Today marks the second time they’ve lost a package (there will NOT be a third) in four months that I have paid for delivery confirmation service. (Last time it took six weeks to have someone get back with me, and they sent me TWO STAMPS to compensate for the lost package. Niiice. That started off without a scan – like this one – and was never to be seen again. I complained at my local post office, the source of the problem. They insisted that it had been scanned there at acceptance, but there is and never was any scan.) When dropping off this package, there was a conversation about how important this was with the guy that took our money. (It’s a saddle I sold on eBay – you know how important those tracking #s are for PayPal and buyers claiming non-receipt) When my husband went in there today and spoke with guy who accepted the box yesterday, he said that we must not have paid for tracking (we have the receipt that clearly shows it was paid for along with the tracking #), then he insisted that he scanned it, but basically, he didn’t care and wasn’t going to check into it. (Ummm, if he scanned it, then we could see it. A monkey could figure that part out). With consistently horrible service like this, I’m shipping UPS from now on. And the government wonders why people have stopped using our postal system…

Meanwhile, the buyer is upset that we don’t have a tracking number (I DO NOT blame her, I’d be worried, too), and basically, if it doesn’t show up or is scanned to prove that it was delivered, she can claim she didn’t receive it, ask for her $ back, and have the saddle PLUS a refund. I’d be royally screwed. Lovely, isn’t it?

If this has happened to me twice in such a short period of time (and I don’t ship items often – just the last one that was lost, and now this), then how many others has this happened to? Someone needs to stop in that office and take a look around. I’m getting the distinct impression that the incompetence there is out of control. The ONLY reason that I shipped this out via USPS is because I’d naively wanted to believe that the last lost package was a fluke, but I clearly see that this is daily business at the Manchester, MI post office.

I wonder if my saddle is going to show up again on eBay. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thank God I insured it, but I’ve no doubt that the claim process is going to be a huge pain in the a$$, I’ll lose my sale, saddle, and $ if/when Paypal reverses the transaction (since there is no valid tracking number). Gotta love it. Thank you SOOO much, USPS.

Paypal catches on to things like this if buyers file too many INR even though sellers don’t provide tracking, or sellers get too many INR disputes against them, even though the article was delivered, paypal will eventually suspend you.

statistically I think not even 1% of packages are lost so if you are a buyer who doesn’t receive half his shit or a seller who has 40-60% buyer complaints something has got to give.

I mailed my IRS 2008 return to Ogden via first class mail with delivery confirmation and it was returned. A return explanation label was affixed, “REFUSED BY ADDRESSEE. MUST BE PRIORITY MAIL TO USE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. AFFIX ADDITIONAL POSTAGE OF ________ AND REMAIL.”

I used PayPal Multi-Order shipping to mail 3 tax returns between April 9th and the 15th. All were mailed in 9×11 inch envelopes and were mailed first class mail 2oz with delivery confirmation. Delivery address was 2 to Fresno and 1 to Ogden. Problem 1: PayPal Multi-Order shipping has a problem with validating IRS addresses due to a lack of a street address. USPS click n ship and USPS address validate do not suffer from this problem. I used USPS address validate to look us the street address for both locations and used those addresses in PayPal Multi-Order shipping.

Problem 2. The Ogden return was refused. A return explanation label was affixed, “REFUSED BY ADDRESSEE. MUST BE PRIORITY MAIL TO USE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. AFFIX ADDITIONAL POSTAGE OF ________ AND REMAIL.” I use Paypal Multi-order shipping with items sent via first class mail with delivery confirmation and never have people refuse it, but they did not work for the IRS. I realize that delivery confirmation is not proof of delivery in the eyes of the IRS, I just used delivery confirmation so I knew it was delivered. What bothers me is that I can not locate any information at IRS.gov that says that delivery confirmation will be refused. One Fresno return was accepted, 8 days have passed so I assume it will not be refused. The other Fresno return is still on the way. Any CONSTRUCTIVE information would be helpful to others.

Bill :

Tom :Although not about parcel delivery, (3) three weeks ago I sent my federal tax return, certified mail, RRR, Delivery Confirmation. Other than the acceptance scan at the zip code of origin, there is no otther delivery scans. Because the address was a unique zip, it appears the tax return bypassed any postal culling or sorting at the destination zip. Therefore I believe I paid for a service that was not rendered nor because of the special sort could be rendered. I wonder if i can apply for a refund?

I am a window clerk and it has been said to me that IRS does not sign for certifieds until they verify the contents. Apparently in the past they had blank papers sent certified and tax payers claimed they were sent on time. If this is true, I believe they qualify for this deviation because of being a federal agency.
All unique zip code customers do not get the same leeway. In Orlando I handled about 5 companies with unique zip codes and on a Monday morning they could have easily more than 100 items to sign for. We scan those to a firm sheet and the are signed for at time of pickup. Unique zip codes do receive a high volume of mail and use the caller service to pick up mail.Certifeds can be viewed on line and if you do need to see the signature, Electronic Return Receipt is the best and fastest way to achieve that.
Customers that receive high volumes of mail requiring a signature can use a signature stamp as long as the local Postmaster has approved it.As far as scanning items when received, we do try to get them all. Management has reduced staffing levels around the country and this in turn has affected customer service. When we scan them it shows the management computer that I am working and not picking my nose or butt.I have started taking off tax week and the week before christmas to avoid the stress.This country needs a good old fashioned workers revolt. Companies are following the example of Wal Mart and cutting benefits and decent wages to workers so they can retain their bonus.

Online Postage

“Priority Mail labels have free Delivery Confirmation and Express Mail labels include signature proof of delivery.”

” Print Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation free of charge”

And delivery confirmation is not free online, not with Paypal/Ebay anyway. When I sell on Ebay and print postage with Paypal, you MUST have delivery confirmation. They do not give you a choice. Although it is much cheaper than adding it at the post office, and still a must for sellers.

First class international delivery confirmation is also a big need. Currently the only way to get delivery confirmation is to use priority mail or express. A hefty price that international (usually Canada) must pay to ensure that my package got there.

i have seen dispatches miss and people on overtime scamming,er scanning rather.