I mailed a USPS supplied Priority box using one of their label to Miami, FL last Thursday, so it has been 1 week as of today, but it has not arrived. I didn't get a confirmation because I have never ever had a problem with a box being delivered.
I specifically asked the person (new DG subscriber) not to ship until they received mine:
"Let me send my box first. That way you can see what you got before you ship. I like to do it that way so there are no misunderstandings."
They shipped their box anyway and the plants are more than I expected. I am very pleased with what I got, but I would not have been had I known I was going to have to ship the second time.
What do you think? Have you had a delivery to take this long. Do you resent the trade if the person says they didn't get it? That is what I'm planning on doing and trust me this one will have a delivery confirmation.
This may sound harsh, but I have made a decision to not trade with people who have been a subscriber for less than 6 months because: this trade has gone sour, twenty2libras is missing in action and in another trade I got a pitiful half dead cutting which did not survive, although the person had received my package and it was very generous. I am very generous in all my trading.
I would appreciate any input you might have.
Judy
USPS Priority Package - how long should I wait???
Judy, When I first started trading early last year on Garden Web, I didnt use delivery confirmation either, I felt I needed to save the money. I mailed a package out west, with lirope (which is kinda heavy to ship). Lady said she never got the package. I kept in touch with her and when the package was missing for 2 weeks. I re sent with delivery confirmation. The second package arrived. A week after that, she sent me an email that the first package had finally arrived. No thank you - no nothing.
Now, I will always wonder..... and I have that name down in my trade journal and would not trade with her again.
Unfortunately, the "rub" is on you for not using delivery confirm. You know you can get it for free dont you? IF you print your labels online, the deli conf is free -even if you print your label without postage. For me, the confirmation makes sure that no one rips me off by saying it didnt arrive - it also protects you from being thought poorly of by the person waiting on the package in case it was truly lost.
If it were me, I would resend (if I had the stuff) because I would not be surprised to learn that the p.o. had lost it . Your trader should have waited but she was probably just trying to be extra nice, especially since she sent a fair trade value to you.
I dont trade with new members either (if I notice) unless they have had several good trade reports.
Its kinda like the problem I had shipping the waterlilies, I like to use zipped bags to ensure wettness but these can get too hot if left out. I MUST start writing PROTECT FROM HEAT on those packages but that doesnt mean that the postal service will comply :)
I dont blame you for being aggravated, I would feel exactly the same but unfortunately you just dont know who to blame. Hope things get straightened out soon.
charlotte
Same here - learned the hard way to pay that little extra to make sure it gets there. You can never be sure without it . . . I do trade with new traders seeing I am not much more then that on here myself . . . LOL but everything has confim now. Mitch
I haven't done much plant trading, but I send all my pet commissions out Priority Mail. I have noticed it takes longer the farther away and the smaller the town. If I send out after 1, it sits at my post office an extra day. I had one that took nearly 2 weeks before it finally made it's way where it was going, although almost all of them make it within 3 or 4.
Hope it turns up today!!!
I am considered a newbie to DG so I am kind of resentful on the comment on not trading anyone new. How are we to learn on how to trade plants then? You can only trade like one plant at first and if it doesn't pan out, then take them off your list.
I have traded with Kim_Gaither so far along with a couple other people and hope they are satisfied. I am finding out that there is an art to shipping and trading already.
I have sent several things to Canada and am finding out that it takes weeks to get there. I just sent some dahlia tubers on May 16 and to this day, they haven't arrived. This concerns me if I ever want to do any actual plant trading with. According to the post office, Canada is a foreign country and there is no control on how long things take to get to their desination.
All this is a learning experience for all of us, I see.
Carol
My understanding is that Priority Mail is expected to take 2-3 days.
I send all my trades priority mail (often using the flat rate boxes) and add delivery confirmation.
They have all arrived in 2-4 days w/ one exception. I shipped a box over a month ago. It never arrived at its destination. The post office has no idea, the tracking system for delivery confirmation only shows that it was accepted at my local post office, they apologized and said there is little they can do.
That particular trade was a bust because the trader declined my offer of a second shipment.
Delivery confirmation is great to confirm a package was received, AND to verify that you sent a package. But it in no way prevents a package from being lost.
I did my first trades here this spring and hope that by using confirmation it will add some level of assurance to other more seasoned traders that I am following through w/ my part of the trade. Although, I get the impression that is not the case w/ the trader from the "lost package" incident. But situations such as this seem best handled by walking away and cutting my losses, even when it is disappointing--another trade is likely to come along and make up for it!
