Another another Pony Express post.

[PhilC]

Bought some brass from member, mailed payment Jan 19th, he has informed mail and told me it was suppsed to be delivered Jan 24th - didn't happen. Seller contacted me Feb 5th to let me know it still wasn't there. Still not there Feb 10th so we tried to do Zelle but that wouldn't work either. On Feb 12th I mailed a second check in via USPS Priority Mail and it arrived Feb 14th, he shipped brass next day and it arrived Feb 18th.

On Mar 4th, 6 weeks and 2days later my original check arrived, which he promptly shredded per my request.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Sorting Equipment Removed, Postal Police Duties Scaled Back: Here Are All The Postal Service Changes Raising Alarm

The postal service has been undergoing sweeping changes under new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

www.forbes.com

From what I understand, this old mail reading, sorting equipment was superb but old. It was removed for unknown reasons, supposedly for efficiency purposes. And the equipment was destroyed according to news reports.

 

[WileyG]

I can only conceive of 2 possible explanations.

Either the USPS employees are intentionally doing this as some sort or revolt, or.

The tracking is completely erroneous and just put in to avoid admitting it sat somewhere for a ridiculous amount of time without moving.

I'm inclined to believe the second possibility.

In January 2024 I had three triggers for Remington 541 rifles make it from the gunsmith in Iowa back to Birmingham (60 miles from me) and then sit there for 8 days without being scanned in. I feared that the triggers were forever gone and there is not a replacement for those anywhere on this planet.

 

[hoz53]

1.5-2 weeks, don’t remember for sure. Luckily the buyer was easy to work with, I would have taken care of him either way though. Thanks!

everybody ive dealt with here has been understanding. Of coarse i would make it right if need be

 

[beak]

rings east of Pitt pa 2 me 40 miles east of Columbus oh. 7 days---- I could have walked over & back in that time. & I am old & walk slow

 

[nakneker]

I have had this scenic route thing happen before. The worst was a package I mailed that was going to Colorado. It left Arizona and spent almost three weeks in Hawaii, then it went to Michigan and finally made it to Colorado. It’s been rare, I have a little over 400 transactions here, I always ship USPS priority. Luckily the local PO knows me well and are really solid people, they’ve helped me sort a couple situations. The worst was a very expensive kitchen knife I sold, hand forged custom that went to Texas. Tracking showed it stop 20 miles from its destination, the buyer drove to that PO and raised tee total hell, my local PO was also doing what they could. The knife was insured for 5200.00. When I shipped it, it was protected and had a heavy coat of oil. 2.5 weeks later the knife magically appeared back into the system. It arrived in the box but was dry and starting to rust. The box had been opened and taped back up. The story was that it had fallen behind a desk and was found. I think what really happened is that it was stolen out of the system and when the heat came down it was returned back into the system and was claimed to have fallen behind a desk. Regardless the buyer was able to restore it to pristine condition and was happy to get it. I was too, I had started to file an insurance claim but I was told not to get my hopes up. Which is whole other conversation - the PO and insurance, do they actually pay out?

 

[Old Navy]

I recently sold some 348 Winchester brass to a fellow member. I sent the brass out the next day via USPS priority. The brass should have gone from Arizona to Utah, 2 days was the ETA. His check came not long after we made the deal, when I let him know the check arrived he said the brass still hadn’t arrived. He asked for tracking, my niece works for me and had sent the package and forget to put it in my receipt box. I couldn’t give him tracking but I did tell him I wouldn’t cash the check unless the brass showed. He was patient and courteous, brass ended up showing up - finally. Here’s his quote “The reason it was so slow coming here is, It went to Phoenix, Then San Antonio Tx, Then Back to Avondale Az, Then to Las Vegas then to Cedar City, I can see why the PO is losing money.” That’s not an isolated incident.


This seems to be happening more and more. I only share it to express my appreciation for his professionalism and patience. It’s something I like about dealing with gun and knife guys, typically they are good people who deal with each other with some professionalism.


I do get disappointed with the USPS and others but I can’t do much about that. I’m only sharing to say thanks. I would have sent him more brass if it didn’t show but it worked out. This is a good group of guys, I’m glad I’m part of it.

Had the same problem from Bruno's to Northern Utah once.

 

[JMayo]

From NC,Sat for a month in KS
I filled a claim. The next day i got an email saying it was on it's way to destination. Next day after that delivered.
Fri i got a check and a letter saying my claim had been approved.....

Now I'm getting "where are my tails" from another shooter.... Tracking says package was picked up at po a week ago. Wtheck .....

