US Postal Service

[MJG]

Ugh. I think everyone in the US is aware that our postal service is having problems with mail delivery times.

A few people on our board have reported long delays -- 10+ days!! -- on deliveries, with plants arriving dying or dead. Even if you use Priority Mail, the post office website says it can't assure the usual time frames for that service.

I ordered recently and decided to spring for $30 Priority Mail Express. It has guaranteed 2-day delivery. My package left Florida last Tuesday, promptly disappearing with no tracking info after Orlando. (Orchid wanted to go to Disney World on the way?)

The post office tried to find it for me last Friday and again this Monday. Gone! Then today the package suddenly appeared on my doorstep. 11 days in transit. Orchid dead as a doornail.

The good news is that Priory Mail Express is indeed a GUARANTEE. If you don't receive in 2 DAYS you get your money back. The other good thing is that they have automatic insurance up to $100. So I'm getting my money back for shipping and the dead orchid.

The moral of this long story is choose you shipping method wisely -- whether fedex, ups, or especially USPS. It's even worth a call to the vendor rather than just checking a box

Here's my sad little orchid. The leaves totally separated from the rootball. I sure hope it had fun at Disney World.

[fishmom]

We need a crying emoji. That just looks awful.

[Leafmite]

Good to know. I think if I order from Logees or anywhere else that ships plants by USPS, I will pay the extra and have it delivered by UPS or Fedex. I am not willing to take a chance.

I do think that the USPS is falling apart in our area. We get a ton of mail that isn't ours and neighbors and strangers give us our mail. Some mail that I was expecting has never arrived. Packages that are far too long to fit in the mailbox are put in there anyway so that they extend over the road and cars need to go around to avoid hitting the box. Just nuts. I even give gift cards now and then to the postal worker as thank you's.

I just signed up for USPS Informed Delivery so I will at least know what mail has gone astray. Not sure what else to do. This way, I can file a complaint if the mail goes missing.

---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 PM ----------

I am very sorry about your orchid but glad that you were compensated for it.

I think the post office should get rid of Tuesday and Thursday delivery and use those days to sort mail. They could keep the post office open longer on those days for people to pick up their packages. By not driving their delivery vehicles two days, they would save quite a bit of money. They should pay the postal workers the same money to spend the day sorting mail or working the extra hours.

[MJG]

Originally Posted by fishmom

We need a crying emoji. That just looks awful.

Right? Or a funeral emoji.

[Keysguy]

Masdevallia?
Been awful hot for shipping those guys. They are so sensitive to heat. Shame but glad to hear you are covered.

[MJG]

Originally Posted by Keysguy

Masdevallia?
Been awful hot for shipping those guys. They are so sensitive to heat. Shame but glad to hear you are covered.

Yes.

The story is this was a test replacement from a vendor for a sick orchid that I got in a big order in June. They were shipping it in August so I went for the 2 day shipping because of the heat. I've had good luck with these in hot weather as long as the shipping is quick. The $30 for shipping seemed stupid to me at the time, but it paid off.

[Dollythehun]

Last week I sent some orchids to Phoenix. If our mail gets stuck, it's in Elk Grove Village Illinois. So, I thought I'd go out if my way/routine to use UPS. After a 20 min. wait and filling out my own label (again) I was told (and there was a sign on the wall) that they will not ship plants, (I kid you not). So how is it I GET plants from UPS?!

I went to the USPS and chose three day. I don't know how they count days... But, it got there when they said it would.

[Subrosa]

So far I've noticed that Priority packages I send to and receive from a friend in FL have been running about a day longer than usual. On the other hand he's experienced some serious delays on receiving stuff from the west coast.

[Ray]

I ship my products almost exclusively with the USPS these days and have not seen the extensive delays some have.

Incoming stuff is another matter...

But let’s think about it for a moment, even leaving the current politics out of it, with the pandemic lockdown adding significantly to the already existing trend to do shopping by mail order, it’s really not surprising they they could be getting overwhelmed.

[estación seca]

They are required to maintain a 6'/2m distance.