This message was edited May 26, 2005 1:49 PM
In nine, almost ten years of trading, I have only had one box disappear into thin air. I truly believe the receiving person was just dishonest. I believe this because they said three times they would send me a box despite never receiving mine and I never got so much as a stamp. This particular box went into Canada and I put on the slip, as I always do "gift, no value" and nothing more. I have mailed boxes all over Europe with no problem either. I never ever used delivery confirmation until here recently because it is included and free when you use stamps.com.
I am still waiting for postage and/or return postage from a few people from boxes mailed a few weeks ago. I guess I will have to write and see what is up with them. Most of the time, trading is great but sometimes there are issues. I also still owe a few people, but it is not because I am lagging behind, just trying to find something special enough. :)
I'm new too and have sent additional plants when the post office was tardy in delivering the originals. I think those who have traded with me have been satisfied for the most part. But I feel bad when someone is unhappy with my trade. If the person is nice about it, I am happy to reship another plant. But I recently had someone be very nasty when they were unhappy with the plants I sent them, and they did actually receive them! Now they want me to pay to have their stuff shipped back to them. And after all that, they sent me the wrong stuff. (sigh and shake my head)
New trader or old, a trade can go bad.
Jacqueline
I think we all need to do the Feedback with each person on each trade we do then. So people can see that the people they are trading with are okay to do more trading with.
Just my comment.
Carol
If I sent something that never got there, I'd scan my post office receipt to show them that it was sent...I bought something from ebay that got lost for 3 weeks or so and that's what the seller did when it was obviously lost. That made me feel much better, even if it had never arrived, I would have felt better, at least I wasn't taken advantage of, you know?
razzie, good idea!!!
I print my labels on usps.com using click and ship. You dont have to pay for the postage if you dont want to, you can just use it to print the label. That way delivery confirmation is free. I did that until I got a scale. Now I print the label with the postage and just hand it to the mailman.
I'm going to start doing that. Thanks for the info rylaff.
Judy
Good News!!! I received the below email just now:
Judy.
GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Went to the Post Office which is just 4 blocks away, inquired
about your package and told me that the mailwoman was
here saturday and nobody was home and left a pink slip.
Just happen that on saturday was a big garage sale in
our block and we were helping our neiborgh do some selling.
all day. So definitely she was lying and let the Superintendent
know about.
THe good news ,, the plants are in good shape, NO HARM,
just let them get some fresh air and wash then .will plant them tomorrow.
Now you can relax,...........me too.
------------
This problem is resolved but I have learned a valuable lesson.
Thanks for all the information you all have posted. If there is anything else I need to know please post it here.
Judy
Judy, a lady shipped me a box last year, it took l2 days priority mail to get here, go figure, I mailed a box a couple weeks ago, I usually print my labels on line and get free delivery confirmation, but for about 3 or 4 boxes I ran out of time so I just to ok them to th ep.o. and one of them never made it there, I had to send it again and sent it delivery confirmation this time and it got there, go figure. I think delivery confirmation makes everybody including p.o. folks honest. But in turn, I've not received packages that were sent delivery confirmation too, and the tracking number said it was delivered, but i've never received it, p.o. guy offered to pay the shipping on it, but I said no. I think he left it on someone elses door steps, which happened several times. You just never know what to expect with the p.o. system these days. I'd give it 2 weeks and send again or work out something else with the trader.
Not long ago, I did a brug trade with someone, I sent my end delivery confirmation and they never got it, the tracking said they did, but I sent it again, since I had another one. Are we really liable to send again if we send delivery confirmation? just a thought. I do send again if it happens that it doesn't get there, but if you don't have more what's one to do?
Kathy_Ann
I think I posted while you were typing. He just sent an email that he got it so this problem is solved, but ...
If I ever have a PO confirmation that it was delivered, then it would be between them and the Post Office. I would not reship, unless it was someone I really liked and knew they were being straight with me.
Judy
I've reshipped twice now, . when they said they didn't get it and tracking said they did, but Iknew both of them really well. and someone did it for me once too. glad he got his box.
But can the p.o. do anything about that? after all it is your word against the p.o. man, and I certainly don't want my p.o. man mad at me, or he'll be bringing my boxes back to the p.o. instead of leaving them in my garage when i'm not home LOL. you really never win do we.
Without any delivery confirmation, the post office tells me there is no way to track anything. (Certainly different from the olden days) Now from what you say above, even the delivery confirmation doesn't ensure the ability to track where it really went.
