We get a silly little advertisement every single Saturday from a grocery store in a town near here. I feel sorry for the postman having to deliver all of them on a Saturday, especially when it is usually the only thing in my box. Isn't there some procedure you can take to stop unwanted mail. Maybe then it would free up the postal carriers a little and they might, just might put the packages in priority positions.
VERY frustrated with Priority Mail
NOW I at least know what happened to my box.
My package with the DL went BACK to the sender.She called me again today that her PO had called her.
It was held up by and sent back from Cinc./Ohio for security reasons.The Priority box was stamped but didn't have a meterstrip on it.
She will go to the PO this afternoon and take a picture of the lilies to send to me.
What I can't understand is that the lady at her PO asked her if she should send it again up to me today.
Yeahhh right LOL
As it was the plants had been in transit already for 10 days already....guess she isn't a gardener
Hi, everyone!
First off, I'd like to say please don't kill me. I'm a twenty nine year Postal employee.
Some of us do care about our jobs, and the mail.
The carrier should attempt delivery of a parcel before leaving a slip. If they just leave a slip, without an attempt, call their supervisor. They should be verbally warned, and then if they persist, they should be written up. There is NO excuse for this! If talking with the supervisor doesn't help, call the Postmaster, or see him/her in person. That should get a fire going under everyone involved.
Another option is a form called a "Consumer Service Card". You can get them in any lobby. A copy of the form is supposed to be sent to Region for the problem to be addressed at a higher level. Take several, and FLOOD them if you have to!
DonnaB,
Have you called your carrier's supervisor and told him/her about the finger-wagging? That is just NOT acceptable conduct in dealing with a member of the public!! (But about the pay raise...if it's on my paycheck, I'd sure like to know about it! I think a lot of the increase went to buy new flat-sorting machines.)
Wild_Willow,
That is outrageous that the carrier gave your mail to your child at school!!! That sounds like that calls for a suspension! It is NOT proper delivery if it is NOT put in your box at home!
ardesia,
I think you're right to be suspicious if your mags are not getting to you. Third class never stops coming. Even on a day that you might not get First class, you should get some "junk".
Windy,
You're right about the flyers, etc. These are called "coverages". They started about fifteen or twenty years ago, and have been getting heavier every year. The carriers have no choice about delivering them...in fact, if they don't they can get written up!
Vossner,
You're right about the new carriers not getting adequate training. I've seen some of these poor guys quit in less than a week because they get no help from management, no form of training at all! Most of the new guys survive because a vet will take them under their wing, and teach them what they need to know.
Eglantyne,
Sounds like your parcel was a victim of two gov't services...the PO, and the Dept. of Homeland security. We have to return parcels without meter stamps, because bombs are sometimes mailed that way. (Of course, I've never seen a bomb or anything like it in all my years so...)
As I've said before, in other threads about the subject, my personal apologies for the PO's screw ups. It's painfully embarrassing to me to read about some of your problems.
I hope that some of the above might help. Some of us (especially us gardeners who trade all the time!) really do care about what happens to your mail.
Marsha.
Marsha, thanks for your thoughtful comments and grateful that you understand we are just venting here. I feel comfortable speaking for the majority that we appreciate and respect you and are glad you are around to offer this service--where would civilization be w/o this way to exchange communication (and a way to buy/trade plants! lol). We just get annoyed every now and then. And in this era when anything that takes more that ONE MINUTE is considered too slow, episodes like this seem more irritating.
I don't usually share my DG cruising with DH, but the finger wagging and the child delivery service were too outrageous not to share.
Marsha, thanks for your input! I've certainly know plenty of conscientious postal workers (as I said, the one "permanant temporary" mailman we've had here was a gem), but it only takes a few less than stellar empoyees to throw a monkey wrench into the works.
And just to clarify, the way I read Becky's post, I think it was UPS (not USPS) in her small town that was pulling the stunt of delivering things to her children at the school.
