Community Sleuths Track Down Mis-Delivered Packages

by: GetAGrip

The major problem with USPS mis deliveries in our town is that the PO doesn't answer the phone and everyone is directed to call some call center whose people don't even speak half arse english. This is the new PO plan. Kind of like Amazon. No customer service. So you can't actually find out where the package was delivered until up to five days if and when they can figure out where the problem is. Neighbor is pulling her hair out over a mis delivered package for her sick daughters birthday. She will be interested in the above information. You can bet if my package is sitting on your front porch I'm getting it.

by: Fruitylovesyou

I wouldn't go on anyone's property. I would call the cops say you don't want to trespass but your package is on their porch

by: Shanna

Posting a picture of someone's front door generally would not be an invasion of privacy, as there is no expectation of privacy in public and if I can see, and thus photograph, your front door from a public space (sidewalk, road), it would be perfectly legal. Plenty of people take pictures of your house without permission, Realtors, appraisers, tax office, Zillow.

by: Bill

Shanna,

You forgot google.

by: comments

Any time I receive a mis-delivered package I get in my car and take it back to the carrier so they don't get in trouble.

I had an awful experience once when I had a lost package and I called my post office. The supervisor called the driver and started to accuse him and threaten him. I felt absolutely awful that I got the poor guy in trouble!! It wound up it just went out on the wrong truck.

A few days later I mailed out a gamefly game that never got delivered. It looks like the carrier wanted to get even with me even though I had absolutely nothing to do with the accusations. I was as mortified as the driver was at the accusation. From that day on I try to resolve all issues directly with the driver if it is possible.

These days they have GPS and it is supposed to tell them if they are delivering it wrong from Fedex and USPS. I assume UPS does too but I have not heard it directly from a driver.

by: Snapped

“ This is the new PO plan. Kind of like Amazon.”

It’s not new, and Amazon doesn’t have a physical location where you can go to physically talk to the supervisor of the carrier that ‘wronged’ you.  

Folks can know that all of those 800# calls are recorded in a CS ‘system’ that routes the ‘issue’ back to the attention of your PO.  Even if it wasn’t your particular PO that ‘caused’ whatever issue is at hand.  According to ‘regs’, an initial acknowledgement is due to the initiator within 24 hrs, and a ‘resolution’ (such as it may encompass) is due within 4 days.  Good intentions and all that, sure.

But the PO doesn’t employ any FT ‘help’ to answer those; there may be up to a dozen a day (not all ‘mis-deliveries), and each can take 20 min. or so to investigate and close - and that’s if YOU answer the phone if they try to call while following up.  So yeah, especially during busy season, those can backup.  

Folks can also know the PO records the exact GPS coordinates for every delivery at the time of scan, and that can be brought up and used with G-maps to determine delivery point.   Of course, that only works if they scan it where delivered, instead of while walking, or in the truck first before walking the relay.  Which is also taboo, but….more good intentions.

Anyway, do try to get to the bottom of anything like this suspected as soon as possible.  The sooner the question, the better the carrier can ‘recall’ and likely act to correct it.  

And sure, one can always vigilante it, but for all the cautions noted in the OP, it’s not recommended.  

by: smallstuff

I had a computer misdelivered  by UPS a week ago.  I suspected something was wrong when I saw a replacement driver stopped on my side street having passed my door.  He said it would be delivered later in the day.  He was obviously napping - the truck stayed there for over an hour.  Then three hours later I received a notification that the package was delivered.  It was not.  I pulled up the picture and it showed delivery to a neighbors front door.  The truck went zooming by - not sure why he was back in front.  I walked across the street and retrieved the package.  I guess I should have rang their door.  Next time I see the neighbor, I'll tell her.

by: ScottLBrown

In the end it IS the carriers responsibility and the carrier is beholden to the Seller, meaning the shipper.  And the seller is beholden to the buyer.

Therefore, contact the seller for amends.  Refund or expedited replacement etc.
The Seller can work with the carrier for a real POD (proof of delivery) which has two parts.  

One is the GPS Coordinates that is inside the hand-held scanner when it is dropped off.

Second is a no brainer, where they simply GOOGLE your home address and compare it to the picture they took at delivery.  If the porches are clearly different, simple refund.   If it is a row of train houses with no differentiators, that's another story.

The hard part is on the Seller, who depending on size, my choose to self insure, and thus only receive the $100 base insurance that carriers cover.  Painful.
and if replacement is requested, eat another shipping charge as well.

Happy Holidays to all!

by: Disgruntled_Seller

I see a new business model for the industry, neighborhood association, etc called ''Pay For Protection Delivery'' and run by a low key fellow in a trench coat. You get a delivery address to use and are shaken down well to prove your identity at pickup.  

by: QueenMab

I've had issues with the USPS more than once. Twice in the same week, the letter carrier didn't ring the doorbell, our vehicle was in the driveway and everyone was at home, yet the letter carrier left a notice on our door stating that packages that required a signature weren't deliverable because no one was home! I went to our local post office in person both times and was told that the PostMaster and Supervisor were unavailable! When I asked when could I return to pick up my packages, i was told that it was up to the PostMaster! A few hours later, a USPS van delivered my packages. i was told the letter carrier knocked on the door and no one answered. When I informed the delivery person that had the letter carrier knocked on the door, our dog would have went ballistic barking and someone would've answered the doot immediately!

by: Docinmd

I live in an upscale waterfront neighborhood on the western shore of the Chesapeake bay. Each street was assigned house numbers when the community was first created in 1947, and the streets all start with the house number 1200. So for the 30+ streets in the community, all shame similar house numbers based on the house location on their street.

The USPS and UPS rarely make mistakes and we get most packages. FedEx however, is a totally different situation. The FedEx trucks are expected to deliver a huge number of packages per day [as stated by a former FedEx driver], so they drive up & down our streets at high rates of speed. This results in a large percentage of mis-delivered packages.

It's become so bad that our family [consisting of 5 disabled and elderly people] now report to Amazon every case of mis-delivered [or claimed delivered] packages as "Not Received". We've been suggesting other neighbors do the same, and we figure  eventually  Amazon will figure it out after too many sellers complain.