Is it safe to assume that a postal employee has stolen a box sent to me ?

Question

I live in Knoxville, Tennessee and a box was sent to me from Boise, Idaho on Dec. 7th. by ground mail. It was sent to a P.O. Box and I checked this morning and it still hasn't come. My mom insured the package but she thinks she threw the receipt away. Any feed back is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

I realize ground mail is the slowest, but still normally takes only a week.

Answer 1

If I understand your question correctly, your mom took a package to the post office, insured it, and shipped it by Ground to you.

If that's correct, either the package was lost on the way, or mis-delivered. There is always the chance that a postal employee took it - it wouldn't be the first time.

If it was lost, then your mom will need the receipt in order to have the package tracked internally by the Post Office.

If the package was mis-delivered, then hopefully, the person to whom it was delivered will hopefully own up and give it back to the Post Office for re-delivery.

No matter what, your mom should keep the receipts from the Post Office until she knows you received it. Also - whenever your mom ships something to you, she should request a delivery confirmation &/or return receipt as well as the insurance. That way, she will be informed when the package is delivered.

I recently shipped a package to my sisters house in New England from Illinois. She said that the tape on the outside of the box looked like it had been tampered with. Could have been a Postal employee, or it could have been her mischeivous daughter. Luckily, my sister reported that everything is still in the box. I've shipped packages home for the past 7 years, and this is the first time this has happened. I think next year I will only send gift cards.

I'm sorry to hear about your package. I hope you receive it in time for Christmas.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Any number of things could have happened to it - could still be in transit, could have had the wrong address written on it, could have been delivered to the wrong address or someone could have pinched it.. I had a package being delivered from New Zealand to Australia recently which never arrived and then I got a phone call from the company in New Zealand saying there were problems with the delivery and the parcel was never collected - all because I'd never received the delivery cards and the item was returned.. I was then told it would arrive around about the 20/12 only to have it arrive again on the 12/12 - anything is possible when it comes to the post!! I also had 8 months of redirected mail never be redirected and go to my old PO box even after 3 separate complaints were lodged - I eventually got a refund on my redirection and wasted phone calls chasing it up as well as a free redirection...

Answer 3

This time of year...things might be backed up so a week isn't really that long. Things are computerized at the Post Office, so they might have a record of the insured package. If your mother also got delivery confirmation, they would have a record that it was actually delivered to your P.O. Box. I have seen packages blown off porches by wind and also stolen off porches by neighborhood kids, but since this is a P.O. Box, it more than likely is held up in transit because of the season.

Answer 4

this IS the christmas season. mail (especially bulk mail) can take much longer to get to the destination due to an increase in mail and weather conditions.

insured mail always comes with delivery confirmation. if your mom could find that receipt, she could find out if it was delivered.

if your mom does find the receipt, she has to wait at least 30 days to file a claim on a lost item.

perhaps your mom didn't mail it when she said she mailed it. it could have been misdirected as well. yanno, everyone does make mistakes..even the postal service.

good rule of thumb...never assume anything without proof.
-------------

note to paul.....due to mailing regulations, they can inspect your parcel. if you read the signs in the post office they DO have that right. i mailed a box from indiana to hawaii about a year ago. i was asked a bunch of questions about what the box contained (perishables, breakables, etc) and told it was subject to inspection.

Answer 5

Well, it COULD have been stolen, but packages definitely can get lost easily. Especially when it's a longer distance. If the package was sent to you off of the Internet, you could ask the person who sent it to you to track it. This would be an easy way to find out. I kind of doubt that it was stolen, unless the package clearly stated what was in it. If not, it's QUITE possible it got lost. It has happened to me before, and it sucks.

Answer 6

Keep in mind, this is the busiest time of year for the post office, I sent one on the 2nd of Dec, and it didn't arrive until the 17th. Whenever you sent a package, they should give you a tracking number, have whoever sent it to you contact the post office and track it down.

Answer 7

I purchase a lot online and have had some take as long as this one has lately. I bet it will show up eventually. I mailed thousands of things every year and only 1 or 2 never make it.

Answer 8

Yes, I think they enjoy the thrill of being fired from a government job. Sometimes moms write down the wrong addresses...sometimes boxes can't be sent to PO boxes...

Answer 9

u shouldnt assume u could get in big trouble for that. talk to the post offices or if she paid by credit card she can get the recipt of line. hope u get the package an dhave great holiday

Answer 10

no
mail tampering is a Federal offense that mail carriers are aware of besides u are sort of jumping to conclusions with no facts u can track packages online