I'm still not sure what's gumming up Priority Mail this year. Last year, if I dropped a package off at the substation, it arrived at its destination in 3 days, tops, and very often the next day. I even got a package from CA the very next day! This year, no such luck.
Marsha, As I mentioned I have never had a problem before and never had a priority package take longer than 2 days. I guess I was fortunate. Actually I never could understand why folks complained so much about the PO.
A few months ago a package was delivered to my son who had just that day moved to a new location. The tenant at the house told the UPS guy my son had moved back to his old place. Trying to be nice, UPS actually researched his old address and delivered and left the package at that house. Trouble is my son had moved to a different place where he lived a few years ago. There were students living at the house where the package was left and they never could remember what had happened to the box. What a time he had straightening that mess out but UPS eventually settled it.
Marsha,
So what recourse do we have when our "Priority" packages aren't a priority with the USPS? Does complaining to the Postmaster do any good at all?
edited for spelling
This message was edited Jun 23, 2006 3:51 PM
Well, I just got notification AFTER I FILED A COMPLAINT that my second box to Texas had been delivered:
Service Type: DELIVERY CONFIRMATION
Shipment Activity Location Date & Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delivered RICHMOND TX 77469 06/22/06 12:13pm
Acceptance BOONE NC 28607 06/12/06 11:37am
Let's see--that's 10 days for a priority mail box to get to its destination. I doubt the plants fared well, but at least my trading partner knows I mailed in a timely fashion and filed a complaint. I will not be using priority mail again for a while. I could have gotten that box to Texas cheaper and faster using UPS ground. Ten days is unacceptable--even though it beat the record for my other box to Texas by two days.
Oh, forgot to mention--
Marsha,
I really appreciate your post, but I agree with ardesia that while last year my priority mail packages did VERY well, this year all have been a bust with one exception. I don't know what's going on, but it really isn't worth it to me to pay for this kind of service anymore.
I live near a small town that has less than 2000 people. Our rural carrier is one of the "good ole boys". Hardly a day goes by without our getting someone elses mail so I am sure someone is getting mine as well. I had a package that was scanned into the po that took 2 weeks to be delivered to my mail box. I have complained but it does no good. I have hand delivered neighbor's mail to them that look important (one was a check from IRS) but the rest I put back in the box with the flag up for the carrier to redeliver. It is so irritating. I have pretty well quit mailing or trading/ordering plants. Our newspapers that come thru the mail are seldom delivered on days that they are suppose to be.
Patsy
I was going to start a new thread, but this may be the appropriate place to ask...I'm new to trading and I have cuttings rooted for a few people...
Is it too hot to ship in July/August? Assuming they are properly packaged and shipped, do the plants tolerate the heat?
SB
I actually had pretty good luck with priority mail as far as plants go. I marked the boxes perishable, live plants, etc. (don't know if that really helps) However, I mailed a Priority envelope to my daughter who lives 50 miles away and it took 3 days. I thought by sending it priority for such a short distance, it would get there the next day. I've had First Class envelopes arrive to her the next day, so I'm not sure what was up with that.
Vossner,
I know what you mean about things seeming to take too long nowadays. I just got DSL a little while ago, and find myself getting annoyed when a page takes more than three seconds to load...on dial-up, that would have been fantastic! I guess we're spoiled...
berrygirl,
Unfortunately, it depends on the Postmaster. If you have a good one, it will make a difference. If not...it'll make no difference at all. All I can suggest is that you try.
irmaly,
I don't blame you for not using the service if you're not getting what you've paid for. I've had nothing but good luck with Priority, but this does have me wondering about the system in general. I haven't mailed too much this year, yet. I'm getting some plants ready to mail now, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
stressbaby,
I generally try to avoid July and August for mailing plants. Even if they make it in two days, it's still very hot in the trailers that hold the mail. Think about how hot your closed-up car gets. My favorite time to mail plants (weather permitting- every year's different, of course) is late April, May, sometimes June, and early September. (That's for here, in Northern Illinois.) Although I have traded as late as October in some years.
critterologist,
I have to ask- what kind o' critters? :)
LenasGarden,
What type of envelope did you use? Was it the large solid Priority mail envelope or the smaller one with a window? I will never, EVER use a Priority envelope with a window because I constantly see them mixed with things they shouldn't be mixed with, and delayed a lot. Steer clear of these! They're worse than useless- you're paying for the service, and you usually won't get it!
