USPS - Priority Mail

Gina of Downey CA (11/22/04):
This is my daughters first year in college and she was very sad that she wouldn't be home to celebrate her 18th birthday. I told her not to worry, I planned to send to her a "birthday in a box".

USPS • Damaged Mail • Lost Mail • No Mail Delivery • Stolen Mail • Wrong Mail --- • Address Disputes • Change of Address • Dangerous Drivers • Hostility • Prescriptions Mishandled • Privacy Violations • Restricted Substances --- • Priority Mail • Express Mail • Military Mail --- News • Postal Service Proposes Eliminating Saturday Mail • Postal Service May Seek Service Cut • Movie Fans Suspect Foul Play at the Post Office

In box number one, I put all the party essentials such as balloons, a cake, napkins, plates, etc. In box number two, I sent 18 gifts. I went to the post office on Monday, Nov. 15th and spoke with the clerk regarding the importance of the gifts arriving Friday, November 19th. I was assured that if I sent the packages Priorty mail, it would get there on time. So, I paid an extra $14.95 per box plus cost of insurance, and tracking fee.

On Thursday, My daughter received box number two. So, I told her to be patient, maybe the gift box would arrive on Friday. She received nothing. Saturday morning I called the USPS customer service and was told that I paid for delivery confirmation not tracking, and I couldn't be helped. Because they don't consider a package lost until 14 days.

I was furious. I asked the young lady what was the difference between 2-3 day delivery and regular ground delivery? She just said sorry. I then told her one box was delivered, so what happened to the other. She just said that maybe their was not enough room on the truck so hopefully, it would be delivered on Monday, November 22nd. As the day progressed I grew madder and madder. I called USPS again, asking could someone tell me where my package was. This time a young man told me it was en route. I asked him was I to get a refund of some sort since my package was not delivered on time. He said no, because it was not a guaranteed service.

I told him that the service is misleading because the public believes what is written by the USPS that they are paying extra so that their mail is going to be delivered in 2-3 days, not 2-14 days. He apologized and stated that 96% of priority mail service is delivered in 2-3 days and maybe the package would me delivered on Monday. I asked since he knew my package is in transit, why couldn't he say, it will be delivered on Monday.

Now the problem is, my daughter is returning home for the holidays on Monday. So, it's a great chance that her shipment will arrive when she's away from school. And, a greater chance of someone taking it. What other business could charge you extra for a service and then not provide that service and the customer just has to suck it up!

So far, I was cheated out of my money, and my daughter was emotionally upset. I am really feeling that in my heart that my box may come up missing. I don't see why I have to wait 14 days before there is an investigation.

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