Lost Mail

[BlackAkita]

This report of misplaced or stolen mail in Hilo appeared in a Hawaii News Now web page on Thursday, Oct. 17.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/10/18...st-office/
How serious is the problem on the eastern half of the big island?

[leilanidude]

In Leilani it happens somewhat frequently with mail carriers delivering to incorrect addresses, mail theft... I added a heavy duty steel, locking mailbox a while back.

[terracore]

AI generated summary:

Hilo business owners are reporting that packages they dropped off at the post office are going missing. The owners say that they have filed complaints with the US Postal Inspection Service and the US Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, but have not received any answers. Postal inspectors say that customers should never leave mail unattended at the post office and that businesses should get a commercial account so that the carrier can come out and scan their mail at their shop or warehouse.

Specifically, two small business owners, Jessica Wong and Jordan Chra, have been experiencing this problem for more than a year. They say that when they drop off large shipments of online orders at the post office, some of the packages seem to disappear. The packages are not scanned into the system, and customers never receive them. The business owners have filed claims with the Postal Service, but they have not received any answers or reimbursement for their losses.

US Postal inspector Matthew Norfleet says that customers should never leave mail unattended at the post office. He says that in California, he has seen cases where thieves go on to post office property to steal mail. He also suggests that businesses get a commercial account so that the carrier can come out and scan their mail at their shop or warehouse.

The business owners are frustrated with the situation and are concerned about their losses. They are also concerned about the safety of their customers' personal information. Jordan Chra says that she can't afford to lose anything else, so she is now choosing to stand in line and have the clerk scan in each one of her packages individually.

If you have experienced a similar issue in Hilo, postal inspectors want to hear from you. You can call 877-876-2455. You can also call that number if you have information that could help crack the case. Tips that lead to a conviction could earn you up to a $100,000 reward.

In addition, the video mentions that the USPS is aware of the problem and is investigating. They have also increased security at the Hilo post office.

Non AI comment: "He also suggests that businesses get a commercial account so that the carrier can come out and scan their mail at their shop or warehouse." Unless of course, the mail is from most anywhere in Puna where the USPS doesn't service.

[leilanidude]

They say that when they drop off large shipments of online orders at the post office, some of the packages seem to disappear. The packages are not scanned into the system, and customers never receive them.
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Wait a second. These folks just drop off/leave the packages somewhere like in the lobby? They don't drop them into the drop boxes that are inside the lobby? There are cameras inside the post office in Hilo.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

folks just drop off/leave the packages somewhere

I don’t know about the PO, but when I pre-printed labels for FedEx & UPS I could just drop off packages and they would take care of counter customers first and then scan in as time allowed.  I never lost a package with either carrier over decades.

I had a guy stealing contents of boxes at Hawaiian Air Cargo on Maui for many months.  I reported and coordinated with an HA investigator on Oahu, we matched up thefts with work schedules and it narrowed down to one guy, the guy I suspected in the first place.  His union fought the evidence so nothing happened.

[terracore]

They say that when they drop off large shipments of online orders at the post office, some of the packages seem to disappear. The packages are not scanned into the system, and customers never receive them.
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Wait a second. These folks just drop off/leave the packages somewhere like in the lobby? They don't drop them into the drop boxes that are inside the lobby? There are cameras inside the post office in Hilo.

Larger shipments are taken around back to the loading dock.  There is a sign there that says not to leave anything unattended and there is a buzzer to summon someone to attend to them.  If it's not an inside job it could just be somebody stealing stuff off the loading dock.  The area is supposed to have controlled access but it's really weak. Or at least it was. I don't think it was somebody leaving stuff in the lobby. Somebody did that one time and the bomb squad came from Oahu.

[BlackAkita]

Terracore: Wait a second. These folks just drop off/leave the packages somewhere like in the lobby? They don't drop them into the drop boxes that are inside the lobby? There are cameras inside the post office in Hilo.

Here is an even stranger outcome with lost/misplaced packages. Amazon sent a package using UPS 2nd day air to Hilo via the USPS (the good old post office). This is known as a dropoff. USPS was supposed to deliver the box to a house bearing a Pahoa address. Guess what, the package is nowhere to be found in the US mail system, after Oct. 17, 2024. At this stage, UPS seems to be in the right (based on a phone conversation), but the US Postal service seems to be the one dropping the ball.

[Patricia]

Terracore: Wait a second. These folks just drop off/leave the packages somewhere like in the lobby? They don't drop them into the drop boxes that are inside the lobby? There are cameras inside the post office in Hilo.

Here is an even stranger outcome with lost/misplaced packages. Amazon sent a package using UPS 2nd day air to Hilo via the USPS (the good old post office). This is known as a dropoff. USPS was supposed to deliver the box to a house bearing a Pahoa address. Guess what, the package is nowhere to be found in the US mail system, after Oct. 17, 2024. At this stage, UPS seems to be in the right (based on a phone conversation), but the US Postal service seems to be the one dropping the ball.

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We had that type of "service" decades ago on the mainland- lived in a very small, rural town, and the UPS contracted with the USPS to deliver to our local post office and then we would have to pick up from there. Frustrating