Been talking with Frank (Sticshooter) about a knife made with my wifes Grandpas file, well they lost it, my father-inlaw said it was 80-100yrs. old. Alot of sentimental vallue here, and it was lost in one day. I know theres some postal workers here and my best freind is one , but nomore from me, I'm ticked. I'll walk it there next time. Sorry just venting, hope this doesn't happen to anybody else. :banghead: :banghead:
I sent out a Centaur Carbon Elite in the same flimsy box that my Chimera came in, all the way to Glendale, CA. It got there in great shape, sent the 15th and arrived the 17th. Early in the morning.
Other than putting it in the back seat and driving it there (which I could not do on the postage I paid), I can think of no other way to get it there with as much confidence as I have in that carrier.
And yes, I do work for them.
And no, I do not get a discount.
Killdeer
I don't care what the price of whatever it is that I'm shipping, I use tracking confirmation and if it's valuable then it also gets insurance.
This is my way and the only way I will use the USPS.
My 2 cents worth.
I am very sorry that you've lost something that is so precious to you.
YHS
God bless,Mudd
I am currently dealing with the Post Office on a bow ruined in shipping. Though I am plenty unhappy, it was insured and quite frankly with my past experience with Fedex and UPS it will take more than one bow for me stop using the U.S.P.S.
Killdeer, I'm not bashing you or the postal carriers, but my friend and my carrier both said it doesn't supprise them, and they said use u.p.s. next time, and I will. and if they dont get it there then my dodge and the gas card in my wallet are making the trip.
So far,knock on wood, I have had "EXCELLENT" results with the USPS. That's not saying I'll never have any problems,but for the price and time frame it is very hard to beat!! I hope my luck with them continues..........
Well, here's my two cents!! Sent a BW to the BW factory in Nixa Mo. to have a new type handle machined on the bow. U.S. post office lost it, I had put $500.00 insurance on the handle, but they choose to depreciate my handle to a value of $279.00. I scheduled a meetin with the post master, he said he was sorry but I would have to deal with a claims office in Texas. I asked how they could depreciate the value an not pay me the $500.00 insurance that I had paid for. He had no answer. Never , never deal with them again!!!!!
So you wanna pay more for less service with someone who is more likely to mess up?
I understand you have had issues with the PO....
I have shipped USPS Priority a hundred times with never an issue.. Actually this is a GREAT service...
JDS III
I don't like the care/handling or tracking system of USPS. I am a UPS man. I can track it at every stop. If I haven't got a box my local UPS store will provide a box and pack it for a few bucks.
Yes, UPS costs a little more but nothing has ever gotten lost, ever.
my 2 Cents
I have had things literally trashed by UPS. They damaged something and they have a policy of throwing it away if it is dangerous or they think it is. So if it sounds like broken glass, has anything sticking out of the box with a point and so on they throw it away. I had a really over packed custom item that they said was so damaged they couldn't salvage it to ship to back. They had to have run over it with a truck, and I am not kidding, to have done that. I handle all kinds of packages with UPS for my work. Most are very durable and not real hard to replace. They come in torn up with all kinds of gouges and crushed sections, holes..........I have not even had a dented box with USPS, and my stuff is not shipped with big heavy stuff like they hall with UPS. I had someone ship me an odd size hard items in a paper envelop of all things by USPS, and it came repacked buy USPS because it poked out the paper. I will stick with USPS. If I ship anything of value with UPS it is way over packed. A bow would have to be in a tube.
hmmm, never had a problem with USPS Priority. I have heard of problems with Brown and trying to get paid for loss. I guess nothing is perfect in this world. Just glad we don't have to use Pony Express any longer! :biglaugh:
you are lucky you don't have to deal with Canada post you won't find a slower postal service any where. Pony express would probably arrive an hour earlier.
UPS driver left $2300 worth of camera lenses on my front porch, They got rained on and completely soaked. Said it wasn't their responsibility. Next week they did the same thing with a piece of stereo equipment. It was also ruined by rain!
Needless to say I refuse to use their service again.
Have never had a problem with USPS, but always send Priority insured just in case.
I worked for Fedex for 6 years and know how they load their trailers. Also now know that UPS loads with the same diligent care as Fedex. Knowing how this is done, believe me they would be the last of my available choices to use!!
This is experience speaking not just my opinion.
I receive UPS at work every day. I would never use them for a bow. I have well over 100 USPS Priority shipments over the last two years without any problems. I ain't changing any time soon.
I don't want to jinx myself....but to be honest I've never had an issue with USPS. No one and no service is perfect.
