Have you had any lost mail this year?

  I haven't had any mail delay problems, although I've heard numerous stories about major delays this year both within the US and international mail.

My only case this year is not really "mail", but package delivery.

My daughter bought me a lawnmower (hey, it beats getting a necktie) and had it shipped about 200miles to my house in Texas.  It didn't arrive after more than a week.  Turns out it got delivered to a business in Michigan.  They were wondering why someone had bought a lawnmower for their bastion of concrete.

So which is preferred, finally getting something after 19 weeks, or knowing that it arrived in less than 1 week but to the wrong location 1500 miles away?

To end the story, the vendor wrote off the loss and sent another lawnmower to me.  Meanwhile, someone in Michigan is probably using a lawnmower as a blower for their concrete walkways and concrete open spaces...

My record for longest package delivery?  About 35 years ago, I mailed an audiocassette in an envelope to Asia via surface mail (i.e., ship).  I figured 1-2 months.  It ended up taking 9 months, but did arrive in good shape.  But my story is nothing compared to those "received decades later" stories.  I think the record in Guinness is something like 89 years?

I've had one this year in March this year from Canada .

Living in Ecuador, I have had more than my fair share of items lost in the mail.  Mail sent here without being registered very rarely arrives and even registered mail from Europe took 6 to 7 weeks to arrive before the Covid crisis. I am still missing 4 shipments which were mailed in March but have been informed they are at least here in Ecuador, so technically they are not lost yet !!!!

From May of this year, I have had all my purchases sent to my son in California and he will send them to me by DHL.  However, I have had problems with registered mail being sent there as there are many delays.  I was missing one letter sent by registered mail from France in June.  Tracking it online only showed it arriving in USA, nothing more.  It still hadn't arrived by the middle of September so I filed a claim with PayPal.

I was then informed by PayPal and the sender that the envelope had been delivered on July 13.  USPS stated it had been left with an individual, but no name or signature, and there is no trace of the letter.  PayPal informed me that the letter had been delivered and warned me that my PayPal account could be shut down for making a fraudulent claim.

All in all, a very, very frustrating year....

Agree, Stan and  thanks or the "dups" - I have not lost anything during the Pandemic and in my "mailing" history, have been lucky - 1 loss in India only
Thought I would add this comment to yours as I also go very impersonal and stopped "decorating" envelopes - "sticker" does the trick and the clerk is so happy not to have to choose the stamps I can put on an envelope - No personal stamps anymore also -René

I got a mail today that was sent in Nov 2020!

Wow. Isn’t that illegal?

Mail delivery has improved dramatically over the last 2 weeks and luckily did not lose any mail I was expecting.

Hi anglobob

We don't send anything to my sister-in-law in Quito, it's too iffy. Were you in Ecuador when the president ran off with the treasury (so we have been told)? That was something. We had to wire money to Quito so my sister-in-law could keep her business going. I hope the new president is a lot better.

A couple of dealers in Quito used to send everything by couriers to Miami and have the material sent from there.

Even Colombia, sending stuff may be iffy, but not as bad as Ecuador.  South American postal services can be frustrating. 

Jerry B

I have problems with mail going to India and since Covid, USA to Canada is getting to 3 weeks, often !!

.........one package to Canada sent 18th September 2020 - still not arrived.

Hi hrdoktorx
I believe they are still a UPU member.  As far as issuing new stamps, anglobob can answer that.  On their website I cannot find any stamps. 

Jerry B

I have been really lucky.
Since 2002, I have only had 1 shipment (USA) not arrived.

Regards.
Lee.

Let’s hope none of us ever have to wait that long for a letter. Wonderful story.

David

Hi anglobob

Thanks for answering. Referring to  "...there is a lot of bureaucracy,mis-management and corruption..."  is an understatement for Ecuador.  Our nephew in Toronto sends mail to a friend in Miami and then by courier to Quito. 

Let's hope the new President is better than the last few.  My wife said that her sister said the he was an Ecuadorean Indian.   Maybe that is causing problems.

Jerry B