USPS Complaint Thread - Pricing and Service

I feel like complaining about the USPS. Anyone else care to join me?

Normally, for one or two coins, I use a regular envelope and mail that for 55 cents. Very good price. Fair.

The coin I mailed today was not so cheap.

First, I buy a small padded envelope at the post office: $1.79 (it just went up from $1.49).

Second, I add insurance: $5.80 (no complaints, this coin was worth a few hundred dollars).

Third, postage: $3.66 (this kills me!)

Total: $11.25

The envelope weighed 0.7 ounces. Yes, that's less than one ounce. The usps.com website estimated that this would cost $1.00 because it was a large envelope (more than 1/4 inch thick). But instead they charged me $3.66 postage...

The clerk insisted it had to go PARCEL RATE. She said it was TOO LIGHT for the size of the envelope and needed special handling.

A different clerk played the same game on me last week. I mailed some tokens in the same type of padded envelope. The clerk wanted 5 DOLLARS postage. I said "No Thank You". Then I put four stamps on it (4 x 55 cents = $2.20) and put it in a mailbox. The "parcel" arrived a few days later.

I couldn't do that today because I needed the insurance. But boy was I mad. $3.66 postage for 0.7 ounces.

Anyone else have similar horror stories?

Wait until you try to mail a “parcel” overseas!

Not USPS but ... To send a FedEx envelope with one sheet of paper from USA to Kyrgyzstan, it costs about $120. To send the same from Kyrgyzstan to USA, it 3050com ($43.68) .. Go figure ...

International mail from the USA will be increasing by 300% because the USPS is leaving from the international postal union.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-to-leave-global-postal-union-next-month

Quote: "KLiao"​International mail from the USA will be increasing by 300% because the USPS is leaving from the international postal union.
​
​https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-to-leave-global-postal-union-next-month

I think you have that reversed. The increase will be on parcels TO the US.​

That's part of the reason why there is a push to leave the Postal Union (i.e., because there is a belief that the very cheap rates granted to countries like China put US companies at a disadvantage) Please note that I am not saying that this belief is correct (or incorrect for that matter), I am merely stating the reasons given by those who made the decision to leave the Postal Union.

I sent 1.4 oz of coins to Ontario,Canada, regular mail. It cost me $10.50.
2 weeks later I sent 1.6 oz to Halifax and it cost me about $2.50. Same type of envelope, a greeting card.Same girl.I always tell them the "Cheapest way"(Unless high value, then registered )

In my opinion,sometimes it just matters which person you get. Now I wait until my favorite employee ,with the most experience is working.
Their employees have to much descretion on the methods in which they send your package.

@Johnspa

I completely agree... too much discretion to the clerks and no chain of command if I object to a policy. I've tried talking to the postmaster but he said "it's in the computer". I said, it's just an envelope, not a parcel... He told me to try FedEx.

One time, a couple weeks ago, I refused to pay what they asked. Then I went to the self check-out machine (whatever it's called) and selected all the right options. Saved 3 bucks and my "package" got delivered just fine a few days later.

Quote: "TCon"​@Johnspa
​
​I completely agree... too much discretion to the clerks and no chain of command if I object to a policy. I've tried talking to the postmaster but he said "it's in the computer". I said, it's just an envelope, not a parcel... He told me to try FedEx.
​
​One time, a couple weeks ago, I refused to pay what they asked. Then I went to the self check-out machine (whatever it's called) and selected all the right options. Saved 3 bucks and my "package" got delivered just fine a few days later.

​Kiosk is the way to go if I don’t put a stamp on it that’s the only other way I’ll do it. I’m tired of these idiots trying to up charge me for no reason.

Matt

Lately, Ive dealt with a few stolen items, one box was cut open, only one coin removed, and then shipped. Made it really hard to claim because it was not totally stolen, they blamed me and literally told me to go home and look for my item, really? The other never arrived. Also told me to start buying insurance, good way to create a monopoly.

I now film myself packing up any parcel as I had NO proof of anything.

Secondly, I had the postmaster call me and complain about coins Im receiving from member trades and Ebay using regular envelopes, said it jammed their machine, the coins were trashed, looked like a shredder chewed them up.

I let her know real quick, that I did not pack the envelope and Im not in control of how folks send me stuff.
Their crap is so antiquated, service crappy.

Thirdly, my mail person has been leaving (requires signature) packages in my mailbox, probably getting a private box now.

MM