Sorry for your bad luck
Gentelman I'm not trying to say one is better then the other(ups-usps) and price of a package sent out for a few dollars is not relivant, 80-100 yr. old peice of steel that was lost is, and when I talked to the guy in cleveland about the loss his thought was " boy things get lost shouldv'e had insurance on it", how much should I of had 3$--1000$, it had sentimental value. I'm not gonna :deadhorse: but usps is the last way my stuff is going to be sent out for now on!
I will never ship UPS!!!!!!!! First they left a cashmere sweater that I had saved and sweated to order on the sidewalk in front of the wrong house!!!!!!!!!! Next they left a shipment from the old 3 Rivers in front of the same house and it was stolen. Ferry at Rivers said I must have stolen it!!!!!!!Which is why I will not buy from Rivers even though they have changed owners. UPS driver said he was overworked and couldn't be sure of everything he delivered being at the correct address and got pissed because I wasn't sympathetic about his plight. Finally got a check 6 months after the loss.To HELL with UPS and hooray for USPS. Frank
I know I live in a small town and most of the postal people know I have this odd hobby but if I get a large package that won't fit in the ail box they will actually bring it up and deliver it to me. The mail person could just a ticket in the mail box and I'd have to go get it. I call that excellent service. Jawge
I sent a heavy Priority package to Anchorage several years ago, insured... I thought it got lost too...but amazingly, it showed up on my friend's doorstep 30 DAYS late! I paid big $$$, but when it got there, with all the work I put into that project, I didn't care.
May your file still make an appearance as my package did so long ago!
Being a letter carrier for the Postal Service I will say that they have their problems but they are still the best way to ship something. I have shipped bows, rifles, shotguns and have never had a problem. I always insure anything of value just in case. I did have a box from UPS stolen because the driver didn't feel like taking the elevator up the the 4th floor to my apartment. Ammo no less. They also destroyed a box that a vintage Marshall amp was shipped to me in. That got the amp was not dammaged. The P.O. is still the best way to go.
No shipper is 100%, but I think the usps does better than the alternatives. They may misdirect things once in a while, but I haven't had them completely lose anything yet, or ruin anything that wasn't improperly packed.
what do you get when you combine fed-ex and ups?
....................fed-up......have had bad dealings with both and never ever even a glimmer of trouble with usps.they get all my buisness period.
QuoteOriginally posted by George Tsoukalas:
I know I live in a small town and most of the postal people know I have this odd hobby but if I get a large package that won't fit in the ail box they will actually bring it up and deliver it to me. The mail person could just a ticket in the mail box and I'd have to go get it. I call that excellent service. Jawge
Same here. Our driver brings everything to the door and has even tracked me down out back to get stuff to me. Great lady.
QuoteOriginally posted by Muleyslayer:
Gentelman I'm not trying to say one is better then the other(ups-usps) and price of a package sent out for a few dollars is not relivant, 80-100 yr. old peice of steel that was lost is, and when I talked to the guy in cleveland about the loss his thought was " boy things get lost shouldv'e had insurance on it", how much should I of had 3$--1000$, it had sentimental value. I'm not gonna :deadhorse: but usps is the last way my stuff is going to be sent out for now on!
I feel for you. Really I do, but if packed good, tracked and insured, it is still a great way to go. Things happen to things, but hey are only things. And stop slaying those mules. Oh, muliey slayer. :D
When I owned the archery business, I shipped maybe a thousand items via US Priority mail. We had only one person say it never got there. That was to an apartment complex, figure it got there but someone stole it since item was too long to fit in mail box. Probably left sitting on top of mail box, but not sure.
I think USPS does a very good job.
I would like to go back to the original post. I realize I prodded the UPS Versus USPS debate. Sorry.
The bigger issue is; you lost something precious to you. For that, I am sorry.
Big Brown will always let you down. I have shipped bows all over the USA and US priority mail gets them to the address in three days with no problems. Who ever you use, build your package BOMB PROOF to stack the odds in your favor along with insurance and a return receipt.
My big concern is that you insure an item for $500 and they can discount it... what's up with that??!!!
I've mailed 3 bows in the last few months and have used USPS and have had great service. But trying to get out of paying insured value of shipped package is TOTAL BS. I'm gonna ask a few questions before I ship my next bow.
Actually folks, UPS is a contracted carrier for USPS on alot of the Priority Packages!
