USPS

[Redmt]

I've never had any of the carriers ask what's in the box except if it's hazardous. I just shipped a rifle to a members FFL with zero issues. UPS and FedEx take whatever as long as it's not hazardous. I usually use USPS for outgoing packages because it's simpler with our USPS account.

 

[MTGomer]

It’s been taking about 16 days to ship Montana to Arizona.

I think the problem is the Billings distribution center. That’s always where the hang up seems to be regardless of which direction the mail is going.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I've never had any of the carriers ask what's in the box except if it's hazardous. I just shipped a rifle to a members FFL with zero issues. UPS and FedEx take whatever as long as it's not hazardous. I usually use USPS for outgoing packages because it's simpler with our USPS account.

Usps is the only carrier I know of where a a non ffl holder can legitimately ship guns and gun parts. It is your job to know the rules and regulations.

 

[Redmt]

Usps is the only carrier I know of where a a non ffl holder can legitimately ship guns and gun parts. It is your job to know the rules and regulations.

Interesting. I've used FedEx and UPS numerous times. The last time I talked with my FFL guy about shipping a rifle he had said it's legal for me to ship but not receive weapons. I've had rifles and parts shipped directly to me to be worked on but not to me to be taken to transfer.

 

[andy57]

USPS here in central Illinois is broken. Packages seem to go to St Louis centers and disappear for days at a time.Recently received a letter from 60 miles away took 9 days to get here.

 

[NDGuy]

Zero issues with USPS ever. I can ship a small box for $10 anywhere in the country in 2 days? Heck of a deal to me.. USPS is an incredible asset to Americans

 

[Dave N]

USPS here in central Illinois is broken. Packages seem to go to St Louis centers and disappear for days at a time.Recently received a letter from 60 miles away took 9 days to get here.

I've sent out a couple boxes through the post office here and they were delivered within days. Can't say much about RECEIVING stuff, though.

 

[bullbugle]

Louis Dejoys five year tenure and implementation of his "Delivering for America" plan has been an absolute disaster, especially for rural Americans. Incredibly, both sides of the aisle are in agreement. Dejoy got absolutely grilled by Congress and then covered his ears like a child. Look it up.

In trying to run it "like a business" he destroyed the service level provided. A sevice level that is mandated by laws. In Wyoming, had his his plan been implemented, there were places where sending a letter a short distance would have involved a letter going to Billings, then Salt Lake, then Denver, then getting to its destination. And that if everything worked "right" and things weren't delayed in any of those notorious bottlenecks in the big cities.

Furthermore, by trying to or in some cases being successful at eliminating outgoing mail processing at so many of the smaller P&DCs like Cheyenne and Casper, or for that matter Hays KS, North Platte NE, Grand Junction, CO Springs etc they created incredible bottlenecks at the new flashy RPDC's. These places already had significant issues. Look at places like Atlanta GA, Kansas City, Indianapolis. These are the places where Dejoys plan was actually implemented or just partly implemented and it has been a cluster of massive proportions. Indianapolis is another. It's all over the news in those places. Mail piled up and no one to work it because they can't hire enough people. Low starting wages, shit working conditions for your first several years (lots of people don't want to work 60 hours a week with 8hrs off between shifts not on their own volition) coupled with high cost of living in places like Denver etc. and here we are.

I tell you this with many years experience in the service. If the DOGE email had gone out to USPS, mine would have been unanswered as I have spent 5 of the last 6 days in the hospital with my wife and newborn child. But, had I been able to respond, it would have said something like.

1. Performed preventative and operational maintenance of two letter sorting machines that process an average of 300+ thousand pieces per day. One of which (my primary responsibility) has consistently been top 10 in the nation in lowest "at risk mailpieces" out of 188 sites that process outgoing letters .

2. Performed daily maintenance on BDS system that keeps anthrax out of all Americans mail.

3. Crossed craft in violation of contract to operate machines that I am not supposed to operate because of lack of staffing in operations.

4. Enough said.

 

[bullbugle]

Hope nothing I just said gets me in trouble but IDGAF anymore. I would hate to give up my career at this point, but I've had offers from IT companies that are growing like crazy in the area and at this point the private sector is starting to look better and better. Right before she starts going into labor I start seeing news were going to get taken over and privatized. Illegally. Hasn't materialized yet thankfully.

Keep having to check in with coworkers, did we get that email. Do I need to come in and respond. Waiting for FMLA paperwork so I can use the 500 plus hours of SL Ive accrued by not calling in for literally years at a time. To try and protect myself for at least a few months in case whatever crazy shit comes down the pipeline.

fearful...

