USPS at their finest!

Poper · May 27, 2016

I sold my Ruger #1 onGunBroker. The buyer paid with a USPS M.O. I shipped it USPS Priority Mail on 5/25. I checked the tracking number this morning because it was supposed to be delivered sometime today. USPS tracking says it was delivered 1,980 miles away from its intended destination. Really? :banghead::banghead:

I beelined it to my local PO to find out what we could do about recovering it. They got the Indianapolis postal inspector involved. The person at the residence where it was delivered said the person that signed for it was her brother and he would be gone for several hours. Hey! It is Memorial Day weekend and the Indianapolis 500 is this weekend! What could possibly go wrong?

So I call the Indianapolis PD to see if I can file a stolen firearm report. Nope. Need a request from my local PD to call the IPD and ask for assistance. Did that. Sat for over an hour waiting for a return call from a Police Officer.
Then I got the bright idea of calling the receiving FFL to tell him what was happening just in case the buyer shows up looking for his rifle. Guess what? He had just finished the transfer and the buyer had just left his store less than 10 minutes prior! :what:

Moral to the story: Do nt believe everything the USPS tells you and verify for yourself they did (or did NOT) do what they said they did.
Also, and this is important,
1) always take photos of the item
2) Take a photo of the box with the label
3) print the sale screen from GB and attach it to the receipt from the PO
4) keep copies of all documents including the check/MO/etc.
5) Do not trust the PO with anything of value.

Axis II · May 27, 2016

so did this guy intentionally send it to another location? you would think that the postal police would handle this asap. at least ffl dealer has his real info incase you need to fight this. keep us posted.

200Apples · May 27, 2016

.
Three things:

Jeeeeeeeeeze.

Dang, what a story! Sorry you had to endure that nightmare.

While your first Four Points are great reminders, I think your Point #5 covers it after all is said and done.

Other than that, thanks for posting your latest experience that we might learn from it.

Poper · May 27, 2016

The local PO jumped on it right off. Local PD had other priorities, like traffic management due to the holiday weekend.

dogtown tom · May 27, 2016

Poper .....USPS tracking says it was delivered 1,980 miles away from its intended destination. Really?

Not unusual for USPS tracking, but I've had UPS and FedEx packages show wrong tracking information as well.

I beelined it to my local PO to find out what we could do about recovering it.

Why? It wasn't stolen or lost, just showed erroneous information on tracking. USPS.com even tells you not to call as they can't do anything.

So I call the Indianapolis PD to see if I can file a stolen firearm report. Nope.

Again........why? It wasn't stolen and you have no reason to believe it was.
Hopefully you followed my advice in the How to Ship Firearms sticky and insured the shipment for full value. :uhoh:

Moral to the story: Do nt believe everything the USPS tells you and verify for yourself they did (or did NOT) do what they said they did.
Also, and this is important,
1) always take photos of the item

Why?

2) Take a photo of the box with the label

Why?

It proves nothing other than you have a box with a label. If you need proof of mailing you can pay for that service at the post office.

3) print the sale screen from GB and attach it to the receipt from the PO

Good idea.

4) keep copies of all documents including the check/MO/etc.

Absolutely.

5) Do not trust the PO with anything of value.

That's just silly. Pack the item using approved packing materials and insure it for full value. Follow USPs regs (or UPS/FedEx if shipping through them).
ALL CARRIERS lose, damage & destroy packages and have them stolen too. USPS is no worse and no better in that regard than UPS and FedEx.

And who do you think actually flies your Priority Mail box across the country? It sure as heck isn't the USPS.

Arizona_Mike · May 27, 2016

Similar erroneous delivery record situation. Had a camera lost (post office had a record of it being received somewhere else) in the mail show up a full 3 months after vendor shipped the replacement camera.

Mike

Sauer Grapes · May 27, 2016

I hold my breathe every time I ship anything of value with the PO.
I had a guy ship me a Beretta Silver Pigeon O\U one time. Took 8 days to get here from AZ. :cuss:

He sent it the cheapest possible way from the PO. I am amazed it found it's way here. {undamaged}

Poper · May 27, 2016

Quote:
Poper .....USPS tracking says it was delivered 1,980 miles away from its intended destination. Really?

Click to expand...

Not unusual for USPS tracking, but I've had UPS and FedEx packages show wrong tracking information as well.

First time I have used USPS to ship a firearm. Certainly not awe inspiring nor a confidence building experience. But then, we are talking a US Gov't. sponsored enterprise, aren't we?

Quote:
I beelined it to my local PO to find out what we could do about recovering it.

Click to expand...

Why?

Because it was paid for by the buyer and if he didn't get it, I would be obligated to return his money. Why? <before you ask> Because it would be the right thing to do.

It wasn't stolen or lost, just showed erroneous information on tracking.

Nobody knew that at the time. Even the USPS clerk assumed the worst. There is a reason why USPS post office facilities have catwalks with one-way glass that overlook and supervise mail sorting operations. USPS takes theft very seriously.

