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Biffbarf
February, 2025

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The state of the USPS

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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
I’ve ordered a few car/computer parts recently and it’s not gone smoothly. when my GPU arrived the box was absolutely fucked, smashed corner, just beat. Hopefully it’s fine, but I won’t know because the power supply I ordered has been “in transit” with no updates for over a full week now. Same with some of the car parts I ordered. I could have my car up and running but it remains torn apart because I’m waiting on a part that has also seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. 10 days now “in transit” no updates. “Expected delivery of 2/23” lmaooooo

I can’t complain too much because the USPS got absolutely gutted and bled dry by the Trump admin last year, but dumbass sleepy Joe should have fully funded it again by executive order IMMEDIATELY. Nothing against the postal workers whatsoever they work damn hard. But they’re set up for failure.


I need the shit I paid for tho...
Feb 26 2021 11:47AM
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X_MEMESWERVE_XX
Posts: 3853 - Karma: 32,315
USPS is shit rn, last month I ordered a coat from CO and I got the same "In transit" and "expected delivery" shit. It took like 2 damn weeks to get here in WI, when the site I ordered from said it would be like 5 days
Feb 26 2021 11:49AM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,331
I've been using the UPS store... I can't stand the USPS. The employees are complete dickheads most of the time and it's getting expensive AF.
Feb 26 2021 11:53AM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7656 - Karma: 38,459
USPS was never really set up to handle packages, most of their buildings are outdated af
Feb 26 2021 11:59AM
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eheath
Posts: 61840 - Karma: 125,554
I avoid USPS outside of mailing documents, stick with UPS/Fedex for packages.
Feb 26 2021 12:02PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,145
I was with you until you somehow managed to blame Trump. Then I realized you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and you’re just parroting the “Trump bad, if something is bad, blame Trump” idea.

Try to form an actual argument, not just ridiculous assumptions.
Feb 26 2021 12:59PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
iFlipI was with you until you somehow managed to blame Trump. Then I realized you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and you’re just parroting the “Trump bad, if something is bad, blame Trump” idea.

Try to form an actual argument, not just ridiculous assumptions.


Dude he gutted the postal service it’s not even a question. Did so at the request of his friends who own private shipping companies. I don’t view him any different from any other con man politician, except that he’s obviously a better finesser than most. I don’t get why people defend the guy like he’s somehow a great and trustworthy politician. Fuck him, Biden, Dubya, Obama and Bill Clinton this country it’s all empty promises and straight up lies. If you think trumps any different idk what to say you drank the kool aid
Feb 26 2021 1:16PM
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Rparr
Posts: 5694 - Karma: 47,982
I receive about 3 priority packages a week through usps. Average transit time is around a week for me now, a year ago it was closer to 3 days. I wouldn't expect any improvement anytime soon

**This post was edited on Feb 26th 2021 at 1:36:39pm
Feb 26 2021 1:35PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,145
Really? What private shipping companies are you referencing? Please elaborate.


Or, you know, shut up and stop spreading misinformation.
Feb 26 2021 1:36PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
So let me get this straight... if any argument reflects in any way poorly on Trump then it’s not valid? Even though he was very outspoken about being against the postal service, made cuts throughout his term, giving contracts to private shipping companies, and then tried to block funding to stop mail in votes (literally said so on Fox News, he was later pressured into backtracking on this one and signing for the funding)

let me ask you this, if I blame Obama for bailing out the banks instead of the people in ‘08, leading to where we are today, is that just blaming everything on Obama and it’s a bullshit argument?
Feb 26 2021 1:37PM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7134 - Karma: 75,224
A government subsidized entity underperforms compared to private competition? Who woulda saw it coming.
Feb 26 2021 1:42PM
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iFlip
Posts: 4544 - Karma: 19,145
This has nothing to do with Trump. It has to do with you blaming a popular whipping boy for anything that goes wrong, rather than actually getting to the root of the issue.

Then when questioned you instead blame me and dodge the question. Because you don’t have an answer. Because you’re just tossing around accusations and false information, and unused to being questioned. Likely because your friends are dumb and not politically or otherwise informed. Just like you.
Feb 26 2021 1:44PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
iFlipReally? What private shipping companies are you referencing? Please elaborate.


Or, you know, shut up and stop spreading misinformation.


