USPS Click-N-Ship refund warning

[wirespokes]

I've used the on-line US Post Office shipping (Click-N-Ship) for a few years now. When you get to the end of the form there's a notice that the label must be printed off before midnight of that day.

There's no other data (I looked) so assumed the payment would be refunded if the label wasn't printed.

Three months ago I went through the whole procedure but then the printer wouldn't do its thing so I wound up taking the package to fedex instead.

Last week I found out the USPS will keep the money unless a refund is requested. There was no red banner or even little letters tucked away in a dark corner stating this.

So I requested a refund using the on-line form, but since it was more than a month the request was denied. I found that out after waiting on hold for 45 minutes and then speaking with a PO employee. The first contact couldn't help me because it was more than two months. I requested his supervisor who is authorized to refund after three months. In my case, it had been three months and a day so he had to send the refund request up to Washington. The refund was approved thankfully.

The supervisor agreed with me that it's not cool and even originated it's kinda shady the PO doesn't just refund the money, or at least put a bright red banner across the screen stating you need to request a refund if the label isn't used or printed. He says a LOT of people have lost money on that one.

So pass the word and don't get caught in that landmine.

[Groover]

Thanks for sharing this, good to know. In case you get into that issue again with the printer, I've printed the shipping labels (or saved to) PDF, then print that file once you kick your printer around a bit even the next day after you get a good night of sleep.

[fotoguzzi]

Just the other day I wanted to click and ship a 22# box.. USPS wanted $62.00..
Yikes. Checked out Fedex who charged me $44.
And yep Fedex will pick up at your house too. And probably deliver it much faster. Recently I sent 2 packages to Australia via international priority Mail (Website says 6-10 days delivery).. the boxes took 14 business days to travel 420 miles from St Paul to Chicago.! Then finally they put it on a plane. Still has nor been delivered so I'm holding breath that it arrives in good condition.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I have used the USPS online services dozens of times...twice I had a printer malfunction and immediately  applied for a refund (Paypal), took a few days for the refund....The trick is too read website info carefully to avoid problems...

[wirespokes]

Thanks, Groover. Yeah, I do know about saving to PDF, but didn't have the time - it had to be shipped that day.

foto - the packages are probably stuck in customs. Kinda scary sending stuff off to another country a long long ways away with no insurance. Not that the Post Office insurance is anything to depend on.

[cliffrod]

Re: the customs process-

I have several pieces of plexiglass/lexan from a friend.  His company regularly receives packages from Germany.  Whatever the size, The shipper closes one side of the crate with plexiglass to speed customs inspections & approval.  There is no need for inspectors at any point to open a package to approve the contents.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

USPS is under great strain right now...  Overtime has been forbidden, employees classified as 'part time' prohibited from working extra hours, a hiring freeze... 

All this as the virus has sent many workers home sick and many more required to quarantine due to possible exposure or awaiting test results... 

When you mix that with mail volumes as great as Christmas time due to all the online ordering taking place these days, but without the usual seasonal employee hiring blitz... 

This is what you get
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-08-20/usps-cutbacks-post-office-chaos

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I sent a Priority Flat rate envelope to a PO Box in Columbia Falls, MT on AUGUST 4th

I tracked it repeatedly, it always just said 'in transit'

On AUGUST 15th it arrived at the Columbia Falls post office, but it wasnt delivered to the box. Later that day it was tagged 'undeliverable- return to sender'

On AUGUST 18th it was in Billings MT, en route back to NC

On AUGUST 19th it was delivered to the PO Box in Columbia Falls


In July I received a pair of boots I ordered. They were too small so I arranged a return with a pre-paid label and sent them back.  Three weeks passed and I still saw no refund in my account. I called Wolverine and ask "What gives?" so they tracked the package-- it was still in transit. It took 7 days to travel from Asheville NC to Greenville SC sorting hub (50miles away). In the remaining two weeks, it was in transit from Greenville to the Wolverine return center in Ohio, and still haddnt been received.

Wolverine very nicely gave me my money back, even tho they haddnt recieved the boots yet, no idea if they ever made it or still circling the country.

[LowRyter]

I guess this is why the postmaster general has been called on the carpet?

[80CX100]

Just the other day I wanted to click and ship a 22# box.. USPS wanted $62.00..
Yikes. Checked out Fedex who charged me $44.
And yep Fedex will pick up at your house too. And probably deliver it much faster. Recently I sent 2 packages to Australia via international priority Mail (Website says 6-10 days delivery).. the boxes took 14 business days to travel 420 miles from St Paul to Chicago.! Then finally they put it on a plane. Still has nor been delivered so I'm holding breath that it arrives in good condition.

     90% of the parts I buy, are International orders coming into Canada, so I can comment with much experience and certainty on this.

     USPS may SEEM like the most expensive option, but for International shipping they are almost always the cheapest in the long run, and IME, the only ones honest and up front in their business model.

     Fedex (and all of the other private shippers) may seem to be cheaper on the front end, and private shippers are being led to think they are doing you a favour, but they will hold the goods for ransom(customs, brokerage, tax collection fees etc) before releasing the goods to the receiver.

     I think it's a corrupt business model, to con customers into thinking they are choosing the "cheapest" when at final destination they are the most expensive.

     Yes I know,,, due diligence,,, read the fine print,,, buyer beware,,, yada yada,,,lol.

     My rant for the day,lol,,,Get off my lawn, lol.

     fwiw

     Kelly

     

[ajpjive]

Used to have challenges with USPS’ cruddy website. Switched to a shipping service, problem solved. I’d highly recommend SHIPPO. Even with their 5c/package fee, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than USPS’ normal rates, and it’s really easy to compare between the major shippers, if desired. Plus, if you make a label and don’t use it, it gets refunded after 30(?) days.

[wirespokes]

Thanks for the tip ajpjive. I'll check into it. My biggest concern would be how insurance claims would be handled. When an item is shipped through a remote shipper like Mail Boxes Etc, they have to file the claim and you're at their mercy. Is it like that with Shippo?

80CX - As I recall, Fedex and UPS are both much more expensive than USPS to Canada. But you're right, they certainly don't promote the extra fees. First time I discovered that was 20+ years ago shipping something to a guy in Canada. He didn't say how to ship it so I sent it UPS. He never collected it and eventually it came back to me and I was out the shipping. When I asked him what that was all about, he acted like I should have known not to use anything but USPS because the customs fees added up to more than the item was worth.