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bucolic_frolic

(46,971 posts)
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 08:14 PM Dec 2020

USPS very slow with long delays

I have packages arriving that are 10+ days late, and outgoing packages that have either not been scanned in after 7 days, scanned in and sit for 4+ days in the same post office, or scanned and sent for sorting and sit there for a week already.

I'm guessing the removal of the sorting machines is meeting increased package volume this holiday season because so many people are cocooned at home and ordering online. I've never seen this type of logjam.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Response to bucolic_frolic (Original post)

Grokenstein

(5,829 posts)
5. "They shoulda been nicer to me!"
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 08:25 PM
Dec 2020

I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this is all just petty vengeance by Dim Don and Dirtball DeJoy.

spooky3

(36,193 posts)
6. Ditto. A stamp order placed Nov. 22 just arrived Friday.
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 08:26 PM
Dec 2020

Other packages have been delayed 10+ days. There is a lot of misdelivered mail (though this is not an entirely recent development).

Sorry that you are having problems.

Freedomofspeech

(4,378 posts)
7. Sent a package to Cleveland from Pittsburgh...was supposed to arrive December 5th...never arrived.
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 08:27 PM
Dec 2020

Tracking says it made it to Cleveland but now they do not know where it is.

bucolic_frolic

(46,971 posts)
8. A previous postmistess would track down lost packages
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 08:37 PM
Dec 2020

She seemed to indicate they moved by bins. She'd be on the computer, and have an answer in a few hours. I had a package sent to CA or NM, can't really remember, but in 2 days I had a call from the receiving post office and they had found it.

I'm not seeing that level of service today. They reassure me all packages scanned and sent onward. So where is my package that's not scanned?

I had one lost last year. One post office doesn't scan media mail, they just push them onward. So performance varies depending on the policies of local post offices.

There is an online complaint form, but it only forwards the complaint to the delivering post office. And they will call you, same day. But they are no help with mail caught in limbo somewhere.

 

Pantagruel

(2,580 posts)
10. GOP wants the USPS to fail
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 09:27 PM
Dec 2020

just like it wants Medicare to fail. Any time a Gv't program does a good job their philosophy looks bad.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
11. The sorting machines "decommissioned" were not for packages. We are in a pandemic, even Amazon
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 09:28 PM
Dec 2020

and UPS are running slow.

bucolic_frolic

(46,971 posts)
12. Yes, but without the machines labor is needed elsewhere, away from packages
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 09:33 PM
Dec 2020

Also, even earlier in the year, there were local personnel shortages from the pandemic. Some offices were only open a couple hours, five days a week as they split personnel between them.

Dysfunction City

(11 posts)
14. Problems because of covid plus Xmas plus lack of planning
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 09:44 PM
Dec 2020

The problem with the post office is the lack of staff due to covid and the seismic change in shopping habits due to covid. Management failing to hire properly when things became obvious last spring. Suddenly, their lack of planing for this eventuality has become an emergency. The wheels are starting to come off. There are long time carriers that are just giving up and walking off the job after weeks of working 12+ hour days without any days off due to lack of substitute carriers. You have to really feel bad for the rural craft carriers that still have Amazon in their offices because they do not normally get overtime for all the extra hours they work beyond the evaluations of their routes. They only get OT for the 3 weeks right before Xmas even though it has been gangbusters since covid began.
New employees come in the door only to quit after a few days after they see what they are up against. It has never been this bad, ever.

Response to bucolic_frolic (Original post)

montanacowboy

(6,300 posts)
16. YEP
Sun Dec 13, 2020, 10:58 PM
Dec 2020

I sent a package with 2 day delivery and it has been 10 days and it still has not been delivered. I just keep getting this Alert sign when I log into the tracking number. This is a a real mess.

bucolic_frolic

(46,971 posts)
17. Had a chat with USPS guy, and he seemed
Tue Dec 15, 2020, 02:33 PM
Dec 2020

like a supervisor because he was instructing the postmaster how to do something, but he said they are swamped with package volume, not only because of the holiday season, and because pandemic people order online, but because families are staying home for the holidays and sending packages instead. He said they're working down the volume, much of it stored in bins, and scans are either delayed or some are stored in the cloud.

So that's what's happening with USPS slow mail.

Phentex

(16,500 posts)
18. I guess this is good for the post office...
Thu Feb 4, 2021, 12:07 PM
Feb 2021

that they are so busy but it's been super slow at home and the office. We are still getting "be sure to vote Jan. 5" notices.

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