Warning to those receiving feeders from USPS

[randommonks]

The last 2 shipments of roaches I received had been delayed at least 2 days. In the cold weather especially, feeders will be more fragile and delays could lead to higher rates of DOA. I had a shipment sent out Wednesday that, based on tracking number, was supposed to reach me on Friday but has just left a sort facility in a town 3 hours away this morning.

The post office that sorts our mail is refusing to hold any packages that weren't already marked Hold at PO when the shipping label was made until the holidays are over. They were doing so even 2 weeks ago. I'm not sure if this is just my post office, or if it was just my bad luck to have these shipments delayed. I've had to have all mail stopped to my address for 3 days (per their "new" policy) in order to have this package held at the post office so that the feeders aren't riding around in freezing temps on Monday or Tuesday.

I cannot express my frustration and anger at the post office every time I've had to deal with them but it is what it is. If you're going to order feeders around this time of year, I would suggest that you wait for the next Monday or, at latest, Tuesday to account for delays. Most suppliers are shipping with heat packs and it's for a good reason. Get all your orders in soon and make sure you account for the holidays when ordering!

Happy holidays!

 

[FishboneNC]

I know the feeling!
I agree and dis-agree!

I agree:
The USPS has a terrible tracking system, I have seen one of my packages, based on their tracking system, sit at a sorting facility out of state for days, only to arrive on the day I was expecting it...occasionally a day late.

I dis-agree:
The 'hold at post office if it isn't on the label' policy has always been that way, when they did hold it for you, they were being nice to you.
The way it was explained to me, during the holidays their work load has increased, more people at the counter, more packages, long lines etc, but they can't hire extra help...it's the government, it's hard to change the government!!
In some cases such as rural deliveries, the mail carrier has a car with only 'so' much room, changing the calculated capacity changes 'what' gets delivered.
In some cases, the post office doesn't have people there on Sunday to receive anything...the mail was moving day/night even on Sundays, but can't get there if nobody is there!

I have shipped all over the world using the USPS, yes, the post office delivers to Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, South America etc
The ONLY time a package was 'lost' was when I sent to a PO box...my mistake!
The customer made a claim a month after I shipped it...5 states away!

A 'couple' of times the package was delivered to the wrong address on the same street.
ALL the carriers have done that.

I also agree:
As for buying feeders, I always buy on Sunday night. A good supplier ships the same day they receive the order...which would be Monday.
I also try to order from the closest supplier.

As for the 'holiday' order, I might double my order so I don't have to order/ship during that last week.
And don't forget the week of Christmas, it's a two weekday holiday that week.

 

[randommonks]

I'm not demeaning the post office's policy. Just relaying that I had packages held for me before and they had never mentioned that it was against their policy. This was simply a reminder for people to make their holiday feeders orders now and that they should expect some delays due to the holidays. I was venting a bit about the PO simply because I've never had a positive experience there personally. It's good that you have.