Help with the post office (1 Viewer)

N

nmrocks

2nd Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 6, 2005
Messages
3,629
You simply cannot make this stuff up!! in June I made contact with a great guy, one of the stallwarts of the flat hobby, I was offered and accepted several wonderful sets, sent a check and he packaged the up, shipped Priority with tracking with one problem, somehow he had my old address in NM., They arrived and were refused, seems pretty straight forward, return to sender right??? Wrong!!! this has been sitting in the system for over a month without movement, spoke to people at both ends and they both say the return system is seperate and they can give us no point of contact!
finally on the 22nd it left NM and went to Coppall TX. I see 2 days later it is headed back to el Paso and most likely back to NM again.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of problem, a contact point? it's $600.00 worth of sets floating thru a sea of incompetence and apathy.
HELP!?!?!?!
Ray
 
Ray,

Two stories back at you:

#1-When I bought the K&C BergHoff Dio from a guy in England paid 4 bills to ship it and US Customs used box cutters to cut open the box AND the Berghoff boxes. I never made a claim with FedEx as you would never win against the US Government.

#2-Order some vintage Romans from Italy in May...never arrived. Seller looked in to it, I looked in to it, he refunded me and we both are at a loss with the "loss". I promised the seller if they arrived I would pay for them as I would have to sign of course. I swear there are in the Sudan.

Two solutions to deal with your problem:

#1-Call the Regional Postmaster office and try to speak to a stupervisor. Raise holy hell with them about the incompetence of the US Post office and they wonder WHY the are going broke. Tick off, finger by finger all of the flubs, fails and freaks you have had to deal with regarding your $600 package. Moreover, in form them you are going to go to your local Congressman and file and official complaint as they are a Government agency. When you file a complaint with your Congressman, the HAVE to look into it...I know I was a intern for one once. They call on behalf of the Congressman and man do you get answers fast! There is no government agency on the face of the earth that wants a Congressional phone inquiry holding on line one. But, you have to all of your ducks in a row and show an aide what BS you have been going through...in other words state your case. You are a constituent and Congressmen want to make them happy. So, for option #1 is go heavy handed and for the throat.

#2-Go the MAIN post office in Austin and ask to speak to an Assistant Post Master. The upper echelon guys are pretty cool, the window people are always grumpy. Anyway, they listen and take copies of your paper work and explain your case. Don't forget to throw in your heart condition as well for empathy and ask for a business card. Ask him or her to look into this for you and tell that person if they cannot get an answer "it is okay, but who would I speak to above you that would be able too?" Government people love to pass the buck and will give you a name quick! Also, remind them that you are a huge supporter of the US Post office, but golly this is just unbelievable! In addition, let them know how poorly this situation reflects on the US post office and its public image, further you will have no choice but ask a higher authority to look into to this matter because after all it is your property...they are just the (well) paid baggage handlers. In other words, YOU are the customer and they should answer to YOU, not the other way around. Sometimes the Feds forget their place and have to be reminded that the tax payers pay their salary.

Lastly, if you get nothing and every thing blows up in your face and they tell you go get the hell out or hang up on you...Call your Congressman to "handle it". Thats what they are elected to do.

John from Down the Street in Texas
 
I think yelling or raising holy hell is rarely effective. If calling the post office or talking to anyone there has already been tried and has not yielded results, start an investigation. There is a form for that. I've only had one package not got there. I started an investigation and somehow the package was found, thank goodness (contained a lot of rare old K & C) and the package got delivered.
 
hotel3alpha said:
Ray,

Two stories back at you:

#1-When I bought the K&C BergHoff Dio from a guy in England paid 4 bills to ship it and US Customs used box cutters to cut open the box AND the Berghoff boxes. I never made a claim with FedEx as you would never win against the US Government.

#2-Order some vintage Romans from Italy in May...never arrived. Seller looked in to it, I looked in to it, he refunded me and we both are at a loss with the "loss". I promised the seller if they arrived I would pay for them as I would have to sign of course. I swear there are in the Sudan.

Two solutions to deal with your problem:

#1-Call the Regional Postmaster office and try to speak to a stupervisor. Raise holy hell with them about the incompetence of the US Post office and they wonder WHY the are going broke. Tick off, finger by finger all of the flubs, fails and freaks you have had to deal with regarding your $600 package. Moreover, in form them you are going to go to your local Congressman and file and official complaint as they are a Government agency. When you file a complaint with your Congressman, the HAVE to look into it...I know I was a intern for one once. They call on behalf of the Congressman and man do you get answers fast! There is no government agency on the face of the earth that wants a Congressional phone inquiry holding on line one. But, you have to all of your ducks in a row and show an aide what BS you have been going through...in other words state your case. You are a constituent and Congressmen want to make them happy. So, for option #1 is go heavy handed and for the throat.

#2-Go the MAIN post office in Austin and ask to speak to an Assistant Post Master. The upper echelon guys are pretty cool, the window people are always grumpy. Anyway, they listen and take copies of your paper work and explain your case. Don't forget to throw in your heart condition as well for empathy and ask for a business card. Ask him or her to look into this for you and tell that person if they cannot get an answer "it is okay, but who would I speak to above you that would be able too?" Government people love to pass the buck and will give you a name quick! Also, remind them that you are a huge supporter of the US Post office, but golly this is just unbelievable! In addition, let them know how poorly this situation reflects on the US post office and its public image, further you will have no choice but ask a higher authority to look into to this matter because after all it is your property...they are just the (well) paid baggage handlers. In other words, YOU are the customer and they should answer to YOU, not the other way around. Sometimes the Feds forget their place and have to be reminded that the tax payers pay their salary.

