USPS - Lost Mail

I run a small business and have been shipping with the USPS for approximately 20 years. I have never had any problem with the shipping (and I was shipping almost 400 packages per day) until recently. I have about 12 or 13 packages that have either been lost or arrived at my customers' door stamped "Received Without Contents". The common factor is that these are all media mail packages and all travel through the Jersey City, NJ sort facility. The packaging I use is almost impossible to open accidentally. About 80% of my shipments do go first class and I have never had a single one open in transit. So, is there a machine issue in Jersey City? I don't think so. I have spoken to quality control at that location and they assured me that their systems are functioning properly. So, I will point the finger, plain and simple: There is a thief at the Jersey City, NJ facility. I have filed formal complaints to the USPS both in writing and by phone. To date, the problem has not been resolved. I depend on the USPS to provide excellent service at a great price. My confidence is shrinking.

So I have mailed out two packages from Washington State to Florida and to Louisiana, both going Media Mail as they were books - vintage, hard to find books. Both packages were lost. I contacted USPS by phone and was told to wait at least six weeks before filing a complaint, as Media Mail takes a while. I very politely let the USPS rep know that it had been two months already. She then told me that I could file a claim. Just go to my local post office and ask for a search form. I did. My local USPS workers had never heard of such a form. Awesome! Anyways, I contacted the bulk mail center in Federal Way, Washington and was told that Media Mail will only go out when and only when they have a truck full. Sometimes it can take up to six weeks before it even leaves the state! Then, another couple (if I am lucky) of weeks for the mail to be delivered. Then why put my package will arrive within 2-9 days if they know the truck will wait six weeks before even leaving the state?! So, I still ship Media Mail but now everything is insured. So do your job, USPS, or cough up the bucks for your crappy delivery job. By the way, I live in a super small town with no UPS or FedEx. Awesome!

I had a friend send out not one but two separate boxes through her post office. She had already paid and printed the labels from Paypal. She used priority flat rate boxes. She did not insure the items. Shame on us. There is tracking that tells us nothing and it's been 15 business days and the post office is clueless. Worse thing is, the two boxes combined have over $500 worth of items in them. How can USPS lose not one but two boxes?

First of all, I must agree with Lori in Long Beach. It would be like from the frying pan into the fire if we were to lose the post office on Atlantic Avenue. But, I do have some complaints. I do believe my mail is not being given to me on a timely basis and I've lost a cell phone in this process as well. My mail person comes at around 2:30-3:00 p.m. daily, yet when there's a substitute, I receive my mail around noon. I also received mail stamped four days earlier which should take 1-2 days to receive. I will receive from that same sender mail in one day most of the time. My cell phone was "lost" in the mail? I've never had problems such as this until moving to Bixby Knolls. I overheard a man complaining today that his pension checks are being lost several times, WTH? When one loses the confidence in our postal service, it becomes very disconcerting.

I believe whoever is sorting and delivering has much to do with this. Not saying that anyone is stealing, but something very serious is going wrong. There needs to be an investigation and micromanaging by supervisors related to this. Reminder of federal offense for tampering with mail, and that applies to everyone! Also, this post office closed one hour early as the housekeeper stated the computers were down. I asked for further assistance and the housekeeper said "she" was busy. I told him I would wait. He shut the door in my face and drew the blinds. This inappropriate, unprofessional behavior has to stop. I would never think about being this rude, inconsiderate or not taking my job delivering mail seriously. I'm an R.N., and take my job very seriously. I would think the postal personnel should do the same.

This has happened two times so far in a period of one week. About 6 months ago, I sent mail to a company with a check in it and the company never got it. Now, about a month ago, I sent mail to a different company with a check in it and they didn't get it, so that's two times this has happened from the same mailbox. Neither checks were cashed but my money was tied up for 6 months. This past Christmas, our granddaughter sent us a $50.00 and a $25.00 gift card to Red Lobster and we did not get them. Either you have a thief working for you or the machinery has cracks in it where this mail dropped into. Either way, I am not happy.

