# USPS is robbing me, What to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991 "2014-09-09T18:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/1 "2014-09-09T18:28:19Z")
I sell a lot of computer parts on ebay, and I have had quite a few cases filed against me recently. Apparently someone received an empty box instead of a $75 LCD panel, another person got an empty envelope instead of a $20 keypad. 3 hard drives have simply disappeared in transit, with no updates on tracking in weeks, despite being shipped priority. DVD drives must be magic too because they keep disappearing! These were all separate packages btw. Things being stolen off of porches seems to be a large problem as well. People will wait for months, then file cases because they never get their items, which according to the tracking number are promptly delivered. I am on the verge of getting banned from selling on ebay because of these postal issues. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/2 "2014-09-09T18:36:41Z")
Have you contacted your local Postmaster? Filed claims? The first thing actually that comes to mind is insist on express mail or Fedex, signature required. Yes, it’s a giant PITA for all involved but at least you stand a better chance of your item actually getting into the purchaser’s hands. Barring that, I’d be sending my stuff in as plain an unidentifiable packaging as possible, and well insured no matter what it is. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/3 "2014-09-09T18:45:00Z")
People are waiting months and then complaining they didn’t receive an item? That’s weird. USPS tracking is a joke. I’d switch to UPS or FedEx for anything worth over a certain $ amount. You might also consider sending a couple things to a local friend. If the stuff goes missing you’ll know the problem is with the local PO. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/4 "2014-09-09T18:51:59Z")
whoever you ship with then you should insure the package for its value. pay extra to require a signature as well. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/5 "2014-09-09T19:12:12Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > You might also consider sending a couple things to a local friend. If the stuff goes missing you’ll know the problem is with the local PO. Assuming that these disappearances occurred as described then the thefts almost certainly occurred at the OP’s local post office. That would only require one thief to be working at one post office. If the disappearances are occurring at the delivery end it would require multiple thefts all coincidentally occurring at the same time. In addition, it’s more likely that a local post office employee would figure out the OP is mailing expensive electronic parts and target his mail. Post office employees at the delivery points would be less likely to know which packages are worth taking. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/6 "2014-09-09T19:35:58Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > Things being stolen off of porches seems to be a large problem as well. I don’t see how this is the fault of the USPS. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/7 "2014-09-09T19:38:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t see how this is the fault of the USPS. If they were not given authorization to leave it there in the first place it kinda is. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/8 "2014-09-09T19:44:02Z")
The OP didn’t say if he/she authorized leaving the packages without receiving a signature. And I believe the recipient can also choose to have the package left without receiving a signature. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/9 "2014-09-09T19:51:40Z")
for USPS to require a signature that is an extra paid for option. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/10 "2014-09-09T19:55:09Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > If they were not given authorization to leave it there in the first place it kinda is. Also if the packages are being left on the wrong porch. We don’t live in a house but have had carriers leave packages where they shouldn’t. We’ve made a few complaints to the local post office which handles our mail regarding packages being left in front of the wrong door or, worse, atop the mailboxes downstairs. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/11 "2014-09-10T21:34:17Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > USPS tracking is a joke. I’d switch to UPS or FedEx for anything worth over a certain $ amount. I’ve found UPS and Fed Ex tracking to be far worse than the USPS. ---
**Author:** ![Fat\_Chance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8baadc/32.png) [@Fat\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fat_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/12 "2014-09-12T01:10:56Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I’ve found UPS and Fed Ex tracking to be far worse than the USPS. Really? I do a ton of shipping for my business and not only is UPS far more reliable than USPS, but the tracking info, details,and accuracy always are better than USPS. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-is-robbing-me-what-to-do/697991/13 "2014-09-12T02:52:09Z")
> [@Fat\_Chance](#): > > Really? I do a ton of shipping for my business and not only is UPS far more reliable than USPS, but the tracking info, details,and accuracy always are better than USPS. Ditto. For most purposes, USPS doesn’t have tracking, just parcel serial numbers.