Another US post office failure

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I was expecting a delivery today of an orchid package. The US Postal Service tracking site showed the package arrived at the local transit center last night (Thursday.) It was on a delivery truck at 8:14 this morning (Friday) for delivery today by 5 pm, to my business address.

It didn't arrive.

Now (11 pm Friday) the tracking site shows different information. It says the package arrived at the Phoenix transit center at 4:34 pm this afternoon, and is in transit to the final destination. I know the USPS doesn't deliver priority mail at 11 pm on the Friday of a holiday weekend. The office is closed until Tuesday.

This is the second consecutive orchid shipment sent via US Postal Service that has gone astray. I'm thinking of no longer buying from vendors who use the US Postal Service.

[katrina]

Are you sure your P.O. is closed until Tues? In Cols, all are open today and they are doing AMZ deliveries on Sunday. Only closed on Monday.

I hear ya on the frustrations! I hate seeing a FedEx or UPS transfer to the USPS. Most of the time the delivery is on time but their tracking system is pathetic.

[MrHappyRotter]

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I tried to go to USPS.com to find out more information. I previously registered an account there using my home address. It turns out I cannot find out information about the package being shipped to me at my business address because I can only search packages being shipped to the one address I used to register my account. I will need to create a second USPS account.

Because the USPS site uses cookies, I would be unable to create a second account. Now that I logged in with my account, there is no option to switch accounts. It looks like I need to open a private browser window (which zeros out any cookies I haven't specifically agreed to accept) to create a second account.

They will not allow me to create a second account with the same E-mail address. I guess nobody at the USPS can envision somebody receiving packages at home and also at their place of work.

And people want the US government to run our entire health care system?

[jkofferdahl]

I feel your pain. Hopefully the package will arrive today!

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It can't arrive today. It was to be delivered to a business address which is closed until Tuesday. I'm trying to contact USPS so I can find out where it is, and maybe drive there to pick it up today.

Previous experience has shown they probably won't know where it is. They couldn't tell where my last orchid package was for 4 days. They thought it was either in the main receiving facility here, my local post office, or a delivery truck. Both facility supervisors showed me printouts proving the package was at the other facility.

I'm awaiting their callback in 21-32 minutes.

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 AM ----------

The computer called me back in about 40 minutes, and I waited another 3 minutes for the agent to come on the line. He told me the package was delivered to my local post office this morning. He could not get any more information about it. He gave me the address of my local post office. I had to ask for the phone number.

I tried calling them - they are supposed to be answering the phone all day - and it just rang and rang. Nobody picked up. There is no answering machine.

I guess I need to drive there during the two hours they have desk service today.

[fishmom]

Ugh! I hope it isn't too hot (or cold) where you are.

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Originally Posted by fishmom

Ugh! I hope it isn't too hot (or cold) where you are.

A cool spell. Upper 90s through Tuesday.

[PaphMadMan]

I feel the same way about FedEx and UPS that you feel about USPS. For me USPS is the only choice that will get a package delivered to my address without problems.

FedEx recently left a $750 tablet PC on the doorstep of my apartment building despite specific instructions to hold it at one of their facilities for pickup. I still had to go to the facility to pick up the $3 cable that came in a separate package. Somehow they got that one right, though the package had been torn open.

UPS recently left a delivery attempt notice. I could sign the slip and leave it there and they would deliver within a couple days, or I could arrange to pick it up at facility X. A few hours later I got e-mail notification it was at facility Y and would be returned to sender if I didn't pick it up within 48 hours. The next morning I got a text message that it was at facility Z and I had to pick it up before close of business or it would be returned. It was at facility Y.

But every package from USPS gets left inside the building, often at my door. Maybe a day later than expected, maybe a little beat up, but essentially problem free and nearly 100% reliable.

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Originally Posted by MrHappyRotter

If coffee relaxed you that much I need some of what you put into it.

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The online tracking changed to show they were attempting to deliver it today. I called the local post office to see whether I might be able to pick up the package today. They said the delivery truck had already returned, and my package was probably in the building. I drove over there and picked it up.

The desk clerk was very helpful, so I'm going to leave him a good review on the USPS Web site.