Trumps postmaster general had 10s of millions invested in XPO Logistics

the USPS then gave XPO multimillion dollar contracts to take over parts of the USPS delivery network

https://factcheck.thedispatch.com/p/does-the-postmaster-general-have

in Case you call my source “leftist propaganda” according to allsides the dispatch “leans right”

https://www.allsides.com/news-source/dispatch-media-bias
Feb 26 2021 1:48PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
iFlipThis has nothing to do with Trump. It has to do with you blaming a popular whipping boy for anything that goes wrong, rather than actually getting to the root of the issue.

Then when questioned you instead blame me and dodge the question. Because you don’t have an answer. Because you’re just tossing around accusations and false information, and unused to being questioned. Likely because your friends are dumb and not politically or otherwise informed. Just like you.


Believe it or not, I actually like some of the things Trump did. Such as ending NAFTA and the TPP. And pulling troops out of the Middle East. And I dislike some of the other things he did. Crazy isn’t it?
Feb 26 2021 1:57PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7520 - Karma: 51,255
iFlipI was with you until you somehow managed to blame Trump. Then I realized you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and you’re just parroting the “Trump bad, if something is bad, blame Trump” idea.

Try to form an actual argument, not just ridiculous assumptions.


Yeah it’s not like Trump literally admitted that he was withholding federal funding or anything



oh wait
Feb 26 2021 2:33PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
270on420outYeah it’s not like Trump literally admitted that he was withholding federal funding or anything



oh wait


“ridiculous assumptions”
Feb 26 2021 2:34PM
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.MASSHOLE.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 12,216
It's pretty well known that Trump and his administration hurt the USPS, part of which stemmed from his desire to slow down mail-in voting.

He admitted as much:


They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo. “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”
Feb 26 2021 3:09PM
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skierman
Posts: 8482 - Karma: 8,313
iFlipThis has nothing to do with Trump. It has to do with you blaming a popular whipping boy for anything that goes wrong, rather than actually getting to the root of the issue.

Then when questioned you instead blame me and dodge the question. Because you don’t have an answer. Because you’re just tossing around accusations and false information, and unused to being questioned. Likely because your friends are dumb and not politically or otherwise informed. Just like you.


Damn bruh, you're a stupid fuck, aren't you?
Feb 26 2021 3:15PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1572 - Karma: 11,715
iFlipI was with you until you somehow managed to blame Trump. Then I realized you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and you’re just parroting the “Trump bad, if something is bad, blame Trump” idea.

Try to form an actual argument, not just ridiculous assumptions.
ronders_Dude he gutted the postal service it’s not even a question. Did so at the request of his friends who own private shipping companies. I don’t view him any different from any other con man politician, except that he’s obviously a better finesser than most. I don’t get why people defend the guy like he’s somehow a great and trustworthy politician. Fuck him, Biden, Dubya, Obama and Bill Clinton this country it’s all empty promises and straight up lies. If you think trumps any different idk what to say you drank the kool aid
BiffbarfA government subsidized entity underperforms compared to private competition? Who woulda saw it coming.

Republicans have been ass fucking USPS for a while now. They were actually running a surplus until legislation was passed that pension needed to be covered 75 years in advance, aka pension covered for people that haven't even been born yet... Trump was actively working against the USPS during the election, but imo that's a drop in the bucket of fuckery going on with how the USPS is funded.
Feb 26 2021 3:36PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7914 - Karma: 22,697
iFlipI was with you until you somehow managed to blame Trump. Then I realized you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about and you’re just parroting the “Trump bad, if something is bad, blame Trump” idea.

Try to form an actual argument, not just ridiculous assumptions.


You're right. It's not just Trump. Republicans have been doing their absolute best to get rid of every public service for decades. One of their default ideologies is privatization, and it's been that way since before any of us existed.
Feb 26 2021 7:22PM
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MichiganCatFart
Posts: 1528 - Karma: 23,704
yall seen the new trucks they are supposed to roll out.

Feb 26 2021 7:36PM
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THEDICKBUTCHER
Posts: 3067 - Karma: 678
Basically, no one can fire the head of USPS because some board appoints him and he basically hates USPS too. Can't expect it to run too well with a dickhead like that in place.
Feb 26 2021 7:56PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,094
Thank God USPS isnt run by the government, because then it would really suck.

oh wait...
Feb 26 2021 8:14PM
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MiIfHunter
Posts: 3978 - Karma: 4,267
DolansLebensraumThank God USPS isnt run by the government, because then it would really suck.

oh wait...