My mother sent me my tax return check in the mail and she sent it a little over a week ago. I have still not received it, and I have discussed my concerns with the post man nearly every time he showed up to deliver our mail. This is unorganized and very irresponsible of the postal services. I was expecting my check almost a week ago and it still hasn't come. If you can't run a business correctly then don't even bother starting one. This is both frustrating and maddening, considering I was in need of the extra money! If this wasn't a public website, I would speak what I am feeling against the postal service right at this moment!

I was expecting to receive a package from a company in Los Angeles on April 18, 2012 at my husband's place of work. I have done business with this company for well over a year and have had everything delivered to the same address. A couple of days went by and no package. According to USPS tracking, this package was delivered. I filed a complaint with USPS to find out what happened. While filing this complaint, I accidentally put the wrong address number to where the package was supposed to be delivered to. After noticing this mistake, I contacted USPS to correct my mistake. USPS took that as the label on the package being delivered was wrong which I have written numerous complaints telling them it was my error to no avail.

I contacted the company that I ordered from who gave me the shipping details of my order which were all correct. I cannot be refunded for the item since it was delivered; to whom it was delivered to is anyone's guess. The USPS has turned this into a blame game against me, but USPS was the last to handle this package, so why or how could this be anyone's fault but their own? I want to be compensated for that package that one of their incompetent carriers lost. I mean should we not trust any federal agencies anymore in this country?

I am actually not really dissatisfied. I just do not know where to start my inquiry because I did try to do it on USPS' mail site, but I could not get an email through. Please, is it possible to get me to the right people? I have two parcels that have been sent from North Carolina to me in SA. I got parcels from them before, but they did not take as long as this two. I'm not sure if I should be concerned yet, but I would just like to know if my parcels are in fact on their way. The tracking system shows that they went through Miami, Florida on the 29th of April already, but our customs still do not have any trace of them. Could someone just please find out for me if they in fact left the USA or put me on the right track to make the necessary inquiries? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

On May 8, 2012, my school, Peirce College, sent my books for my classes (Paralegal) through UPS, who in turn delivered them to the USPS for final delivery (May 10, 2012). I, as an active consumer, kept track of my packages through UPS and the USPS websites. After not having received my books on the confirmed delivery date, I went to the USPS website and tracked my packages. When I checked the status of my packages, I learned that the USPS claimed that they had delivered my packages at 11:57AM on May 11, 2012. The problem being, they did not deliver the packages to the correct address.

After attempting to call the post office (it was 4:00PM), I was unable to reach anyone (they took off for the day at 4:00PM?). I have $4,700 in tuition tied up for school and over $250 worth of books that the brilliant folks at the USPS could not deliver as they were paid to do. Now I, as a paralegal, am looking at my rights as the consumer in holding the USPS responsible for all my tuition and the cost of my books. This is not a one time incident in that the local USPS has delivered the wrong mail to the wrong address. For over five years, I have been complaining about how the wrong mail is delivered to the wrong address here in Waco, Texas. Allowing the USPS to fold will not hurt my feelings. When it's all said and done, I will still have my job. The brilliant people of the USPS will be complaining about their lack of a job, but they brought it upon their own self by not knowing how to read simple English.

What happened to my package? It has been over a month now since I should have been getting 3 packages from you all and I don't. I went to the office on Fulton 3 different times and they told me my stuff was delivered to the said address. Now, what am I supposed to do, call it a lost like money grows on tree? I am struggling just like anyone else.

My daughter sent me a package through the US Postal for my birthday which contained a cell phone and cash. She sent it on April 9, 2012, and I haven't received it. The zip code was entered wrong but I've made several calls to tell them the correct zip code but no one seems to know where my package is. I keep getting different statements from the postal worker that there is nothing they can do about it till someone takes it off the machine. Today, I called to follow up on it and one of the postal workers got rude with me and told me if I keep calling, she is going to report me for harassment. I'm thinking how are you going to say this to me and my package is lost or misplaced. I feel she needs to be reprimanded to tell a customer this and someone needs to find/locate my package.

