Not a Fan of USPS tracking! - Orchid Board

Optimist · #1 03-10-2016, 07:47 AM

Gosh! Three day shipping takes more than five out of Florida! What's the deal! I know there was a storm through Texas the last few days, but that is rediculous. They also start the tracking process when someone prints a label! What on earth! Then it goes to another post office, then it DISSAPEARS off the edge of the world for another couple of days.

So, March 7th a label was made (so I won't count that day). Then March 8th, it got to the main post office. Today, March 10th (limbo). Then they have the gall to say that the estimated delivery date is March 12th. That is 5 days on a 72 hour heat pack.

Thank you USPS for killing another hundred dollers worth of orchids for me. Grrrr.

Subrosa · #2 03-10-2016, 07:54 AM

It gets weirder than that. I have sent live fish and plants to and received them from all over the continental US, and the thing that always made scratch my head is why I can ship a package USPS Priority to CA and it will usually arrive in 3 days, while packages shipped the same way from CA usually take 5 days to reach here. I realize there's a time difference, but come on!

Ray · #3 03-10-2016, 08:08 AM

After our "friends" at FedEx and UPS started using "dimensional weights" for all ground packages, I added the USPS and FedEx Smart Post (picked up by FedEx, delivered by the USPS) to give folks less-expensive shipping options, and I have been overwhelmed by the number of delays, or even losses, compared to my FedEx experience.

I try to discourage folks from using the less-reliable services for plants, but folks are often more concerned about their wallets than they are about plants.

wintergirl · #4 03-10-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimist

Gosh! Three day shipping takes more than five out of Florida! What's the deal! I know there was a storm through Texas the last few days, but that is rediculous. They also start the tracking process when someone prints a label! What on earth! Then it goes to another post office, then it DISSAPEARS off the edge of the world for another couple of days.

So, March 7th a label was made (so I won't count that day). Then March 8th, it got to the main post office. Today, March 10th (limbo). Then they have the gall to say that the estimated delivery date is March 12th. That is 5 days on a 72 hour heat pack.

Thank you USPS for killing another hundred dollers worth of orchids for me. Grrrr.

Maybe it will be ok, it hasn't been that cold. Please keep us posted on how it works out. Hope they turn out ok for you.

Optimist · #5 03-10-2016, 09:37 AM

I would have rather gone UPS but it was not given as an option. Perhaps I should have forced the issue?

And, yeah, California takes no more than 3.5 days to get to me. I always prefer a California purchase because the mail is reliable. The other (Florida) way is very iffy. They have some really nice orchids in Florida though!

Leafmite · #6 03-10-2016, 10:30 AM

UPSP really does depend on the route and postal facilities. When I send packages from my small town in Ohio to Pittsburgh, they arrive the next day. When I receive packages from Logees in Connecticut, it is two day delivery. (The tracking shows that the packages are delivered quickly to a sorting facility, then 'in transit to destination,' arrive at my post office around 4am and is then out for delivery.). Fed Ex and UPS cannot do better.

Ordering from California is entirely different. The few times I have ordered from places that send USPS, the packages took a few days just to leave California, then sat around at another place before finally getting on a truck headed for Ohio. Fed-ex can get a package from Hawaii to here in two days. I think UPS has done California to me in three.

I have noticed that Hausermann's sends packages wtih Fed-ex now. For a time, they used USPS. Fed-ex is definitely faster than USPS from Hausermann's.

---------- Post added at 10:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:28 AM ----------

Good luck with getting your plants safe and sound!

twinofmunin · #7 03-10-2016, 10:43 AM

Good luck with your plants. I have also noticed lately that it seems like they (USPS) just stop scanning some packages for a while -- ? Mine have largely arrived on time, but I'm always super worried when it never scans as having left a hub, but then is suddenly "out for delivery". The intervening steps are never entered into the route. Not sure what's up with that.

PaphMadMan · #8 03-10-2016, 11:33 AM

Ray · #9 03-10-2016, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinofmunin

Good luck with your plants. I have also noticed lately that it seems like they (USPS) just stop scanning some packages for a while -- ? Mine have largely arrived on time, but I'm always super worried when it never scans as having left a hub, but then is suddenly "out for delivery". The intervening steps are never entered into the route. Not sure what's up with that.

I think that is basically a personnel issue. My regular USPS weekday carrier scans packages as he picks them up. The guy that works Saturdays scans them all once he's back at the office. Some others don't seem to do it at all.

estación seca · #10 03-10-2016, 01:46 PM

If you live near a FedEx center, you can arrange for the package to be held there for you to pick up during their business hours. This minimizes time in a freezing or baking truck.