No, it's not. I run a mail-order record business, we still use USPS. We send around a thousand int'l packages a year, to some slightly exotic places. A package goes missing maybe once every two years, and usually it's not entirely clear whether it's even the USPS' fault.
International shipments over 4 pounds use a customs form that includes a code that can be tracked through the USPS website. It's been that way for a decade or so. Until last month, shipments under 4 pounds used a much simpler customs form that could not be tracked (at least, not through the website), but they've just gone to more complicated one that I believe can be. Tracking means accountability for any facility or post office where the package disappears. If you have the address right and the customs form right I'd say the chances of USPS losing something are way under 1%. If you have the address or customs form wrong, the package might take a long time to come back to you, but it will..the odds of loss are the same. My biggest beef with USPS right now is with domestic Media Mail shipments, which they have gotten a little over-zealous about opening and checking. Even when the box has fragile written all over it and is insured for hundreds of dollars. Apparently I'm supposed to trust that they will properly repackage everything...not good. JT On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 4:40 AM, Martin Dust <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 11 Feb 2010, at 01:13, Detroit Techno Militia wrote: > >> Too many issues shipping with USPS. If you want to take your chances, >> I'd be more than happy to pick one up for you and send it 1st class. >> :) > > Is the US postal service that bad? Everything we send seems to get through! > > m >