I shipped a package from MD to SC with a used laptop that was like a new computer to my grandson. I originally purchased the HP Mini from Verizon on their 2-year plan and it only cost $200. So, I insured it for $200. This would not be possible to replace for that amount, but I am honest and have documentation for that order. The package was tracked, delivered at the door of my recipient and I notified her to look outside. The recipient was home and said she had not seen UPS and no package was delivered. I opened a claim and UPS went through their process and I faxed documents that proved what I was claiming. I received an email from customer service that said a check would be mailed after they received documentation on the claim, because there was not sufficient proof that the package had been delivered.

After a week and a half, I am told that their policy is not to issue a claim if the package is released and the claim was denied. I didn't release the package. I just didn't request a signature. This driver didn't knock or try to see if anyone was home if indeed he did go to the house. Also, I was told by two departments, two different outcomes. So I have to go by the UPS driver's word that he delivered the package to the right address and lose out on what I had to spend, to replace this computer that was a gift to my grandson. Another incident occurred in MD and the UPS driver scanned a delivery to my resident on the wrong tracking number and insisted that I was keeping the wrong package. It was what I ordered and the package showed up in PA. I am just mentioning this, because drivers make mistakes, but the consumer suffers. I will not use UPS again.

What is going on? One week, I receive a broken collector doll. Then on 4-2-12, they shipped out an order. Cost of item was $100.00 plus shipping of $54.45, and it did not reach the location. It was shipped to China. Well, it got to China, but not to the buyer. It is at People's Republic of China. So I am out $154.45. If you can ship it out, can't you get it back?

I ordered a gift for my husband online and had it delivered to my home. I tracked the package and it stated it was delivered on April 5th. On April 6th, I confronted my mail carrier. He stated he had no packages that day and to call his district manager. I contacted my local post office here in Taunton, Massachusetts and was told the manager would speak to the mail carrier and get back to me. Well that took two days. When we finally spoke again, I was told that the mail carrier told him he had so many packages that day that he does not remember if he delivered it or not. I live on a very busy road, common sense would tell you not to leave a package at my door, leave me one of those sticky notes that says I have a package.

I am furious about this because no one is being held accountable for my missing package that I paid for. It was my husband's birthday gift. I was told to contact consumer affairs because there was nothing that the post office could do for me. So now I have a big sign on my mailbox "please do not leave packages" and about two days ago, a package was left and by the time I got to it, it had been opened. I still have the package. If you would like to see it, I can email a photo or send it to you. I need someone to be held accountable for their actions and the loss of my stuff. I don't have the money to just throw away and hope that people do their jobs correctly and efficiently. If you need more information regarding this matter, please contact me.

On the 6th of April 2012, I mailed a money card of $50.00 to my sister in Wyoming. It is missing. I mailed her two more checks 6 days ago, priority. It cost me another $5.90. These two checks are in the amount of $75.00. It has not gotten there yet and was supposed to have gotten there on the 25th. I am about to lose it. I have been tracking this one. They said they would try and find it and it may take up to three months. The bank wants to charge me $31.00 per check. I am retired, I live on a very fixed income. I just can't keep spending money. At least the first check has not been cashed. Please, help me. Tell me how or what to do. Thank you.

Item was not delivered to my office. I called the lady in the local USPS office who said it will be investigated, but she never called back. I called the USPS service line and the local manager called and left a phone number for me to call. When I called the number several times, nobody answered! Over two years, USPS misdelivered/lost twice the items I purchased! Every time, USPS insisted that items were delivered (scanned in their words!) and refused to do further investigation.

For over two years, I have been buying beads for my craft of making necklaces and without fail I have only lost two packages. Since January of this year, the postal service has lost 7. Generally the company reimburses me but lately they are not. I have approached the postmaster about it, filed another such complaint but nothing. This jewelry making allows me some additional money over my normal poor wage and the economic downswing. I've received several comments like, origination point isn't sending the items, customs is at fault, gems aren't allowed into the US when in fact, what I buy is agate which is not a gem. My biggest headache is the postal service says they can't do anything about it has shut me down. My sources have been like clockwork and rarely if ever miss a beat so what gives with the poor performance on the Postal Services' behalf!

