I had a package delivered via the post office like 2 weeks ago and they left it at the door in the pouring rain without a bag on it needless to say the box and the brand new Aristo boxcar box was destroyed as well. The boxcar was OK and is nothing special but on occasion I have bought rare cars and of course they are worth more when the original box is intact. So good thing it wasn’t one of those. The next day I called up the PO to complain and all they could say was they were sorry. I’m sure they spoke with my mail carrier which may have caused what happened today.
I received another package, another aristo 20’ boxcar, and it looked like it had been drop kicked then backed over by the truck and the boxcar inside was broken. 2 of the corner seams were broken and the floor popped out. At least I can fix it.
I wish I had a security camera to capture if the mail person stomped on the package that had fragile written all over it. I wonder if the carrier did it to retaliate or it was damaged somewhere else.
Granted parcel post I guess you get what you pay for.
What do yo think I should do?
If I were you, I would file a claim with the PO and start using UPS or FedEx for my shipping needs. Also, no Xmas gift for the postman!
I would have tooken pictures prior to opening packages and of the damaged boxcar. I would complain to a manager at Post Office atleast.
Todd,
as the post office most likely employs contractors for delivery, then any official complaint is going to mark you out as a ‘victim’. Honestly, bite your tongue and let this pass by without retaliation of any sort. It is hard to eat humble pie when you are in the right, but without proof you are in no position to make assumptions on the guilt or otherwise of the postman. As they say, let sleeping dogs lie. The postie will get his karma justice one day (hoopefully a dog will bite him!!!).
Well it seems the post office has the same opinion of Aristo products as alot of us have. 
Betcha if it were USA Trains would have arrived in perfect condition.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/nicholas_savatgy/_forumfiles/m172.gif)
Todd, You need a dog! the posty will leave a note in the mailbox to pick up your parcel at the PO. 
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/F-PIX/LSC/Raven01_s.jpg)
The above has been added to the household last Saturday, the previous owners are downsizing and they were looking for a good home for “Raven”. When they delivered the rest of her belongings on Tuesday I mentioned that she’s probably a Siberian/German Shepherd cross. But they told me that the people they got her from said it is a “something Husky”. That’s when I started digging because I had come across the Seppala Huskies in different write-ups (always in conjunction with Siberian Huskies). Yes, she sure is! She has all the characteristics of a dark faced Seppala Husky aka Seppala Siberian Sled Dog. I could tell you about the reaction of some of the neighbourhood dogs, but … 
Although not as important as in the past when all your bills arrived by mail…you still don’t want to piss the postman off
No mail, slow mail, damaged mail. All very easily done and difficult to prove.
Ralph
All my bills still arrive by mail. Fortunately, our local post is a bunch of great folks. I’ve never had any problems.
If you want to regularly receive large packages by mail, it might pay to put out some kind of shelter for them. They will sometimes bag boxes, but if the carrier runs out of bags or your package won’t fit, there is not much they can do. They are required to leave it.
My new house has a deep porch…No worries. At the last house I bought one of those outdoor benches with storage under the seat (Rubbermaid?). If I was expecting a package I put a sign on it, “Please place package inside bench”. After a few deliveries the postman/UPS guys just put them there and I did not bother with the note. Big enough to fit those long engine boxes. Worth a shot!
@Joe - I have received damaged boxes/goods from UPS and FedEx as well. Much easier to get some restitution from them rather than the post office, but the service is not much better. As relative pay decreases so does service, unfortunately. Lest we forget the viral video of the FedEx driver ‘dropping the tv (I think) over the fence’.
@Tim - Yes, the post office does utilize the services of contractors, some better than others. However, to the end customer, us, that should be transparent and ultimately the post office is responsible for the goods they contract with us to deliver. If the damage is done by the contractor, that is between the post office and the contractor, the post office is still our service provider. Todd has a right and should have complained, and again when the second arrived more damaged than the first. Vengeance on the part of the post man should not be tolerated.
The postal service in my local area is terrible to say the least. Two days for a piece of first class mail to go across town is an unacceptable delivery time. I don’t trust the post office for any mail that ‘must’ get there. I pay more for it, but UPS or FedEx gets it there when they say they will. Even paying for ‘Priority Mail’ is no guarantee of on time delivery, they tell you that at the counter.
My tuppence worth on the PO.
Bob C.
I contacted the Ebay seller and he did have insurance on the package. The boxcar was a 20’ aristo wrapped in bubble wrap. it didn’t have the original box that would have protected it better. He did remove the couplers that saved them and possibly the mounting points as well.
I buy and sell on Ebay reguraly and haven’t had an issue until now maybe it is just a spat of bad luck. I generally ship parcel post due to the cost of the supposedly better, gentle and faster transport but of course that is more money and I don’t want ot pay it and I know most of the buyers don’t want to either. I have been told at the PO that shipping parcel post plan to have a 75 pound box dropped on yours. It looks like mine got hit by an avalanche.
I’m going to let this one slide. I can fix the car and was planning on painting it anyways so I guess they helped me with the disassembly???
If it was my carrier maybe she has gotten it out of her system and the next box will arrive OK.
Todd Haskins said:...or maybe not!
If it was my carrier maybe she has gotten it out of her system and the next box will arrive OK.
Three courtesy actions has ensured safe delivery for our address:
1 - Hot day and I give the postman a cold bottled water with a hello and introductions.
2 - Rotated my spring supported mail box flap so it would be pulled down NOT up – much appreciated as it saves the back of delivery hands. The letter door is in the wall of our front door entry. That modification gets big kudos from any subs.
3 - Indicated location of packages on side door step if we were not home for delivery per no answer to the bell.
Wendell