USPS - Slow, and seems to be getting worse

[brewing]

I did read somewhere that USPS has been experiencing holiday like mail since late March. They usually hire holiday help during the holidays, but didn't this summer. I expect some slowness.

I've had some items 1-2 days slow, but most arrive very timely. Did have a bubble mailer from Canada get stuck in Chicago for almost 3 weeks and a stamped envelope take 10 days GA to AR. Not bad for over 500 packages sent/received since March.

Everything has made it though.

[rjackson44]

haven't had one problem

[sportscomicfantasy]

I mail out between 5-10 items on average a week of mostly my newer stuff I am selling. I agree that the mail has been taking longer. I send most with 1st class tracking but have maybe one on average that goes out priority mail.

My priority mail has taken longer, have a few arrive in 3 days, but mostly 5-6 business days. I had a couple that took 10 days.

Now my 1st class mail mostly 2-3 days befoe the virus on average, with a few exceptions of course. Now they are mostly 3-5 days, but with a few going around 6-8 and a couple going longer.

[buymycards]

Most of my mail is still being delivered in a timely manner, but I expect major slowdowns.

The instructions from the new Postmaster General (who has no Postal experience) is that absolutely no overtime will be used by anyone. If a carrier is out on the street and they can't get done in 8 hours, they bring the mail back for delivery the next day. That includes packages. If the truck from the processing plant is supposed to leave the plant at 4:30 am to deliver to the local Post Offices, the truck has to leave on time, even if it means letting mail sit on the dock and hopefully, it will go out the next day.

The tough thing about the no overtime rule is that many of the offices are understaffed. Not enough carriers, clerks, mail processors, etc. to go around, and, in the Post Office the hiring and training process can take months. Covid is making the situation even worse.

Locally, I am seeing some of my packages arrive at the plant in Madison at 2:30 in the morning, and normally, they would be on the truck leaving for my Post Office when it leaves at 4:30. Now, the packages are sitting in Madison for 1 or 2 days before they are sent out to the local Post Offices. This is going to create a big bottle neck in the processing centers, and they were having major problems already.

In spite of all of this, I can't complain about the service that I have been receiving.

[Yankees1964]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Most of my mail is still being delivered in a timely manner, but I expect major slowdowns.

The instructions from the new Postmaster General (who has no Postal experience) is that absolutely no overtime will be used by anyone. If a carrier is out on the street and they can't get done in 8 hours, they bring the mail back for delivery the next day. That includes packages. If the truck from the processing plant is supposed to leave the plant at 4:30 am to deliver to the local Post Offices, the truck has to leave on time, even if it means letting mail sit on the dock and hopefully, it will go out the next day.

The tough thing about the no overtime rule is that many of the offices are understaffed. Not enough carriers, clerks, mail processors, etc. to go around, and, in the Post Office the hiring and training process can take months. Covid is making the situation even worse.

Locally, I am seeing some of my packages arrive at the plant in Madison at 2:30 in the morning, and normally, they would be on the truck leaving for my Post Office when it leaves at 4:30. Now, the packages are sitting in Madison for 1 or 2 days before they are sent out to the local Post Offices. This is going to create a big bottle neck in the processing centers, and they were having major problems already.

In spite of all of this, I can't complain about the service that I have been receiving.

What Rick said is 100% correct. The new Postmaster General is not helping.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Most of my mail is still being delivered in a timely manner, but I expect major slowdowns.

The instructions from the new Postmaster General (who has no Postal experience) is that absolutely no overtime will be used by anyone. If a carrier is out on the street and they can't get done in 8 hours, they bring the mail back for delivery the next day. That includes packages. If the truck from the processing plant is supposed to leave the plant at 4:30 am to deliver to the local Post Offices, the truck has to leave on time, even if it means letting mail sit on the dock and hopefully, it will go out the next day.

The tough thing about the no overtime rule is that many of the offices are understaffed. Not enough carriers, clerks, mail processors, etc. to go around, and, in the Post Office the hiring and training process can take months. Covid is making the situation even worse.

Locally, I am seeing some of my packages arrive at the plant in Madison at 2:30 in the morning, and normally, they would be on the truck leaving for my Post Office when it leaves at 4:30. Now, the packages are sitting in Madison for 1 or 2 days before they are sent out to the local Post Offices. This is going to create a big bottle neck in the processing centers, and they were having major problems already.

In spite of all of this, I can't complain about the service that I have been receiving.

