Priority Mail

[pdplot]

Old radio tube was shipped from Orlando, FL on May 3rd by Priority Mail. It hasn't arrived in CT yet - May 16th. "In transit" says the tracking number. Priority to what - the Pony Express? We are well on our way to becoming a 3rd World country.

 

[Basil]

That is unusual for priority I would think. I’ve usually had pretty good luck with priory mail.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

I find that rather parcel arrives early in some cases. I find it an excellent value for sending out heavy items such as shocks, etc.

 

[DrEntropy]

I find that rather parcel arrives early in some cases. I find it an excellent value for sending out heavy items such as shocks, etc.

"If it fits, it ships!" We've had good results as well.

 

[PAUL161]

But you have to remember, they have to stop at a relay station every so on to feed and water the horses!

 

[mikephillips]

There have been news stories that the Postmaster General has told offices that he will be eliminating delivery time guarantees along with hours and staffing cuts as part of restructuring. I admit to still mailing things rather than online or auto pay and I've noticed that delivery times can vary wildly anymore.

 

[NutmegCT]

I think maybe 2% of my mail is delayed in transit somewhere (USPS). The budget and staffing cuts over the years have resulted in incredible loads on the machines and postal workers.

Still think USPS is a bargain compared to other shippers, in most cases.

Tom M.

 

[Madflyer]

It is said the USPS is the most trusted part of the Gov. and they had to weight for gas like the rest of the East Coast. Amazon is good but for me they are only 50 miles away. I am retired so no hurry here. Just glad the next day came.

 

[pdplot]

Good thing I'm not relying on the mail for my 6 prescriptions. Bad enough the pharmacy has to call the Drs staff every few months when the scrip runs out.

 

[LarryK]

If they shipped it in a small box, might be lost in a bag anywhere between the two terminals. If you have shipping numbers you can have it traced, but if put in a small parcel box, could be forever. We had a lady rural carrier that bought a used mail jeep to do her deliveries. Don't know where it came from or what office, as she cleaned it out to use, she found a letter from 1945 inside a hidden seat bracket. She turned it in and it was delivered same day, fortunately person was still alive and at same address

 

[pdplot]

One small radio tube. Probably some bubble wrap or padding. Probably a waste of money but who knows.

 

[LarryK]

When I was a carrier, St. louis distribution center was our sorting unit. A billion items a night and the average was 5% loss due to machines and sorters could not be stopped. They would check first morning shift, then up on line again.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

I would think that the loss rate maybe lower now with the invention of computer generated labels??

 

[LarryK]

That was computerized labels. We had three of the first street sequanced sorters in our office at $2.2 million to sort for three small cities. When St. Louis upgraded in 2011 they sold our sorters for scrape at $1000 ea.

 

[NutmegCT]

Larry - when were those street sequenced sorters purchased? (Wondering how fast they "depreciated".)

 

[LarryK]

We had them in office for 8 yrs. I think 2002 and were gone 2010, as I retired 2012. Right in time for the big hot summer.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks. I'd imagine it was similar when massive "main frame" computers became obsolete. Gazillions of dollars for the old units became "ten cents on the dollar", as Fanny Brice used to sing.

 

[pdplot]

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my radio tube. Two weeks now and counting.

 

[LarryK]

Especially when the USPS was crying about money, that is when they bought all the Chrysler vans with left hand drive and electric vehicles for the managers.

 

[mikephillips]

They do need to determine what is worth doing as part of their mission too. I got a Post Office envelope one day that had a message on it that the contents had been damaged and were packaged to ensure no further was done. And that the Post Office was sorry for any inconvenience. When I opened it I found, the bottom quarter of a catalog back page with my address information on it. But the piece was small enough that the catalog name or address or any identifying information was gone so I had no idea what it was part of. Now this was something that someone spent time and a bit of resources on for a completely useless purpose. How much like that goes on all across the country that could be better spent on viable items moving through the system??