How do you deal with missing US MAIL packages ?
 

This is now the 3rd time in the last 18 or so months when a USPS package was "allegedly" delivered to our mailbox and the package was not there. It obviously "arrived" because it was scanned in. I really don't want to get anyone in trouble but this is ridiculous.

Tracking for this package shows the message that my package was "left in/at mailbox at 1:39PM (yesterday)." but there was no key (or package) to retrieve it yesterday or today after today's mail was completed. Seller can't file a USPS claim because package shows delivered.

I know renting a PMB at a shipping store would likely resolve it but that too brings it's own issues and inconvenience and of course unnecessary cost.

This last loss cost me $150+ and one of the others was $75 and the third one the key spontaneously showed up 3 days after it was delivered. All the mail workers, when I can find them because they are never there at regular times, do is say if it was scanned it you should have it. LOL, thanks. I always leave a note that they obviously retrieved because the next day the note is gone but still no package.

Who is responible for the mail handlers?


EDIT: This has NOTHING to do with the USPS MAIL SYSTEM. The package arrived and was delivered on time. The problem was with the CARELESSNESS of the mail sorters in the mail shack, who obviously put my key in the wrong cubbyhole. If t was a cubbyhole where the owner is gone for the next 6 months, that is when I MIGHT get my package.

The mail handlers are contractors and they are accountable to the Postmaster at the local U.S. Post Office. But if they say that they delivered the package to the mail box, you really don't have any recourse. It is highly unlikely that the Postmaster will fire them. The best way to deal with it is to not use the U.S. Post Office. I try to order everything from Amazon with a one or two day delivery schedule. That way, Amazon will most likely use their own trucks to deliver the package because USPS cannot meet the one or two day delivery schedule. Personally, I would like to see the USPS service shut down entirely, or at least allow customers to cancel their account.

I would be sure, if you have a choice, that everyone that sends anything to you use UPS they are much more reliable.

90% of what I order is from Amazon over the last 23+ years beginning when they just sold books :) but sometimes it just can't be avoided.

As mentioned before, there are times when there is no choice.

I'm still waiting for the USPS to find a package that was "delivered" 4 years ago to somebody. The service is terrible. Hopefully one day it will be privatized. My neighbors deliver my mail to me more than the postal carrier bc it's in their box not mine.

The problem with USPS is the USPC, in the past two years I have had a box key show up in my keyed mail box for things I didn't order, addressed to some one else, on two other occasions thigs were were "delivered " never showed up , never ship anything of value by USPS unless it is insured, as to the poster if you did not receive the item do not pay for it, just because the USPS said they delivered it what proof can they show they did UPS and Amazon can show the package sitting at your location , USPS has a scan it arrived at the local station , meaningless

Talk to the post office and until you do it’s your word against, well you have not documented it with anyone? As mentioned above I wish we could simply opt out of a US mail (box, slot, etc).

Worst system I have ever experienced. Also missing packages never located. As residents of the villages we have no recourse? Don’t we deserve better?

I don't know where the USPS is on the DOGE list but it can only improve things

In all honesty, you can call directly to the USPIS postal police (postal inspector). The actual police force does investigate postal crimes at their centers and mailboxes, including roadway house mailboxes. I would suggest you have your list of dates/times/copy of email/texts ready to hand over to them. It can't hurt. Nobody will get in trouble unless that nobody is actually doing a crime. It very well could be that they are just one more bit of evidence away from solving a problem, like it takes several complaints before they go to the expense of installing a hidden camera and a tracking device in fake packages to see if they actually arrive.

Up until the 2000s, inside a mail service center, the system did have catwalks with one-way glass looking down throughout the center. numerous people were assigned to monitor mail service employees from above. This was in the days of checks in the mail. Video was around, but was the size of a boom box and was obvious.

And yes, the postal inspector is a position, not a single person with a monocle.:ho:

If it says delivered and you didn't receive it, I'd report it stolen. There's a place to do that on their online USPS portal.

Same thing happed last June. Never found in spite of being “delivered in/at mailbox.” At Christmas, a package disappeared at a facility in Georgia. For 15 days it was moving through the system. I reported it and eventually it was declared to be lost. Sender refunded my money and she was stuck trying to get the insurance reimbursement. Glad we have Informed Delivery.

I just had that happen. A book I ordered was scheduled to come Tuesday and Amazon had it as delivered to my box. There was a key in my box but the delivery receptacle was empty. Amazon said I needed to wait 48 hours before contacting the delivery service used.

Maybe it will come tomorrow.

