Shipping Survey

[Dreamer_D]

I want to know if you have had a valuable parcel (define "valuable" how you like for the purposes of this survey) lost, stolen, or seriously damaged (the item, not just the packaging) when YOU were the shipper?

I do not mean letter mail, only parcels.

Shipped via USPS or any other carrier.

Answer YES if you personally have shipped an item that was lost, stolen, or damaged.

Do NOT answer yes if you were the recipient of a lost, stolen, or damaged item. Do NOT answer yes if you had a package mislaid for a long period of time but it eventually arrived ok -- but share the story if you like!

If you answered yes, please provide details of the loss if you have time, especially the mode of transport

 

[slg47]

no, but a package shipped to me was lost...e-wedding bands sent another one though!

 

[Dreamer_D]

no, but a package shipped to me was lost...e-wedding bands sent another one though!

I recall that story! Good for them.

 

[ame]

I have several times, only once was a jewelry related valuable. I have had entire invitation jobs, some using one of a kind materials, go missing, or get destroyed despite every possible precaution taken. Every single package that was lost or damage with exception of one, had a declared value.

 

[Laila619]

No, thankfully! (knocks on wood)

I've shipped jewelry via FedEx, the United States post office, and UPS.

 

[onedrop]

Voted "yes." I had to ship a defective new phone back to my carrier for an exchange. My mobile carrier had already shipped me a new phone, but charged me for the new phone until the defective one was received at their return service center. I used a pre-paid USPS label that the carrier provided, and dropped in the mail chute inside the Post Office. Ordinarily it should have taken 1 or 2 days to reach its destination, but the package never showed up. As a result, I had a charge on my credit card for two phones, one of which was not in my possession and was defective. And it took weeks and weeks of going around the bend with my mobile carrier and USPS (with both parties pointing the finger at the other) to finally get the situation worked out. My argument to the mobile carrier was that I shouldn't be held responsible financially for USPS' mistake. Luckily, the USPS eventually declared the package "lost" and I was granted a refund by my mobile carrier.

 

[marygrace]

Nothing has ever been lost through UPS or FedEx.

However, I expect to lose a package a year with USPS. I think the offices in my area are to blame. When I lived elsewhere, USPS was consistently good. Here, my mail is actually left out in the rain.

 

[hoover]

I was supposed to be on the receiving end of two packages. I kept checking the tracking numbers and both times they were "lost" at the Canada Post sorting depot. I called, opened files, and eventually had to get things re-sent.

But these two packages were lost over a span of 3 or 4 years, so I guess in the law of averages, it was bound to happen

 

[lyra]

We send a receive a lot of parcels a year, some from Canada to the US and lots within Canada. We've never had a problem, although things can sometimes take a long time even within Canada. Longer than we'd expect anyway. I've received a lot of stuff from the US and overseas (England, Japan, Germany,Australia, Denmark) and never had any issues other than time.

 

[ForteKitty]

I have sent one package that was torn open by a USPS employee, and received maybe 8 or 9 packages over the past 10 years that arrived damaged. One was so badly crushed that the ring box, which was inside a box that was inside a box (yes, 3 boxes total), was crushed. The ring miraculously survived. Most of the damaged packaging were shoes or clothes, so the contents were okay. I started duct taping and reinforcing the inside of my boxes after last week's incident.

 

[Dancing Fire]

nope,never had a problem with my packages.

 

[manderz]

I usually ship with USPS, and I've had several go missing. I think 3 or 4, all textbooks I was selling.

 

[MissGotRocks]

I shipped a watch via UPS overnight delivery. The box was cut open, the contents stolen. UPS did make good on the insurance claim after 30 days. A true nightmare!

 

[bright ice]

No, thank goodness. When I was looking for a spinel, it was very scary because I was shipping back to vendors who were international. I was on pins and needles the entire time until the package was delivered. I have bought and returned several items since finding PS so I feel lucky!

 

[VRBeauty]

I sent a package USPS "delivery confirmation" and the recipient claimed never to have received it. My bad in a sense, since I hadn't notified the recipient that the package was on its way to them and waited about a week to follow up with them. In any event, it was a loss for me but I decided it wasn't worth my while to try to follow up on it. (I knew the recipient didn't give a hoot and I didn't think I could trust them in any event - it's a long story .) Lesson to me - require the recipient to sign for anything of value.

That said, I've sent many, many other things USPS without any problem.