Wistful Thinking » Guaranteed Delivery http://www.wistful-thinking.com Ponderables, Observations and other things that floweth from my brain Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:00:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 You get what you pay for? http://www.wistful-thinking.com/archives/41 http://www.wistful-thinking.com/archives/41#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:13:02 +0000 admin http://www.wistful-thinking.com/?p=41 I was in the Post Office, here in Orlando, the other day. I needed to send a package to New Jersey. I must admit the staff in the Post Office is *very* friendly. Actually, they are quite ‘chatty’. So, overall it is not an unpleasant experience to visit the Post Office (unlike a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles!).
After announcing the price for shipping the package, the clerk asked, “Would you like delivery notification or insurance?”. I was stunned. If I need to pay ADDITIONAL MONEY for a guarantee it was delivered or that it will not be damaged, then WHAT AM I PAYING FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE?

The US Postal Service is notorious for this, though.
In an attempt to be an educated consumer I once asked about ‘Express Delivery’. The advertisements spout, “Guaranteed 2 Day Delivery” or “Guaranteed Overnight Delivery”. That is wonderful. I asked what happens if it is late. The clerk simply gave me a blank stare. Then proceeded to explain that there is no consequence if the package does not arrive as ‘guaranteed’. Well, to me that is no GUARANTEE!
Other carriers (whom I need not name) provide a definitive restituion if they do not meet the promised delivery schedule. That is a guarantee!

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