I do have a question as my wife and I frequently joke that someone must be getting huge amounts of overtime as our local PO is delivering packages on a Sunday with Amazon packages appearing the most frequent Sunday deliveries. Are those workers getting overtime or Sunday shift differential or is that just extra workers who are doing package delivery only and getting paid straight time and likely working perhaps only on Sundays?

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by whitehse

I do have a question as my wife and I frequently joke that someone must be getting huge amounts of overtime as our local PO is delivering packages on a Sunday with Amazon packages appearing the most frequent Sunday deliveries. Are those workers getting overtime or Sunday shift differential or is that just extra workers who are doing package delivery only and getting paid straight time and likely working perhaps only on Sundays?

Many of these workers are hired to deliver packages on Saturday and Sunday. I have been retired for 3 years, but in the past, full time workers were not allowed to deliver Amazon on Sundays. Only part timers were used. Then, they hired people especially for Amazon deliveries. The USPS would never admit it, but Amazon has been bad for the Postal Service and because of Amazon's discounts, I believe the Po is losing money by delivering Amazon.

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Most of my mail is still being delivered in a timely manner, but I expect major slowdowns.

The instructions from the new Postmaster General (who has no Postal experience) is that absolutely no overtime will be used by anyone. If a carrier is out on the street and they can't get done in 8 hours, they bring the mail back for delivery the next day. That includes packages. If the truck from the processing plant is supposed to leave the plant at 4:30 am to deliver to the local Post Offices, the truck has to leave on time, even if it means letting mail sit on the dock and hopefully, it will go out the next day.

The tough thing about the no overtime rule is that many of the offices are understaffed. Not enough carriers, clerks, mail processors, etc. to go around, and, in the Post Office the hiring and training process can take months. Covid is making the situation even worse.

Locally, I am seeing some of my packages arrive at the plant in Madison at 2:30 in the morning, and normally, they would be on the truck leaving for my Post Office when it leaves at 4:30. Now, the packages are sitting in Madison for 1 or 2 days before they are sent out to the local Post Offices. This is going to create a big bottle neck in the processing centers, and they were having major problems already.

In spite of all of this, I can't complain about the service that I have been receiving.

My son is a postmaster in a small post office in Wisconsin. He visited last week and I asked him about this. They are struggling with the no overtime rule.
He also confirmed about packages being left in the processing center because when it is time to leave, the employees leave and what is on the line is left until the next day. However, Amazon is in the process of setting up delivery of their own packages so this will ease the burden of the P.O., however, it also will be a big lose of revenue.

[earlywynnfan]

I'm mailing 20-30 items per week, and I've only had one problem recently, that was also in Michigan. Seems to have sat in Detroit for about 2-3 weeks, but did arrive.

[nickedson]

Michigan - specifically southern Michigan - seems to be where some packages go to sit for a month or more with the USPS. I've had 2 packages get "lost" in southern Michigan for more than 5 weeks and one package from the Detroit area take more than 4 weeks to get to me. Ironically, I sent a big ticket card (more than $6,500) out to California last month and it arrived in 2 days. Go figure!

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by buymycards

Most of my mail is still being delivered in a timely manner, but I expect major slowdowns.

The instructions from the new Postmaster General (who has no Postal experience) is that absolutely no overtime will be used by anyone. If a carrier is out on the street and they can't get done in 8 hours, they bring the mail back for delivery the next day. That includes packages. If the truck from the processing plant is supposed to leave the plant at 4:30 am to deliver to the local Post Offices, the truck has to leave on time, even if it means letting mail sit on the dock and hopefully, it will go out the next day.

The tough thing about the no overtime rule is that many of the offices are understaffed. Not enough carriers, clerks, mail processors, etc. to go around, and, in the Post Office the hiring and training process can take months. Covid is making the situation even worse.

Locally, I am seeing some of my packages arrive at the plant in Madison at 2:30 in the morning, and normally, they would be on the truck leaving for my Post Office when it leaves at 4:30. Now, the packages are sitting in Madison for 1 or 2 days before they are sent out to the local Post Offices. This is going to create a big bottle neck in the processing centers, and they were having major problems already.

In spite of all of this, I can't complain about the service that I have been receiving.

Hmm, as the 3rd last house on the longest route in my town, I'm envisioning many days without any mail delivery. Bummer!!

[brewing]

Originally Posted by brewing

I did read somewhere that USPS has been experiencing holiday like mail since late March. They usually hire holiday help during the holidays, but didn't this summer. I expect some slowness.

I've had some items 1-2 days slow, but most arrive very timely. Did have a bubble mailer from Canada get stuck in Chicago for almost 3 weeks and a stamped envelope take 10 days GA to AR. Not bad for over 500 packages sent/received since March.

