USPS - soon airport security will have the same low standards
 

I don't know if any of you have ever used USPS Express Mail. Well, another FTer generously gave me a VIPOW that is about to expire. I have a mileage run tomorrow, so the VIPOW would have been very nice. However, it was mailed on Friday night, a few minutes too late for overnight mail, but still guaranteed Sunday delivery (Express Mail delivers 365 days a year). As you might guess, nothing arrived today. I have called the USPS, and it's like talking to a wall. Some woman was very proud of herself when she told me: "It'll show up tomorrow, don't worry." I mentioned that I couldn't care less if it arrived tomorrow; I paid to have it here today. Looks as if the VIPOW will go to waste.

I am more than a little concerned that the same people hired to tell me that they screwed up and couldn't delivery what they promised will be in charge of our airport security.

Yes, this one will go down in history. Years from now we will look back and be asking how in the world we created this monster and why we need so much security at an airport and and and and and

I've been in a few airports since last Sunday, and the one thing I notice is how many more people are working at security...there are so many they have lots of opportunities for random searchings -- several at once. Yes, there are more checkpoints open and shorter lines, and more and more checks...what a giant waste, especially when you consider there are also local cops, state cops, national guard, etc, etc, etc.

People just love to rag on the USPS, but it's not like private companies are any more efficient. Back when NW was still using paper certs for award travel (I think they were called fly-writes or whatever), a friend sent me one via DHL that arrived a week after my "flight," which I obviously couldn't take.

It's more than a waste, it's a complete violation of our constitutional rights which seem to have gone out the window http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Not to go way off topic, but the USPS, unlike the TSA and FAA, is not taxpayer funded.

I think the current federalization of airport security is a joke. I do not need national guard soldiers standing by to keep an eye on the federal workers maning the security checkpoints.

My original post was more of a venting of anger against the USPS because those incompetent workers deprived me of my only chance of using a VIPOW. I rarely fly first class, and was very excited about upgrading 3 segments of my 5 segment mileage run that I have tomorrow.

[This message has been edited by johnep1 (edited 02-24-2002).]

My parents have sent my elite kit via . . . FedEx for the past two years.

The best incident was when I flew EWR-CDG, FRA-EWR in CO BusinessFirst with my friend, using my miles to upgrade the both of us. The problem was that I only could issue a one-way upgrade certificate for him and wait for the EWR-CDG mileage to post to my account, giving me enough mileage to issue the return upgrade certificate for my friend. In Paris, I called NW to FedEx the paper certificate to my mailing address (mom & dad's place), who then FedEx'ed the certificate to the hotel in Frankfurt. Thank you Mom and Dad and FedEx! (For some stupid reason, the upgrade had to be a paper certificate and could only be issued in North America or Asia.)

USPS is great for letters and packages because it's cheap.

If you want something urgent and want to use USPS, better use a service with a 100% guarantee and a tracking number. If my memory serves me right, express mail service doesn't use tracking numbers. Or else you're just SOL.

- Pat

USPS express mail uses tracking numbers. Maybe you were thinking of priority mail?

express mail is the only 'overnight' service with Sunday delivery, as far as I know.

-David

I have found FedEx very reliable in comparison to other overnight couriers. You appreciate them when you have a problem. I have had difficulties with UPS priority overnight service and with the USPS and only FedEx really delivers.

Sorry you had this problem, it is a real bummer.

It's bad that the USPS screwed up. That's got to be annoying. They'll give you your money back, at least, right?

On another note, has this place gotten whiny or what? It's like it's the Russians, South Koreans, and French Olympic committee combined.

[This message has been edited by mdtony (edited 02-25-2002).]

Hey, I couldn't agree more http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

You have to be careful using those services http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif


You'd never want them to loose a package http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mad.gif

Have a great day http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The point is that the original poster did use Express Mail, which does offer a 100% guarantee and a tracking number. The problem is that if they fail "to deliver for you," as their saying goes, the guarantee kicks in, but only entitles you to a refund of the postage. So, in this case, he (or actually the sender) gets his $11 or whatever in postage back (only if he files for the refund at the originating post office), but he's stuck in an un-upgraded seat on a mileage run. Although FedEx and UPS overnight have large surcharges for Saturday delivery, there's a very good chance that you'll actually get the package on time.

Surely you jest!? FedEx and UPS are MUCH more reliable than USPS. I get a kick out of the pride our postal service takes in its "Priority Mail" service, which prices at 40% below 2-day UPS/FedEx, but contains no guarantees whatsoever. Express Mail is a decent product, but a clear cut below its privatized competitors -- USPS uses a Byzantine tracking systems and IME Express mails arrive late with great regularity. In fact, a friend of mine used Express Mail for his grad school applications several years ago and ended up getting his money back in 10 of 12 cases! Admittedly, he intentionally tried to push the limits of the system by dropping off his letters as close to the deadlines as possible.

You get what you pay for. If you want guaranteed delivery, you have to pay for it. If you want to spend less money, well, you can't ask for a Mercedes for a Chevy price.