Lastly, if you get nothing and every thing blows up in your face and they tell you go get the hell out or hang up on you...Call your Congressman to "handle it". Thats what they are elected to do.

John from Down the Street in Texas
Click to expand...

Sadly unless the item was insured you are out of luck. And even than good luck getting your check. Sorry, but that's the way it is with the USPS. You can complain and threaten too call who ever you like. You can fill out forms or do what ever else they tell you to do. They will not lift a finger to help you. They are accountable to KNOW ONE. You have to kill someone to get fired from the PO. Ever see the seen in "Men in Black II" when they show the mutant aliens working in the post office ? It's based on fact. They are the most inept organization on the planet. Notice I said "organization", they can't even be considered a business. What business can loose billions every year and still exist ? Don't even waste your time trying to deal with them. When you talk to a postal employee your voice sounds like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons to them. They are only nodding their heads out of habit when you speak. My advise is to just let it go, that's what I do. You will live longer.

Tell us all how that call to your congressman works out {eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}
 
jazzeum said:
I think yelling or raising holy hell is rarely effective. If calling the post office or talking to anyone there has already been tried and has not yielded results, start an investigation. There is a form for that. I've only had one package not got there. I started an investigation and somehow the package was found, ...........
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I have lived all over the world, and trust me the USPS is far above
any other. The employees also. Same goes for law enforcement and fire departments. Geez

Avoid advice from people with big hats and no cattle.
 
BLReed said:
Totally agree. I have lived all over the world, and trust me the USPS is far above
any other. The employees also. Same goes for law enforcement and fire departments. Geez

Avoid advice from people with big hats and no cattle.
Click to expand...

LOL! Big hats no cattle...That is too funny!!! Yes, I like USPS and don't get me wrong I am not a USPS hater. I love them and they have got my thangs to their destination all over the world. In fact, our post lady Mary is the best. However, there are other avenues and I did not know about and the investigation form one of them. That one is new to me and you learn something new everyday.

However, I did intern in Congress and brother EVERYTHING federal comes through those doors from mail issues, to 501 C 3's, to air towers, highways, the Tax Man, FBI complaints, Indian Affairs, Welfare, Vets issues, you name it. If it is attached to the US gobament and you are not getting the answers you want it is your right to walk into your field office and file a complaint about a Federal Agency to your elected rep. Like 'em or not. Demo, Rep, Tea Party of Indy. Does not matter.

The lady who worked at the front desk was hard core...if a person walked in and started crying and telling a story about how your boyfriend owed child support she would curtly say "Ma'am does this have anything with the Federal Government? "No" she would say wryly. "Then" she would retort "please walk down to the next office which is your State Legislature Representative, thank you!" So, I was just throwing it out there brother as my man Ray was asking for some help.

Anything is better than nothing.

John from Texas
 
I think USPS is a fantastic service...a fraction of the cost for International shipping..

I have never had a package lost...

I sent a box to Germany a few years ago...

ended up re-funding the buyer...

it wound up on my doorstep 3 months later...

DHL labels and custom's labels all over it...

not a problem with USPS...the problem was with Germany DHL...USPS handled it all the way out of the US...wasn't their fault German postal service didn't deliver it...

Brad...

didn't you quote Shannon one time saying...

"Everything gets delivered eventually?"
 
Gents,

All right, before everyone gets the idea that I am a USPS hater (which I am not) understand that Option #2 in my advise to Ray is the "kinder, gentler approach". Not the big hat, no cattle hell raising approach, like Option #1. I had two options to offer AND the idea of invoking your right to go to local Congressman if all else fails. I had two gents and it is a matter of opinion of how one wants to handle a situation.

Most of you know by know that I am a colorful character and love to joke around. So, please take everything I say here on the forum with a grain of salt. If you are looking for hard advise on a situation call your local priest, rabbi, accountant, life coach, chef, neighbor, uncle joe, spiritual advisor, curandero, witch doctor, sooth sayer, doctor, shrink, lawyer or Congressman.

God Bless the USPS and Texas

John from Texas
 
John,

I think the problem is no one can tell you're kidding, not to mention that Ray came on here asking for our assistance on a matter that was of some importance to him.

I'm sure you meant no harm but I don't think the advice you offered was the advice he was seeking.

Brad
 
Ray,

Go to the post office and fill out the investigation form and submit it. According to our well oiled members that is the trick. DO NOT contact your Congressman...besides they are on recess.

Gold Bless the USPS, Texas and Mike Miller.

John from down the Street from you.
 
Well Thanks guys for all the input, so nothing really stands out as to how to address this particular issue, strange and sad as I'm sure I'm not the first to run into this problem, who would of thought returning to sender would have been such an ordeal for a business who's only job is to deliver items to an address???
I'll try the investigation route and I'll keep you posted.
Thanks,
Ray
 
Well this has turned into the "Feel good story " of the year for me, both Jim and I worked from both ends towards the middle on retrieving the box of Massed flats and Jim was successful!, the box was returned to him in NY on Saturday and he dutifully shipped it off to me on the same day. I found it sitting by the door when I arrived home tonight after midnight from a hard days night.
Will begin to post pics tomorrow on my collection thread, They are beautiful!!!
Ray
 
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