Just the way it seems like they want it.

 

[bullbugle]

Sorry for the rant, but that's the viewpoint of HTer and 9 year Postal Worker right now.

 

[millerkiller77]

Did you perhaps choose USPS because UPS and Fed EX refuse to accept gun parts from individuals? Be careful what you wish for because you may get unintentional consequences. If the USPS gets completely privatized they may choose to not accept firearms. Or perhaps you will have mail in voting handled by a company with a political agenda.

I shipped a rifle to Ruger today via FedEx. I was surprised this was Rugers' preferred shipping carrier.

 

[Doublecluck]

I sent the barrel from my Savage stainless bull barrel in to be fluted

Postman saw what was about to go down and was like noooo! I can’t let this happen…

 

[cedahm]

Just spent over an hour in line a Dallas/FTW. 1 lane open for all general boarding and Clear users. Ridiculous

Off-topic - but you're lucky you were in terminal E. DFW doesn't have Clear at all in terminals A-D, and particularly out of D, the PreCheck line can get pretty massive.

Although, Clear in DEN has been slower than normal TSA Pre for 6 months. I fly every week and I've timed it each time. Not once since Thanksgiving would CLEAR have beaten regular Precheck.

In trying to run it "like a business" he destroyed the service level provided. A sevice level that is mandated by laws.

Back on topic - I think this is yet another anecdote about why governments are not analagous to private for-profit businesses.

And I know a couple of folks in my consulting network that worked on USPS cases in 2010 and in 2019-2021. I know their methodology/general framework, and yeah, analysis about improving or even maintaining regulatory-mandated SLA's were definitely in the Appendix of the deck.

 

[Bigjay73]

L
Although, Clear in DEN has been slower than normal TSA Pre for 6 months. I fly every week and I've timed it each time. Not once since Thanksgiving would CLEAR have beaten regular Precheck.

Den reserve has worked marvelously for me at DIA. 3 people in front of me when I flew out Sunday

 

[Brute]

 

[Elkmagnet]

I shipped a rifle to Ruger today via FedEx. I was surprised this was Rugers' preferred shipping carrier.

Im going to assume ruger has prior authorization. Here it their policy.

https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/how-to-ship-firearms.html

I just shipped a stock USPS it went smoothly.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Like many, the USPS is definitely a crap shoot. I recently had a very personal package "lost" in a major distribution center for 10 days. The package contained a lot of information that would have been damaging beyond belief relative to personal identity protection.

Local PO was less than helpful and I will leave it at that.

I filed a formal complaint with USPS Inspector General's website.

How to file a U.S. Postal Service complaint | USAGov

See how to complain to the U.S. Postal Service about lost or stolen mail or mail fraud. Learn where to file a complaint about postal employees or facilities.

www.usa.gov

Provided all details even photo of the package. I was frustrated and said wth why not. I received a real email response and not a canned response within 30 minutes! Shocked the heck out of me. The next day, I received another email stating they were sending someone to the likely distribution center. Again, impressed. The following day, an unmarked Chevy Suburban stopped at my mailbox middle of day and dropped off package in my mailbox. This was not a mail delivery since vehicle only stopped at our mailbox and drove by all others. And yes, it was the missing package. So somehow they were able to track this down and courier it to my house. And yet, USPS local PO could not do squat.

Was this an anomaly or was this an example of the USPS IOG doing their job? All I can say is filing a complaint worked for me.

I say file a formal complaint with all the information you can submit and maybe they can track down what is missing for you. Plus I think it will highlight where stuff goes missing and maybe helps slow down the sticky hands.

I talked to a friend who retired from USPS Mgmt and he told me that when these guys show up, people get real nervous and amazing how things improve while they are at the location.

 

[noharleyyet]

Well chit, a 22 hour drive to Fallon, Nevada might hafta be in the cards...

 

[bullbugle]

Someone mentioned sticky fingers... unfortunately this can be a thing. We've had several carriers arrested for theft. Ironically, every time I'm aware of it happening with the exception of once they were private contract carriers. So like 80 percent of the time that I've seen. There's a lot more mail theft from regular old thief's. CBUs gets broken into, packages stolen off porches etc.

As far as your processing and maintenance staff goes...you'd have to be out of your damn mind to try something like that. There are blacked out catwalks with two sided glass everywhere that's not a bathroom or union office. Listening ports everywhere. Cameras all over the building, more on the way. At any given time there could be a federal agent standing right above me watching my every move and listening to everything I say.

 

[MTGomer]

They’re improving. Just had a package scheduled for 3 day delivery, delivered in 14. That’s a 2 day improvement.