Sample Kits Get Stuck in Houston TX Mail System

[jsarnacki]

This mail thing is ridiculous! This is the tracking information for my mom's DNA sample (backwards because that is how it is posted at USPS):


April 28, 2015 , 12:30 pm Delivered HOUSTON, TX 77008

April 28, 2015 , 11:49 am Arrived at Post Office. HOUSTON, TX 77008

April 27, 2015 , 4:49 am Arrived at USPS Origin Facility.
HOUSTON, TX 77201

March 31, 2015 , 3:32 am Departed USPS Facility. PEORIA, IL 61601

March 30, 2015 , 9:36 pm Arrived at USPS Facility.PEORIA, IL 61601

March 30, 2015 , 2:19 pm Departed Post Office. BUREAU, IL 61315

March 30, 2015 , 12:35 pm Picked Up. BUREAU, IL 61315

March 16, 2015 Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS

So, essentially, it took over 4 weeks to get from Peoria, IL to Houston, TX!!!! Insane. I could have gotten mail from Europe in that time!

[K. L. Adams]

This mail thing is ridiculous! This is the tracking information for my mom's DNA sample (backwards because that is how it is posted at USPS):


April 28, 2015 , 12:30 pm Delivered HOUSTON, TX 77008

April 28, 2015 , 11:49 am Arrived at Post Office. HOUSTON, TX 77008

April 27, 2015 , 4:49 am Arrived at USPS Origin Facility.
HOUSTON, TX 77201

March 31, 2015 , 3:32 am Departed USPS Facility. PEORIA, IL 61601

March 30, 2015 , 9:36 pm Arrived at USPS Facility.PEORIA, IL 61601

March 30, 2015 , 2:19 pm Departed Post Office. BUREAU, IL 61315

March 30, 2015 , 12:35 pm Picked Up. BUREAU, IL 61315

March 16, 2015 Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS

So, essentially, it took over 4 weeks to get from Peoria, IL to Houston, TX!!!! Insane. I could have gotten mail from Europe in that time!

Wow! You need to file a complaint with your post office. Perhaps it is a one time deal, at least we hope.

I just sent one in from Pensacola and it only took about 5 or 6 working days until the lab recorded it as arrived.

[dna]

[----] So, essentially, it took over 4 weeks to get from Peoria, IL to Houston, TX!!!! Insane. I could have gotten mail from Europe in that time!

Happens from time to time...

And from Europe? Yes, but to Houston only every other time

Essentially, just use tracking and watch the paint dry...

W. (Mr.)

[Tenn4ever]

Probably arrived in Houston weeks ago but just sat there and they didn't process it in.

[381858]

Postal Delays

Well, keep in mind that even though the USPS is not a well-regarded outfit, the fact that the people running the operation in Houston are Texans only makes things worse. And, yes, my Yseq mailing from LA to Berlin only took 5 business days - and the Berliners are often card-carrying socialists.

[jsarnacki]

I don't think the local post office is the problem, I too think it is Houston. I have now purchased 9 kits, 2 Genographic and 7 FTDNA. Most of the kits took a week or less to arrive (7 from Arizona and 2 from Illinois)... 1 kit from Tucson took almost that long and now the kit from Illinois has taken even longer. The last one from Tucson I didn't keep the tracking number, so I can't confirm it was the post office fault (although I believe it was).. this kit I made sure to keep the tracking for that reason. I was about to call FTDNA and request a new kit when it finally showed up in Houston per tracking info. I have never had a problem with mail times going to/from AZ/IL or other places besides Houston.

[gtc]

Each of articles in the following link cite "Dionne Montague, a Houston-based USPS spokeswoman". Perhaps FTDNA and its customers should contact her about continuing issues with Houston mail:

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/search/?action=search&channel=news&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Dionne+Montague%22

[K. L. Adams]

Houston we have a problem!

It's my turn to have one of my yDNA kits hung up in the NORTH HOUSTON USPS Facility. Departed on May 13, 2015 and still have not made it to Pensacola.

I usually always keep two spare ydna kits, so I ordered a second one and according to USPS site it was on it's May 19, 2015, today.

Filed a complaint with USPS today and received a case number. Was told to expect a call within 48 hours and they would investigate.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if my actions does any good.

Bummer, was planning to go to Georgia this weekend to collect another DNA sample or two for my family research.