Last Thanksgiving a neighbor from a few streets over called and said she had one of my packages as well as one from a person whose address she could not find online . The package was an axe I needed to get at the Latana Camara I had had growing alongside the house.

Amazon lost trace of the axe and sent me a 2nd one which I stopped in transit. Cannot recall if I paid for the axe. Probably did. Just what we need axes crossing paths via Amazon and partners .

Maybe hang a notice on the mailboxes to see if someone located it? Some villager probably got a key in their box and then maybe took it with them thinking somebody sent them something. They didn't think to google a name or contact VCDD to see if they can help get the package to the right person. I know Amazon will not assist in any way but I love Amazon, that's the only downside to them.

Missing magazines
 

I too have had trouble with USPS. My difficulty is with People magazine which i have not received about 5 issues throughout the year. It seems somewhere along the way the magazine even though sent doesn't come to me. Each time I tell magazine company and they say it was sent. Somewhere along the line the magazine comes up missing. Lately, I have not had any problem with getting the weekly magazine, but it seems around Christmas the problem starts to develop. (I know they sometime have double issues, but I always do the crossword puzzle and some weeks the preceding week is not issue having answers)

Privatizing USPS would take a Constitutional Amendment. If you don't remember what that hurdle is, review the US Constitution. You'll also see that the post office is a federal goventment institution. You might even have lived near a Post Road, e.g. US 1. Did you ever wonder how it got that name?

As to Amazon deliveries, if you are a Prime customer you can opt for Key (in-garage) deliveries. That is nice for several reasons. Mis-delivery is impossible. The package is not exposed to theft. It is not exposed to the weather, except from the truck to your garage door. You also will get a notice upon delivery. You could even install a camera in the garage if you are concerned about what happens while the door is open.

Yes, most garage doors in TV are made by Linear and the Chamberlain based MyQ won't work with them. They also probably are not wifi enabled. But there is an alternative. Check on Amazon to learn about Amazon Key. It is fairly simple to add wifi support to your garage door opener. You can even allow trusted friends or relatives (with smart phones) access, if you want to, without needing a standard remote control.

There is no such thing as a regular time in US Postal Mail delivery. It is one time a day depending on the how much volume of mail and packages that had to be sorted before the carrier can leave the station. The carriers we have in the Villages are contractors hired to just delivery a certain Postal Station. Totally different then, back home, where your letter carrier was a USPS Federal Employee. Your best move is to find out which Postal Office/ Station that your mail is coming from and contact that Postal Supervisor. Not the clerk at the window...the Postal Supervisor at that Station. Calling no, email no, physically go talk with your Postal Supervisor. Amazon has a contract with USPS to deliver many of their packages. Amazon will delivery large trucks of packages to local stations; after scanning them as delivered and USPS will bring them out that day or a later date. How do I know this? Thirty-year USPS retired postal employee who worked in all areas of operation. Sounds like you have an issue that should be corrected. Just have to make sure you are dealing with someone who can actually help solve it. That is the hard part...take care.

When this happened to me I actually went to the Lady Lake Post Office in the morning and talked to the person there at the desk. She had me talk to the supervisor and since my mail people were actually in the building she went and got them. They told me my package was too large to fit in the box at our postal station so she would text me when she was there and I could come and pick it up or if that wouldn’t work she could drop it off. Not sure if she would have been so accommodating if I wasn’t at the post office but it all worked out.

I believe going to the post office may help you find your package.

Mail theft happens a lot in The Villages.
 

Now there is the possibility that someone else has the key to your box, if not, your mail is being stolen by a Postal Contract Carrier. You need to contact both the Postal Inspection Service and The OIG (office of inspector general). Dont bother with the local PO as they will not help you. I retired from the PO after 30 years of service, I worked several different positions both as a carrier and in management so I do know what is happening here.

My first thought would be to visit your local postmaster general. Not quite sure what we all are going to do.

File complaint with Postal inspector .

Apparently no one

There is a section on this site pertaining to contractors. I suggest that the USPS is included, a place to collect any problems, making it harder to ignore , the squeaky wheel gets the grease, this would be a public service

I fill out a complaint form online and select the option for the local post office to call me. The mail service in this area is not very good. I can tell you after filling out the complaint form that my service has improved greatly.

TV mail is delivered by contractors, who apply for an area, sometimes for years. We have been in 4 villages, first 2 mail was consistent and not many problems.

The third house, had 3 contractors, and many times your mail/package was not in your box. If you went to inquire the response was if I have it it’s in your box. Most neighbors would just take the mail or package and drop off at the correct house. It was just easier. During Christmas large packages that didn’t fit in boxes were dropped off, with someone usually wearing a Santa hat. My guess looking to boost that holiday tip, for the not so great service the rest of the year.