Marsha.
Marsha,
Just an intriguing tidbit. I have been boasting that my little city post office (population 900 give or take) has been scannning all my packages going out, and that is certainly the truth.
Oddity, Wednesday I did click 'n ship as usual, and took the 2 boxes to the post office. I gave them to the lady to scan and watched her do it. Yet on the tracking info, the scan she made, does not show up on the records for these two boxes. Other times it does.
Of the 2 boxes, one has been delivered, the other one, a sale, has nothing happening on it. I'm thinking maybe later after 5 things will update.
Molly
PS I think its grand of you to post here and give advice and encouragement to our members. It's another way of sharing our cumulative knowledge and experience with our friends.
Marsha, would you recommend marking the box with "LIVE PLANTS"? Always curious if anyone actually looks at the notations.
ardesia,
Sorry, I meant to comment on this as well. I think it helps. When I'm sorting parcels, I always look to see how the contents are marked.
When I mail my plants, I always mark them "Live plants" on all sides of the box, so it can be clearly read.
I figure it's a "chicken soup" situation- it may not help in all cases, but it couldn't hurt.
Marsha.
I have always marked my boxes ,either trades or gifts with the words LIVE PLANTS on ALL sides.It seems to help...BTW our oldest son who use to be a Military policeman has been working for the PO for a few Years now.
I have always been happy with the services exept this year,
Brig
These are the DL which were sent back to the seller .Wish I would have gotten them.They were nice big fans.The seller will resend what she has,some are sold out.
HO HO
I shipped 27lb of iris and lilies in a trade wed. (parcel post)
SHE GOT IT TODAY.
PARCEL POST. wed to sat 27lbs 3 days $20 not $65 piority mail
The second box I shipped got there also at the same time.
I have only had a problem with one package. That was because some water leaked out and the post office was afraid it was dangerous. It eventually got there, but not until I redid and reshipped the trade. Oh well, she just got double water iris.
Unless plants are very fragile, I suggest shipping parcel post.
Rachel
Rachel,
how far away was that ?
To Eglantyne
the bxes shipped:
TO:
redrobinsnest
Moorhead, MN
Jun 17, 2006
3:59 PM
FROM:
smithrach40
greenfield IN
two boxes-one weighing 27 lbs
shipped wed from IN received sat in MN
p.s. I was concerned about my favorite iris making the trip. I am fortunate they got there in great shape.
Machikoneko:
I sent the package to my daughter in my own padded envelope and put Priority Mail stickers on both sides. My Post Office has an automated machine where you can weigh your package and pay for postage with a credit card. The difference in cost between First Class and Priority was only 10 cents because the package was heavy, so I opted for Priority. Would that make a difference? I still can't imagine it taking 3 days to go 50 miles, but maybe its because our mail is sent to a city about 50 miles farther south than us and then to get to my daughter's house which is north of us, it would be about 100 miles. Mail going north of us has to backtrack.
I just checked on a package I sent out it should have been there Friday..I sent it to a gardener in Ohio it's been in PA. sitting...can't figure that one out...I'm in MI.right next to Ohio yet they ship it to Pa. first??????????I guess I better go back to shipping UPS...
Have any of you ever tried good ole first class mail..................seems to get there faster than you would believe and is much cheaper? Just a tip it might be a great alternative.
dj
First class can be used for anything under 13 oz, including small packages. For deliveries on this side of the Mississippi, I don't think there's any difference in delivery time between it and Priority Mail, and First Class is definitely cheaper.
However, I recently sent a FC package to GA, and it took 6 days to arrive! Even mints look sad after traveling a week in summer heat. I'm switching to UPS for little packages, too.