Remember, it is still customer service, a Blood pumping, oxygen breathing Human being, is still in charge of doing the right job! :bigsmyl:
USPS/UPS on it's worst day is still mile sbetter than the Autralian Postal service. I had a bow posted to me oncewith Aust Post and it was well packed, however some idiot had slammed the tip of the box in a car door by the looks of it and the bow was ruined. I complained and they fobbed me off saying that the bow was incorrectly packaged (untrue). Another time, I had a package with camo clothes, predator callers and all manner of goodies left on my 9 month old pups dog bed outside. Of course, pup thought it was all for her and demolished the package and contents forthwith. Same response from Australia Post again when I filed a complaint...
I have had many packages posted to me from the United States via USPS and UPS, never had a problem, items arrived faster than if I was to have something posted from within Australia.
USPS, Priority Mail, Insured and Delivery Conformation....Great Service...Many bows shipped and received...Absolutely no problems so far... :pray:
I've used most every service at one time or another. Never had a real problem with any of them. Spend a little extra get the insurance, tracking and delivery confirmation. But most importantly pack the item properly.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I haven't had any real problems with them, and much prefer them to UPS for shipping bows. Regardless, it's a shame something like this happens.
The USPS ruined the last bow I shipped. It was insured and everything, but they don't pay what it was insured for. What's up with that? They just get to decide what part of the insured amount they want to pay....that sure don't seem right to me......Unfortunately I have to send another bow tomorrow. :scared:
I have had good service from USPS and UPS. With America in the fast lane things are bound to happen. Sorry for your loss. Maybe it will turn up.
I sent 2 packages to Texas through the post office--insured. These were items that I had owned for years and I was handing them down to a friend. Both packages never showed up to my friends house. When I tried to file a claim for the insurance I paid for I was told I could not collect unless I could produce receipts showing what I purchased the items for. I owned these items for 20 years and there was no way I could produce receipts. I asked for my insurance payment back and was told no. I will never use the post office again.
My mail carrier is really great. She will walk the packages around to the front door and leave under the big porch so they can't get wet. Not so with other carriers.
She once waited while I opened a bow so she could see it then ohhed and ahhed over it.
Well lets see. USPS is unsafe, FedEx not trustworthy, UPS completely unreliable and heaven help you if you use Aussie mail. Sounds like the only safe way to send a package is personal home delivery. Your in trouble if you try that with a Ford...........
Didn't read it all...anything that is 'special' should be sent in a manner that can be tracked.
It can still be lost....but much less likely.
I have a lot of experience with all three because I used to run a shipping store. We shipped stuff with all three everyday.
There are pros and cons with each. And no matter which one you use something could happen to your package. Especially something long and skinny' like a bow.
If you want tracking then USPS is not the way to go unless you do the signature required option. Delivery confirmation only tells you that it arrived at the destination post office, not that it was delivered to the recipient.
The general rule of thumb was go ground with UPS and overnight with FedEx. If you looking at price then the size/weight of the package would determine wether to go USPS or UPS. Over a certain weight UPS is less expensive. That being said, I have been shipping all the Wild Fire Artistry plaques via USPS. So far no problems!
With USPS I use their free priority mail boxes. I figure if something does get destroyed they can't blame the box, since I am using the box they supply. The box is a common reason insurance claims are denied. If you are obviously shipping in a used box, your claim will be denied with any carrier.
Given the option, I like to ship things to business addresses (to the attention of the person working there), or have it shipped to me at work. Less likely to get sent to the wrong place. I like to use USPS over the other guys, but their tracking does suck because it's not updated in real time. It's usually several days off. Always get insurance to cover it, and pray you won't need it.
I would never ship a bow in a cardboard box for sure. (even though this was a knife)
None of the carriers are perfect, have had issues with them all. UPS just drops things off at the front door unless they are insured for over 1,000 or you request a signature confirmation.
Ive had pretty good luck with USPS, only lost (stolen) 1 knife and 1 gun over the course of shipping knives for 15+ years.
Now if you want to get into CRAPPY service from various Customs Departments thats a whole 'nother story.... Canadian Customs is among the worst for knives.
NEVER nhad a problem with USPS, ship a lot of stuff through them and i work for UPS. our customer counter hours are so bad i can rarly use my own job site to do my shipping.
Well I've found a rasp that is just as old as the file and my father-inlaw gave me the o.k to have Frank make it into a knife. The problem is that after reading all these threads I'm second guessing myself with the usps. I guess monday afternoon I'll have to man up and choose. I'll let you know how it goes and if Frank gets it and I get it back I'll post pics of the knives. Thanks for listening to me wine.
QuoteOriginally posted by adkmountainken:
NEVER nhad a problem with USPS, ship a lot of stuff through them and i work for UPS. our customer counter hours are so bad i can rarly use my own job site to do my shipping.
