this is a chart topper    mailed a package to a member on this site on 3-18-26. got a receipt and a tracking number. buyer did not get the package and was rightly concerned.
in my mailbox today is the package with a note from the USPS that says "return for postage". luckily i had a personal label on it to have it returned to me
What kind of weed are these people on?

what do you all intend to use if the institution does 'go belly up'? 
I wonder how far behind it will follow poor service/lost packages/denial of claims from the others. And, what about sending some loved one a postcard while on vacation? Fed Ex, or DHL? Just wondering, in case you are right. Trying to be prepared. Or something.

I have lost three items due to the P.O. incompatibilities. Two contained M.O. and one an important document. They took three weeks trying to track the documents down. I never retrieved them as someone slit open the USPS envelope and and taped it up again. I think  I will stick to UPS.

Win1906 wrote yesterday at 1:15pm:


No matter how small the town PO is, all the mail eventually lands at a major distribution center. So consider yourself very lucky to have had no issues with USPS!

Many of my local post office employees admit concern over what they readily acknowledge has become a major decline in USPS service quality.  In short, they worry that sooner rather than later the USPS will in fact go "belly up" and they will lose their jobs, which I gather pay very well and have excellent retirement benefits.  At the same time, I can't say that "concern" shows any evidence of translating into "trying to make things better".

But also at the same time, are there ANY long-established public service companies that are still giving their customers consistently good service?

Bill Lawrence

I have watched tracking with baited breath several times. Have a recent package go from Chicago to Dallas to Atlanta to Chicago to Dallas to me. I had one expensive package that I was tracking that never left Chicago but was delivered two days after shipping.???
Did have a RIA win that was shipped UPS that got within 20 miles of me, then no movement. Website stated”likely lost”, filled insurance, got paid then 8 months later the big brown truck pulls up, says I have to sign, it must be a gun! And it was.

MrTipUp wrote yesterday at 1:57pm:


I'm not so sure about "excellent retirement benefits" Bill. I had a good friend who did 25 years at USPS and retired maybe a decade ago. At that time his USPS retirement was pitiful at under $1000 a month. Unless it's done much better in the last decade?

I got TWO if these this week!

Thank you for using USPS.com.
We regret to inform you that after thoroughly searching for your mail we were unable to locate your missing item(s).

Search Request Details:
Request Date: 12/31/2025
Reference: Search ID #MRC 25 2339 1679
Tracking Number: LP080280664IN
We work hard to provide prompt, accurate service to our customers, and regret that we were unable to deliver your mailpiece on this occasion. To help us get your packages to their destination in the future:

Put a return address on the outside of all mailpieces
Include a label with your name and complete address on the inside of packages
We never like to think of anything happening to the mail during transit, but we want to be prepared for any contingency and your assistance is vital to that preparedness.

Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience that you have experienced. We appreciate your business and hope you will give us the opportunity to serve you in the future.

Thank you for using the U.S. Postal Service®.