[K. L. Adams]

It's my turn to have one of my yDNA kits hung up in the NORTH HOUSTON USPS Facility. Departed on May 13, 2015 and still have not made it to Pensacola.

I usually always keep two spare ydna kits, so I ordered a second one and according to USPS site it was on it's May 19, 2015, today.

Filed a complaint with USPS today and received a case number. Was told to expect a call within 48 hours and they would investigate.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if my actions does any good.

Bummer, was planning to go to Georgia this weekend to collect another DNA sample or two for my family research.

Well....... that was quick, filed the complaint yesterday, received my case number and presto, now the kit has arrived overnight in the Pensacola USPS facility. Looks like my trip is back on for this weekend!

So, it seems that may be the way to go for future mail problems, call the USPS 1-800 number, file a complaint and receive a case number.

[jsarnacki]

Well....... that was quick, filed the complaint yesterday, received my case number and presto, now the kit has arrived overnight in the Pensacola USPS facility. Looks like my trip is back on for this weekend!

So, it seems that may be the way to go for future mail problems, call the USPS 1-800 number, file a complaint and receive a case number.

Yep, and I highly recommend taking a photo of the tracking mailing label! I didn't do that with the first kit I sent that went missing for weeks, but have done so with all future kits. That said, the last kit that went missing my mom had to take the picture. When it went missing I kept asking her to text me the picture of the label, but she only ended up sending me the tracking number. I went to do an online complaint, and it wanted more information that would only be found on the label itself. I was frustrated, but knew getting my mom to send me the picture of the actual label was equally difficult so I had to wait it out lol. So... KEEP ALL RECORDS INCLUDING PHOTO OF LABEL! It would have been so helpful in both of my cases of missing kits in the mail.

[jonga]

Thanks for the reassuring posts! I ordered a kit for a cousin in the UK on Apr 10 which still hasn't been received by FTDNA so was becoming concerned. Now I know to relax till mid-June!

[dna]

Yep, and I highly recommend taking a photo of the tracking mailing label! I didn't do that with the first kit I sent that went missing for weeks, but have done so with all future kits. That said, the last kit that went missing my mom had to take the picture. When it went missing I kept asking her to text me the picture of the label, but she only ended up sending me the tracking number. I went to do an online complaint, and it wanted more information that would only be found on the label itself. I was frustrated, but knew getting my mom to send me the picture of the actual label was equally difficult so I had to wait it out lol. So... KEEP ALL RECORDS INCLUDING PHOTO OF LABEL! It would have been so helpful in both of my cases of missing kits in the mail.

OMG! Thank you for the tip! That is very useful information!

W. (Mr.)

[jonga]

Thanks for the reassuring posts! I ordered a kit for a cousin in the UK on Apr 10 which still hasn't been received by FTDNA so was becoming concerned. Now I know to relax till mid-June!

If it's any consolation to anyone, I've just had a pleasant surprise. I was planning to contact FTDNA this weekend if after 9 weeks since ordering they still hadn't received the kit (I didn't want to have to contact my cousin unless absolutely necessary).

Then today I had an email from someone who matches him, and found to my joy that he also shows up as a match to me! But I still haven't received an email to say FTDNA has received his kit or to give me the password, so can't yet log in. It must be FTDNA's emailing system that's at fault and anyone who isn't contacted by a match, as I was, might never know their results have been published and be left waiting unnecessarily.

[K. L. Adams]

Ordered another new yDNA kit and this time shipped from TULSA, OK. instead of coming out of Houston.


June 9, 2015 02:26 TULSA, OK 74141 DEPARTED
USPS FACILITY
June 8, 2015 01:44 TULSA, OK 74141 ARRIVED AT USPS FACILITY
June 4, 2015 PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT TO USPS

[dna]

Ordered another new yDNA kit and this time shipped from TULSA, OK. instead of coming out of Houston.


June 9, 2015 02:26 TULSA, OK 74141 DEPARTED
USPS FACILITY
June 8, 2015 01:44 TULSA, OK 74141 ARRIVED AT USPS FACILITY
June 4, 2015 PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT TO USPS

That at least clears the issue with the outgoing kits!

W. (Mr.)

P.S.
Feeling sorry for those who live in Houston, I still use paper mail and such delays would drive me nuts...