Why Are Postal Packages Going Off the Grid in Baltimore?

by: Chicago48

Op, the USPO is experiencing unusual and painful delays and backlog.  I went to our local post office a month ago to drop off and the mail was piled up to the ceiling.  You may want to search on youtube for Kathie Terrell Former USPS manager explains eBay shipping mess!
Kathy Terrill- I Love To Be Selling

by: RL15

whenever I have a issue with out for delivery, and then nothing....

I file as stolen mail claim. when it asks about the thief, I say possibly a usps employee.

amazing how fast the tracking will update to delivered.

by: postbuster

@ RL15

I have done the same thing, and the result is the same as yours.
Funny how people behave when their actions go public.

It's disgraceful how careless employees at call centers can be.  Same sarcasm, and attitude.  But when something goes wrong for them, they raise hell and complain about how trashy the world is.
I know they see the irony, they just need to get over their 'entitled' attitude.

by: CanBrit

I just had to pay out a claim for a package sitting at one of the UPS stations in Sarasota Florida since January 12th. Send through two requests....still nada. I do believe that one was taken by someone with sticky fingers. Now I only put my name on packages...no business names.

by: lessthanthreerecords

Thank you for the tip about reporting it as stolen.  I never knew that was an option.  I just filed the report.  My buyer was already refunded, so I don't know that it matters at this point, but in the future, it might be helpful to report it as stolen rather than initiate a search.  Thanks again!

by: BobNJ

I had problems with packages going to Leanto, FL that would ALWAYS get lost. I never was able to ship anything to my buyer there successfully.

by: COVID-19

This is what happens when jobs are guaranteed for life and bad / lazy employees cannot be FIRED!

by: Rexford

Not just Baltimore.  I have one that has been circling my city since February 1st.  Yes, it is now the 17th, and it has not even left my city.

by: The Fed

I just filed a lost report a few days for a first class insured package, and then today the insurance claim. 17 days from Oregon to Kentucky and it's still "in transit". I guess the postal mules go slow over those Kentucky mountains in winter. My Postmaster, who's a great guy, said that First Class no longer goes by air, but it's on a truck somewhere. We now live in a 3rd world country, officially, when the mail is this messed up. It's always good to let Congress know about these things. I've filed several Congressional Inquiries over the years, and it's incredible the action you get. Also Consumer Affairs, if you can get them to do their job, is a great help.

by: Chicago48

I file as stolen mail claim. when it asks about the thief, I say possibly a usps employee.
amazing how fast the tracking will update to delivered.
^^
This.  When all else fails I file a Missing Mail, Lost Mail, Stolen Mail claim.  AND, I file a complaint with the OIG for the USPS.

by: ZZ

Off the grid? I thought you were talking about losing electric power. That nice guy postmaster is nuts saying 1st class mail from Oregon to Kentucky goes all the way in a truck. There are so many alternate truths now since Kellyanne Conway defined whatever The Donald was lieing about.
I've had several packages that were never scanned and yet no complaints from the buyer. I'm assuming they were delivered to one of those rare customers who doesn't watch the tracking every day. I do a USPS pick-up request for my home every evening for the next day. Lately I've had a temp with an attitude explain to me why he doesn't have to scan all 5 packages individually. Maybe he thinks as a temp his job is secure? We'll see about that...

by: Bidonmine

@ZZ... The Post Office filed an official notice that First Class mail (not first class packages) will, in a few months, no longer go by air.

by: LasVagueness

You might find your answer in 'The Wire.'

by: geministuff28

As 99% of my packages go to Philadelphia first, I have 1 package stuck at the Philadelphia facility since Jan. 27th..

I opened a case & 2 days later they closed it..
I contacted them again & asked why???

It was not suppose to be closed as it was unsolved..
They reopened it again on Feb. 3rd & nothing updated since Feb. 3rd..

Several calls later, and still nothing...
I keep being told that the Philadelphia facility is extremely backed up...

Well, every package I have shipped before & after this package, including the other 4 packages I shipped with this package have all gone on to be delivered..
So how can this ''backed up'' excuse make any rational sense...

The irony is this package stuck in the Phila. facility is going to a buyer in Phila...

I've also had a few scanning issues on almost every package I've shipped.
No scan when packages picked up (package pick up requests)
No scan when leaving my P.O.
No scan when it arrives at the next facility or even when it's leaving.
No scan when it arrives at the buyer's P.O. or is out for delivery.
And rarely when it's delivered...

Postal rate hikes every year & the worse service ever...
BTW... I spoke to a women in C.A. yesterday & I complained about the lack of scans by my carrier & my P.O.
She was very adamant about carriers scanning packages upon picking them up..
They are ''required'' to scan each package as soon as they pick them up...
It's part of their job...

I explained about ''defects'' on Ebay & not getting at least that initial scan of ''picked up'' is causing great concern for us sellers...

She was contacting my P.O. after our call....
We will see!!!

by: geministuff28

Follow Up:

This package still stuck in Philadelphia
Buyer filed INR yesterday & I had to give her a full refund...

Any suggestions from anyone?

It was an insured Priority package.
Never had this happen...

by: RL15

file a insurance claim with usps

by: mindelec

"So how can this ''backed up'' excuse make any rational sense..."

the older packages are out in a truck, the current packages are going through the flow.  they empty the truck when they "have time".

"Buyer filed INR yesterday & I had to give her a full refund..."

why so fast?  you didn't have to give an immediate refund, ebay gives several days.  with an INR claim it is best to delay as long as possible because maybe the item will arrive and solve the problem.