Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by cyphar 2380 days ago
I have to disagree. AusPost is pretty good. It's not perfect but given the stories you hear about USPS from the US, AusPost is undoubtedly doing a better job.

EDIT: I should've said "postage in the US", not USPS. My response was in relation to someone saying that it is "the worst". I've had much worse experiences with private shipping companies like StarTrack.
4 comments
cgriswald 2380 days ago
USPS definitely has/had a reputation, but your post made me realize, I haven't had any negative experiences with them in as long as I care to remember. If I had to complain, it's that sometimes packages say they're delivered a day before they actually arrive.

USPS is one of only two couriers I'll actually select if I get a choice. They put my packages in my mailbox (I realize others legally can't) or if it doesn't fit, they bring the packages to my door and knock. UPS is the other.

Other couriers place packages on my driveway, halfway down my stairs, or in other weird places. Occasionally one of them will actually come all the way down the stairs, but they won't knock.

link
klodolph 2380 days ago
What stories? Most stories I hear about USPS are complaints about waiting in line. Otherwise USPS ranks pretty high, internationally, for quality of service.

In the Universal Postal Union’s report for 2018, US ranked #8. Australia ranked #26.

link
neltnerb 2380 days ago
And it's not like the USPS lines are meaningfully longer than Fedex or UPS, even in a city.

I think it's just anti-government hyperbole to pretend that taking an envelope from your hand to a farm house on the other side of the country for 55 cents and having a line for such an amazing service is too big an ask.

It would take just as long at Fedex or UPS. They're private. They don't mail anything for 55 cents. They're usually more expensive for packages even.

It's really pretty amazing.

link
AmVess 2380 days ago
I reported missing mail, and USPS was on the fix the very next morning.

Other than that, I've never had a problem except for waiting in line and being served by an intentionally slow employee.

link
taneq 2380 days ago
I'm with you. Maybe I'm just lucky but I've never had AusPost go wrong and their local delivery staff are all really friendly.
link