DEAR SUN SPOTS: On April 24 I mailed (with misgivings) an ASUS Android tablet at the Great Falls Post Office in Auburn. Tracking indicated it went from the Great Falls office to the processing office on Rodman Road in Auburn, on to the Scarborough center and then to the North Waterboro Post Office, and finally to the North Waterboro address.

Great Falls said it should have been there in two days. Well, it never showed up.

A week and a half later, I spoke with someone at Great Falls and got snide remarks. Waited a few days, went back and spoke with the guy I gave it to. He said there must be a security issue in North Waterboro. North Waterboro denied the charge.

It could not have been stolen from the mailbox at the address because a key is needed to access it. So what happened to the ASUS 10-inch Android tablet?

That tablet was a Christmas gift for a 10-year-old. Damage occurred — not his doing — and it was being replaced and sent back to him. — Sheldon, Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots emailed Sheldon to ask him how he sent the package. It turned out he did not purchase any special services and has lost his receipt with the tracking number to boot. Sheldon knows he erred, but all hope is not lost.

Sun Spots asked at her local post office about recovering the tracking number. The clerk there didn’t think it was possible. 

Sun Spots called the USPS helpline (800-ASK-USPS), where the representative verified that the only way to recover the tracking number is to find the receipt.

However, Sheldon still has options. The representative said he can file a claim. An investigation will be launched, which may turn up something. 

Sun Spots thinks it more likely that the package was stolen at the delivery address than at the post office. Perhaps the box was too large for the locked mailbox and the mail carrier set it beside or below the box where other residents or visitors could get at it.

Everyone thinks of mail as secure, and the U.S. Postal Service does an astonishingly good job of delivery. But it really isn’t a very secure system. Think of all those rural mailboxes in Maine, just waiting for the unscrupulous to come by.

AARP recently had an article on security that recommended doing all your banking and bill-paying online. Despite all you hear about security breaches, the article said online is far more secure than mail. (Sun Spots is pretty sure many of her readers won’t like that idea!)

Anyway, back to Sheldon. Filing a claim may also entitle him to some basic insurance, although the lack of a receipt is an issue. If he charged the item, he may be able to get some receipt information from his bank. 

He can file a claim online at the 800-ASK-USPS phone number or at the post office. He will need the date and time of his purchase, the address where he sent the tablet, a description of it and the package, and a very pleasant manner. After all, it is not the clerk’s fault the package went astray. He should explain the problem and ask for help in resolving it.

He should not delay, as much time has already passed. Sun Spots also wishes she’d addressed his question more quickly.

Another option for Sheldon is if he used a credit card he may be eligible for some insurance through Visa, MasterCard, Discover, etc. Some cards carry service/product guarantees, but there may be a 60-day limit for filing the claim.

Meanwhile, for other readers who may be thinking of mailing something valuable, here are a few tips.

If the package is not too valuable, but you want to be sure it arrived, ask for tracking with signature confirmation. That means when it is delivered, someone will have to sign for it.

Certified mail allows you to get a postcard confirming that the item has been delivered and also provides a signature identification.

Registered mail is the most expensive service. It is used for valuable or irreplaceable items, such as jewelry, rare coins and collectibles. Items that are sent registered mail never sit out unattended. They are signed for at each point and kept in the safe while at the post office.

The post office has a very good website at www.usps.com. Sun Spots frequently uses the site’s Click and Ship service, which allows customers to print their own mailing label at home. The service also includes a discount and free delivery confirmation.

The best part is no more waiting in line. Just drop the package in the nearest mailbox.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link