United States Postal Service Rips Off Package Delivery Customers The U.S Postal service scams customers using them for package delivery Ripoff Big Rapids Michigan

the USPS has to get more money to pay the bennies and high salaries for their druggie employees! I know this first hand because one lives down the hall in my building. When her USPS buddies congregate in her apartment, you get a buzz on when you step out into the hallway!

To Linda in CA: Try online banking for the two bills that can't be paid from a website. At no charge to me, my bank handles the writing and mailing of checks for every bill that I receive. Many vendors, especially utilities, use EFT from your account for statement payment. I don't allow them to make these deductions because if I dispute a billing, it's easier to deal with it before it's paid. True, it can be resolved if an incorrect amount is withdrawn, but I'd rather deal with it beforehand. Since I've been using online banking, I don't remember the last time I bought postage stamps.

I predict in time the USPS will be greatly reduced in size, both in the amount of buildings needed and employees. With the many package delivery systems we now have, the only thing USPS will be handling will be junk mail and Registered (or Certified), Return Receipt required mail. For the latter, many of the package delivery systems now provide this service, and at a lower price.

Who says privatizing government agencies doesn't work?

I used to work for USPS as a Casual employee. Like everything now, you get less service at a higher price than in the past.

When introduced Priority Mail was guaranteed 2-3 day delivery. Not any more. Delivery Confirmation now requires Priority Mail or higher shipping charges, or a 1/2" thick container to use the service.

I recently sent an article with Delivery Confirmatiion from the Chicago area to Arizona via Priority Mail. 5 Days later it arrived. I only know this because I contacted the recipient. The carrier never scanned the Delivery Confirmation barcode when it was delivered, and thus tracking at USPS.com still showed the parcel last scanned at the shipping point, even though it was in fact delivered.

Then theres the stories from a few years ago of carriers who were hiding mail in their garages or burning it rather than deliver it. Of course, USPS was "sorry" about that. That didn't do the consumers too much good who were perhaps looking for their paychecks, or other important parcels/letters that never made it to their destination.

So to the Dave's of the world who think all is well with USPS I say emphatically IT IS NOT!

Yes, any company can lose a package...BUT....reputable companies take RESPONSIBLITY for the loss. The USPS does not take responsibility. My package was insured...and they still said "oh well...". The USPS is slacking and they are accountable to no one for it. Therefore.....use a company that wants to keep their customers...NOT THE US POSTAL SERVICE.

I don't know if your electric company has a web site or not, but many do, and I have found that my bill always gets paid on time and gets credited on time by paying through the web site. I pay only two bills using the USPS, and would switch to some other form immediately if there was a choice. It's taken a payment 2 weeks to go 40 miles. Ridiculous. Fortunately, the two bills that must be paid by mail must understand how rotten the service is in this part of the country.

Mine wasn't a package, but a bill payment for my electricity! They came and shut it off one day when I had paid it 2 weeks before! Complained to USPS about the delivery, they told me it could take 17 days for a letter to go 1 mile from my house to the Utility company. Riducuous, especially when they advertise most U.S. locations are 2 day delivery! USPS is slacking bad, and why shouldn't they? For regular mail, they are your only option.

Calm down already

FEDEX, UPS, POST OFFICE, it happens. There's no ripoff here, there's no theft, the package was lost.

Next time, insure it. Cost a couple of bucks, and you won't have to pay for delivery confirmation.

Then, go to the pharmacy and have your valium bottle refilled!

Sent a package to a customer LAST NOVEMBER. When the customer received it, someone at the post office had sliced it open, stolen the item and resealed the package. Still trying to collect the $250 after filing Nov. 30th, 2004. I've avoided the post office ever since. Here's some advice. If you HAVE to use the post office send your packages REGISTERED WITH POSTAL INSURANCE. The truly amazing thing is; that the cost of PLAIN INSURED is 400% MORE, MORE then Registered with postal insurance. YOU GET BETTER COVERAGE AT 25% of the cost. Why is this? They "lose" so many fewer registered packaged. If a carrier "loses" a registered package, he/she is automatically terminated. Hence they lose so many fewer. Check this out. A mail carrier was arrested here in town, Sunday night, after robbing a convience store with a handgun. When police arrested him, he had a weapon and a mask. Monday, he's back at work delivering mail. He is suspected in several OTHER robberies. When interviewed by the local TV station, a post office spokesperson said she couldn't comment because of privacy issues. Then the TV station shows him delivering mail and interviewing several customers on his route. The TV station did say he was making over $40K per year. Go figure. There are some good postal people, I know a few. Make sure and use up those 37 cent stamps. The price goes up to 39 cents in Jan.