Everything has made it though.

Maybe I was a bit wrong earlier. First Class packages are now taking 5-10 days. I'm currently waiting for a Priority package the PO has had for 8 days and arrived in my city 3 days ago.

Still believe the USPS is lacking sufficient staffing levels to handle the workload. Hopefully the USPS can survive, I do not want to pay UPS/FedEx rates for shipping.

[doug.goodman]

Sorry to be the guy who isn't having any issues.

I actually received a box today that was tracking to arrive tomorrow...

[ALR-bishop]

That's why he is called, Doug " I am Sorry About That, But Not Too Sorry " Goodman

[MikeGarcia]

Originally Posted by doug.goodman

Sorry to be the guy who isn't having any issues.

I actually received a box today that was tracking to arrive tomorrow...

..You have just been volunteered to supervise the mail-in voting for the upcoming election ; your office is at the main entrance of any cemetery in Philadelphia.

..

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

..You have just been volunteered to supervise the mail-in voting for the upcoming election ; your office is at the main entrance of any cemetery in Philadelphia.

..

I'm a bit slow, so your comment is going straight over my head.

If we assume for the sake of conversation that there are currently two types of people in this country, I'm not sure if you're wearing a MAGA or a BLM shirt...

Doug "I find it interesting that our president voted by mail" Goodman

[earlywynnfan]

Talked to my mail lady today. I asked her if the mandatory no-overtime thing is true, she said it is, but hasn't hit OH yet. She said it started in NC, and people there are NOT happy. Word is it's coming our way. According to her, today in my town there were a couple open routes (understaffed to begin, sick call-ins.) So parts of each route were split up among a bunch of other drivers. When this kicks, in, those routes will just not be delivered those days. I need to make sure to buy her lots of vitamin C this winter so she stays healthy and I get my mail!

She told me her personal opinion, with no more actual knowledge than anyone off the street: she believes there is a big push to make the PO tank so that 1) mail voting doesn't happen and 2) the push to privatize becomes huge. Again, this is HER PERSONAL OPINION, with no facts to support it.

[glchen]

I'd just be patient with the Post Office. In my area in northern California, postal workers are coming down with coronavirus, and one recently passed away (Link). We should probably be having delivery folks work less, not more. These "essential" workers are really getting screwed during the pandemic.

[Ben Yourg]

And will this help "Voting-by-Mail"?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Ben Yourg

And will this help "Voting-by-Mail"?

Clearly everything that is going on is a deliberate attempt to sabotage voting by mail. In a pandemic.

[glynparson]

I get many packages daily. Things are running about a day or two longer than usual. Even had it been 2-4 days in these circumstances I surely wouldn’t have felt the need to start a post about it. But then again some guys seem compelled to constantly start posts bitching about something.

[jimjim]

I just had an item arrive that I purchased on eBay that took 3 weeks to arrive. I thought it was a goner.

I also think it’s ridiculous that in the middle of a pandemic the head of the USPS decides to cut overtime and tighten the belt. The government is throwing money at everything and everyone right now to keep the economy a float. Why make an essential service that people need now more than ever worse? This makes absolutely no sense. Just don’t get it.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by glynparson

I get many packages daily. Things are running about a day or two longer than usual. Even had it been 2-4 days in these circumstances I surely wouldn’t have felt the need to start a post about it. But then again some guys seem compelled to constantly start posts bitching about something.

Thanks Glyn for stating what I'm sure many here are thinking... myself included.

[Snapolit1]

Since I posted every leading newspapers and news channel has been running stories about how slow the post office is and wtf is going on. But I guess it’s just a phenomena of impatient Net 54 members. You put us in our place!!

[darwinbulldog]

Heather Cox Richardson has done some good long-form journalism on exactly this topic. I'd post the most relevant excerpts here, but since it gets into the specific political causes of the current state of the USPS it might violate board policy. Anyway, it's thorough and current if you want to know the details of what happened. https://heathercoxrichardson.substac...p/july-31-2020

[gawaintheknight]

It's political.

"[Postmaster General] DeJoy and his wife, a Trump appointee to the Commission on White House Fellowships who is his nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Canada, own $30.1 million to $75.3 million in assets in Postal Service competitors or contractors, like UPS and the trucking company J.B. Hunt."

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinio...ad-ncna1234125

Ted

[steve B]

Originally Posted by gawaintheknight

It's political.