 

[Ringostar]

I sent my benchsource annealer back for repairs a month ago today. Tracking stopped a week later. Still no idea where it’s at! Then a week ago I ordered a scope from optics planet. It sent out the next day through usps. Tracking showed it checked in at Dallas last Thursday morning. Tracking hasn’t changed since, but still says that it will be delivered today. We don’t receive mail delivery here in the mountains though, everyone has to go into town and pick up their mail.

 

[hoz53]

From NC,Sat for a month in KS
I filled a claim. The next day i got an email saying it was on it's way to destination. Next day after that delivered.
Fri i got a check and a letter saying my claim had been approved.....

Now I'm getting "where are my tails" from another shooter.... Tracking says package was picked up at po a week ago. Wtheck .....

i never heard of many people getting a usps claim paid. you did good on that one

 

[hoz53]

I have had this scenic route thing happen before. The worst was a package I mailed that was going to Colorado. It left Arizona and spent almost three weeks in Hawaii, then it went to Michigan and finally made it to Colorado. It’s been rare, I have a little over 400 transactions here, I always ship USPS priority. Luckily the local PO knows me well and are really solid people, they’ve helped me sort a couple situations. The worst was a very expensive kitchen knife I sold, hand forged custom that went to Texas. Tracking showed it stop 20 miles from its destination, the buyer drove to that PO and raised tee total hell, my local PO was also doing what they could. The knife was insured for 5200.00. When I shipped it, it was protected and had a heavy coat of oil. 2.5 weeks later the knife magically appeared back into the system. It arrived in the box but was dry and starting to rust. The box had been opened and taped back up. The story was that it had fallen behind a desk and was found. I think what really happened is that it was stolen out of the system and when the heat came down it was returned back into the system and was claimed to have fallen behind a desk. Regardless the buyer was able to restore it to pristine condition and was happy to get it. I was too, I had started to file an insurance claim but I was told not to get my hopes up. Which is whole other conversation - the PO and insurance, do they actually pay out?

when i ship from here from midwest things do well going east. if i ship west especially as far as the coast its flip of the coin. mabie get there mabie not. when i lived in hillsboro OR that was the worst PO i ever dealt with and ive dealt with quite a few.

 

[nakneker]

i never heard of many people getting a usps claim paid. you did good on that one

Me either, I’ve pretty much been told that by people that have worked there too. I still insure anything of value just because I hope it helps them take better care of it but that may be wasted optimism.

 

[muleystalker]

If I drop a letter in the mail to go to an address in the same city a mile away it will first go to a city 50 miles away then make its way back to the city it was addressed too, maybe a week or more. But if I drop it in a mailbox in a neighboring city it will arrive in a day or two, it makes no sense. This is why the USPS looses so much money, its so inefficient especially with all the technology available today.

 

[hoz53]

If I drop a letter in the mail to go to an address in the same city a mile away it will first go to a city 50 miles away then make its way back to the city it was addressed too, maybe a week or more. But if I drop it in a mailbox in a neighboring city it will arrive in a day or two, it makes no sense. This is why the USPS looses so much money, its so inefficient especially with all the technology available today.

same thing happens here but sometimes since the people know me at my PO they stick it in my box before it leaves. thats how they use to do it with all the mail.

 

[hoz53]

Me either, I’ve pretty much been told that by people that have worked there too. I still insure anything of value just because I hope it helps them take better care of it but that may be wasted optimism.

yeah — everytime they ask me if i want insurance Im thinking— is that a complete waste of $ or would i really get paid——. i have to say everything ive insured has made it…

 

[Ringostar]

The scope that I ordered actually showed up today, even though the tracking still showed it in Dallas this morning. I asked at post office about my annealer that I sent a month ago. They checked computer at counter, then went in back for a few minutes. Came back saying that it’s been sitting in Albuquerque for 3 weeks.

 

[jelenko]

sitting in Albuquerque for 3 weeks.

This is what I don't get. What is happening that causes it to just sit for so long? I've had several times where this happened.

 

[ggshoots]

Its great to know the USPS isn't the only one doing this. I ordered Some parts that showed in stock in Michigan. 2 Day Express through FEDEX is the shipping method and I have ordered from them before. To start out the tracking showed the parts were actually logged in at the FEDEX in southern New Mexico, took a couple days to get out of New Mexico and when on the move my way in Iowa they had to have gone right by my small town and another 250 miles to Chicago. 7 days to my door for 2 Day Express. I wouldn't have ordered from them if I had only known.