Dogfartnetwork dot com
Feb 26 2021 8:23PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11955 - Karma: 12,302
Work in an industry that unfortunately uses USPS primarily. Shit is always arriving to customers late. We’ve been telling them to add a week to whatever their anticipated time of arrival is.
Feb 26 2021 8:41PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,331
skiermanDamn bruh, you're a stupid fuck, aren't you?

Hey baby
Feb 26 2021 11:48PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3774 - Karma: 8,175
BiffbarfA government subsidized entity underperforms compared to private competition? Who woulda saw it coming.

It's not government subsidized, it's government funded. Without it, millions of homes wouldn't even receive mail. It isn't designed to make money, it's designed to allow everyone access to our mailing system. Private mail companies rely heavily on it because they don't deliver to tons of places based on their profit models.

If your point is that underfunding a public entity makes it suck, then you're just making an argument for increasing funding of it.
Feb 27 2021 12:01AM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7134 - Karma: 75,224
K-Dot.It's not government subsidized, it's government funded. Without it, millions of homes wouldn't even receive mail. It isn't designed to make money, it's designed to allow everyone access to our mailing system. Private mail companies rely heavily on it because they don't deliver to tons of places based on their profit models.

If your point is that underfunding a public entity makes it suck, then you're just making an argument for increasing funding of it.


I usually don't prefer to give more money to organizations that provide sub par services compared to the competition.

The diff between a gov org and a private org is that a private org must maintain success to generate revenue, while a gov org likes to work in opposite. Imagine literally any other service if it wasn't satisfactory you just said 'well if you just gave em more money!' Lol.

But I digress. We likely have very different views on how the market should operate and that's ok with me
Feb 27 2021 12:44AM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3774 - Karma: 8,175
BiffbarfI usually don't prefer to give more money to organizations that provide sub par services compared to the competition.

The diff between a gov org and a private org is that a private org must maintain success to generate revenue, while a gov org likes to work in opposite. Imagine literally any other service if it wasn't satisfactory you just said 'well if you just gave em more money!' Lol.

But I digress. We likely have very different views on how the market should operate and that's ok with me


This isn't a difference of opinion, this is a basic analysis of the issue. The private mail system would not mail to low density areas because of the lack of profit associated with it. This is a failure of the private sector if the goal is to have mail delivered to every address, which it should be because it's required for a functioning society.

Have you read anything about this issue? The USPS isn't just a "gov org working in the opposite direction of success" as you characterize it. There has been a slow gutting of it by the right wing of this country for some time now. There is plenty of media available that explains how the USPS has been kneecapped because people just repeat the same nonsense you are right now.

Also, plenty of privately owned businesses are unsatisfactory while forcing people to fork over more money. Healthcare, renting, college, car insurance, the list goes on. Don't just parrot the same hegemonic talking points everyone in this country has heard a million times, you're not doing yourself or anyone else any favors.
Feb 27 2021 1:44AM
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elcheapo
Posts: 3449 - Karma: 13,980
Tracking lately is hit or miss, sometimes it shows up the whole way there and other times it doesn't even show they've got it until it's delivered.
Feb 27 2021 2:21AM
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7134 - Karma: 75,224
K-Dot.This isn't a difference of opinion, this is a basic analysis of the issue. The private mail system would not mail to low density areas because of the lack of profit associated with it. This is a failure of the private sector if the goal is to have mail delivered to every address, which it should be because it's required for a functioning society.

Have you read anything about this issue? The USPS isn't just a "gov org working in the opposite direction of success" as you characterize it. There has been a slow gutting of it by the right wing of this country for some time now. There is plenty of media available that explains how the USPS has been kneecapped because people just repeat the same nonsense you are right now.

Also, plenty of privately owned businesses are unsatisfactory while forcing people to fork over more money. Healthcare, renting, college, car insurance, the list goes on. Don't just parrot the same hegemonic talking points everyone in this country has heard a million times, you're not doing yourself or anyone else any favors.


