No, And Its Fate is Still Unlearned
I ordered something online last week. While I wasn’t promised next day delivery, I was told to expect my package by Monday of this week. The shipper sent me a Post Office Tracking Number to monitor the progress of my order as it made its way from Portland, Oregon, to Auburn, Indiana. All was well until Saturday. The package had arrived in Indianapolis early Saturday morning and had just one short trip up Interstate 69 to Auburn, but instead it seems to have been put on the wrong truck or plane. It was in Houston, Texas, by dinner time Saturday and then made a middle of the night trip to a place called Missouri City, Texas, a Houston suburb. As I write, the Post Office thinks it may have left Missouri City, but apparently has no idea where it is now, certainly no idea when it might make it back to Indiana.
Yeah, 21st Century and first world problem. Still frustrating.
In my frustration I read an article about a Post Office-commissioned audit of the Indianapolis distribution center. Apparently, it is not all that unusual for packages headed for Auburn, Indiana, to take a wrong turn in Indianapolis and end up in a place like Missouri City, Texas.
So, I could rant about how nothing works anymore – you know, go postal. But it’s not true that nothing works anymore. Actually, it’s quite amazing how well things work. They work so well that a late-arriving package is really frustrating. What should I do with my frustration? I could write to the Post Master General (Ben Franklin, where are you when we need you) and complain about my mistreatment. I may fill out the feedback form at the USPS website. Or I can wait for my late package to arrive from its long trip – or deal with it if it doesn’t. Continue reading