# Your preferred mail/courier service? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280 "2012-11-27T17:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/1 "2012-11-27T17:04:43Z")
You have to send a package, or a trackable letter. Who do you prefer to go to and why? Please answer poll and kindly discuss. I ask because I am truly baffled by the success of some of these operations who I swear to gods have sworn to a code that there are only one of two acceptable delivery options: throw your shit from a moving vehicle in the rain, possibly hitting your lawn or porch, possibly not -or- just leaving notices on everyone’s doors without even trying to deliver. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/2 "2012-11-27T17:11:22Z")
I drove a small package delivery van for about 6.5 years before I finally got tired of it and went into IT. I won’t bore you with a bunch of stories, but after a short time doing this particular job, most folks come to the conclusion that throwing shit out of a moving vehicle into the rain, and leaving those “door knockers” are perfectly viable alternatives to actually delivering the packages (myself included). I prefer FedEx, by the way (speed of delivery), but when I order from Amazon I typically select USPS because their pricing is so much better, and their delivery is top-notch. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/3 "2012-11-27T17:29:31Z")
I like USPS because of standard Saturday deliveries. With that said, they all suck. Every courier has lost exactly one of my packages. UPS, however, deserves special mention for the shittiness of its service. It’s one of just two companies on this entire planet (Comcast being the other) that I KNOW will fuck things up more often than they get it right. I left a note refusing the last UPS package due to be delivered to me (at the CSR’s instruction), only to come home and find the package sitting RIGHT UNDER THE NOTE. Then I scheduled a day for someone to come pick it up, and of course, nobody showed up, even after taking the day off of work. How does that shitshow stay in business? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/4 "2012-11-27T17:41:28Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > I like USPS because of standard Saturday deliveries. With that said, they all suck. Every courier has lost exactly one of my packages. I’ve found that going inside of the actual post office is an exercise in not strangling. If you go during peak hours in particular, you will, without fail, see at least three people sitting around eating chips while the line wraps around the building, and the two people who are actually at the service windows for the 50 people in line will exhibit something nearing contempt for urgency. That said, if something is being sent to me via USPS, I assume I’m actually going to receive it, whereas with UPS, you might as well just cancel that order right now and return that shit to sender. So I almost forgot how much I hated UPS until my friend attempted to send me a nice surprise gift, who sent me a text message saying “Stay home and accept your f-ing package.” Gwuh? But I was home. So I look on the door, and there’s a fucking notice. These goddamn clowns. So I leave a huge hand-written note next to the notice on the door that reads “Hey chucklefucks, I’m home.” (This may not have been the exact wording.) Still there’s another notice the next day. So I called their “customer service” number and asked if there’s a reason their delivery jerk won’t actually deliver my item instead of just pretending he tried. This, of course, goes nowhere. So what was intended to be a nice little surprise from a friend has me all het up, plotting to blow up UPS headquarters. Sure, some packages will get blown up with it, but it’s not like they were actually going to be delivered anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/5 "2012-11-27T17:44:53Z")
I chose USPS and I’m jealous of all the dogs getting their balls sucked. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/6 "2012-11-27T18:01:09Z")
Who is keeping UPS in business, anyway? Is it Amazon? It’s Amazon, isn’t it? Damn it, Amazon, stop patronizing their shit! ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/7 "2012-11-27T18:16:47Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I’ve found that going inside of the actual post office is an exercise in not strangling. If you go during peak hours in particular, you will, without fail, see at least three people sitting around eating chips while the line wraps around the building, and the two people who are actually at the service windows for the 50 people in line will exhibit something nearing contempt for urgency. YES. Oh my god, the USPS line is even slower than the line behind the dumbshits who can’t figure out the ATM. If I walk into the post office and there’s no line at all, it’s somehow still a 15 minute wait. One time I walked up to the employee and she abruptly turned around and left. WTF? That’s how you run a -$16 billion business, folks. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/8 "2012-11-27T18:36:32Z")
I use local courier services whenever possible. Simple for in-town packages, and for out-of-town packages I send my packages USPS to a local courier company in the destination city and have them complete the delivery. A bit more work and expense than just using a single company like UPS or FedEx, but infinitely more reliable; the courier service literally puts my packages directly into the hands of the recipient and notifies me within minutes of actual delivery. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/9 "2012-11-27T20:46:59Z")
Wow, I get a lot of things delivered and I don’t have real problems with any of the above (except DHL who had a driver who murdered a teen girl in my area a few years ago.) USPS is pretty slow and their tracking system is worthless but the package always arrives within a reasonable time. UPS is great except for not delivering on Saturday. FedEx is fine except they leave packages at the front door instead of the back. I wonder if it depends on how the workforce is locally. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/10 "2012-11-27T20:59:51Z")
UPS is my preferred carrier. They do a good job here. USPS is fine usually, but when they fuck up they have no tracking for first-class packages, and even if they do have tracking it is frequently useless. UPS pays claims in a month or so, USPS takes 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/11 "2012-11-27T21:25:02Z")
