The U.S. Postal Service has extra optional services to improve logistics. The USPS Delivery Confirmation number costs an extra $0.19. As the number is is also called a “Label/Receipt Number,” should the USPS offer refunds when the shipment does not meet delivery expectations?
In late February 2011, I shipped an item on Amazon through USPS Standard Media Mail from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, to Glendale, California. In late March, the customer wrote an e-mail saying the item had not arrived. The Amazon website gives an estimate of “2-14 business days, up to 21 business days” for USPS domestic Standard delivery. The item should have arrived between March 1 to March 16, or up to March 24.
Entering the USPS Delivery Confirmation number in the “Track & Confirm” search box of the USPS website showed that the USPS in Jamaica Plain, MA, had picked up the item on February 23 and shipped it to the USPS Sort Facility in Jersey City, NJ, on February 24. However, there was no information on when the item would be shipped out to Glendale, California.
On April 6, I sent USPS an inquiry describing the problem of sending domestic mail with Delivery Confirmation. Under “details of the problem,” I checked “refund wanted,” “no confirmation information,” and “requested service not provided.” On April 11, I received a response from the manager of the USPS in Jamaica Plain, MA:
The manager explains with emphasis (italics and uppercase) that Delivery Confirmation pays for “status information ONLY—for a low price” and “does not pay for tracking and tracing.” Delivery Confirmation does not track or confirm the intermediate locations of the shipment. The manager states that USPS delivers 99.99% of all items and scans 95% of all items nationally, and that “Delivery Confirmation does not speed up delivery of the mail piece.”
According to the USPS statistics, there would be 0.01% chance that the item was lost or damaged in shipment and a 5% chance the item had no delivery scan. Delivery confirmation requires a delivery scan. The Delivery Confirmation service might only have a 95% success rate. Therefore, it is more likely that the USPS safely delivers the items than that the USPS properly tracks and confirms the status of the item.
The manager raises at least four possible situations for the shipped item in question:
1) No delivery: The item is still at the USPS Sort Facility.
2) No delivery scan: The item was shipped without an electronic signature.
3) Media Mail inspection: The item’s envelope has been opened to verify its contents as Media Mail, creating the delay.
4) Lost or damaged: The item was lost or damaged at the USPS Sort Facility or on the shipping route.
If the item has not yet left the USPS Sort Facility in Jersey City, NJ, I would like USPS to offer me a full refund of shipping and ship the item to my return address instead of the shipping address.
If the item is eventually shipped to Glendale, California, I will know through the Delivery Confirmation number. I already gave a full refund to the Amazon customer who ordered the item after the customer waited for more than 21 business days. However, I can try my luck and ask the customer to return the item back to me USPS Priority Mail.
Is paying the extra $0.19 for Delivery Confirmation worth it?
Well, the Delivery Confirmation number provides the only evidence that a USPS Standard Mail shipment has taken place. $0.19 pays for the receipt. When a shipments fails to meet delivery expectations, a service has not been provided. Customers with the Delivery Confirmation receipt number should ask for a full refund.
I guess that's why the USPS created the add-on fee for Insurance.
In late February 2011, I shipped an item on Amazon through USPS Standard Media Mail from Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, to Glendale, California. In late March, the customer wrote an e-mail saying the item had not arrived. The Amazon website gives an estimate of “2-14 business days, up to 21 business days” for USPS domestic Standard delivery. The item should have arrived between March 1 to March 16, or up to March 24.
Entering the USPS Delivery Confirmation number in the “Track & Confirm” search box of the USPS website showed that the USPS in Jamaica Plain, MA, had picked up the item on February 23 and shipped it to the USPS Sort Facility in Jersey City, NJ, on February 24. However, there was no information on when the item would be shipped out to Glendale, California.
On April 6, I sent USPS an inquiry describing the problem of sending domestic mail with Delivery Confirmation. Under “details of the problem,” I checked “refund wanted,” “no confirmation information,” and “requested service not provided.” On April 11, I received a response from the manager of the USPS in Jamaica Plain, MA:
The manager explains with emphasis (italics and uppercase) that Delivery Confirmation pays for “status information ONLY—for a low price” and “does not pay for tracking and tracing.” Delivery Confirmation does not track or confirm the intermediate locations of the shipment. The manager states that USPS delivers 99.99% of all items and scans 95% of all items nationally, and that “Delivery Confirmation does not speed up delivery of the mail piece.”
According to the USPS statistics, there would be 0.01% chance that the item was lost or damaged in shipment and a 5% chance the item had no delivery scan. Delivery confirmation requires a delivery scan. The Delivery Confirmation service might only have a 95% success rate. Therefore, it is more likely that the USPS safely delivers the items than that the USPS properly tracks and confirms the status of the item.
The manager raises at least four possible situations for the shipped item in question:
1) No delivery: The item is still at the USPS Sort Facility.
2) No delivery scan: The item was shipped without an electronic signature.
3) Media Mail inspection: The item’s envelope has been opened to verify its contents as Media Mail, creating the delay.
4) Lost or damaged: The item was lost or damaged at the USPS Sort Facility or on the shipping route.
If the item has not yet left the USPS Sort Facility in Jersey City, NJ, I would like USPS to offer me a full refund of shipping and ship the item to my return address instead of the shipping address.
If the item is eventually shipped to Glendale, California, I will know through the Delivery Confirmation number. I already gave a full refund to the Amazon customer who ordered the item after the customer waited for more than 21 business days. However, I can try my luck and ask the customer to return the item back to me USPS Priority Mail.
Is paying the extra $0.19 for Delivery Confirmation worth it?
Well, the Delivery Confirmation number provides the only evidence that a USPS Standard Mail shipment has taken place. $0.19 pays for the receipt. When a shipments fails to meet delivery expectations, a service has not been provided. Customers with the Delivery Confirmation receipt number should ask for a full refund.
I guess that's why the USPS created the add-on fee for Insurance.