"[Postmaster General] DeJoy and his wife, a Trump appointee to the Commission on White House Fellowships who is his nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Canada, own $30.1 million to $75.3 million in assets in Postal Service competitors or contractors, like UPS and the trucking company J.B. Hunt."

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinio...ad-ncna1234125

Ted

One of my sort of recent (pre-covid) packages from Amazon was sent 2 day, arrived in three.
Sent UPS, from the shipper to the Chelmsford UPS facility, from Chelmsford UPS to the Chelmsford Post office the next day, and delivered by Lowell post office on day 3. If they'd just sent it regular UPS it would have been delivered in 2 days.

[Shoeless Moe]

Yah I got one stuck in Newark, NJ since 8/6......5 days no movement.


And mind you it took 5 days just to get to NJ from Illinois. So going on day 10 or 11 of what normally is 2-3. It does make you wonder.

[Butch7999]

Originally Posted by gawaintheknight

...
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinio...ad-ncna1234125

More amusingly, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPK72LN2OCY

[CharleyBrown]

This could be a reason for delays:

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/11/90121...ecting-workers

KAROL: Yes, we are beginning to see those changes and how it is impacting the mail. Mail is beginning to pile up in our offices, and we're seeing equipment being removed. So we are beginning to see the impact of those changes.

KING: Curious - I hadn't heard about this one - equipment being removed. What equipment?

KAROL: The sorting equipment that we use to process mail for delivery. In Iowa, we are losing machines. And they already in Waterloo were losing one of those machines. So that also hinders our ability to process mail in the way that we had in the past.

[NATCARD]

After reading many of these threads I had to post the tracking for this package. I know it is long but so was the trip. July 28 - Oct 5 In a black hole somewhere. Thanks, Jeff W


DELIVERED, IN/AT MAILBOX

October 6, 2020 - 3:15 PM

MEMPHIS, TN 38120



OUT FOR DELIVERY

October 6, 2020 - 7:49 AM

MEMPHIS, TN 38120



ARRIVED AT POST OFFICE

October 6, 2020 - 7:38 AM

MEMPHIS, TN 38119



ARRIVED AT USPS FACILITY

October 6, 2020 - 7:04 AM

MEMPHIS, TN 38119



DEPARTED USPS REGIONAL FACILITY

October 6, 2020 - 6:26 AM

MEMPHIS TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER



ARRIVED AT USPS FACILITY

October 6, 2020 - 6:00 AM

MEMPHIS, TN 38106



DEPARTED USPS REGIONAL FACILITY

October 6, 2020 - 2:30 AM

MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER



ARRIVED AT USPS REGIONAL DESTINATION FACILITY

October 5, 2020 - 11:11 AM

MEMPHIS TN NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER



IN TRANSIT TO NEXT FACILITY

July 28, 2020 - 12:00 AM




ARRIVED AT USPS REGIONAL FACILITY

July 24, 2020 - 5:10 AM

JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER



DEPARTED USPS REGIONAL FACILITY

July 24, 2020 - 2:09 AM

SPRINGFIELD MA NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER



DEPARTED USPS REGIONAL FACILITY

July 24, 2020 - 12:55 AM

SHREWSBURY MA DISTRIBUTION CENTER



ARRIVED AT USPS REGIONAL ORIGIN FACILITY

July 23, 2020 - 8:07 PM

SHREWSBURY MA DISTRIBUTION CENTER



USPS IN POSSESSION OF ITEM

July 23, 2020 - 5:06 PM

NORTHBOROUGH, MA 01532



PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT TO USPS, USPS AWAITING ITEM

July 23, 2020 - 12:00 AM




PRINTED

July 23, 2020 - 4:22 PM

01532

[DHogan]

I have a card trade with someone on a different site. I gave him my address which is right near Boston. His post branch told him he that needed a second address to send it to. The 2nd address I gave him didn't work either. I asked him to try a different post office and send it to my parents house at a 3rd address. We'll see.

[jchcollins]

Since the beginning of COVID in late March or so, I have seen a slight decline in the speed with which regular First Class packages get delivered. Priority seems to be ok / fast - with some of the packages I send out still arriving before their due dates. Normally First Class from the northeast (NY, PA, MA, etc). coming to me here in NC can be counted on to be either on-time or early - but this has not really been true since the pandemic. I had a Juan Marichal RC from PA disappear for a week, only to show back up on tracking like 4 days after it was supposed to be delivered.

[notfast]

I’ve only been shipping Priority Express over the last few months.

$25ish cost...1-2 day service pretty much anywhere in the US. Had no issues with arrival times.