On Apr. 25th I shipped 5 packages with cuttings via Priority Mail. You gotta use some speedy delivery, the cuttings don't like to wait, right?..
Well, 4 packages were delivered in 2-3 days, the last one was delivered today.
It took 14 days to go from California to Vermont!! It is good that it had a tracking number.
I think there is some kind of a mail black hole in midwest :( 
The box was only in Cleveland for 4 times!!

I am ready glad the cutting finally made it and even in a still rootable condition!

Here is a short(!) version of the route with a map attached (start is at the bottom). 

:) I hope the "next time" will never happen again!
But I shipped them wrapped in a damp paper towel.

Those cuttings are well traveled!
They must of took the scenic route.

You should demand a refund.

No wonder the USPS is in the ditch. LOL

I am just glad they were not my  cuttings, wait a minute they were my cuttings!!, all kidding aside  they look ok. I will keep you posted if they root or not.Rex

You could post that time line on FB and Twitter and watch it go viral!

You pay for priority, and you get longer than ground?

Not good!

Suzi

You absolutely can get your money back, take that printout to the local post office.

Ok, will go to a local post office tomorrow morning!
The cuttings struggle enough while fighting with gnats and dealing with people :)
Will update you as soon as I have smth to report.

Any wonder why they are losing so much of our money?  You cannot handle a package that many times and hope to make money for the amount of postage.

Just another perfect example of a Gov't run, and subsidized  "business"...The US Post Office.  What a joke.  Is it a wonder that the US Post Office is bankrupt?  Good riddance to another crappy, Gov't  enterprise.  Hold on to your bloomers ...."Obama-Care" looms just around the corner.  The cemetery will be filled with happy customers.

Hope your fig cuttings got there in one piece.

Frank

Money back? I don't think so. I am retired from the USPS (one of three retirements). Carried mail for 18 years. What is posted is unusual but not unexpected. There is no delivery time guaranteed except for express mail and no positive guaranteed delivery (money back) except for express, and insured. Delivery conformation and certified delivery are not guaranteed. Registered mail is insured but delivery is not guaranteed. Usually when you see a situation as this there is something wrong with the bar codes. People don't look at these packages, machines do.

I suspected as much. Probably at some point a computer had a glitch that sent the box on a scenic route with wrong bar codes. I can still ask the PO and see what the response would be (with very low expectations).  Jake, your "unusual but not unexpected" statement sounds quite troublesome :(  

Post that schedule on Facebook, and see how fast they reimburse you when the media gets wind of it! 

The postal employee always assures you with a smile that priority is 3 days.  They don't ever say not guaranteed.  Who are you supposed to believe?

Greenfig, although you would be justified, don't be "going postal" on us tomorrow!  :-))

Fingers crossed for you!

Suzi

hope they are survivors... what priority mail is that?

When you think of the enormous volume of mail that passes through the post office, even a 1% error rate is a huge number.   The last rooted cutting I shipped from Texas made a detour on it's way to Nevada by way of Puerto Rico.

Wow, did you address the problem at your postal office after that?

April 8
Why does this always happen to plants? I have the same happen to me today. My tracking number says it is in the post office ready for pickup. Drive 67 mile one way just to find out they could find it in the post office go figure!!!!!!!!!!!
April 9
I found out I owe .61 postage and will have to drive back to town to get my plants. Not happy right now. Called the post office and asked them to deliver it to my box 5 miles from my house. They did paid the postman 61 cent and went home to plant them in pots.
Afternoon of April 9
Well got my plants today. bare root all of the. Roots still wrapped and looking good. Good can come to those who wait!!!!!!!!!
Have a big smile to all.
Proud of my five new little ones.
Atreano
LSU Gold
MBVS
Vista
Sal's Corleone


Zone 8 
Southwest TX

Geez... Did I open a can of big fat gnats here?...

Such an experience is frustrating but stuff happens.  USPS Priority is still the best bargain by a long shot.  I shipped 500-1,000 boxes of chestnuts each year and 2 or 3 take longer than 3 days.  I sent 7 packages of cuttings back in January and 3 of them took over 3 days so I just chalked it up to bad luck.  Your example of 14 days is particularly bad.  I had 1 package that was either stolen from my customers doorstep or delivered to the wrong address and I just replaced it without worrying much about it because the Flat Rate and Region Rate boxes cost me about a third of any other similar service.

Here is my update after talking to a local Postal Office manager.
It comes down to what Jake said before though, there is no delivery time guarantee except for express mail and that includes Priority Mail. He suggested to submit a complaint at usps.com and see what happens.  He also said that he would not guarantee that I would be reimbursed and he cannot do anything on his end :(
I did show him my print out of the package routes. I could tell that the manager was genuinely surprised.
I think the people are usually very nice and they feel sorry for what happen.
The system needs to change in some way and that takes time and vision. 

The bottom line is this: Priority Mail has NO performance guarantee. There "standard" is 2-3 days, but there is NO guarantee.

From the USPS website: http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?session={ea066840-a145-11e2-fde2-000000000000}&event=1&view%28%29=c{bcea78b0-76d8-11de-6243-000000000000}&objectId=&eksObjectId=&objectType=Case&isJumpEnabled=false&isContentJumpEnabled=false&vendorKey=&objTitle=&versionId=10583&searchProperties=type:natural&naturalAdvance=false&allStr=&phraseStr=&anyStr=&noneStr=&keywordStr=&tTitle=Sending%20Mail&topicFromSub=&topicsORSubUrl=&report%280000%29=p{ceff8d00-6974-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&bcobjectId={ceff8d00-6974-11dd-e6c4-000000000000}&search=&topicAndSubtopic=About%20USPS$ALL#guidelines

"What are the Mailing Guidelines for Priority Mail®?

    Size and Weight Guidelines

        Minimum Size = 3 1/2 x 5 inches.
        Maximum Length + Girth = 108 inches.
        An oversized letter or package needs to be measured to see if it fits within guidelines.
        Maximum Weight = 70 pounds.
        Priority Mail® packages larger than 1 cubic foot and traveling to destinations within Zones 5-8 are subject to dimensional weight pricing.

    Estimated Delivery Time

        If a Priority Mail® package is going to a major city, or is traveling less than 600 miles, it should arrive in two (2) days. Otherwise, it should arrive in three (3) days. (Specific delivery standards can be found  using the postage calculator) This is not a guaranteed service.
        Date of delivery is not guaranteed. Delivery by a specific date at a specific time is not available.
        Estimated delivery time begins on the date postmarked.
        Priority Mail® service can be tracked using USPS Tracking™ service which is included at no additional charge."

So why bother?  Just send it ground.  It will get there faster for cheaper!

Suzi

I had this experience back in November and my local post office gave me back my money. Maybe it is just extra good customer service at my post office.
I completely agree with Harvey, it's still the best bang for the buck by a long shot.