Today I checked the mail and I saw an envelope in my own handwriting, so I knew what it was. I sell coins on eBay and once in awhile one of them comes back as undeliverable. I saw the address it was sent to was in Chile and the date on the postmark, Sept. 11, and I figured whatever this is the buyer hasn't even complained about not getting it yet. Then I looked closer at the postmark: Sept. 11, 2020. Somehow this coin has been in the mail system for over a year and just made its way back to me. There's no explanation either, just an X through the address. I assume I probably gave a refund for this a long time ago. But this is definitely the longest I've ever had pass before getting mail returned. Maybe there's still hope for some other lost mail out there?
I sent a Christmas Card to a friend in the Army back in the 60's. The envelope followed him from station to station. I got it back several years later. Every one of his stations was marked on the envelope with a note to forward. When it came back to me there was a bold stamp that said "do not re-mail in this envelope". He came by the house one day and I gave it to him.
I have had nothing but great service from our U.S.P.O. employees here in Houston. I'm sure there are some 'bad eggs' therein, but even so, I'm still a great fan of the services the U.S. Postal Service provides. Just saying, J.T.
There was a blue drop box on the side of the road near UCLA. I sent 10 first class envelopes with a $2 or $5 bill, and all 10 buyers claimed non receipt. Either that box got pilfered every night, or I had 10 separate scam buyers.
I'm not bashing them, and the vast majority of things mailed are delivered fine. But stuff does vanish. I'm not saying it's stolen, but I'd love to have an insider explain where this stuff goes, because it has to be somewhere.
It’s International mail. It could have been sitting in Chili for a long time, then customs in both countries. Many ways for it to be delayed but glad you got it back.
Ditto. I’ve had my share of postal woes, but overall, I tip my hat to ‘em and am grateful for all the things they do right.
The record for late delivery of mail is somewhere around 100 years for letters or postcards. every now or then a story will popup about a letter mailed to a loved one during the first or second world war showing up and being delivered. Here is a story from last September on CNN about a post card with a 1920 post mark being delivered in Michigan after almost 100 years. https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/11/us/michigan-old-postcard-delivered-trnd/index.html
A few years ago I had sent a box of books to someone to be signed, as the author. About 2 weeks later I e-mailed him asking of he had gotten them. Nope, nothing. about 18 months later I got a note [e-mail] saying that he had signed my books and mailed them back. I had no clue, because I hadn't sent him anything. Anyway 4 days later I got the box, with my original mailing date... yup, 18 months there 4 days back.
It happens. I once sent a letter to my sister and it took two years to reach her. When I complained, the Pony Express told me the horse died and the mail was lost. Some old prospector found the pouch and got it back to the Pony Express two years later. LOL
Like I said earlier, you’d be surprised what can happen. Small items are bagged and items can get stuck in bags. Not all of the equipment is used on a regular basis. It can sit idle for a long time, then one day it’s needed. Guess what, this piece of equipment is full of boxes that was mailed in December. Oh, sorry your Christmas gifts were late, like a year or two. Parcel Post and Medial Mail are the slowest so it can get set aside. It’s SAM Mail, or Space Available Mail. If the truck is full of 1st and 2nd class mail then it will sit and wait as no space was available. You’d really be surprised what can happen. I had a customer come in and show me a photo he took of a package to his son in Afghanistan. His son was working in the military mail room the day that package arrived and he took a photo and sent it to his dad. The packages where at least 10 feet high and over 15 feet in all directions on the floor. This just happened to fall so you could see the address and the son saw it. It only took 3 days to arrive. 3 days from Pennsylvania to Afghanistan. It was mailed, made the transport which was almost full, and delivered. It all depends on what happens and I’ve seen it both ways.