USPS.com even tells you not to call as they can't do anything.

If it is delivered to the address marked on the package, that is correct regardless of who signs for it. Something erroneously shipped to the wrong address is a different matter altogether.

Quote:
So I call the Indianapolis PD to see if I can file a stolen firearm report. Nope.

Click to expand...

Again........why? It wasn't stolen and you have no reason to believe it was.

Of course I did. According to USPS data, the person that signed for it was not the addressee, at the address it was not addressed to, and took possession of a package that did not belong to him. On the surface, that is improper at the least. The local PO clerk contacted the PO Inspector at the PO that "delivered" the "wrong" package. They jumped on it right away.

Hopefully you followed my advice in the How to Ship Firearms sticky and insured the shipment for full value.

Oh, it was insured, all right. And the advice I posted as to having a photo of the package with the address and PO labels on it was advice proffered by the PO clerk.

Quote:
Moral to the story: Do not believe everything the USPS tells you and verify for yourself they did (or did NOT) do what they said they did.
Also, and this is important,
1) always take photos of the item

Click to expand...

Why?

Two reasons: To identify the item(s) in the package and to verify condition. Also a recommendation by the PO clerk.

Quote:
2) Take a photo of the box with the label

Click to expand...

Why?

Recommended by the PO clerk as confirmation that the package was properly labeled in accordance with USPS policies and regulations.

It proves nothing other than you have a box with a label. If you need proof of mailing you can pay for that service at the post office.

Not according to the post office employees. (See also previous quoted response.)

Quote:
3) print the sale screen from GB and attach it to the receipt from the PO
Good idea.

Thank you.

Quote:
4) keep copies of all documents including the check/MO/etc.
Absolutely.

Thank you.

Quote:
5) Do not trust the PO with anything of value.

Click to expand...

That's just silly. Pack the item using approved packing materials and insure it for full value. Follow USPs regs (or UPS/FedEx if shipping through them).
ALL CARRIERS lose, damage & destroy packages and have them stolen too. USPS is no worse and no better in that regard than UPS and FedEx.

I cannot attest to that at all.
The only time I have shipped a firearm by USPS was this time, though I have shipped collectible gold coins via USPS registered mail without difficulty. Today was not a comforting experience by any means. I am not new to this game. I am 60 years old and this was not my first transaction on GB nor my first time shipping something of value. Your condescension is unwelcome.

And who do you think actually flies your Priority Mail box across the country? It sure as heck isn't the USPS.

You are correct about that, but it is not the in-transit flight that is the problem. The problem lies with the people that handle the packages at the terminal, and it is reasonable to assume that most often, the person holding the scanning device is a USPS employee, whether at the terminal, the sorting facility or at the addressee's door step.

After I had discovered the package had been delivered to the correct address and addressee by way of a telephone call to the FFL to advise him that it had been delivered 1980 miles away, I emailed the clerk that was the pointy end of the stick at my local PO that it had indeed arrived at the right location unharmed and on time. With a little help form an experienced supervisor it was deduced that the insurance tracking label from my package had somehow got transferred to another package that had been delivered to its correct destination.

All in all, not an experience I wish to repeat.

H&R Glock · May 27, 2016

I had a similar problem. The USPS re-cycles their tracking numbers. What you saw as delivered to B.F. Utah was the destination of the previously sent package with the same tracking number.
The next day the package (mine) was delivered to the proper address and the tracking info was at last correct.

I6turbo · May 28, 2016

Poper,

Glad to see that your guns sold pretty well, and glad to hear all was well after all, delivery wise.

I suggest you don't waste your time justifying your sensible advice to the know-it-alls and the haters here.

Re: the post office, I still use them but with some trepidation. They are work the risk in some cases.

Re: taking photos, it's absolutely the right thing to do because the FIRST thing most carriers claim when there's damage to an item is that you packed the goods poorly. If you can't prove otherwise, you're usually screwed. I've been involved with small package shipping for 25 years and have seen this hundreds of times. UPS is the worst.

Poper · May 28, 2016

Thank you I6turbo.
I thought the S&W K38 Masterpiece went a little low, but the No. 1 went for about what I expected. An auction will tell you the price/value of any particular item on any particular day and nothing more.

Your suggestion of taking photos of the packaged item before closing and sealing the package is a good one and one I will include in my personal check list for future use.

MIL-DOT · May 28, 2016

For all the grief the USPS has gotten, for as long as I can remember, I am constantly amazed at the speed and efficiency of such a large organization.
If given the option, i ALWAYS choose USPS over other shippers, when ordering on-line.
I routinely have things shipped from anywhere this side of the Mississippi arrive in 48-72 hours. And, they still deliver on Saturday.
The OP's experience surely sucks, and I know screw ups are gonna happen, but still, they are, by far, my #1 favorite Federal agency !!

