Pen In The Mail- How Long Do I Wait For The Postal Service To Get Its Act Together?

[KellyMcJ]

As annoyed as I have been when tracking a package that sits in a USPS facility & is NOT tracked for as long as ten days, making me worry that it has fallen off a table, cart, mail bag, or whatever imaginable place of repose it might find, swept into a corner, under something, hidden from sight or any other possibility for MY package's failure to advance on it's journey to ME, I believe sometimes, it works quite WELL.

 

Monday, I sent off two packages to members here; one a hardback book, THE HISTORY OF INK & because I knew my friend would be interested to receive it, paid Priority shipping, which indicated 2 day delivery. The other package was very small, containing some samples of inks & as I had offered them, I didn't specify shipping preference; when the cost was 2/3 less for the smaller packet than the larger, (heavier book, traveling a shorter distance) the additional day's delivery seemed acceptable.

 

The "PM 2-Day" package suggested arrival Yesterday

 

The "First-Class Parcel Service" packet, traveling a further distance showed "Expected delivery" today, a day later & with 66% less cost of shipping, seemed understandable.

 

Yet BOTH packages were delivered the SAME DAY, one "right on time," & the other, for minimal cost, a DAY EARLY!

 

SO, I realise this may never happen again, surely does not explain many of the unusual behaviors for past & probably future shipments, but THIS TIME, it deserves a mention!

 

Just as the efficiency & gracious attention the LONE agent @ the USPS counter does, when she agreeably furnishes MY choice of commemorative stamps, instead of the stamped, postal meter generated, sticker that normally is affixed to the package. My delivery persons are same, each exhibiting equal courtesy & efficiency, despite whatever weather condition they find for their day's work. Despite their Postmaster's explanation to me that they are "working with a system that is BROKEN," they each seem to work harder to prove that their efforts will produce a positive result, within that "Broken," system.

Oh sure, they screw up sometimes. More often than not though, they get it right.

 

I have however seen unbelievable damage and shenanigans from the other too. Much of what I am sending and receiving are irreplaceable (or almost irreplaceable) antiques and USPS is the ONLY carrier I trust.

 

Nothing like seeing a box clearly marked THIS END UP rolled up the stairs by the delivery man. I opened the box to discover too that it had been dropped during packing. Nothing was said, they boxed it up and pretended it didn't happen. Fortunately I was able to repair most of the damage.