USPS, have they changed?

[maple flats]

It's not the case that the order wasn't printed at least this time, this morning I got an email saying they could not find the package. Now, I've been placing my outgoing shipments on a large stool on the left side of the entry door (for over 6 years) and the mail box is about 8" to the right of that door. Our front porch is only 8' wide and 6' front to back. I just suspect I had a sub who failed to look. In that time while they have missed pickups often, it's the first time they claimed they could not find the box, it was a medium flat rate USPS box with the prepaid label on top and facing right so they could read it (my online store determines which box and charges the customer for the shipping, they pay it as they place the order. I just got 2 more orders a few minutes ago, I'll be requesting a pickup for Thursday (because I need to bring some of the syrup from the sugarhouse tomorrow) and will be putting the 2 packages out Wed nite for Thursday pickup. I'll let you know how it goes.
The way I handled the missed pickup was that I printed a message in large bold print and used a HD clip to hang in on the front of our mailbox. I did that because had I chose to create another PU order it was too late for a pickup today, the email notice came about 6:50 this morning and 2:00 am is the cut off for a pickup order. My note said, Attention, mail carrier, I got notice you couldn't find my outgoing package yesterday. Look to your left, it's on the stool only 5 feet away as have hundreds of shipments for over 6 years, no body else had issues finding the shipment!. It was picked.

[UB29]

Dave, The USPS getting worse, is just another example of service gone to hell in this country. I ship via USPS often; but have given up asking for pickups. I hand carry all prepaid shipments down to my local PO, and plop them on their counter. That gives me at least a reasonable feeling that my package will at least get into their system.
Sad we have to put up with this crap...........but emblematic of service, or lack thereof, in our daily lives.

Bill

[wnybassman]

Well, that is unfortunate. My guess is the "not being able to find it" excuse was just that, an excuse for not picking it up because they probably need to put down something if the action was not completed. "Weather delay" is another generic excuse. If you were on my route I'd be happy to pick up your boxes. I have a few fairly regular pick-ups, including an author sending books out all the time and a motorcycle shop that sends out parts almost daily.

[DrTimPerkins]

Not package related, but when we moved from VT to MI in June 2023, we didn't receive ANY mail for 3 months. We did all the paperwork. Each end blamed the other end, then said the procedures changed during that time. Some mail we knew about (my retirement package info from UVM) NEVER got delivered and disappeared into the ether. Some mail ended up going back to our original address 6 months later and was thankfully put in an envelope and sent to us by the new owner. Some got held by the P.O. at each end because they had no "confirmation" of the change (because we never got it). They just kept saying "wait...it'll show up eventually." We kept getting mail for the previous owner of our new house for 6 months even though they had changed the address repeatedly. Fortunately, we do most things electronically and do even less by U.S. mail now. Just a bunch of absolutely crazy BS.

Of course, UPS at Proctor wasn't any better. They'd hold packages all week (claiming "Attempted delivery. Business closed") and only deliver on Fridays (often after-hours, leaving packages in the snow by the gate)...even for stuff that was supposed to be 1-day or 2-day shipping. Or would drop off our packages at a neighbor's house. Didn't matter how much we'd call them to complain. Never got better in the 25+ yrs I was there.

FedEx was the only shipper that was reliable.

[maple flats]

Another test for tomorrow, I have 3 packages going out, pick up is scheduled, I'll let you know how it goes. As I said before, this has only been a problem for about 5 months, maybe 6. Before that a few years ago when there was a sub on he didn't pick up packages. I I'm shipping over 30 lbs in one package or the total of more than one, generally a different ruck picks up even though I arrange for the free pick up along with the regular mail delivery.

[wnybassman]

Another test for tomorrow, I have 3 packages going out, pick up is scheduled, I'll let you know how it goes. As I said before, this has only been a problem for about 5 months, maybe 6. Before that a few years ago when there was a sub on he didn't pick up packages. I I'm shipping over 30 lbs in one package or the total of more than one, generally a different ruck picks up even though I arrange for the free pick up along with the regular mail delivery.

Anxiously awaiting the outcome. lol