What are the odds of USPS losing your cue while in transit, or anything going wrong?

J

justinb386

Banned
I know that I am being crazy, and I worry too much, but I am just curious what the odds are of USPS losing the shipment of a cue that you ship off, or anything else going wrong (like postman delivering the package to the wrong address, or anything else you can think of)?

Do you trust USPS to get your cues (that you sell or receive) to their destination, or do you not trust them as much as services like UPS, FED EX, and others?

I always get really nervous when trading cues through the mail (but only on occasions when the cue is worth a lot to me), and using USPS to do the trade.

Maybe this question belongs in NPR (non pool related), but thought that maybe it would be okay if I posted it on here.

Thanks for your opinions about USPS, and their handing of your cue shipments.
 
Usps

I have never had a issue with USPS
except all the shipping companies seem to be hard on the package and I strongly suggest you pack bullet proof .
 
justinb386 said:
I know that I am being crazy, and I worry too much, but I am just curious what the odds are of USPS losing the shipment of a cue that you ship off, or anything else going wrong (like postman delivering the package to the wrong address, or anything else you can think of)?

Do you trust USPS to get your cues (that you sell or receive) to their destination, or do you not trust them as much as services like UPS, FED EX, and others?

I always get really nervous when trading cues through the mail (but only on occasions when the cue is worth a lot to me), and using USPS to do the trade.

Maybe this question belongs in NPR (non pool related), but thought that maybe it would be okay if I posted it on here.

Thanks for your opinions about USPS, and their handing of your cue shipments.
Click to expand...

They move millions of pieces a day and don't lose them. The probability would be pretty slim of your package not arriving as long as you use the right service.
 
justinb386 said:
I know that I am being crazy, and I worry too much, but I am just curious what the odds are of USPS losing the shipment of a cue that you ship off, or anything else going wrong (like postman delivering the package to the wrong address, or anything else you can think of)?

Do you trust USPS to get your cues (that you sell or receive) to their destination, or do you not trust them as much as services like UPS, FED EX, and others?

I always get really nervous when trading cues through the mail (but only on occasions when the cue is worth a lot to me), and using USPS to do the trade.

Maybe this question belongs in NPR (non pool related), but thought that maybe it would be okay if I posted it on here.

Thanks for your opinions about USPS, and their handing of your cue shipments.
Click to expand...

I have used USPS for the last 15 years pretty much exclusively with only a handful or so delays and minor mishaps. Nothing ever lost or damaged, but I take a lot of extra care in packing cues. Literally hundreds of items shipped. FedEx use to get a chunk of my business until they went nuts on their rates. Now, I only use them for select shipments. UPS, no thanks.
 
USPS 24 Hrs Delivery..........It's Worked Successfully For Me So Far....

There have been horror stories written just about every carrier........recently there was one involving USPS but it eventually turned out okay.

I've never had a problem sending or receiving a pool cue using USPS. I've probably handled a dozen cues that way over the past 5 years and never had a problem which doesn't mean I won't when my two customs underway get completed next Spring. Both of those cues will ship using USPS.

Here's the catch.......all my cues are shipped using next day - 24 hrs. - delivery w/ signed receipt. No one else is allowed to sign for me since I insist upon opening the carton in front of the postal person to verify there's a cue....it's the one I ordered or else I tell the postal person immediately.......and there aren't any signs of physical damage which I would otherwise also tell the postal person about immediately to corroborate any claim against the seller or cue-maker whom would be the insuring party. I always insure for the entire, full value of the cue.

I have found when the package moves thru the postal system that fast....I mean coast to coast in 24 hrs for next day arrival including Sundays if the shipper requests a Sunday delivery......the opportunity for something to go awry is greatly minimized......and postal workers tend to handle highly insured items a little more attentively if the package is marked fragile despite that the cue should be well insulated.........I use PVC and bubble wrap when I ship........my cue-makers use hard cardboard boxes with paper & bubble wrap (sorrily they don't also use PVC as added precaution).

In any event, I suggest using next day delivery if you can cost justify it......I always use 24 hrs which seems justifiable, and also logical to my way of thinking, based upon the value of my cues. The last shipment I received using USPS was lthis past March (my Rauenzahn Bushka cue) and it shipped from Warren, PA to Fresno, CA overnight delivery (24 hrs)......cost was under $55.00 insured for $2300......it was quick and reasonably priced but as I stated, anything could go wrong with the next delivery because we all know that in life, shit can happen for the oddest of reasons.

