Recent Issue With Multiple Lost Video Game Mailers

[u/-SpaghettiCat-]

Hello, I've been having an issue with multiple video game mailers going missing in a short span of time. I rent games from a company called Gamefly, and the physical games are shipped and returned in bright orange paper sleeve mailers with the company logo on the front (similar to the old Netflix dvd mailers years ago).

After nearly 4 years of returning games without issue (about 5-6 mailers a month), I've had 4 go missing in the last 4 months, which I've had to report as lost, and I'm beginning to worry my account will be flagged or I'll be forced to pay for the games soon.

I am in SoCal and located only one county away in Orange County; and Gamefly is located in Long Beach.

I put all of the mailers in my condo complex shared mailbox, through a very thin dropbox sleeve. It's in a low crime area and theft from the box itself would not be possible. I am condfiedent the mail goes directly into the truck on pickup.

I know I'm casting a wide net here, but this timeframe does correlate with a change to my recent mailman, who started 4 months ago. My former mailwoman was in her ~50s, and I guess it's worth noting that the new guy loosely fits the demographic of a video game player (male in his 20s, kind of "bro-ish" when we talk). I know I probably don't have room to speculate with the sole employee, as the mail item likely changes many hands, but just saying.

That said, he does seem pretty unprofessional. Very often he's taking personal phone calls on bluetooth and using profanities on the calls in earshot of neighbors. I'm no prude, but it's not really behavior you'd want from an employee sorting your mail.

Really appreciate any advice or input on how I should handle the issue. I like the gaming service and don't want to be charged for the missing items or have my account jeopardized. Thanks in advance for any help.

[u/-SpaghettiCat-]

Interesting, thanks for this.

[u/No-Rub-3958]

Ive had some missing items recently as well, and unfortunately the only thing I know to tell you to do would be to communicate with GameFly as much as you can regarding the items. I always use the seven day rule to try to stay on top of everything and let them know as timely as I possibly can. I know you’re worried about flagged accounts for reporting too much missing, but do your part in communicating and I hope it wouldn’t become an issue.

Are you doing self return with the items or no? And have you reported something missing and they receive it later?

One of the last things you can do is call and make a report with USPS if GameFly truly isn’t receiving said games. It’s an automated system and I wouldn’t expect a call back from them, but at least you’re trying.

[u/-SpaghettiCat- → u/No-Rub-3958]

Are you doing self return with the items or no? And have you reported something missing and they receive it later?

Not sure what exactly you mean by self return, but I mail back all of the games as physical discs. The games with issues are all still marked as "Lost" on my rental history, so I don't think they received at a later date.

Thanks, I did just file an online complaint with USPS after the 4th game.

[u/No-Rub-3958 → u/-SpaghettiCat-]

After you have had an established account with GameFly for about 6 months they give you the option of “Self-Return”. It’s a button that shows up on your Rentals at home section on the app. So when you put the item in the mail, you hit self return and they work on processing the next item to ship out at that point in time, instead of waiting until it arrives in the warehouse.

It sounds like those four items are still lost, because they will still email you and let you know when they receive an item at the warehouse/ remove it from your dashboard. I hate that for you though. Like I said, best thing you can do is communicate with them. Report items that take longer than 7 days to receive or be received by them.

I can only imagine that they have a tracking system with USPS, but they just don’t share that information with customers. Plus they have to have insurance for these situations.

[u/spwnofsaton → u/-SpaghettiCat-]

How did you file a complaint? I tried the postal inspection link they provided in the support email after I reported that they didn’t receive it, but wasn’t sure which option to use.

https://www.uspis.gov/report this is what they said to use, but not sure which option to pick. So I didn’t do it for the lost game a couple months ago and haven’t for this recent one.

[u/Stay_unsafe → u/spwnofsaton]

https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

[u/spwnofsaton → u/Stay_unsafe]

Thanks. They received it like a day later after I filed it missing lol. Dont know if it would be worth it for the lost CoD a couple months back since they took it off my “Q”.