I always use USPS when sending things, and have never had any issues. I’ve also had the best success with USPS receiving things, though they haven’t been perfect. UPS has been pretty good to me as well for the most part. I really, really, _really_ hate FedEx, though. I live in an apartment complex, with a building/office that is authorized to accept packages on my behalf. It’s really convenient, since neither my fiancee nor myself is ever home between about 8am and 6pm. There have never been any issues with either UPS or USPS leaving packages at the office. FedEx, on the other hand, doesn’t even try at least 50% of the time. They see “apartment building”, knock on the outer door (that no one will ever hear because it leads to an empty hallway), and put it right back on the truck. They will keep doing this for freaking ever until I reach out and contact them and ask why the hell they’re ignoring the nice friendly apartment office that every other carrier can seem to find. FedEx also offices a service where they can bring a package to my local FedEx Office for me to pick up, which is also convenient because there is one less than a block from my office. Except, they won’t actually do this another 50% of the time, and they’re not particularly clear with the reasoning other than “not an option for this package”. End result is that about 25% of the time that I get something via FedEx, I have to make the 40 minute round trip drive to the nearest processing center and pick it up myself. (If it’s not obvious from the frustration, we’re playing this game with one of my Black Friday Amazon purchases right now. Thankfully it’s a gift that I don’t need for another couple of weeks.) ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/12 "2012-11-28T02:15:52Z")
I swear to gods, UPS and FedEx guys just drive right by apt buildings and don’t even bother with the buzzer. I’ve actually refrained from ordering anything online these days that can’t be sent either to the office or via USPS, which is a real shame because shopping online should be convenient, yet ends up in enormous clusterfuckery more often than not. Gah! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/13 "2012-11-28T03:25:51Z")
I really hate UPS. They’ll accept packages which they cannot deliver. My address is a P.O. Box. UPS ought to say to the shipper, “Sorry, we can’t deliver to that address.” Instead, the bastards take the package, look up my home address, and deliver it there. Guys, I have a P.O. Box for a _reason!_ Privacy, safety, security. What if I’m buying porn, and my grandmother gets the package? What if I’m buying something valuable, and get mugged at the mailbox, or if the package is swiped from my (unsecured!) mailbox. P.O. Box = privacy: good thing, and I pay money for it. UPS also has the stupid habit of delivering my packages to my uncle’s house. Same last name, so it must be okay, right? Bastards! ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/14 "2012-11-28T03:43:23Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I really hate UPS. They’ll accept packages which they cannot deliver. My address is a P.O. Box. UPS ought to say to the shipper, “Sorry, we can’t deliver to that address.” Instead, the bastards take the package, look up my home address, and deliver it there. Guys, I have a P.O. Box for a _reason!_ Privacy, safety, security. What if I’m buying porn, and my grandmother gets the package? What if I’m buying something valuable, and get mugged at the mailbox, or if the package is swiped from my (unsecured!) mailbox. P.O. Box = privacy: good thing, and I pay money for it. > > UPS also has the stupid habit of delivering my packages to my uncle’s house. Same last name, so it must be okay, right? Bastards! I think you’re mad at the wrong entity. The shipper controls this stuff. UPS can either send the package back or they can correct the address and deliver IF that’s what the shipper wants. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/15 "2012-11-28T04:47:21Z")
USPS has yet to fail me. Stuff gets there, required signatures are collected, it doesn’t cost a fortune (though maybe it should). I drove all my FiOs stuff to a Verizon office when I cancelled service rather than use their UPS delivery because I was afraid it would be lost and I’d get charged for the equipment. FedEx just dumps stuff without getting required signatures when they bring things to me, so I don’t trust them, either. My only experience with DHL was a package I received last week. The box said DHL/Deutsche Post (it was coming from Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, so probably inevitable), but a USPS mailman delivered it, so not sure how that worked. According to the paperwork on the package, it sat in Customs for 12 days. That was my only complaint and that’s probably not their fault. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/16 "2012-11-28T05:26:19Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > YES. Oh my god, the USPS line is even slower than the line behind the dumbshits who can’t figure out the ATM. If I walk into the post office and there’s no line at all, it’s somehow still a 15 minute wait. One time I walked up to the employee and she abruptly turned around and left. WTF? That’s how you run a -$16 billion business, folks. I always take a book with me when I go to the post office… ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/17 "2012-11-28T06:06:11Z")
> [@RaftPeople](#): > > I think you’re mad at the wrong entity. > > The shipper controls this stuff. UPS can either send the package back or they can correct the address and deliver IF that’s what the shipper wants. Well, I agree that the shipper is also a damn fool for taking the package to UPS, when UPS cannot deliver it as addressed. But I’m most mad at UPS, because they should refuse to accept the package, because they cannot deliver it as addressed. They’re supposed to be the shipping professionals, and professionals say, “Nope, I can’t do that” when asked to do something that can’t be done. I know this isn’t the Pit, but, damn, I hate UPS with the fiery fire of a thousand fires. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/18 "2012-11-28T06:22:34Z")
In the 80s I worked for both UPS and the USPS. At the UPS in downtown San Francisco (17th & Potrero) you could definitely **NOT** throw any package. At the USPS at the “Oakland Main” facility (Oakland, CA, on 7th Street) we regularly tossed packages into sorting carts - pretty much like taking a jump shot beyond the 3-point arc. This, with our supervisor’s knowledge. UPS was a great company to work for. The USPS, not so much. Packages do get damaged when they’re going down the belts and chutes. It happens. Since then, UPS has done well in delivering our packages in fine shape and on time. USPS does, too, but in choosing between the two I’d pick UPS. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/19 "2012-11-28T06:23:50Z")
My vote: some other, meaning UPS and it does not suck dog balls. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280/20 "2012-11-28T07:27:58Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > I wonder if it depends on how the workforce is locally. Definitely. At my old apartment UPS was for shit. They _invariably_ pulled the BS where they slap the info-notice on the door without bothering to ring the bell. I complained every time this happened. The third or forth package, I bitched out the CSR so thoroughly that despite saying there was nothing they could do but attempt delivery again tomorrow, someone must have called the driver up because he actually came back half an hour later, rang the buzzer, and placed the package in my hands with a mumbled apology. And then… I’ve moved all of a mile away (same city, different neighborhood), and the difference is night and day. The driver _always_ rings the buzzer. And, miracle of miracles, will _actually walk up the stairs to give me my package._ I like this guy much better. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-preferred-mail-courier-service/642280.md?page=2)