It is crazy what they are doing with their counter service counters at the shipping centers. I sold a gun a while ago to buy more bows. I had to drop it at a shipping center because the stores don't take guns. No Saturdays for a while now. I am off on Fridays. I stopped in on a Friday, and now no Fridays. The next day I was on the job and GPS's a UPS terminal in the area. I got there and found it was only open 4 hours a day and not mid day around lunch. Something like 9-11 and 2-4 four days a week. :banghead: I had to take time off work to drive it cross town in the middle of the morning one day and apologize to the buyer for shipping it 4 days after I said I would. I was :mad:
Robert,just insure it $300.00 is only a few bucks and delivery confirmation is only another few bucks. Its worth it,don't let one mishap keep you from using the USPO. In my area the others are WAY worse than the USPO. Just cover your a$$ and your good.
Oh and I found that if you use the main distribution center in your area rather than one of the small offices you get better care of your goods.
we lose so much business with our custom service hours its not funny! 3:30-6:30 is just crazy!
My girlfriends grandfather started UPS, I'll use UPS :-)
The real sad thing is is that they told you that a PADDED ENVELOPE would be fine. FOR A LARGE FILE WITH A POINTED END? You sent it prioity mail and the priority boxes are free.The lady at our PO is keeping a eye out for it but not sure what that means also our and your local "loose items center" and hoping it will turn up soon.we gave them the description and name of it also sentimental value,it may take days to weeks before we hear anything.<><
Thanks Frank and tell Shell Thanks for going out of both of your ways for me. Ill be hounding them and the next one will be in a bomb proof box-insured-confirmation. I'm getting a Stic knife if I have to drive there myself!
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Gotta say I'd personally prefer the postal service priority mail over FedEX and UPS any day of the week. Hopefully your package is found.
I watched a UPS driver in the DC area push items to the back of his truck so he could offload them and make a delivery. This included tossing packages and actually kicking one from the front of the truck to the back. I WATCHED it. Gave him a real taste of my mind too.
ChuckC
Things can be lost or broken with any carrier. Never personally had any issues with USPS. I do insure all my shipments and I do think things are better taken care of when insured. Not sure how much that helps on something that is lost though.
Don't give up hope, it still may show up.
Muley, before you decide to go UPS to keep your stuff safe, ask someone why UPS will no longer ship firearms unless they are air insured.
I like the USPS. Never had a problem. At least they deliver on Saturday. I know when they deliver, too. UPS can arrive at anytime and can't narrow it down at all.
USPS Priority every time.
Got my last bow delivered by USPS with nary a scuff on the container. I know for a fact that with Fedex a "fragile" sticker might as well say "kick me".
I have used them all a lot and USPS has the best record for me anyway, UPS the worst. FedEx has worked ok too; they paid a claim I had-UPS did not. USPS is the way to go for my stuff.
I use USPS Priority whenever possible. The less time a shipper has your item, the less chance of damage. That and the UPS hassle factor/I don't agree with the way you do business, and I choose USPS.
And I have never had the USPS leave items on my porch and run away, for me to hopefully find them when I get home.
RonP
If you are going to send something like a file tape it between 2 pieces of wood and ship it a box. I'm a letter carrier and I have seen things coming out of boxes that were not wraped properly. If the product inside was lost this person would be saying the same thing, that the USPS sucks. It's amazing what we see. Some people just don't know how to box things up.
Another thing, If you pay for insurance I would not get delivery confirmation. You have to sign for the insured package, so you know you got it.
Re: lpcjon2's post.
I am sure he meant well, but in my opinion you would be wasting your money.
If package is lost, you will have to prove the value. I think you would be hardpressed to prove a value of an old file to be anywhere near $300. The Post Office will not pay more than actual value for loss of something with sentimental value. Same as for an old photograph- (yes it may be irreplaceable).
Also, Delivery Confirmation means exactly what it says. At the time of delivery the mailman does scan the parcel. Yes, it may be scanned at various points along the transportation line. BUT, (if lost) in the end you will be able to track it right up to the point where it was last scanned. And then the clerk will look at you and say "I am very sorry, but I don't know what happened to your parcel".
I am a retired Postmaster of a Sectional Center Office. I have handled a lot of claims over the years. It may not sound like it, but I do choose the USPS for all my shipping; I think it offers a great service for the price. If the item is irreplaceable I will use Registered Mail, which automatically includes insurance, (unless you refuse it) by the way. If not irreplaceable, I just send it insured for the appropriate amount.
Good luck and I hope you get better service next time.