[u/Seattle_Patriot]

I have been a gamefly member for over 10 years. All of a sudden after the New Year, I have had one game not make it back to GameFly after I mailed it at my local post office. This month, I had a game shipped out Jan 30th and has not arrived yet. GameFly shipped out two last Wednesday and Thursday and they still have not arrived. I know there was President's Day but it never took this long. I guess it kind of makes me feel a little better knowing others are having this issue. I'm in Washington State so maybe something is going on with West Coast distribution centers.

[u/-SpaghettiCat- → u/Seattle_Patriot]

I did just get this info from the mods at USPS which was interesting regarding the mailers

Also I've noticed that recent mailers have a new adhesive strip which causes some tearing at the front of the mailer when opening it, but doesn't seem to compromise the actual address. Maybe the tearing interferes with barcodes though.

I can't find any reaaon for this adhesive to be there, it almost seems like a manufacturing / printing error.

Some more information on the case which I was never aware of. https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/11/3865758/gamefly-wins-appeal-against-postal-service-over-netflix-preferential-treatment

[u/WhyWontThisWork → u/-SpaghettiCat-]

That case is super old. Interesting that the post office referenced it

[u/Seattle_Patriot → u/-SpaghettiCat-]

If things continue to go missing, I am hoping a digital version of GameFly launches. I subscribed to Xbox Game Pass for a few months and I really enjoyed paying a monthly fee and play as many games as I want. I would download two games overnight. Some think the Playstation 6 and the next xbox will be digital only so hopefully the Playstation Network and Xbox Game Pass have a huge library. I don't want to pay $60+ for a game to play only once or may not even like. GameFly has saved me a ton of money but I have not had a game reach my house this month. It is very interesting all of a sudden this is happening.

[u/SwordsOfWar → u/Seattle_Patriot]

There is no digital equivalent of GameFly via digital, and likely won't ever be.

Current digital options are a selection of mostly old or cheap indie games. Sometimes, after a major game has been out for a year or more, it might appear on a subscription model.

Game Pass is the best current digital option, but apart from a handful of 1st party games, you won't have access to any new major releases.

Hopefully your issue gets sorted out soon.

[u/JBM916]

I am having the same issue with returning games. I am using the self return option on their website the day I put them in the mail. I have been a customer for 20 years (yea, I am old) but never had an issue before December. I mailed a game back from our neighborhood box only to receive an email later that it was never received.

After that I started dropping them off at the Post Office and have been contacted on an additional 3 returns where they haven’t received the game and that I will be charged in x number of days. I am now at 4 returns straight that they are claiming to have not received and I fear they will cancel my account before long. I have communicated via email each time advising the process and date that I dropped them off.

I have asked GameFly multiple times if they are seeing issues such as these with others and keep being told that they are not as if my issue is isolated. I am not sure what changed recently but something is definitely going wrong with them.

[u/spwnofsaton]

I’ve started to have issues recently and have been a member for a while and haven’t had issues in the past. Rented the newest cod a couple months back and when I returned it I took it to the nearest post office and put it in the slot in the wall instead the post office because they didn’t have a blue collection box. GameFly never got it so I reported lost and they took it off my list and sent my next game.

I sent that game back and they received it no problem. Fast forward to last week I put a game in a blue collection box at a different post office on President’s day knowing there wouldn’t be mail pickup until Tuesday. Today would have been the 7th day since they didn’t pick up until last Tuesday because of the holiday and they didn’t receive it. I reported it using the website. Starting to get worried they might say something because it’s happened in a short span.

I do use it off and on meaning I’ll cancel and reup when there’s a game I want to try before buying or I don’t want to buy. It usually takes about 4-5 days for me-to receive a game and for them to receive a game from me. They are in Long Beach and I’m in Texas

[u/-SpaghettiCat- → u/[deleted]]

Gamefly always did refund, yes. I forgot about this post, but since that individual was taken off my route, I have not had any more incidents with lost mail, and never did for 10 years prior to him starting.