suggestions for dealing with USPS

[Fred Quedenfeld jr]

Twice this year I have tried to send kits with the USPS
both time I added the extra insurance
they lost 2 kits
I am out some $$$$$
How do I find out who the big cheese is for pennsylvania?
anyone know of a hard copy form I can use to file a claim
thanks
Fred Q
Fredf2c@copper.net

[RC Storick]

I would start here https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactus/phoneus.aspx

[Fredvon4]

I would start at this link with my receipt

https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

additionally you asked a bout a form?

here is their note at bottom of electronic site---

If you’re unable to file a claim online, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS® (1-800-275-8777) to have a Domestic Claim Form mailed to you

[FLOYD CARTER]

Kits that I recently bought arrived by USPS.  There must be a reason the others are doing that.  Could it be that UPS or FedEX are even worse?

It shouldn't be necessary to buy insurance.  Does this mean, "We're probably going to lose it, or bust it up, so you better buy some insurance if you want (some) of your money back".

Floyd

[john e. holliday]

A kit I just purchased came by USPS.   The last kits I got that UPS delivered, one was in good shape,  the other one it looked like some tried to bend it over their knee.   But balsa can be glued back together.   Now Fred if you have your receipt you should take it back to the depot you sent it from.   Also there should have been a tracking number on it.

[Fredvon4]

To continue sort of side tracking.. I found a few years back that USPS did not loose or destroy as much as the FedEx or UPS guys do

A few years ago I sent a desired glow engine to Australia via FedEx with the insurance paid for of $200
(note...they only pay Max $100 unless you declare higher value and pay a premium for the insurance)

The package never arrived, I refunded the guys $189 immediately  (I like PayPal) and set about to file a claim...

I had one tough time "substantiating" the value of the used glow engine and in the end they decided to pay me $150... I groused that THEY had accepted it for XX$ with $200 insured value and if they were only going to accept liability for $150 I should also be refunded the cost difference of $150 insurance vs $200 insurance....That argument took almost 6 months of me not backing down

they clearly state on their site:

Limits of Liability
The maximum liability for loss, damage or delay or any claim with regard to any shipment is limited to US$100 or US$9.07 per pound (whichever is greater), unless the shipper declares a greater value for carriage and pays an additional fee.

FedEX can suck eggs, kiss my dark area, and go continue to loose market share...they are idiots and incompetent a holes...

Yes Virginia that is how I really feel!

[Phil Krankowski]

I like USPS my stuff arrives usually in good shape.  UPS is likely to smash everything.  Fed ex ships via USPS around here so they are sorta the same... I guess.

Phil

[Randy Cuberly]

I have sent over 30 kits by USPS and received almost that many with never a problem.  I would suggest that your problem is local and would start there.

Both FedEx and UPS are reliable but much more expensive and generally slower unless you pay their exorbitant next day fees.

Randy Cuberly

[Motorman]

Fred, go to www.usps.com and type in your tracking number. When you find the last known place, you can call them or you can call the place you shipped it from or the place you were shipping it to and start an investigation. I call all three and hope one of the 3 ain't stupid, good luck with that. Be prepared to describe the package size, color, weight ect.

I ordered 2 kits from RSM big mistake, only order one at a time. He wraps the two kits in very thin paper but doesn't tape the boxes together first. The boxes saw back and forth and it rips in the middle and goes flying off along with the address label. Then the unmarked kits go to a holding area, then someone takes them home and sells them on eBay. He sent two more the same way and they just barely got here with the paper ripped almost off. I told him about it but it might have gone out the other ear so, one RSM kit at a time from now on especially if it's going through Philly.

MM

[Terry Caron]

Fred, as I emailed you earlier, my Streak was finally delivered, so hopefully 1/2 your frustration is assuaged. 
I'm sorry to hear of the other problem but I'll say that of several hundred USPS packages I've sent and received in the last few years, this was as close as I've ever come to a problem with USPS service (knock on wood).
Primarily because of USPS convenience I'll use Fed Ex or UPS only as a last resort.

Terry

[LARRY RICE]

At Black Hawk Models I shipped 1500 kits per year for 15 years without losing a single kit.  For the last 10 years I shipped through the USPS only.  All kits were boxed in a corrated shipping box with a typed label on it.  I never insured any of the boxes because if one had been damaged or lost it was cheaper to replace the kit that pay the extra that I would have paid on all of the other kits that made it safely.
If you have a lost kit, your local post office has the needed forms for a claim.
UPS and FEDEX charge by volume instead weight, that cost a lot more.
Since we shipped around the world I had a broken wing in Israel once - shipped a new wing, that cost as much as an entire kit.

Larry
Black Hawk Models

[bob jablonski]

I have had boxes CRUSHED by UPS. They would not pay the claimed as they stated it wasn't packed well enough. The only way that box would not have been crushed was if it was in a wooden crate. I won't ship with UPS again. The best shipping company I have delt with was DHL. but that is not in the cards any more.
Mr. Bob
Countyline Hobbies
Grovertown, IN.
574-540-1123
countylinehobbies@yahoo.com
www.countylinehobbies.com
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[Steve Helmick]

My observation has been that the longer the package is in the hands of the shipper, the better the odds are that they'll damage or lose it. Doesn't matter too much what it is or who it is.