Sistema1927 · May 28, 2016

First step should have been a call to the receiving FFL. His confirmation that he had actually received it would have kept you from chasing all those rabbits.

jcwit · May 28, 2016

If you were in charge of handling the number of pieces of mail "thats garbage mail, letters, & packages" would you not be open to an error or 2 once in a while?

4v50 Gary · May 28, 2016

Tracking number mess up?

I'll ask someone I know who works in the post office.

Favorite federal agency was mentioned. Mine is the National Park Service. They manage the battlefields and historic sites like Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. Runner up include: National Archives, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Museums and National Forest.

Scooter22 · May 28, 2016

Glad it turned out to be a tracking error. I had a rifle I won on GB end up a couple states away but that FFL immediately called the shipping FFL and got things straighned out within a hour. I had the gun in 2 days. I hope you didn't ruin a perfectly good pair of shorts.

v35 · May 28, 2016

In all fairness I can provide far more horrific anecdotes than yours, involving UPS and FedEx as well as USPS. None of them are free from human incompetence.

Aaron Baker · May 28, 2016

Poper said:
First time I have used USPS to ship a firearm. Certainly not awe inspiring nor a confidence building experience. But then, we are talking a US Gov't. sponsored enterprise, aren't we?

No. We are not.

It's all very clever of you to blame the big bad government for this screwup, but...

1) The United States Postal Service is self-funded. Your tax dollars don't go to support the USPS. They fund themselves entirely off what they charge for their services. In that sense, it's no different than any other private business.

2) This could have happened with any other commercial carrier. UPS and FedEx screw up deliveries and tracking sometimes too. If you think they don't, or that they're better at this because they are "US Gov't sponsored," then why didn't you use them instead?

Mistakes happen, and I'm certain that you're very frustrated by this one. I would be too. It wasn't the service you paid for. But the real lesson to be taken away from this, as far as I can tell, is to try not to freak out too much before you've called all the relevant parties. If you'd called the receiving FFL to give him a head's up that this was a potential problem, or even the guy you sold the rifle to, then you would have discovered that the tracking was the only problem sooner than with you taking the time to call several police agencies...

And I don't see how a mistaken delivery amounts to a "stolen firearm" anyway, so I'm not sure why they police would agree to get involved.

Glad it worked out, in the end, but it sounds like the USPS made a mistake, which happens, and that they reacted swiftly and reasonably. Your local PO got the Indianapolis postal inspector involved, and someone pretty quickly talked to the resident at the address where it was supposedly delivered... sounds like USPS at their finest to me, actually.

I definitely don't think the answer is "Don't trust the USPS with anything of value." They delivered your valuable item to the correct destination in a timely manner. I think the answer is "don't always trust the tracking information." Which, I hate to say it, but duh.

Aaron

homatok · May 28, 2016

In addition to the 5 items suggested, add: place a printed copy of both the items destination and the sellers address inside the package. That way if the outside packaging gets damaged there will be a back-up so the item is not lost forever in the dead letter office! This advice includes any carrier of shipped goods.

Poper · May 28, 2016

Sistema1927 said:
First step should have been a call to the receiving FFL. His confirmation that he had actually received it would have kept you from chasing all those rabbits.

Hind sight is always perfect. In all my past experiences with USPS, their tracking information has been accurate. Why would I assume otherwise?

Elkins45 · May 28, 2016

homatok said:
In addition to the 5 items suggested, add: place a printed copy of both the items destination and the sellers address inside the package. That way if the outside packaging gets damaged there will be a back-up so the item is not lost forever in the dead letter office! This advice includes any carrier of shipped goods.

This is good advice for shipping anything. It is also good advice for any checked baggage when you fly. My luggage has my contact info printed on a sheet of paper tucked inside every pocket and compartment.

Poper · May 28, 2016

Yes.
All firearms I ship have copy of my driver's license for the receiving FFL's use and a copy of his FFL from the buyer included inside the package and a note with the buyer's name and contact information just for the receiving FFL's convenience.

dogtown tom · May 28, 2016

Poper Yes.
All firearms I ship have copy of my driver's license for the receiving FFL's use and a copy of his FFL from the buyer included inside the package and a note with the buyer's name and contact information just for the receiving FFL's convenience.

Why does the receiving FFL need a copy of his own license? :scrutiny:

I'm sure he already has more than a few.

bikemutt · May 28, 2016

dogtown tom said:
Why does the receiving FFL need a copy of his own license?
I'm sure he already has more than a few.

The receiving FFL may not need a copy of his own license, however if the rifle becomes lost in transit or otherwise becomes the subject of some investigation, it demonstrates the shipper believed the rifle was shipped to an FFL dealer.

Da Yooper · May 28, 2016

v35 said:
In all fairness I can provide far more horrific anecdotes than yours, involving UPS and FedEx as well as USPS. None of them are free from human incompetence.

Yep buy or sell enough on line & the shipping gods will surely take a dump on you. Last disaster I had was a brand new Dyson vacuum that arrived broken in half & my postmaster told me as she pushed the box out from her locked caged room that it "might" be damaged. :what:

USPS at their finest!

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