For the nth time, I'm complaining about the service of USPS. They lost the bank replacement card and now that I need it, I have to wait until the bank replaces it with another one. On top of that, the new card comes with a new number which implies that I'll have to change creditors who get paid directly. This is a total rip off, lack of responsibility and criminal. I'm sick and tired of complaining to the USPS and they have the nerve to say "sorry" and that they will take care next time. Is there anybody who can do anything about it?

I have spoken to Martin ** at the Murrieta post office and asked him where I could complain. He referred me to this site. USPS mail service is horrible these days. They have every excuse under the sun for not being responsible for your mail once it is turned over to them. On 3/16/2012, I mailed an international first class parcel to Paris, France with a customs form number **.

3 weeks later, I was notified by the receiver of that package that it had not arrived and when she had her post office in Paris check, they said the package was still in the USA! I went to my local post office in Murrieta, CA and they said it was shipped out of country. They told me to wait another week. I did then go back to them as the package still had not arrived in Paris. They told me it was scanned in San Bernardino, CA. I said that another postal person told me it was out of country, now you say it was scanned in SB 30 miles from here? I'm so confused and was told to contact Martin ** at the other Murrieta post office. He told I waited too long! Then I was told it was never scanned in SB nor LA before leaving the country. Meaning, they couldn't tell me if it was still in the states or not.

I was told a number of times that I was just out of luck because I did not insure the package nor send it register mail. What happened to the USPS was under federal law they seemed to be above the law with no responsibility to the mail they are supposed to handle. They told me they don't have to scan any of the packages going out of country. Nor does France. So what's the point of having a customs form? They told me 5 at least different excuses why they weren't at fault.

I couldn't make them pay the bracelet I shipped ($44 value) because it had no insurance. I told them the USPS does not allow us to insure a 1st class international package nor priority mail package, only global express mail, which cost $36.00 in postage as apposed to $5.00 postal for a 3 oz. item. This is a business and when you pay them for a service, they are obligated to provide that service or give you back your item or money. I asked him how do I not know a postal worker did not steal the package as it clearly states what it is in the description of the item (as per instructions on the customs form).

All the USPS is interested in is selling you stuff you don't need. They have the mail rigged in the USA so folks have to pay inflated express mail prices if they want the USPS to be responsible. The attorney general needs to do some investigation on the way the US mail is handled if this private company needs to follow the law and compensate the customers when it does not fulfill its obligations of mail service just like any other business has to. I want the money of value of the bracelet and the cost of shipping returned to me so I can return it to the customer who bought and paid for it and yet never received it.

Three envelopes containing payments were never delivered. One was to the business office of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, one was to Dell Financial Services, and one was to Quest Laboratories. Now, I am stuck having to pay a $35 fee to stop payment on these 3 checks (3 x $35 = $105) in order to make new payments. In forty years of paying bills and sending letters by mail, I never had a problem. What is happening to the U.S. Post Office? Is it getting as incompetent as our other government people in Washington DC? I am ripped off.

My boyfriend's mom mailed a large package containing a scrapbook full of photos and keepsake items. The package never arrived. The package was insured, but could not be tracked because the receipt with the number went missing as well. The post office claims to keep no record of insured packages. We were directed to contact the post offices involved, the postmaster general and write letters to the so-called missing letter warehouses. We were never contacted about the missing package. The package was quite large, large enough to contain a 12x12 scrapbook, and it did not contain anything that would be of value to anyone else. It seems quite odd that such an item could go completely missing, particularly since the contents contained so much personal information that it should be able to be re-routed. Years have gone by, and I am still enraged that a large package could go completely missing without a trace, particularly given the sentimental contents. I would never ship anything of personal value, let alone via the USPS.

On April 19, 2012, I tracked my package on USPS.com and it said that attempted delivery was made, but since I was not home, it was delivered to the post office (Parklawn Station in Milwaukee, WI), a package slip was left, and it said to come get the package within 15 days or it would be shipped back to the sender. Well, first I never received a slip at my home. I went to the post office (Parklawn Station) to retrieve my package and it could not be found. They told me it could possibly still be on the truck for redelivery and to check back the next business day.

