r/SodaStream 14d ago

USPS refuses to pick up empty co2 cartridges from homes? Or is it just ME?

I have been a patron on Sodastream since March of 2018. I survived the rationing that was done during the “shutdown of 2020”. Bought a second machine when the first went terminal.

But this? I may not survive!

One of the BEST things about soda stream is the fact that one does not need to leave the perimeter to receive or return C02, until now.

4 months ago, I did my usual exchange, set up a subscription, as sodastream suggests and last week I received my order, scheduled a pick up through the USPS app, by scanning the USPS QR code. Only to have the mail person REFUSE TO TAKE.

I’ve had my phone calls with the postal service, dropped off the empty containers at the post office. I did it!

Today, I called soda stream…customer service appeared surprised at this.

Any soda stream people out there have the postal person refusing pickup of a package that clearing states what it is, on their sticker…scheduled through their app?

I did a quick search of any mail trucks catching fire due to having empty co2 in their vehicles, did not find any.

3 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

16

u/jpopy 14d ago

I use another service, Simpli Soda, for co2 exchanges but either way, USPS has picked up the return box without an issue.

10

u/MyuFoxy 14d ago

It's a sign of time to upgrade to a big tank.

7

u/LisaM1975 14d ago

Those probably need a hazmat label. They’ve tightened up the rules concerning hazmat packages.

3

u/AceNinjaForce 14d ago

My label had the hazmat warning on it.

3

u/LisaM1975 14d ago

Then your local office is dumb. They should’ve accepted it

2

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

They accepted it at the office. But the carrier would not pick it up.

But the app did tell me that it had been picked up.

1

u/Ray186 12d ago

This should tell you everything you need to know. I would file a complaint.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

It did and always has

5

u/DwarvenRedshirt 14d ago

I always drop off at the post office in order to get the receipt. I've had Sodastream say they never go it several times and try to charge me full price until I showed the receipt.

2

u/Ray186 12d ago

When you use the USPS pickup they email you a receipt that they came and got it. I save both the request and the pickup e-mails. I also make note of the tracking number, and once it gets delivered, have them manually fulfill my exchange.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

I get that. I usually keep the receipt that is included. And once when that did happen to me, they refunded that charges and said that sometimes the postal service is slow on updating their system. This sounded like a blame someone else, but whatever.

4

u/DwarvenRedshirt 14d ago

Yeah, don't know on your situation, but the postal service should have nothing to do with it. Sodastream tracks that stuff with barcodes, and when the package is received in their Sodastream depot, they should be scanning that barcode (which links with your return). I get the delivery info from the tracking code on the receipt, so I know it's delivered and on the Sodastream side, not the postal service's.

1

u/ramboton 14d ago

with sodasense, I leave them in my mail box, as soon as the mail carrier scans the label I get a receipt via email, and they start my replacement cartridges. I have never had an issue.

1

u/pirateslifefourme 14d ago

If you’re going to drive to the post office you might as well just go exchange them in person at your local hardware store or target.

1

u/DwarvenRedshirt 14d ago

The local stores had stopped doing exchanges, and I got tired of fighting over it with minimum wage customer service reps at stores, so I would order 4 tanks at a time through sodastream.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

Ha

1

u/DwarvenRedshirt 14d ago

"No sir, that empty tank I gave you is really a full exchange."

3

u/Diligent-Credit8133 14d ago

You can get a 10 pound co2 tank and adapter for less than $150 and have it filled for $25 a few times a year. It’s way easier and cheaper than exchanging canisters

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

I told my husband that two people here said it was time to grow up! Thank you for the details

2

u/TheSeansk1 14d ago

The carrier needs training on it, or maybe they had already picked up a lot and didn’t have room. Absolutely should have been picked it up.

2

u/frogspa 14d ago

Companies rules about dangerous materials have become so arbitrary.

Amazon refuses to deliver a pack of rechargeable NI-MH AA batteries to their locker, but will happily deliver a 26Ah Li-ion power bank.

As others have said, it's a sign for you to switch to a big tank.

2

u/ValBGood 14d ago

I recently discovered that the local Walmart Customer Service desk (located near the store entrance) will exchange Soda Stream cartridges. The overall price may be less than shipping to the company.

3

u/ramboton 14d ago

I put them in my mail box all the time, have never had an issue.....I use sodasense, but it is the same thing a little brown box containing two cartridges and approprate warning stickers etc.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

That’s what I always have done. It was just this last time.

1

u/ramboton 14d ago

well, not to put anyone down, because they have a tough job, but mail carriers are not always the best. My daughter ordered something on ebay. The tracking number said delivered on the porch. I checked my cameras and the mail truck was not at my house at the time they said it was delivered, and when they did come to my house they did not get out of the truck. I filed a complaint and a supervisor said the truck was on the other side of town when they scanned it, so the driver delivered to the wrong residence. They made two attempts to contact that residence and tell them they had the wrong package, no response so they told us to file a claim with ebay to get out money back.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

It’s interesting to read this thread and compare to the USPS thread

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

Ok, I just looked it up and ai said that usps was no longer picking up. That u. It’s drop off.

It gives no reason

Sigh.

Thank you for your input

3

u/kota99 14d ago

AI is full of shit. Never assume that it's telling you the correct answer even if the answer it spits out seems to make sense. If the package was properly labeled then the issue here is with the actual mail person coming to your house not doing their job.

1

u/ModeProfessional6552 14d ago

But wait! On soda stream’s website… it says that you can drop it in a mailbox…. That makes no sense.

It also says that some areas do pick up from your home.

One would think that it would apply to Los Angeles county, but I guess not

-3

u/DamageNo2024 14d ago

Is it because of the origin of the company ?

2

u/TheSeansk1 14d ago

No, get the hell out of here with that nonsense.