US Postal Service backed up?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I ordered some stuff, and it was sent by U.S. Postal Service. Well, according to the tracking info on line, it's been "in transit" since November 24, 2020. I was kind of wondering why it's taking so long. My local Post Office told me that they were "really backed up", and it would take a long time for me to get my package. I'm just putting this out for those, who will send Xmas packages. Anybody heard similar things about your Postal Service?
 

Mail and package deliveries always slow down, this time of year. In addition, the budget cuts Washington has imposed on the USPS this year, combined with the loss of thousands of employees due to this virus, AND the ramp up of Online purchases, has only made things far worse than normal. Anyone who is going to rely on the USPS, and even UPS and FedEX should be planning on allowing extra days for anything to be sent through these services.
Last week, our postman stopped by the house with a package we had ordered online, and his van was filled to the ceiling.
 
We generally don't want to expect packages to be delivered during this time of year for the reasons already mentioned as well as the fact that many overflow temp workers are hired, making for the possibility of mishandling packages due to not having the training and experience.

Tony
 

Phew!

Looks like we snuck under and through the snag, as we ordered some stuff from the USofA a few weeks back and received it last week.
 
Yes despite so many people getting deliveries from Amazon, still this time of year is busy for the postmen. My regular postie, comes in a little van most days and delivers to everyone by himself. Since the beginning of November he's been accompanied by a second postman and is driving a much bigger van . I can't imagine how much he'd have to deliver if Amazon et al.. didn't have their own delivery drivers..

I always give my postie a tip at Christmas, this year it will be even more because he's the only person I know who has worked solidly all the way through the pandemic...
 
The only problems I've experienced with the slow package delivery are the joint deliveries between a company like FedEx and USPS or with things that are being sent by USPS Media Mail or Retail Ground which can take up to 8 days according to the USPS.

I have noticed that our mail carriers are working into the evening to complete normal daily deliveries. My assumption is that this is due to USPS gradually moving from a mail delivery service to a package delivery service.

I've made an effort to move all of my important first-class mail to electronic delivery so these days all I get through USPS is junk mail or packages.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The only problems I've experienced with the slow package delivery are the joint deliveries between a company like FedEx and USPS or with things that are being sent by USPS Media Mail or Retail Ground which can take up to 8 days according to the USPS.

I have noticed that our mail carriers are working into the evening to complete normal daily deliveries. My assumption is that this is due to USPS gradually moving from a mail delivery service to a package delivery service.

I've made an effort to move all of my important first-class mail to electronic delivery so these days all I get through USPS is junk mail or packages.
Click to expand...

In this area, I see USPS out on Sundays delivering packages all the time ... much of that is Amazon deliveries.
 
I read somewhere a while back that the USPS has a separate delivery contract with Amazon for those Sunday deliveries (and outside normal hours deliveries).

Tony
 
The last two days I've received this email message from the USPS Informed Delivery.

images


I'm not sure if this is a generic notice that goes out to all USPS Informed Delivery customers or if it is directed to people in certain zip codes that may be experiencing a surge in COVID-19.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The last two days I've received this email message from the USPS Informed Delivery.

images


I'm not sure if this is a generic notice that goes out to all USPS Informed Delivery customers or if it is directed to people in certain zip codes that may be experiencing a surge in COVID-19.
Click to expand...
I got this same message this morning. We aren't sending or expecting any packages, so it is not an issue for me.
 
Still have not gotten my stuff via US Postal Service. It's been in transit since November 24th. Unfortunately, I have some printer cartridge's, which I ordered in the 1990s that are still " in transit". I don't have the printer anymore. I think I should disclose what exactly I'm waiting for. I have to catharize myself in order to void. I ordered a year's supply of Purell. That is what has been "in transit" since before Thanksgiving. I doubt I'll ever get it delivered by the USPS. It's long gone. And I might buy the idea that the USPS was overworked, short handed, etc,, except I have been getting packages shipped by other carriers. And they were ordered and received within the last week- and with standard shipping fees.
 
Aunt Bea said:
The last two days I've received this email message from the USPS Informed Delivery.

images


I'm not sure if this is a generic notice that goes out to all USPS Informed Delivery customers or if it is directed to people in certain zip codes that may be experiencing a surge in COVID-19.
Click to expand...
Seems like the notice is across the country.
 
Last edited:
Aunt Bea said:
The last two days I've received this email message from the USPS Informed Delivery.

images


I'm not sure if this is a generic notice that goes out to all USPS Informed Delivery customers or if it is directed to people in certain zip codes that may be experiencing a surge in COVID-19.
Click to expand...
Same here plus we got piles of snow to deal with.
 
Bonnie said:
In this area, I see USPS out on Sundays delivering packages all the time ... much of that is Amazon deliveries.
Click to expand...
yes here too... even in our small road. it's like Oxford street most days with all different delivery vans going to most homes , some several times a day , so I can't imagine what it must be like in the city residential streets where by and large no parking is allowed or vans can't get near the kerb to park due to other vehicles...
 
Aunt Bea said:
The only problems I've experienced with the slow package delivery are the joint deliveries between a company like FedEx and USPS or with things that are being sent by USPS Media Mail or Retail Ground which can take up to 8 days according to the USPS.
Click to expand...
Nice thing about the joint delivery agreement is that fewer packages are left on your doorstep, so fewer stolen. If the pkg is small enough for a mailbox, UPS delivers it to the nearest post office. In my area I get a lot of my pkgs quicker since they started doing it this way.
 
Haven't experienced any problems so far. Maybe an extra day or two on an occasional package but they've done pretty well, especially after being savaged a couple of months back, by their newly appointed boss.

Cut backs made no sense with the pandemic and the expected heavier load of deliveries than usual?
 
This was the first card on my Rolodex that sat on my desk when I worked for the post awful.
 

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I got the two items I ordered from Etsy in good time. One was in my state and one was states away.

I have a PO Box and when I went to check my mail this AM, there were 4 final notice slips in the box all with the same tracking number. The counter was not yet open and luckily a postal worker was in the lobby, took the slips and went and looked for me. It was delivered last week so I know it was the little painting I got.

So they are messing up internally, Someone put 4 notices in my box that were defunct and not necessary. I feel bad for all those who will get packages late after the holiday.
 

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