Fourth village if the package doesn’t fit, one must drive to LadyLake to retrieve, with an exception if you know a large package is coming a card must be filled out (not a simple note) and package is held to be retrieved for a day or two.

Those villages who have great contractor are very lucky. Complainants go nowhere at the PO because they are not government employees. So OP if you have something important coming you can ask for a FedEx delivery with cost to you. Otherwise a PO Box is well worth the $$

Try having things delivered to a locker.

The only issues I’ve ever had with packages not showing up was from Fed-ex. Twice. I’m not sure what Village you live in but in my Village facebook group the postal workers are in the group so you can ask them questions directly.

I think most of the posters here have had the same experience. I have twice. Probably stolen some where in the USPS system. No recourse. I just try to avoid receiving by USPS.

I got a post office box to eliminate this sort of thing. While many of the contractors are good and honest, there are always a few bad apples that cause a lot of problems. Did this many years ago and have had no trouble. Only mail I get at our Village mailbox is junk mail.

I share your frustration.
Delivery is not always to your home. It’s to the distribution room or the USPS in Lady Lake. With electronic tracking, the delivery information should be more specific. I found if something needs a signature, you are in trouble. Even though you are home, if you live a half mile off the mail route .. usps won’t deliver. Their discretion, but to be fair, I think it is The Villages rule. We are on the south side and may need to drive to Lady Lake to pick up our packages, often meds. They may leave a slip in your mailbox offering to redeliver, but if you are more than a half mile off of their route, it’s at their discretion. Crazy system.
I have also been given the wrong tracking number by the vendor. You see a package delivered, know where it is, but don’t get it brought to you and wonder why. It is not yours. I verify the tracking number now and don’t/can’t request a signature. I have talked to the staff and extremely young supervisors in Lady Lake and at our mail box by Linden. Failure to deliver meds and devices to the elderly should be taken more seriously. Several of my neighbors don’t drive.
I never have these problems in Michigan.

The other day, there was a key in my mailbox but when I opened the locker it was empty.

I had a problem, not with packages, but with not receiving my mail. I called the general post office 800 number. They created a case. The local post office contacted me and appears that my issue has been resolved. In your case, the Postal Inspectors should be contacted to investigate this issue. File the complaint.

I talked to the post office, the shipper and my credit card provider and the answer is "it says delivered". Simple as that. They said I could file a dispute, I would get a temp credit, then it would be reversed "because it was SCANNED AND DELIVERED."

The key was obviously put in the wrong box. It could eventually still show up if the person who accidently got it doesn't wear size 8 running shoe. :D

I have informed delivery and requested a missing mail track, since it showed as being in Jacksonville Regional for days. It was located in Madison, TN, and was sent on its way to Illinois. I mailed another and it was received before the first mailing. For really valuable shipping, I use UPS or FedEx. If using USPS, I purchase a little added insurance and it helps get the parcel to its destination. Once I was able to speak to an actual postmaster in a PO when misdirected mail went to Conway, SC, instead of Columbia, SC. The postmaster put the corrected address on the package and it was delivered as intended. Of course, it helps to use that southern drawl to my benefit!:D

I am sure that is exactly what happened. As long as that person doesn't wear a ladies size 8 running shoe we might eventually get it back. :D

Best answer.

It's nothing to do with DELIVeRY TIME, it was delivered a 1:39PM to my "box". The time issue is trying to get to the people in the mail shack. Sometimes they are there at 1PM and gone by 3, and sometimes they dont get there until 3PM and leave at 4. It's simply carelessness putting the key in the wong box.

For sure last year was my last $50 Christmas tip. I always get their Christmas Card in my box without issue. :)

Been there, done that. "It was delivered." It was a small shoebox.

That is not the issue. IT WAS DELIVERED. This was a "3rd party" Amazon seller who ships him/herself. There is no choice in the shipping method and it can't go to a locker because it isn't shipped by Amazon. RARELY do I order things that are not shipped by Amazon from Amazon, I knew this was not but it was an item that wasn't available anywhere else from any other seller anywhere.

Packages not delivered…
 

I also never received 2 packages during the Christmas season. One package was empty with a note that it was received ‘ without contents’ and the second was ironically found out of the package, on the sink in the men’s bathroom on a Sunday. Our mail system, leaves little to be desired and unfortunately at the mercy of the USPS. The local post office is not involved in the ‘complaint’ process at all.