Wilmington woman demands refund from Post Office

WILMINGTON -- A Wilmington woman wants a refund from the Post Office. Elizabeth Todd recently mailed some medicine to her son and paid a premium for Priority Mail. The Wilmington postal clerk told her the package would get to her son in nearby Clayton in 2-3 days, but it took 10. And when Elizabeth complained, Post Office workers said "too bad." It's one of the cheapest ways out there to send someone a package quickly. Priority Mail prices start at just $4.05. But many consumers have learned the hard way: there's no guarantee your package will reach its destination, much less, reach it on time. Mrs. Todd said, "I just felt like I had been taken." Elizabeth Todd's son forgot his medicine at her house when he came for a visit. She tried to mail it to him in a hurry, paying extra for Priority Mail. But well after the 2-3 day estimated delivery time he package had yet to arrive. Mrs. Todd made three trips to the Post Office to complain, and she also filled out a claim for lost mail. Finally, on the tenth day, the package showed up at her son's house a few counties away. Elizabeth is still upset, though, saying she didn't get the speedy service she paid for. "I want my money back. I said it may not be a lot of money, but I can spend it as good as the Post Office can," Mrs. Todd said. You can purchase insurance from the Post Office in the event they lose your package, but the USPS doesn't have any money-back guarantee that Priority Mail will arrive on time. To get that you'd have to pay for Express Mail. Prices start at $14.40. The private sector mail competitors do guarantee their services on-time or your money back and they're cheaper than you might think. If Mrs. Todd had mailed her package Federal Express ground it would have only cost $5.55 and it would have been guaranteed to make it from Wilmington to Clayton in one business day. UPS ground would have guaranteed it's arrival just as quickly, but would have charged a little more -- $7.38.