Well, to make a long story short, I called and spoke first with ** at the post office and he said he still couldn't find it. He took my phone number and name and said he would look overnight and call me back the next day. The next day came and I had not received a call back, so I called him back and he said he was still looking. I asked if I could talk to the station manager. He said he was out for the day and to call to speak to him the following day and he hung up abruptly on me. I called the next day to speak with ** the station manager. The station manager put me on hold and handed the call off to **, who again took all the same information I had given ** and said he would call me back.

The next day came again and he still hadn't called me back, so I had to call them again. I spoke with the station manager ** again and he acted as if I had not ever called. So I had to give him my information again and he said he would return my call. This time it is April 26th and I still don't have my package. **, the original person I spoke with at the post office called me today, April 26, to tell me that he still couldn't find my package and that it is probably lost. He gave me a phone number to the local consumer affairs to place a complaint and told me to come and fill out a form for reimbursement. This situation has been poorly handled by all involved so far, especially the station manager **. I understand mistakes happen and packages sometimes get lost, but I as the customer should not have been thrown under the bus. At this point, I hope the consumer affairs representative can help resolve this situation as I still do not have a package that was in their hands.

On April 2, 2012, I sent a package to my son at Camp Lejeune, N.C. On April 23, he still had not received it. I went to the Bedford, NH post office where I sent it from with my receipt of the box I sent. The box was a large If it fits it ships. The woman there looked at my receipt and said I can't help you, there is no tracking number. Next time use tracking, it only costs 75 cents. She then said hope for the best, maybe it will come back to you.

On April 24, I called the post office at 1770 McHugh Road in North Carolina. A woman named ** really tried to help me, she went to look and did not find anything. It is hard to have your child in the Armed Forces and packages are one of the ways to stay close and have a little bit of home sent to you. The package is nowhere to be found, but also as disturbing is the Bedford, NH post office's too bad for you attitude. Any kind of help is appreciated, thank you.

My mother sent me a package from Bangkok, Thailand to Pittsburgh, PA. She also sent me copies of paid for invoices, which included my tracking number. I went online to check for my package only to find that my parcel had been shipped to Morganton, NC and had been signed for by someone else. But my invoice clearly show my name, address and number. I called USPS and they said I should call Bangkok to start an investigation, which I did 3 weeks ago, but up to now the status of my package still remains the same. It has been delivered to someone else.

I was to receive a box of college books from a college student three months ago and still have not gotten them. They said it is in the dead letter center in Philadelphia. The books were coming from Doug ** out of Arizona. I either want my books or the $75 for them. I am really irritated.

On 12/20/2011, I mailed two boxes: one box to Keith **, ** CT 06360 and 1 box to Kristin **, ** CT 06360 from the New London Connecticut Post Office. I sent the packages priority mail and was told the packages would be delivered on 12/22/2011. I contacted the Norwich Connecticut Post Office at the end of January 2012 and was told the packages were held for 30 days and if not picked up, they would be returned to me. The person on the phone told me she remembered seeing these packages but they were no longer in the office. The post master must have returned them to me.

I waited two more weeks and again contacted the Norwich Post Office. This time, I was told the packages were not there and I should contact the Annex. I called Valerie at **. She told me the packages would not have been shipped to the Annex. She said she would check on these packages and get back to me. Valerie never called back. I contacted Valeria approximately one week later. Valerie said her supervisor was going to the Norwich Post Office to look for the boxes and she would call me back. Again, Valerie did not call me back.

I called approximately one week later. Valerie told me her supervisor looked for the packages they were not there. She also said she checked with the postal carrier. I said, "So the packages are gone and I am out of luck?" She replied, "Yes." At the beginning of April 2012 my husband was at the Norwich Post Office and asked about the packages, explained again to the postal employee what happened, the postal employee gave my husband the Atlanta Mail Recovery Center address. I called 1-800-275-877. The message said I should contact the Consumer Affairs in my state regarding lost packages.