Ok
Feb 27 2021 6:06AM
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HypeBeast
Posts: 9917 - Karma: 74,410
USPS has been shit at shipping packages for well over a decade. I used to sell on eBay a lot and usps was only a last resort or if something want breakable. I've had multiple packages destroyed by usps. I've had multiple Amazon deliveries destroyed by usps.

UPS/FedEx on the other hand are top notch. If it's raining or about to rain or snow, they put your packages in plastic bags. Usps, fuck it, get it wet. Their customer service of ups/FedEx is better, tracking and transit is better, all around the post office is going down the tube.
Feb 27 2021 9:50AM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
HypeBeastUSPS has been shit at shipping packages for well over a decade. I used to sell on eBay a lot and usps was only a last resort or if something want breakable. I've had multiple packages destroyed by usps. I've had multiple Amazon deliveries destroyed by usps.

UPS/FedEx on the other hand are top notch. If it's raining or about to rain or snow, they put your packages in plastic bags. Usps, fuck it, get it wet. Their customer service of ups/FedEx is better, tracking and transit is better, all around the post office is going down the tube.

Yea when you’re buying cheap eBay knockoff shit tho sometimes it’s the only shipping option
Feb 27 2021 6:26PM
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Ya_like_jazz
Posts: 157 - Karma: 1,419
orded a pornhub shirt on the 16th with an estimated delivery date of feb 20 and it still says estimated delivery date feb 20
Feb 27 2021 6:31PM
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Mtuhockey33
Posts: 765 - Karma: -2,197
USPS has always been shit; even before Trump took office. If you want anything delivered on time, use UPS/FedEx. If you didn’t realize USPS was shit before Trump took office you were probably too young to vote or ship anything.


the only reason the USPS exists is to send people junk mail and advertising.
Feb 28 2021 7:07AM
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Rparr
Posts: 5694 - Karma: 47,982
Mtuhockey33the only reason the USPS exists is to send people junk mail and advertising.


that and I can't mail weed thru UPS/FedEx lmao
Feb 28 2021 7:28AM
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
It's almost as if the federal government is unsuccessful at conducting commerce.
Feb 28 2021 10:24AM
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,590
T.L.It's almost as if the federal government is unsuccessful at conducting commerce.

Yeah, when was the last time Amtrak was actually profitable?
Feb 28 2021 12:08PM
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T.L.
Posts: 4731 - Karma: 3,017
r00kieYeah, when was the last time Amtrak was actually profitable?


Literally never.
Feb 28 2021 1:08PM
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deathcookie
Posts: 1800 - Karma: 1,196
r00kieYeah, when was the last time Amtrak was actually profitable?


When was the last time your local fire department or your town's library were actually profitable?

The whole point of the USPS is to provide a service to the American people. The service it provides isn't especially profitable, and that's why it needs to be provided by our government, since private companies aren't going to provide it. Profitability isn't its goal.
Feb 28 2021 1:44PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7656 - Karma: 38,459
Bash the current state of the USPS all you want, but the US wouldnt be what it is today if the gov didn't fund the post office network. if it wasnt for funding pensions 80 years from now it probably would be profitable.
Maybe it's time to get rid of it, maybe it's not, but can anyone argue that we'd be better off if the Gov never got involved with mail transport?
Feb 28 2021 2:44PM
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r00kie
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 59,590
deathcookieWhen was the last time your local fire department or your town's library were actually profitable?

The whole point of the USPS is to provide a service to the American people. The service it provides isn't especially profitable, and that's why it needs to be provided by our government, since private companies aren't going to provide it. Profitability isn't its goal.

Thats a bad comparison. The fire dept. is not run separately from elected councils the way USPS and Amtrak. They are run like businesses with indepedant executive boards. They also charge for services in addition to whatever taxes you pay, also unlike the services you mentioned. I don't hate the post office, I understand how in very rural areas it makes shipping somewhat reasonable, but theres a reason UPS, Fedex, and the like have made them obsolete in most areas. If it weren't them the lousy poat office service would be our only option.
Feb 28 2021 4:25PM
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Young_patty
Posts: 3311 - Karma: 38,661
Idk the state of it currently but my buddies mailed themselves some wax/bud (for personal) use back to their homes when we went to CO and both packages made it there without a hitch so I’d say the current state of UPS is pretty good.
Mar 1 2021 6:00PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52303 - Karma: 170,339
Weird to go straight into fresh politcs. Postal service has sucked for a long time. They're like the cable company of shipping.