You should see the shipping tubes that Tackle Warehouse uses to ship fishing rods in...about 2' longer than the rod, around 6" diameter, and 3/8" wall high density cardboard. The tube weighs 6 lbs., the rod about 2 oz. They must know something? Everything goes UPS from them.  Steve

[Paul Smith]

The last time I shipped by USPS without insurance (about ten years ago), they intentionally destroyed the package.

USPS is just like The Mafia.  You need to buy broken window insurance or you WILL have broken windows.

Go to UPS and deal with The Private Sector.

[bob jablonski]

I tryed them. I didn't like them. Good luck on collecting on a claim with them.
mr. Bob
Countyline Hobbies
Grovertown, IN.
574-540-1123
countylinehobbies@yahoo.com
www.countylinehobbies.com

[john e. holliday]

Just last week I sent a small package to Tuscon.  Was asked the general questions like, is it breakable, any chemicals and other stuff.  Then asked if I wanted insurance.   I asked him how many packages have you lost.   He stated none so far.  He agreed with about marking the packages as breakable and the insurance.   Any way it arrived on timeand no damage that I know of.  Don't mark the package and send Priority Mail if its important.

[Motorman]

Don't pay extra for priority mail. The priority only kicks in if there's no space available which is rarely the case except for big holidays ect. Otherwise it just goes with the regular mail.

MM

[bob jablonski]

I have had a number of packages priced the same Priority or standard if they are only going a couple hundred miles or less. I don't get there price structuring any more.
Mr. Bob
Countyline Hobbies
Grovertown, IN.
574-540-1123
countylinehobbies@yahoo.com
www.countylinehobbies.com

[Fredvon4]

My quilting wife ( a hobby) mails a lot of boxes every other week and we use USPS... I am the mail guy and have a very rural PO I don't have to wait in line

During peak holiday time I might spring for the extra $ buck or two for "priority" but generally the rest of the year... low cost slow boat method is slightly cheaper and usually the box is there on or BEFORE the "priority" estimation... and the slow boat (cheapest) also has $50 insurance and tracking...so why upgrade
 In my hobby I buy sell and trade a bunch of stuff...mostly fits in the FLAT RATE boxes...best deal on the planet for shipping

I never mark out side fragile or delicate

I have received large fragile items in the manufactures carton (no second box) many times, undamaged...think 47 inch Visio Flat panel TV from Wally World or 27" Hanns G 27" computer monitor from NewEgg and zero damage---- kind of astounded at lack of extra packing considering the item

Rural address so also astounded none of my neighbors stole the big flat Visio flat panel TV Box that the mail lady just put over the fence 400 feet from the house

Just today got a Brodak ME -109 stunt balsa kit from Brodak and despite second boxing has damage (Brodak stepping up to fix...I love those folks)....

THANKS UPS Ground....!!!!

Ordered large quantities of Quilting basting spray and .006 mono thread for my wife and the options were all of the usual suspects... I picked USPS.... and I bet before Thursday both boxes are here

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Don't pay extra for priority mail. The priority only kicks in if there's no space available which is rarely the case except for big holidays ect. Otherwise it just goes with the regular mail.

MM

I've delivered mail as a substitute carrier and respectfully disagree.  If a carrier has Priority Mail, it gets delivered that day.  Period.

Less than Priority - if you have a heavy load today, tomorrow is fine.

Different as night and day.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I've been selling - and therefore shipping - around the world for 16 years.  And I'm always amazed at complaints about USPS.

We lived in North Carolina for 3 of those years - where FedEx wouldn't even answer the phone or return calls.  Where UPS was extremely unreliable.

In my 16 years, a $100 engine supposedly wasn't delivered to a buyer in the Ukraine, a $6 part supposedly didn't arrive in Puerto Rico (despite USPS delivery confirmation), and two packages went to the wrong city initially.  Golly gee whiz guys, can you pleeeez point me to a better service?

I suspect most of the problems can be attributed to a carrier along the way, but that's only my guess.  I did deliver mail as a substitute for a time, and can certainly state that carriers differ as much as any other group of people ...

One of the things I learned early in life is there is almost always a chain of command.  Use it!

I have used for all of those years a First Class Package process with free delivery confirmation.  I verified the correctness with USPS national customer service, so was surprised when we moved to another location and I was told by a clerk they couldn't accept my packages as prepared.  I asked the clerk to check with the Postmaster; she returned with the same answer.  Then I asked for the name and phone number of the regional supervisor.  After another chat with the Postmaster, she returned to say they would accept the packages for me.  Gosh, I'm special!  Or, willing to go up the chain?

One thing I can say from my own experience: the Postmaster I worked for absolutely hated to hear from above!