I recently had a package dissappear on it's way to Manhattan Beach CA. The guy didn't request insurance...and it went parcel post. A slightly heavy package. I put tracking on it like I do with everything I send regardless of the wishes of the customer. The package made it to Los Angeles but then the tracking stopped and it vanished. Both me and the guy on the other end tried very valiantly to locate it and filled out tons of paperwork and made a ton of calls. I went three times to my local main post office and was frustrated that they made me talk to the supervisor via a courtesy phone in the lobby..they don't come out and talk in person anymore. There is only one phone and always a line, too... Anyway, it turns out the package went through a very rough section of Los Angeles on it's way and that is where it was most likely stolen. Almost two months later the guy in CA got the removed adress label that was evidently still attached to the piece of cardboard. No sign of the package and it looks like we are both giving up. I have always had high praise for the postal service, but when the system fails, it sure does fail bad. I didn't get any real help from the people I talked to and the guy in CA went to the facility where it was last scanned (I hope he went armed..) and offered to look throught the damaged and unclaimed packages but they refused to let him do so. If there is a moral to this story, it is to insure everything and from what I have been told by the "real people" at my small satellite PO, dont send anything parcel post. I will continue to do whatever the customer wants as far as shipping, but will relate this to them as a warning what might happen. The lost stuff was about five hundred bucks worth. IT seems as economic times get harder, there will be more instances like this as temptation to snag/steal stuff gets more intense. Studebaker George
- posted
15 years ago