Also a lot of people that work st the post offoce are assholes straight up. All depends where you live and which one you hit but in recent years I feel like every time I have to go to a post office it's a bad time. DMV vibes.

I'd pay extra for people to send stuff any other way honestly.
Mar 1 2021 6:09PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
theabortionatorWeird to go straight into fresh politcs. Postal service has sucked for a long time. They're like the cable company of shipping.

Also a lot of people that work st the post offoce are assholes straight up. All depends where you live and which one you hit but in recent years I feel like every time I have to go to a post office it's a bad time. DMV vibes.

I'd pay extra for people to send stuff any other way honestly.


I would also wager if you live on the east or west side of the country and ordered something from the opposite side this storm that you know, caused people to literally FREEZE TO DEATH in places like Texas impacted shipping.
Mar 1 2021 6:12PM
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Mr.Panda
Posts: 17711 - Karma: 564
ronders_So let me get this straight... if any argument reflects in any way poorly on Trump then it’s not valid? Even though he was very outspoken about being against the postal service, made cuts throughout his term, giving contracts to private shipping companies, and then tried to block funding to stop mail in votes (literally said so on Fox News, he was later pressured into backtracking on this one and signing for the funding)

let me ask you this, if I blame Obama for bailing out the banks instead of the people in ‘08, leading to where we are today, is that just blaming everything on Obama and it’s a bullshit argument?


You would have had more of a point if the USPS hadn't been struggling since the end of the GWB admin. It's been slowly just falling apart because of people being more inclined to UPS and FedEx (I've never had a package from them take an absolute beating like USPS beats up boxes) plus both UPS and FedEx have far FAR better tracking information infrastructure.

Add in any time you go to a Post Office it's just a shitshow like the DOL.
Mar 1 2021 6:14PM
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ronders_
Posts: 568 - Karma: 2,325
Update: power supply is still “in transit” from Commerce City CA, has been since the 19th, no updates

what to do, what to do. Idk not gonna order another one just gonna wait it out
Mar 1 2021 7:52PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7914 - Karma: 22,697
Getting in on this to complain about Canada Post, Fedex and shippers in general. There's a package coming for the pro shop at the resort I work at, and FEDEX tracking says it's been in transit to final destination since Feb. 11. Granted, we are in a remote area but it's only a 10 hour drive to Quebec City. As far as Canada Post, My gf sent a package from the Provinces capital city, and it went through 3 other provinces, then overshot the town I live due to "processing error" and now it's in a town 600 km further than it needed to go from the last place it was scanned.
Has anyone successfully gotten a refund for terrible service? At this point the products Fedex still has could have been sold if they had gotten here in a reasonable amount of time, so it's costing us $.
Mar 2 2021 12:55PM
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Mtuhockey33
Posts: 765 - Karma: -2,197
skiP.E.I.Getting in on this to complain about Canada Post, Fedex and shippers in general. There's a package coming for the pro shop at the resort I work at, and FEDEX tracking says it's been in transit to final destination since Feb. 11. Granted, we are in a remote area but it's only a 10 hour drive to Quebec City. As far as Canada Post, My gf sent a package from the Provinces capital city, and it went through 3 other provinces, then overshot the town I live due to "processing error" and now it's in a town 600 km further than it needed to go from the last place it was scanned.
Has anyone successfully gotten a refund for terrible service? At this point the products Fedex still has could have been sold if they had gotten here in a reasonable amount of time, so it's costing us $.


If you look at the fine print, most of the 2-day shipping options for USPS aren’t even guaranteed... it’s annoying af and nope, they won’t reimburse you for the package not being on time even though you paid extra for quicker shipping
Mar 2 2021 1:26PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,331
When I was using USPS priority shipping for pot and other items circa 2016 it was damn quick. Most boxes were like $6-8 dollars and would arrive 2-4 days to the NYC area from the marked postage date. The other good thing about using a government service and not a private service was the fact they literally could not open your package unless a warrant was presented. This wasn't true with FEDEX, UPS, DHL Etc.
Mar 2 2021 6:30PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
MichiganCatFartyall seen the new trucks they are supposed to roll out.



That's not a truck, that's actually a vehicular version of the kid from Big Mouth on Netflix
Mar 2 2021 7:30PM
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