DansYellow66

Couldn't find a new fan belt locally for my Corvette that was not cogged on the underside so I ordered one through one of the Corvette parts places back about the 1st of May. I think somehow they misplaced the order and from USPS tracking it appears they didn't ship until 15 May after I quizzed them. Then I think USPS lost it until I started raising cane with them. Finally about a week after shipping it looks like they located it and now I get updates on it every few hours.

Look at this tracking history:

Service Type: USPS Tracking®

Shipment Activity Location Date & Time With Partner


Arrived at USPS Facility LITTLE ROCK, AR 72231 May 24, 2017 3:10 am
Departed USPS Facility LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206 May 24, 2017 1:43 am
Arrived at USPS Destination Facility LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206 May 23, 2017 5:19 pm
In Transit to Destination May 23, 2017 1:09 pm
Departed USPS Facility LANCASTER, PA 17604 May 23, 2017 6:08 am
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility LANCASTER, PA 17604 May 22, 2017 1:09 pm
Departed USPS Origin Facility HARRISBURG, PA 17107 May 22, 2017 1:34 am
In Transit to Destination May 16, 2017 5:25 pm
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility HARRISBURG, PA 17107 May 15, 2017 5:25 pm
Departed Post Office REEDSVILLE, PA 17084 May 15, 2017 4:33 pm
Picked Up REEDSVILLE, PA 17084 May 15, 2017 10:50 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item REEDSVILLE, PA 17084 May 15, 2017 6:47 am


Jeeezz - it's a good thing it's a rubber belt otherwise it would be worn out from all these transfers and handling. Hoping to get it in a few days but gave up waiting on it to go for a drive and started work to pull the transmission.

Frankie the Fink

They have their issues, but I've had few problems with USPS deliveries over the years. I know its not gonna be the quickest, but, often is the most economical...

DansYellow66

In contrast I ordered a new flywheel from Amazon Prime with no additional shipping charge and received it on the 3rd day. I ordered a bottle jack from them and received it on the 2nd day. I think they may use USPS for some deliveries but they must know how to deal with them.

DansYellow66

I'm not sure the customer realizes those savings however - I think my shipping for the fan belt was $18.95. I apparently wanted a smooth, old style belt badly at the time. Hmm - hard to remember that far back.

Frankie the Fink

Their, "if it fits it ships", can save you some bucks. I've had some exorbitant UPS charges at times too.

And as quick as Amazon ships, they've gone uber-like. A little creepy when a ragged out, smoking ricer car stops across your driveway and some swarthy guy that barely speaks English comes in the garage to hand you a package.

Brian VH McHale

I had one of these Amazon deliveries the other day, a beat up van with 2 suspicious looking guys that I was keeping a close eye on, I walked down the driveway to investigate and 1 guy jumps out with my bicycle tire tube.

59BlueSilver

I had to return an air cleaner base that was sent to me FedEx, around 4.5#. They wanted $28. Ridiculous! I picked it up and shipped it USPS for $18.

6T7L71CPE

This was the tracking for an Ebay item I sold. It took two weeks to get from Arkansas to Albuquerque since it took a detour to Anchorage! This was with a computer generated, barcoded label.


Delivered
2012-10-23, 12:42:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87123
Out for Delivery
2012-10-23, 07:34:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87123
Sorting Complete
2012-10-23, 07:24:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87123
Arrival at Post Office
2012-10-23, 05:22:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87123
Depart USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-23, 00:00:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87101
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-22, 19:44:00, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87101
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-20, 00:10:00, FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003
Depart USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-20, 00:00:00, FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003
Depart USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-12, 00:00:00, ANCHORAGE, AK 99530
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
2012-10-11, 22:11:00, ANCHORAGE, AK 99530
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility
2012-10-09, 21:00:00, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72206
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
2012-10-09, 19:45:00, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72205
Acceptance
2012-10-09, 09:12:00, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72205

rfn026

My persona favorite was a book shipped from Naples FL to HA and the then back to SF. The original destionion.

DansYellow66

This look remarkably similar to mine. Curious to see how many more days it takes for my belt to actually show up at my door now that it's supposedly in town.

Maybe it's a Little Rock thing.

Chuck Gongloff

I've been told by current and recently retired USPS employees that it is more expeditious and more cost effective to process all mail through sorting centers.

Case in point... my neighbor, who lives directly across the street from me, sent me a birthday card recently. It was postmarked Jacksonville, FL, which is across the state.. 2.5 hours away on the Atlantic side of FL. I live on the Gulf of Mexico.

I've noticed this same phenomenon when tracking packages for items I have ordered. Seems ***** nilly... when you see all the places that a package is processed through.......... but they say it's more cost effective to do it that way.

kolsen911

I ordered 4 new tires from Tire Rack, shipped from Reno to Oregon. 3 arrived on a sub-contracted van. When I called about the 4th tire I was told they were delivered, called Tire Rack and tire showed up 3 days later.

Then ordered 4 new wheels from a shop in the SFO Bay area. Same deal, shipped USPS. 3 arrived and the 4th 3 days later??????

65 vette dude

Everybody from the parcel companies, to the airlines, to my yard man, raised their prices when gas hit 5 dollars a gallon. Has anybody seen any of these companies lowering their prices now that fuel is more than half that amount? The fleecing of Americans continues by greedy corporations......and yes, that includes my yard man.

phil2302

I will never complain about the USPS.
I do alot of shipping from home. I purchase and print shipping lables in the comfort of my home, and my neighborhood carrier (terrific lady) takes it all when she delivers my mail.
Yes I occasionally will use Fedex or USPS when my shipping estimator shows a substantial difference but 90% time its USPS for me.

DansYellow66

Received 8 updates from USPS since midnight and the last one said it was delivered to my door 25 minutes ago. So, expecting it to be there when I get home from work.

Gary's '66

That usually occurs when the 4th item either isn't in stock or, is coming from a different warehouse.

Gary

tuxnharley

Dont forget you PAY for that Amazon prime service - I think mine is $90.00 per year, even using their credit card......

Railroadman

Years ago I had a collection in my office drawer at work of envelopes which had arrived with a postal ink stamp on the back from some out-of-route post office. I had quite a few with stuff like Florida to NY by way of Texas etc. But the hands-down winner was one from Washington DC to upstate NY by way of Glasgow Scotland!

Mike Terry

I had a good friend mail me a package from Nobelsville, In to me in Greenwood, In. maybe on a good long day it is 50 miles and 40 miles as the crow flies. He mailed it on May 15th and I got it at 6:00 pm on May 22nd. That is crazy, hell they could have walked in faster then that. But yet I can send a box for here in Greenwood In. to Austria and they will have it is 7 days if customs don't mess with it.

sbaba

The shipping companies have not backed off of their fuel surcharges from a few years ago. I do a lot of shipping, 1000's of packages a year. Here is the lowdown on how to ship to a residence which is how most people ship:

1. Anything under 4 lbs, the USPS is best and typically fastest. Try to print labels online and you don't have to wait in line at the Post Office.

2. The flat rate priority boxes are usually more expensive unless you are shipping something very heavy. They are an advertising gimmick in my opinion.

3. The flat rate envelopes are a good deal.

4. Over 4 lbs, FedEx or UPS. However, it can be a pain to fill out all of their forms if you don't have an account and can print labels online.

5. I wonder if FedEx and UPS are in collusion with their pricing? All shipping prices have gone up considerably in the last few years while fuel prices have been dropping. And they seem to go up at the same time. And both companies now charge by volume over weight.