Don't use USPS regular "snail mail"

[kc8svs]

I recently sent an HT1250 VHF full keypad with a bunch of accessories over to Pennsylvania on a sale deal. The seller sent me the money via USPS Parcel Post (regular mail) and I sent the radio the same way since he didn't include anyhting more for shipping. Well, the radio and everything never made it there. I lost all that, and had to send him ANOTHER radio to make up for the lost one for 50% of the original price so we both weren't screwed over the deal. I sent it Priority tracked and insured, and it got there super quick.

I will never, EVER, send anything worth more than 5.00 via regular USPS parcel post. It's priority mail, with tracking at LEAST.

Does anyone else have this type of problem, or has experienced it before?

[Bill Rogers]

I returned a piece of car stereo equipment, insured through the USPS and it was lost. Took months for the insurance check but it arrived. Bill

[elkbow]

I always send insured. I had a package shipped to me and in my housing area has the mass mail boxes with larger boxes on the bottom for parcels. The mail lady that delivers to our area has twice put my parcel in the box and put the key in my box....only problem on these two occasions, she locked the box open. The first time the parcel was still in there, the second time it was gone. She said there is a way to file with the post office in this case because it was her fault. I was also walking the dog and walked by another group of mail boxes and noticed she did the same thing there on another occasion, so I grabbed the package and delivered it to the person.....she goes was too fast and doesn't pay attention to what she is doing, but I must say that she is better than the guy before her....not saying much ....hmmm.

[mancow]

I wonder where all that lost stuff ends up?

Think, some guy probably got a mysterious package with a nice HT in it.

[Cpd014]

Dont ever send anything that is worth of any value through the US mail I also had nothing but problems with stuff arriving late or lost. The best way to go is UPS or FEDEX much better system for sending stuff especally of any value im almost reluctant to send an important letter USMAIL I sent something certified and never showed up till 3 weeks later ain that a kick in the rear and Im from Chicago and was sending it to someone that lived in a far south suburb of Chicago so thats what your dealing with.

[OX]

I send stuff through USPS all the time. Insured and Priority (doesn't cost that much more).

The way I see it, you buy the insurance and they won't want to lose it to keep you buying the insurance. You don't buy the insurance and they want to give you a reason to buy the insurance next time.

Never had a problem.

[elkbow]

I personally like USPS Priority mail. I worked at UPS during college, I know what can happen to a package that wasn't too well wrapped.

[Mike 701]

I used to send stuff USPS regular, parcel post & first-class all the time. Until they lost my minitor 2 in the mail.....Friend was the one who sent it out, he got a trace started on it and they found it at a dead letter center in minnesota (thank god for postal inspectors!!) - Got it back out, but i'll never send anything out unless it's insured & tracked.

Mike

[wa2zdy]

ANYTHING you send USPS, insure it. The "insured" sticker or stamp warns the dishonest postal workers that if THAT particular package takes a hike, it will be more strenuously investigated. So the crooks for the most part leave them alone. Even if it's a pair of dirty socks, insure it - it's worth the $1.10 or whatever just for the peace of mind knowing it almost certainly will arrive.

USPS priority, insured, and delivery confirmation is secure enough. Without that of course it's a whole different ballgame.

Good luck,

[central150]

I had an MTX8000 and a rapid charger shipped to me via USPS Priority mail. They package was shipped with USPS Tracking.. However, I use to live in an apartment complex with the mailboxes at the entrance of the building. Now, to get into the entrance from the street where the mailboxes are, the door did not lock. To get into the building where the apartments are, the door is locked. My stupid mail lady put the package in the unlocked door way. Never pushed my buzzer or anything.... 3 or 4 days later, I contacted the person who shipped it to me and they stated that they tracked it and it arrived a few days earlier. Well, the post office gave me the run around and they asked me if it was insured... And it wasn't... I never did get any money, but now when I ship stuff, it at least get's tracked.... My 2 cents....

Tony

[Dale Earnhardt]

I had pretty good luck with them, always send it by Priority mail, nothing reagular, with it comes to package. Defintley Insure them, just wish the tracking was better, like UPS or FedEx, where it tells you were it stoped at and loaded and everything, USPS, only tells you, it has left, and has arrive to the other post office, but they are cheap, the overnight is very very cheap, compare to UPS and FedEx, I think like 30 dollars cheaper or 40 sometimes.

[EngineerZ]

I use priority mail sparingly these days.. A couple items I have sent priority mail ended up taking longer than a week to get there; I should have put a 37-cent stamp on it and sent it first class... When I asked the clerk at the post office about it, all he sould say was "sorry, it's not a guaranteed service..." I find the tracking only marginally useful since it's not "real time" and only updated once a day..

But like others have said, no matter what service you use, make sure you send it insured!

--z

[copcarguy]

Have you noticed that the personel at the postal service dont wear uniforms anymore? They look like a bunch of worthless scrubbs. The mail lady we have was at my front door once and I thought it was a homeless person trying to get in my house....didnt they raise postage and get a raise a couple of months ago???