The Post Office is being run by cheap labor. Most of the regular people have retired and now its the people they replace them with and they pay only what they have to for them. So that is why the mail takes so long. I worked in there and am retired so I should know. Also be sure you mail on a monday and not when there is a holiday or it will sit over on the weekends. Fran
i'll say! my carrier of many years recently retired. He was absolutely perfect. Since then I've had a parade of surly young men and since recently, a very nice lady that is turning out to be real good. But I still miss good ole Tad, sigh
This message was edited Jun 28, 2006 10:14 PM
There is one problem with mailing first class over priority. You can't get first class boxes for free can ya? LOL Those priority and flat rate boxes really do come in handy.
I had someone email me today wondering if their plants were shipped. I was terrified his order had been eaten somewhere. So I go and check the USPS website. I shipped it out on Saturday. Believe it or not, they tried to deliver it Monday am at early o'thirty! Now I have to wonder where it is............
Marsha, thank you for the insider tips and views. We appreciate a professional opinion and take on things.
I got a box from an Ebayer that was a priority box disassembled and put together inside out so I guess it was free. LOL
MAILED MAY13 PRIORITY MAIL FOR $4.80
PACKAGE RETURNED TODAY
LABELED JUNK JUNK
I mailed Chantell daisys and ground covers. I assumed she got them.
FLOWERS ARE NOT JUNK!!!
why would they leave anything sitting around the post office for a month?????
I am going to DM Chantell now. Frustrated in Indiana, Rachel
Ask them for a refund. What nerve.
I will ask for a refund! I just DM Chantell and told her what happoned.
I hate to jump in here but being a Texas resident I must say that in my small town I just love priority mail. I have never had but 1 package mailed very close to xmas that took 12 days. Turned out to be a new years present. LOL Over all I have always had excellent service from priority mail and I do ship alot of plants. For the very heavy ones I do use ups 3 day ground which seems to be as fast but some what less expensive although sometimes more damage occurs in transit. My post man picks up my priority packages at the door and does the same for deliverys. I couldn't get by with out them. Just my two cents. Tanarae
I just talked to Chantell. She asked if the package in question was the one I shipped in a recycled vegatable tray for Kroger. It was. Guess it was my fault that to package got labeled JUNK and returned to me a month later. I will not be shipping plants in containers like that again.
Rachel
What is a vegetable tray for Kroger?
---Wendy
It is the plastic tray with a lid that holds a few carrots celery califlower and brocoli. I stuffed the holes where the vegs were with ground covers and daisy starts from an internet store. I put tons of wide duck tape around the container both directions. It was actually quite sturdy and strong. Guess it is time to raid the dumpsters again for boxes.
An failed experiment. Live and learn. LOL Rachel
Rachel,
You really should go here and order some boxes. They are free and no dumpster diving involved.
I would just pick out the sizes that you most commonly use in trading. Personally, I also save the boxes that come to me, if they are in decent shape. I just peel off the old bar codes and stamps and put my mailing labels, printed from Click 'n ship over the top.
You can also get those plastic stick on sleeves to put your label in to keep it dry. Since I print on regular bond paper, these sleeves are great.
http://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductCategoryDisplay?catalogId=10152&storeId=10001&categoryId=13354&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=11820&top_category=11820
Just a thought or two.
Molly
:^))))
I might caution against turning post office boxes inside out and using them, especially if you don't pay the correct shipping for that type box. I am thinking that is illegal or misuse and punishable by the US Gov.
Rachel, go to the usps.com store Molly posted. You just click and chose what you want to order and it is delievered to your house for free.
The inside out box is probably illegal. I thought that was pretty cheap when I got it. Some people just cut corners.
When I wanted to ship something a while back I asked at the Dollar General and he said no they didn't have any. The lady in line behind me said she had luck at a grocery store by asking for some. They usually break the boxes down, but she said a woman there will save them for her if she picks them up as planned. Probably most grocery stores would do it to save themselves the trouble of slicing them and stacking them for recycling. At least the person who is paid to do this probably would. LOL
This message was edited Jun 29, 2006 11:51 AM