Anyway, USPS next day (not 48rs.....very next day delivery) is the best way to ship if the price isn't objectionable. If I had to ship one of my cues, the only way I would ship since I have the liability for any insurance claims is the same way. iI I ever sold one of my cues, the buyer would have to agree to using USPS next day delivery or I wouldn't do the sale......I'd split the cost with the buyer but it has to be USPS as the carrier.......been through too many horror stories and difficult to file claim experiences with Fed Ex and UPS....forget about it.......local UPS center doesn't even open until 10 am for pick-ups on missed deliveries......nope USPS has worked for me reliably but like I earlier wrote, there could always be a horror story.........but so far haven't seen any involving the quickest delivery service imaginable......24 hrs coast to coast entirely performed by USPS without any delivery hand-off.

Matt B.
 
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So far I've had zero issues with USPS. UPS is horrible, never again, and Fedex is expensive (but does a good job). I've shipped about 25 cues USPS and have had 100% success.


justinb386 said:
I know that I am being crazy, and I worry too much, but I am just curious what the odds are of USPS losing the shipment of a cue that you ship off, or anything else going wrong (like postman delivering the package to the wrong address, or anything else you can think of)?

Do you trust USPS to get your cues (that you sell or receive) to their destination, or do you not trust them as much as services like UPS, FED EX, and others?

I always get really nervous when trading cues through the mail (but only on occasions when the cue is worth a lot to me), and using USPS to do the trade.

Maybe this question belongs in NPR (non pool related), but thought that maybe it would be okay if I posted it on here.

Thanks for your opinions about USPS, and their handing of your cue shipments.
Click to expand...
 
I just shipped a cue to California from Sevierville tn. They took 19 days to ship it via express !! When I tried to file an insurance claim, they denied it 3 times. There were no tracking updates at all except when it left Sevierville. When i raised absolute hell with the post master general, they for the second time, "traced" the package. Magically it popped up on the grid.

I have lost two other cues via usps, the insurance is trash. They do everything to try and deny the claim. I will never ship anything of importance via usps.
 
Never had a problem with the post office. I get insurance, and pack in pvc pipe, never had one fail to reach its destination or get messed up. It happens, but I've had some issues with fedex and ups on other items.
 
I've shipped a few thousand packages worldwide over the last 10 years with usps. All in all no problems. Delays a few times but nothing broken or stolen. That's a great batting average I'd say.



justinb386 said:
I know that I am being crazy, and I worry too much, but I am just curious what the odds are of USPS losing the shipment of a cue that you ship off, or anything else going wrong (like postman delivering the package to the wrong address, or anything else you can think of)?

Do you trust USPS to get your cues (that you sell or receive) to their destination, or do you not trust them as much as services like UPS, FED EX, and others?

I always get really nervous when trading cues through the mail (but only on occasions when the cue is worth a lot to me), and using USPS to do the trade.

Maybe this question belongs in NPR (non pool related), but thought that maybe it would be okay if I posted it on here.

Thanks for your opinions about USPS, and their handing of your cue shipments.
Click to expand...
 
lakeman77 said:
One in a million
Click to expand...

Actually in the last week 1 in 108 for packages we sent... But over the year we have only had 3-4 lost or were claimed lost... The biggest issue is the USPS relies on scanning and if the barcode is damaged you likely are SOL because it will never update properly...

Other problem we have is locally they may not scan them... I watch packages all the time and it is common for an order to go from limbo to delivered with no scans in between... We consistently get orders that get their first scan at a hub.....
 
i worry all the time, especially when i sent my It's George to get refinished to someone out of state, i wanted every kind of tracking i could put on it.
 
fish2 said:
Insurance is your friend....
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Yes siree bob.... Insurance is your friend, your pal & your bank... if it turns up lost...

You can't insure it for $10K, unless it's worth 10K, but you can insure it for full retail, if you have an appraisal, some pics & a receipt.

I always insure my stuff at 2 x retail. I won't get that back, but the higher price gets the attention of the company & they don't like paying it back.

Good Luck with your stuff.... that is how I try to protect myself.
 
I think it might be more of an issue of WHO exactly is handling you items
The employees of certain areas

Others from different regions claim no issues with the usps
While for me the USPS is horrendous
 
I always use the USPS and pack in a PVC pipe wrapped in bubble wrap............... never had a problem..............

Kim
 
Use registered mail. Chance of anything bad happening to whatever it is you mail is next to zero.
 
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