I have sent things both ways and personally believe (whether you pay the extra 40 cents or get it for free) delivery confirmation keeps the postal workers just a little bit more on their toes.
Shipping to Canada, this past month I did my first 2. Checking prices, priority was out of the question. One suggested I send it "ground" which is the cheapest. My opinion, any plant matter is dead when it takes 4-6 weeks for delivery, what....are they riding a horse?
So the next best one up is "regular" air. 7 days. One of my deliveries did get there unmolested. Not sure about the other yet though, haven't been notified by the recipient.
I would like to say, I have been trading plants almost since I joined Daves. When I commit to send a trade, it goes out almost immediately. I have 2 members (neither of which is active anymore) not follow through on their end. I make a mental note and move on. I have had some new members do trades and seems like they wait til they get my package before they send theirs. That's a bit of a kick in the face, considering I have never reneged on a trade. Not a lot of people have fed my feedback, but enough for others to have some confidence in me. So Daisy, I know it's tough being a "newbie", but soon you will be an "oldy" like some of us.
Judy sorry for venting on your thread. But YOU ARE the queen of venting threads, aren't you?
Molly
:^)))
Nope never can win - cant prove anything, cant disprove anything . . . . I had a box come from Bluestone UPS - the truck dropped it off at the wrong house, they were on a trip and I got it - 4 days latter after it sat on their porch . . . you just never can tell. I am thinking about trying the sign confirm option - it cost more but hey they have to sign for it to get it so you really know they got it or at least who signed for it - just a thought.... Mitch
You are welcome to come to my thread and vent any time you want too!!
Lol lol
Judy
Mitch. I've done alot of trades and have only had problems regarding delivery with one package. None since I started delivery confi. I think the signing might cause more problems because folks may not be home and it would result in the packages waiting longer at the p.o. Might be a good idea if you were sending a large trade.
Judy....I am so glad for you..now you dont have to wonder or have doubt about each other. that is great !
True - It is just that one that does not make it . . . I hate wondering if it made it there or was it dropped off somewhere else wrong or what happened... I did add insurance an two larger trades so if they had issues they could get the insurance out of it... went online and got a guess att what they are worth and stuck it on there... maybe sign is no good . . . got to think it through .. . Mitch
Having to sign for me 90% of the time would not be a problem, but most people work and aren't there to sign so the mailperson leaves a notice, then the person must take off work to run by the post office when it is open to get the package...... buggers!!
But if you could have it delivered to their place of employement address it would work, unless there was a delay and the PO tried to deliver on Saturday but they weren't open.
What if it was a Sat delivery at home, the plants would have to sit in the PO until Monday.
BUT if you are trading BIG there are definitely some good points to getting a signature.
Judy
My PO was very apologetic on the phone when I inquired about my lost package. They checked w/ the local PO where it was to be delivered and found no additional info.
Apparently the Conf packages are supposed to be scanned along the way--leaving a bit of a trail--or at least a clue of how far it made it when it disappeared. For my package, it was scanned in at my local PO on the day I sent it--and nothing since then.
So mostly I think Del Conf offers some peace of mind for the senders and receivers.....but obviously in some cases it serves no real purpose in the end. For my situation, I've no interest in any future trades w/ that person, simply because of how they handled their part of it, when I think it is obvious that I truly sent a package, and the USPS lost it.
I'll continue to use Del Conf and for a large trade in the future I'd consider insurance if I didn't have alot of extras of the same plants, and wanted to make sure the trade went well.
Have resent several times but usually seeds in bubble envelopes get lost. I have resent 2 plant packages. Have had some arrive 6-7 days after they were shipped. My daughter sent her grandsons Christmas gifts in a box on Christmas 2003 and they arrived in Ft Leonardwood MO in June of 2004. When she checked they had been sitting in their PO all that time. But when you think of all the mail that moves daily it is a miracle any of it gets to where it is going Shirley
Marclay--That's a good point about a package sitting unnoticed at a PO. I don't have any indication my trader has checked the PO since my PO called there early on. But they quickly lost interest in the trade, so it seemed fruitless to ask them to do any checking. I'm the only one who lost out--they had not shipped--so had nothing invested in the trade.
Still--I can't imagine that the USPS will regularly lose my packages--thank goodness!
Judy so sorry the mail lady here tells me first class is same as prioity 2 to 3 days sometimes n might 4 not suppose to,..i knew 2 people did get mine said did not one in Florida from another site also..you just never know!!i use conf. now when have extra cents.. some i go ahead send without it as i know the people.. EVERYONE if i do not send postage or trade please remind me its my memory ok? never intentional believe me...