On April 23, 2012, I am writing this description in hopes of recovering my two lost packages. I became very suspicious when I spoke to the girl at the Norwich Post office the first time because she said she remembered seeing the packages. When I spoke to Valerie at the Annex the first time, I was told the girl at Norwich was a new employee. The two packages were obviously Christmas packages based on the time of mailing. They obviously made it to the Norwich Post Office from New London Post Office and they disappeared from the Norwich Post office.

I mailed a large package on April 17, 2012, at the Irvona, PA post office, insured it, got Priority shipping, with signature confirmation. The package was going to an address in Raleigh, NC 27604 and contained live plants. I was told by the postmaster that it probably would get to its destination on April 19, 2012. As of this evening, the package has not been received in Raleigh and in checking USPS tracking system, the only information re the status is "your item was processed through our Warrendale, PA 15095 facility on April 18, 2012 at 5:16 p.m." I called USPS customer service number but only got a recording telling me the same information that was on their tracking website. At this point, the package is lost and I have no idea where it may be. This is the third incident I have had in trying to get an article/package mailed through the USPS. Assistance is needed in locating this package immediately due to the contents.

On April 17, 2012, we set up a package to be shipped overnight to LA with guaranteed delivery by 12:00 noon. We paid online ($94.54) and printed out all the shipping information. We sent an employee to the post office for final delivery and were told we had additional fees to pay. We paid the additional $186.26 and thought we were okay. Midday on April 18, 2012, the postman came to our office and told us our package could not be delivered because we had not paid all the fees. We were immediately shocked.

My colleague, Stephanie, who set up the original shipment, went to the post office and was told we had not paid for the $15 insurance we had requested. They then informed her that we should have pointed this out to them. This is extremely unprofessional as it is not our responsibility to point out items on your forms. We had filled out all information correctly but the post office employees had overlooked this to our detriment! We paid the additional $15 and thought we were okay. My colleague, Stephanie, was told to contact **, the manager of the post office on 432 E.14th Street, NY, NY 10009-9998, if she needed anything. All payment was taken care of and our package was sent.

On April 19, 2012, we were constantly checking our tracking information. Everything seemed to be on schedule, but at 12:00 (technically 24 hours after our agreed and paid for time), the package still had not arrived. Stephanie began calling ** and was continually put on hold. Finally, she called back and was told he had gone home for the day. It is shown to have arrived at the distribution facility but now seems to be lost. At the current time, the package is four hours (or 28 hours depending) late, so this problem is ongoing.

This package contained our entire Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. We were sending it to LA to get needed additional sales and press. After missing the deadline on the first day, the USPS made us miss a number of press appointments. After missing the second deadline, the USPS made us lose business. Not only has this mistake caused us to lose $280.80 (+15.00 for insurance!) for shipping, but we have also lost both press and sales. We expect at the minimum a full refund for this shipment. In our business, we ship all over the United States as well as across the world. After this incident, we will no longer trust our valued shipments to the United States Postal Service.

I shipped a priority mail international package on Feb 7th, 2012. The recipient still has not received the package and I have already had to refund the money. I have placed several calls into USPS and made two visits to the post office where I sent the package from Bethesda, MD office. Each time they tell me "we don't track those packages" and brush me off. It has been over two months and the package has not been returned to me (my return address was included) and the post office told me they would refund my shipping cost. The package contained an iPhone 4 worth $300 (which was the declared value on the package).

This is completely unacceptable. I paid for delivery of a package. The USPS is responsible for that package until it's delivered. It also just says "accepted" when I look up the receipt number. To me that means it never left the Bethesda post office. There has to be something that can be done. They need to replace or reimburse me for my lost item. If it's sitting in a center somewhere, why can't someone help me find it? The fact that they refuse to do anything is infuriating. Do I have to file a small claims court case? I would like to avoid that. I just want what's mine, nothing more.

I have a missing mail (my rent check). I called the Gainesville PO 3 days ago and left my phone number. No one called. My landlord wants another check, but I am on disability and my bank balance is $14.00. I cannot cancel the check and I cannot write another. It was addressed to Oscar ** at **. Please help!