What's up with this mess with post offices?

Question

I will briefly summarize it, to keep long story short.

> A few years, I ordered a bag from Samsonite
> It was sent by FedEx or UPS
> They may have omitted a part of my address on the shipping label
> For whatever reason, the package delivered to a post office instead (UPS sometimes searches for an alternative address if the address on the shipping label is undeliverable, so it may have been UPS)
> Tracking the package online and calling customer support, I got the address of the post office
> I thought that there were two post offices in my ZIP code, but to my surprise, it was delivered to a third one
> I looked up post offices in my ZIP code on USPS website and indeed there was evidence that there are three (the one I usually use did not show up, but obviously it exists)
> So I went with the tracking number and printout of the package tracking to that third post office to retrieve the package
> It turned that it was an old office building at that address
> I told the security I am looking for that post office, but they said there is no post office at that address
> I insisted and told them I know for certain there is, and that my package is there
> Finally, they escorted me to a section of the building, and it said "post office" there
> I gave them the tracking information, and they gave me the package

Answer 1

Taking a stab at it:



--People don't know what is Post Office? This is actually a common problem these days now that people do so much online.



--What's even worse is that FedEx--particularly the ground delivery side of their system--often will work directly _with_ local Post Offices to get things delivered. This isn't something people often get, that some shippers will use FedEx Ground service to ship it more cheaply and then people at the other end ask how the USPS got in on it.



--Mainly this looks like a Telephone/Six Degrees of Separation thing though: you simply had to go through too many people, each with their own protocol, to actually find out where things went. And with everyone having different protocol and hearing slightly different things, nobody fully knows what went wrong. 6_9 (*a.k.a. derp-eyes*)



I hope this helps, and I hear you.

Answer 2

That sort of thing doesn't happen here, Australia Post do one of two things, lose your parcel completely or damage it beyond recognition.

Answer 3

sometime these things happens when there is a overflow and to cut down on overtime for the empoloyees. also to prevent a backlog of shipments.

Answer 4

Well, at least you got your package.



Sorry to hear about the difficulty!