PhotoPass Delivery Problems (USPS)

[YEKCIM]

After *finally* getting a decent PhotoPass image during a one day trip to the MK with my 7 YO, and ordering some prints, I can't seem to get an 8X10 print delivered by the USPS w/o damage. Specifically, the USPS is folding the shipping mailer to bundle it with my other mail, which is bending/creasing the enclosed photo. To their credit, Kodak/PhotoPass has reprinted the picture once, at no additional charge; however, it, too, was damaged in the same fashion as the first. I have repeatedly emailed PhotoPass after the second damaged print, but have received no replies to those requests. What I've asked for, if they choose to reprint the picture, is that the print be shipped via some other carrier, and to my business address. Maybe I'll hear back from them, yet. Not really their fault, but I'm still without an undamaged print for which I paid an (IMO) inflated price.

Anyone else have this experience and, if so, were you able to get it resolved with Kodak/Photopass?

Thanks,

~YEKCIM

 

[mel63]

Is it coming in a "hard" envelope, or does it say "do not bend or fold" on the envelope? I would ask them to send it in a hard envelope (cardboard) and have them write "do not bend" on it. Usually if the envelope is marked that it has pictures in it, the mail carrier won't fold it. Are you a city or rural route. Usually you can talk to your carrier and let them know what has happened and that a new one is on the way. They may look out for it and be careful if they know it is coming.

 

[YEKCIM]

Is it coming in a "hard" envelope, or does it say "do not bend or fold" on the envelope? I would ask them to send it in a hard envelope (cardboard) and have them write "do not bend" on it. Usually if the envelope is marked that it has pictures in it, the mail carrier won't fold it. Are you a city or rural route. Usually you can talk to your carrier and let them know what has happened and that a new one is on the way. They may look out for it and be careful if they know it is coming.

"Hard Envelope": Sorta'; it is a mailer made of a material a little thinner than poster board, and therefore easily folded.

"Do Not Bend or Fold" on the envelope: Yes, in about 72 point type; also the folder is predominately "Kodak Yellow", which ought to give USPS personnel a clue as to its contents, but apparently does not.

"Ask to send in hard envelope": My latest correspondence with Kodak/Disney/Photopass requests exactly this; however, I have had *no* reply from K/D/P.

"City or Rural": Birmingham, AL suburb, but mail is sorted at main Birmingham USPS facility, apparently.

"Talk to Carrier": Done that, both at national level (VERY rude USPS "rep") and local level (very nice, apologetic, sympathetic, etc.), on both occasions. However, the problem is with the mail sorting facility, NOT the branch, or carrier. I'm not sure where to turn at this point, as apparently Kodak/Photopass has decided that this is not their problem, and I have absolutely no confidence that the USPS will correct the problem. I see no sense in Kodak sending a third copy (assuming they have not already deleted the image from their archives), unless they are willing to send it via some other method.

~YEKCIM

 

[mel63]

"City or Rural": Birmingham, AL suburb, but mail is sorted at main Birmingham USPS facility, apparently.


~YEKCIM

The differnece between rural & city delivery is city is usually walking carriers, and rural is delivered out of their car. Both are sorted at the same place.

I do not know how it is done at Birmingham, but with the Pittsburgh facility, it is sorted on a "flat sorting" machine, and should not get bent. Unless when it dumps into the container, it gets stuck and bent.

If it is bent/folded and then your mail is placed in between, that might be the carrier. It might not, if the mail sorting machines are sorting and bundling it all together. Not here in Pittsburgh, but in the future it will be that way.

If you do have "city" delivery, where your carrier walks it up to your porch and then places it in a box, on the house. Does it fit in the box without bending?

If you have rural, used to be called RD. They deliver it to a box on the side of the road, out of their car. Is that box big enough to fit it with out folding it? Sometimes, it will fit in only with a slight bend it it. More like a curve or half round, but no crease.

I suggest calling your postmaster of the office that your mail is delivered from. I would think they would be more helpful, because you are "their" customer, and it might be more personal than calling national or even the sorting facility. They might be more able to "keep an eye out" for it and make sure that it does not get creased. Plus, they might see what shape it was in when it got to their office.

I would think that if this were a regular occurance, K/D/P would switch to a heavier cardboard, or file complaints on their end. Since, they do not seem concerned about it, it must not be a widespread problem.


One other idea, might be to get a new one sent and find out when you should be receiving it. Then have the post office stop delivery for a few days, put your mail on hold. In a few days, go in to your local branch and pick up all of your "on hold" mail. If it isn't there when you go to pick up your mail, pick up what is there but leave the hold mail on. Then try again in a few days. I don't know if you would want to do this, but it is another idea.

Good luck.