Mom of 'proud soldier' dissatisfied with postal service

I don't know what kind of box she used, but millions of packages go through the same process and don't get destroyed. We tell customers to pack things with the understanding that a 70 pound box (our maximum weight) may end up on top of their box at some point in the process, and they should pick a sturdy box and cushion the contents accordingly. The processing plants between the shipping points would be the likely places where the items fell out.

And since nearly 1/4 of our workforce are active or retired military, I am willing to bet someone would go to extra lengths to get these items returned if possible.

One look at that box tells you why the contents are no longer in it. However, the lack of good customer service is appalling.

The box looks flimsy, and probably could not with stand and outside pressure to avoid from being crushed or damaged. Had she packaged it properly everything would have been fine. Don't blame the post office for your mistake.

Don'tbe embarassed by your outburst. I'm a postal employee and management treats us with the same disdain and apathy. I'm afarid you got what we call "the trickle down" effect. They treat us like crap, so we treated you like crap. How'd you like Smeraldi's implication that you didn't use sufficient "cushioning material". That's the postal way, never take any responsibility, blame the customer, and NO REFUNDS, they'd rather eat their children than part with money. Its a lousy place to work and a lousy place to ship a package, use UPS or FedEx next time. Thats right, I am a postal employeeandi'mstrongly suggesting that you use the competition.

The postal service recommended that she get insurance and that insurance up to $5000 is available / 2 things, try to collect on an insured parcel , and you can insure it as much as you want but the P.O. will only pay the provable value of the contents. and you need receipts for that , so if you insure for 2000.00 and only have receipts for 500.00 you get 500.00 maybe- if they cant find a way of not paying you. I am a postal worker and I tell people the insurance inmost cases is not worth the money spent on it.

Every comment posted so far has some truth to them, except for one major thing. As a postal employee for a little over 24 years now, I would like to apologize to you for the postal services fault. Not only is your son doing the right thing, but you trusted the U.S.P.S. and something definately went wrong wrong. This has been an internal problem for many years and when something like this happens the complaint usually goes on deaf ears. On another note you could file a complaint with the U.S.P.S. (in writing) and see where it goes and if that does not do the trick then write your Congressman. Trust me you will get results then.

"We make every effort to handle every piece of mail and every package in a careful and efficient manner"

NOT !!

i sense your frustration on the lack of common decency as a human being, as well as a customer.. all this woman wants is an apology.. pretty sad USPS..

And this is a news-worthy story HOW?

Dear Sentinel,
I was at the grocery store the other day, and there were five people in line, and they didn't open another checkstand. Send the reporter over, please.

Oh, and I took my car to the car wash, and when I got it back, there was still some grease in the wheel well. This is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. Please send a reporter.

And also, every other story I read in your paper is inaccurate, filled with typos, lacking critical information, or otherwise not worth reading. Please send - wait. I'll write this one myself.

your "elitist" federal gov't at work...wait until they run your health care...you'll end up looking like that box!

The Post Office needs to be reined in. They can't run their business with the money they get from the Tax payers. Checks and Gift Cards are removed from Greeting Cards then they tape up the envelope and deliver it to you. They won't deliver mail to a house if the carrier doesn't recognise the name on the envelope. They contract with other carriers because its cheaper to send packages with them than pay its own employees. The list goes on and on. Post Office employees are rude and we don't need Saturday mail either.

HA HA HA ... use UPS next time. At least they won't damage your package

If each individual would take some action, the incompetence would stop. Try with your vote first. We don't need more illegals, uneducated people in the work force. Americans get off your high horse and work without expecting $25 an hour to start. I am beginning to avoid anything that is government owned. Take a more "do it yourself" approach. Every where you turn there is fraud and incompetence. There is no one "home." No one to answer to but yourself. Lying to yourself--is that what it is?????

looks like the box was way to big for the items enclosed and was not packed properly, should have used a flat rate priority box if thats all she shipped, would have been a better fit and prob. shipped cheaper

I've had the same lousy experience with the Front Street branch! The employees are blatantly rude and will blame you if you raise a complaint. They have absolutely no desire to help you with your problem; as a matter of fact you are the problem in their eyes. Contact the postmaster general Aaron Jones and make your complaint to him. Sometimes he's interested; sometimes not. Bunch of moody s.o.b.s at that branch!

And how is this news worthy? Sorry about your package but the world is full of more devastating drama.

FYI, I have seen boxes just as damaged by fed-ex through at our shipping shop! If you are sending something, you never know when an 800 pound gorilla will sit on it, so pack it that way!

I believe the point is that we all deserve respect. Just because you dont think her point is valid doesnt give you the right to be rude to her. The world we live in has lost all compassion.

My Mom has constant problems with her mail delivery when a package cannot fit in her mailbox or requires a signature. After being home all day she will find a notice in her mailbox saying she wasn't home and the package needs to be picked up at the post office. I have personally witnessed a postal delivery driver fill-in the Attempted-Delivery slip in his truck, then run to her front door and back to his truck. He wasn't carrying the package. No attempt was made to ring or knock on her door. I confronted him and he reluctantly went back to his truck and found her package (which was medications). No attempt to apologize or cover up their arrogance. Whenever possible we use UPS or FEDEX (but not FEDEX Home, they come too late in the evening.) Most of the time the post office works, but if you have a dishonest package delivery driver it will take two or three extra days to get your packages from the post office when these packages should have been brought to your front door.

ms. mallory,, i as a postal worker apologize for the way you and your belongings were treated, but that is management of the usps and their way of thanking a customer.i am sure if you go to your local post office and talk to the workers there , find ouy where the distribution center is and talk to them, you will recieve better help.talk to the employees, see what they can do for you.it would be best if your son looked into at at where he mailed it from as thats probably where the problem occurred.sometimes the machines do err.again, as a postal worker i apoligize for the service you recieved.good luck kurt heubusch postal clerk apwu 1228 florida

I've worked in shipping for years and that box was in no way properly selected and packed. No shipping tape I've ever seen is as narrow as the tape on that box. That and the partially ripped tape on the bottom indicates it was likely masking tape which is an idiotic way to package anything for shipment. For three bucks you can buy a small roll of shipping tape with a built-in cutter. As for the USPS I've never had a problem with them in thirty years. But in our society whoever shouts the loudest and acts the most self-righteous is assumed to be in the right so....