...of course in hindsight I should of insisted. When I dropped the frame off it was a busy day and a long line. One of postal workers asked if anyone was dropping off...I said yes....they took the box and said everything was good. I thought for sure it would have been scanned right then and there. However, doesn't seem to be the case.

tricky 

Dang. That's frustrating. Good luck fighting it. I do get a receipt when shipping or doing financial transactions, even at the ATM and especially when the value is high. I sort of hate the distrustful side of me that encourages this but it does provide proof. I have had a handful of instances over the years when it paid off. Again, good luck and let us know how and when you won this thing.

Vintage_Cyclist

File a police report for the apparent larceny; if the value was over $1,000, it's probably felony level (depends on the state law). It's also more than likely the post office has CCTV that captured your exchange. Also file a complaint with the post office Inspector General.

abellanti

Funny, I asked them if they could review the camera footage...and was told they really don't work as it's a low theft area....WTF....it's obviously a HIGH theft area. I will be filing a complaint with the inspector general and with whoever else I can.

wrk101

Step one with USPS: have your local carrier pick it up and make sure they immediately scan it in. I have shipped thousands of items via USPS and have never had this issue. And I never drop off at the post office. Why bother when I can get free home pickup.

Now I have a great postal carrier. If not, I'd take stuff to the post office and wait in line to get scanned in with a receipt. I'm not putting a $500 item on the counter and walking out. Not all post offices are busy. In my area, the one that is a mile away is packed. Meanwhile, one that is six miles away is empty. I'd rather drive five minutes and avoid the line.


Note on tracking, ITS NOT tracking. Its delivery confirmation, nothing more. People often call it tracking, but its not. But it will show being scanned in by my postal carrier (which is important to me to maintain top rated seller status on eBay). And sometimes it will show where the package is during transit, but often, that information is not accurate.


+1 Start with the police. File a report. Item was likely stolen off the counter.

wschruba

Local union rep is the first stop, then the manager of the branch if that goes nowhere. If you go straight to the manager, you'll burn bridges at the office. Just a friendly FYI.

Vintage_Cyclist

They're lying.

jamesdak 

Yeah, no offense but the only reason this is a problem is because you didn't ensure it was scanned and didn't get a receipt. All the rest is just collateral damage. No matter who the carrier is, ensure it's scanned and get your receipt.

That said, I sincerely hope you can get this worked out somehow because we all make mistakes and the whole situation obviously sucks. Hopefully you can get some kind of camera footage to prove you did drop it off.

Wileyone 

This is what I believe too. I really don't think you have any recourse at all.

What I would do though is keep in touch with the buyer (who knows he might be an honest person).

I've had so called "scanned" packages show up at my door with no tracking History at all.

clubman 

Don't agree, Union reps will protect their members whether they did something wrong or not. I'd go to management.

FBOATSB

This is a timely thread. I just dropped off a click and ship flat rate box at the PO. I could have just dropped it in the box, as I only have about fifteen bucks invested, but I went ahead and took it to the counter for a scan and receipt. Didn't take that long. I think any addressee would appreciate it also. OP, I hope you get results.

FBinNY 

I'm sorry to hear of the OP"s loss, but let's be real.

The USPS delivers many millions of packages annually, with very little loss of any kind, so this single example isn't cause for a broad based indictment.

As noted by others, the OP didn't make sure the package was scanned as received, so now has no way to file a claim. In all fairness the USPS has the burden of proof of delivery, but ONLY after there's proof that they accepted the package. This is the same rule that applies to all common carriers, and is common sense.

So, the OP should notify the postal inspector because that's his only option. Since there's no scan record at all, the possibilities are limited. Taking the OP's word at face value, the package had to have been stolen at the post office, by the driver delivering it to the regional center, or by someone at the intake area of the center. Had it moved beyond that it would have been scanned.

Ex Pres 

Recently @ work: Not packages, but regular mail & priority mail envelopes, both containing checks.

First incident - headed all of 120mi E from Birmingham to ATL. Got lost for 2 weeks, should have taken 2 days. Client is not happy.

Second incident: because of the first incident, I sent this check priority/tracked. Mailed on the 12th, headed to Baton Rouge. It has had attempted deliveries here in town twice, finally left B'ham and went to Memphis, sat there, on to Baton Rouge. After a couple of days there - never delivered - it's back at the B'ham regional center. It's now been 13 days on a 2 day priority mail delivery - and it's still trapped in the system. I need this one to get there so I can get paid.

Grand Bois

The United States Postal Inspection Service would have jurisdiction, not the local police.

abellanti

I get it...I shipped lots of stuff through USPS over the years and had little problems. But I will say I had three separate issues in the prior 30 days. HOWEVER, when shipping something valuable, I would not trust USPS as they are not near as professional as FEDEX, UPS, nor is their tracking worth a ****. In addition, their insurance is not near as robust as their competitors. On top of that, their customer service really sucks. Go ahead and use them...I will when shipping non valuable items... but no more with frames/ bikes.

abellanti

Yes, the problem with getting my money back is in the fact I don't have proof I dropped it off. But I do have a PROBLEM with the antiquated system they use, crapping tracking, loose procedures, weak insurance and crappy customer service. I'l rather pay a little extra when shipping frames and bikes with FEDEX or even UPS.

katsup

As far as I know, this only works for First Class Packages (under 1lb). I do this all the time as well, but never with anything over 1lb.

I have also done with the OP did, especially when the lines are long. However, it is usually with items valued under $50 and I never had a problem.

A frame should be a larger package, it should be easier to spot. If you have pictures of the box, you may want to print them for the Post Office. I luckily had a photo when I noticed something was stuck at my local USPS after it was scanned as accepted. They found it shortly afterward.

miamijim

I have and will continue to use USPS. This stuff happens with every carrier. Every one.

The Golden Boy 

The “insurance” for all of them is useless.

ThermionicScott 

Hmm, I always make sure to pocket receipts. I can always throw them away at home later.

FBinNY 

+1

We hear similar "I was screwed by these bums" complaints all the time. I figure that even if any service is good 99.97% of the time that's still thousands of screwings per year.

Based on posts here on BF, they're all equally bad, so the only option left is to hand deliver everything.

FWIW - I ship thousands of packages via USPS annually, and the vast bulk are delivered on time, a few are delivered late, and (so far) those that aren't delivered come back to me, usually because of bad address, or failure to claim at the PO.

Chombi1 

Regarding the security camera footage,
Unfortunately, even if they did have that camera working, I bet that they still will not allow anyone outside the system to view what was recorded.. Even law enforcement people will need special permission to view such recordings, unless it is demanded through a subpoena/court order.
Maybe at the local 7-11 you can convince a manager to let you do such, but at a USPS Office, doubt it....