I fully understand that the USPS is struggling, probably more so now than during any previous holiday season. Many of us are shopping online more than ever before and that has to get delivered by someone. We’ve had no problems with Fed Ex or UPS.
Years ago, I created an “Orders” folder within in my inbox and every time I get an order confirmation email, I’ll “file” that email in the Orders folder. Most of the time, I don’t even go back and check it because other than cross stitching orders, I haven’t ordered much that was delivered by USPS, and I’m generally waiting on something to arrive if it’s cross stitching related.
You all know my usually online shopping hangouts that I love and highly recommend and because they aren’t mentioned here, simply means I haven’t had any problems with lost packages so I don’t know how they would deal with it.
I’ve read on some business websites that once the package leaves their hands, they’re basically done with it and I do understand that position. There seem to be a lot of lost packages these days and it’s hard for small businesses to replace everything that’s lost but somehow, a blanket statement that “we can’t control the mail” makes me not want to do business there.
I have mixed feelings because (1) as a customer, I don’t want to pay for something I never received and (2) as someone who has done business that required shipping, I wouldn’t want to replace at my own expense, anything that was lost. When I was doing shipping, I made sure that if it was something I didn’t want to have to replace out of my own pocket, I paid for the insurance and it was just another cost of doing business. When I was longarm quilting and sending quilts out several times a week, I used UPS and never had a problem. When I was sending out books, I shipped them book rate, didn’t buy insurance and never had a problem.
Anyway, I mentioned a while back that a package from The Kitten Stitcher never arrived. I contacted her and she was very nice about it. We gave it more time. A post office on her end had “coded it wrong” and it said “handed to customer” the same day it was mailed but I never received the package and she sent a full replacement.
Now, a package from The Fat Quarter Shop seems to be stuck in Austin, Tx. The package was mailed on 12/2, arrived at the Austin sorting facility on 12/3 and never got scanned again. Is it still there? Is it winging its way to me and never being scanned along the way? I have no idea but FQS is going to send me a replacement package and, as with Kitten Stitcher, asked that I return the first one if it ever shows up. With Kitten Stitcher’s package, it was linen so I would have just paid for it and kept it. The main thing in the FQS package is Lori Holt’s 2022 planner and I don’t need two of those so I would send it back instead of paying for a second one.
I’m wondering if, in the future, I won’t start asking about the replacement policy for packages lost in the mail before placing orders. At least if I know ahead that they will or won’t replace a lost package, I can make a decision on how badly I want that merchandise or if I could buy it somewhere that will let me pay for insurance or will replace the order.
Shari says
I had a package from FQS that left Austin with no status for about 10 days. It did finally show up in Georgia, but bounced around different Atlanta facilities for 5 more days. The USPS definitely has problems.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Mine may get here but it’s now been two weeks since it was scanned so I’m losing hope that it will arrive but thankful FQS is sending out another one. Let’s hope it makes it.
Sherry Bobak says
I read recently about a delivery driver, I believe it was Amazon, that dumped about 80 or so packages into a ravine over the course of a couple of weeks. I think his excuse was that he was having personal problems.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
We had something similar happen several years ago when we ordered a tablet and received an empty box.
Cindy F says
This is a tough issue because as you said, you paid money and don’t want to be out but at the same time you understand how it is for the business. The USPS is definitely having issues. My husband was just telling me that he ordered a $20 item from Texas that was supposed to arrive today. He got a notice that it won’t and when he checked the tracking, it bounced around in Texas for a few days, went to Kentucky, then ended up in various towns in New Jersey and it’s now in Newark. You really have to wonder since we’re in Utah. They’ve spent a whole lot of money moving that around the country!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
It’s frustrating but I can’t even figure out how the USPS gets as much right as they do. I feel like I should get everything right on time but when you think about the massive amounts of mail being moved, it’s surprising how well it does run. I have a package that arrived and left Kansas City three times so far. I’m about 3 hours from KC.
Bottom line is . . it will get here or it won’t. If your husband’s package could talk! 🙂
Donna in KS says
So glad to read that there are not problems with UPS! I know they are working hard at getting it right. I sure do hear about all the online shopping that’s happening! I really wish UPS (or even fed ex) still rang the bell though!!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
If you had a dog that barks for 30 minutes when the doorbell rings, you’d probably be thankful! 🙂
So far, Rita hasn’t learned that the little “ding” the security system makes means that someone has been spotted at the front door. There are so many computer sounds going off that she hasn’t yet figured out which ones mean what . . so long as there’s not a sound that means “It’s Time to EAT!”, we should be good!
Jane lemm says
As a small online quilt store I see both sides. Recently we shipped a package the same day as the Order it went priority mail – the customer said she needed it t for a last minute gift. Customer in Hawaii. Last heard of in Alaska. Go figure. I personally ordered some socks the first week of November last year. They did arrive in January. It was a joke it out family to see where they were traveling. They had quite a vacation!!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I do understand it from the business side. I also understand from USPS side that while it’s easy to complain about their service, they do an amazing job almost all the time and I cannot even think in terms of how they do what they do. And, of course, as the consumer, I want to receive what I order. It’s so true that once a business sticks that package in the mail, they have no more responsibility for it . . technically but as a consumer, if we don’t get what we order, at some point, we stop ordering.
I ordered almost everything I neeeded so it would arrive before November 1 and avoid the Christmas madness but I kept telling myself I didn’t need the Lori Holt planner and at the last minute, decided I did need it. 🙂
We all need to do better and order early and hope to not be part of the craziness this time of year.