Overall, the service provided by the United States Postal Service (USPS) is reliable and a great value. The USPS generally gets shipments to their destinations, far and wide, quickly, inexpensively, and without incident. That said, after you’ve shipped packages for years, as I have, you’re bound to collect some stories of a few quirky and sometimes frustrating incidents. Here are a few of mine.
1. Finding out that all of the packages were simultaneously scanned as “Delivered” instead of “Picked Up”
After dropping off some packages in a blue mailbox, the carrier scanned every single package as “Delivered” in my zip code! None of those packages received any additional tracking updates (because duh, they’ve already been “Delivered”). One buyer contacted me right away, concerned that their order was delivered in the wrong state. I quickly explained the situation and that buyer, along with all of the other buyers, received their items.
2. Spotting one of my outgoing packages on the lawn
After ordering a carrier pickup, I discovered one of my outgoing packages on the lawn later in the day. The carrier apparently dropped the package on the way back to his truck. Luckily I found the package and remailed it.
3. Getting outgoing packages delivered to my address
Some carriers have trouble distinguishing between the delivery address and the return address (?!), particularly on international shipping labels. I took a package into the local post office, asking why it had been delivered to me. The postal worker replied, “Because you’ve got a dumb carrier!”
4. Tracking scan shows an old package (minor nuisance)
The USPS recycles tracking numbers and customs form numbers, so don’t be surprised if at some point online tracking displays updates for old shipments. I had a July shipment show tracking from January.