For you that have a PayPal account here is a little trick. If you pay for your postage using PayPal through their online postage site that allows you to print the postage label and just let the mail carrier pick it up (prepaid), you get free tracking on USPS priority packages. Hope this makes sense and hope it helps someone.
Judy, although it's all settled now, I would just like to add my 2 cents for what it's worth. In my most humble opinion, making the decision to not trade with less than 6-month-old subscribers *is* pretty harsh. You cant judge all new DGers based on a couple bad experiences (& from the thread about twenty2libras, some are very concerned for health). Have you not had bad luck with any member who was not new? I completely understand your frustration. I buy and sell on ebay and have little tolerance for flakes, but I have found that for the most part, people are good, despite the occasional bad apple. I am new gardener, and thanks to people like MollyMc, Datdog, and Pins, I am not only building my garden, but my trade "credit." I would feel really crummy if someone refused to trade with me simply because I'm a new subscriber. That is like being guilty until proven innocent. Just my 2 cents.
~Rachael
Rachael - you are right, but a person makes decisions based upon their past experience and what they feel is best for them. Before I trade with an older DG subscriber, I read many if not all the threads they have started as well as postings they have made on other threads, inquire about the person to other DG members and base my decision upon the sum total of this information.
Why do I go to so much trouble? It isn't the plant or the postage money, it is the fact that I don't want to be disappointed in the person. I don't want to feel betrayed.
Judy
Delivery confirmation is not what it's cracked up to be. I recently won some books off ebay and they were sent delivery confirmation. I never got them, but the delivery confirmation showed they were delivered a certain day at 4 p.m. We were home all day that day, and the 4 p.m. time showed it was probably a substitue mailperson as they are always late in the day. Well the seller refunded my money (he had charged insurance but didn't buy it - so he just refunded himself.) Anyhoo, two weeks later the package arrives via our regular mailperson. I asked her where it had been all this time. She was very vague, but said she "found" it lying in the post office. She also conveniently blamed the delivery confirmaiton error on her substitute. But I get packages left by her in my mailbox all the time with delivery confirmation - which I never sign for. I could easily say I never got it. So what good is delivery confirmation? Harold
I agree with Judy completely.
I dont refuse to trade with new members but I am VERY cautious, just because some folks sign up, arrange a bunch of trades and are gone.
Even with members that have been here awhile, I do exactly like Judy. I look at their rating and view which threads they post -it tells me a little about their Daves activity. Trades should be and usually are alot of fun, who needs a hassle. :)
I've just exchanged emails with a Newby, who has gotten stung her first time at trading here at DG. She thought the person had been around for awhile but they hadn't, the sign up date is deceiptive in that if a person signs in as a member, when they become a subscriber the original date is maintained.
A fairly good way to check to see how long they have been an active subscriber is to check the threads they have started and the posting they have made by entering their name in the "Search Forum" function.
What a bad thing to happen to a Newby!!! By the way this transaction was not conducted on the Plant Trading thread, they were both posting (met) on a plant Forum. So be careful of requests for plant tradings initiated on other forums.
Judy
Well the best response I ever got from a track and confirm was through United Parcel Service
I had ordered some strawerry plants last year for this years delivery. Well, I moved and forgot to tell them. They had shipped the order out to me; and notifed me by email that day it was shipped. I watched where it was going via **United Parcel Service** tracking method; it was recorded at each station it went through daily in the morning & evening, whenever it changed hands. I intercepted it before going out for delivery at 9AM and it was deverted to my correct address. They had even sent me out a secondary shipment by mistake of the same order and I did the same. When I spoke with them about it, they told me to keep both orders and that I didn't need to pay for the second order, it was their fault.
Now that's trck & confirm service, the way it should be!
~* Robin
Secondary post! ~BLIP!~
This message was edited May 27, 2005 4:44 PM
Gosh, I feel like I'm back in grammar school where I was called New Girl for 6 months before my fellow students realized I had a name.
I guess I'll just have to sit in the sidelines until October. Fun.
Nikko,
Don't feel that way. You have been busy trading and already worked up a VERY good reputation.
Mind me, let me check to see I gave you feedback. If I didn't I apologize and will fix it.
Molly
:^))))
Thanks Molly. You're a doll!
~Rachael
I'll trade with you Carol :-) I have nothing against 'newbies'
Marc