Gary
ive never had a problem with the USPS, If I were you I would look at it as that was probably the last time that would happen. The only problem I have with it here is that they do just leave things on doorsteps, for anyone to take. I mailed a few hundred dollars worth of gifts to my niece and nephew, they were delivered but never recieved if you know what I mean...Bummer
Matty, We are allowed to leave a package that does not need to be signed for if there is a secure area. I know at our office we do not have the room to bring back every parcel when no one is home. If you are waiting for something let your carrier know not to leave it if someone is not home. I have customers that I leave things in the shed or on back porches, in cars.
"they were delivered but never recieved if you know what I mean...Bummer"
You can pay for Signature Delivery Confirmation, Now your carrier should not leave it with out someone there to sign for it.
I haven't had problems with the USPS until recently. I just got a new King of the Mountain Lumbar pack and recieved a box that looked like it used to have 4 sides now has 2. The pack was undamaged-no big deal. Last Friday I got a Fathers day card from my grandkids-one of those Hallmark cards that you can record a greeting on. Well I never got to hear the greeting, the card was so badly mangled all the internal workings were shot-Very big deal. I'm not saying I'll never use the USPS again but maybe some individuals that work there need to put some extra pride and caring in their work. You can't put a price on sentimental value.
Craig,
One of the harder explanations I had to give for a lost package was one that one of my rural carrier insisted he remembered delivering. (And he was one of the really good conscientous guys).
The delivery confirmation showed he scanned it when delivering it. When I asked him if he remembered where he put it in the farmyard, he said "yes - in the green pick-up truck, because it was raining, and I did not want the package to get wet". When I told the customer that he replied "I don't have a green pick-up truck". So, someone drove off with the package, intentionally or not.
By the way, this carrier made it good to the customer out of his own pocket- fortunately it was not too expensive. Not because he had to, but because that was the kind of guy he was. Many times I wished I had a few more like him.
MnFn, I have been with the USPS for 31 years and and it's ashame all employees don't have the same work ethics. Thats ashame the owner of the truck didn't bring it back.
One thing today the USPS gets blame for a lot more. We deliever parcels for Fed Ex and UPS, There are other contracted companies that transport parcels for the USPS and we are responsible for there damaged parcels.
Nothing is perfect and it hirts when it happens to us personally. It's the risk once it leaves our hands.
It's not a perfect world.
I have never had a problem with priority mail usps. That said I have had problems with ups and fed ex. I may be wrong but I hear ups is self insured so good luck with a claim. I always insure valuble shipments.
I ship and recieve alot of bows thru USPS with no problems. UPS on the other hand broke one bow in half. Then I work for a high end antique dealer and we shipped a $8,000 dollar bronze sculpture with a marble base in a wooden crate. When it arrived in Cal. the marble base was missing. They couldn't tell me how this happened. Then a buddy of mine had a custom muzzle loader which required a signiture left leaning against his apartment door. They didn't even knock to see if anybody was home. I'll stick with USPS
With the company I work for we spend about $100,000 a year with FedEx and another $200,000 with the post office. FedEx ground is much better than UPS or the post office for packages over 5lbs. For the small stuff the USPS can't be beat.
I might be able to help you locate the item. I'll PM you my phone number. Give me a call if you like.
Sorry about your problems with USPS, but I have had VG luck with shipping and receive bows. Over the last two years, no less than a dozen bows received and five or six sent. Some recurves, hybrids and longbows. Most of the recurves were in boxes, the others in carpet tubes or PVC. I'll send Priority Mail with Insurance and a Tracking no. :thumbsup:
I have been shipping tons of stuff with USPS the only things that ever got lost were shipped next day air. Both were eventually found and delivered 6 to 10 days late. I only ship snail mail now and every package gets there in great shape and right when they tell you it will arrive.
Just talked with Lefty and he is trying to locate the file for me. This is such a great place that a guy that doesnt know me from adam goes out of his way to help. I sent another file USPS in an indistructable box and Frank(STICSHOOTER) received it, hope it makes it home as a knife.Lol. Guess Im not done with them yet, I felt that overwhelming results of good service through the USPS on this site gave me enough confidence to try them again, hope that dont bite me back. Thanks to everyone that felt my pain and apologies to all USPS workers, I know you all work hard, and to Lefty... THANKS brother!
Try and file a claim on it. Even if it wasn't insured or didn't have a tracking number on it some times things end up in an unclaimed office if a package breaks open and there's no way to tell where it belongs. The penalty for a Postal Employee caught stealing is pretty harsh but it does happen. when I was a contractor for them I've seen more than one offender taken out in cuffs. When they catch one they always make a big scene of it to so everyone knows what happens to those that get caught.