Mail delivery slowdown: USPS to slow delivery starting October 1

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 6:51AM

Mail delivery for many Americans will slow starting on Friday, part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's blueprint for overhauling the U.S. Postal Service in order to slash costs. But critics say the slower delivery standards could cause problems such as late bill delivery while more broadly undermining the public's faith in the USPS.

Almost 4 of 10 pieces of first-class mail will see slower delivery, according to Paul Steidler, senior fellow at the Lexington Institute and an expert on the postal service. That "means mail delivery will be slower than in the 1970s," he said, calling DeJoy's plan "disastrous."

Starting tomorrow, the postal service's current three-day delivery standard for first-class mail — letters, bills, tax documents and the like — will drop to delivery anywhere within the U.S. within five days. In other words, Americans should now expect that letters and other mail could take up to five days to reach their destinations, and vice versa.

Read more in the link below

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mail-delivery-slower-usps-october-1/

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, cost to mail stuff is going up soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2I56iao0SY

MasonG · October 1, 2021 6:54AM

Waiting two more days (maybe) for your mail is a nightmare? First world problems, for sure.

privatecoin · October 1, 2021 6:55AM

It's only just begun....

bronzemat · October 1, 2021 6:57AM

The day I have been dreading.

Now we will be seeing more "missing coin in the mail" threads flood the forum in the coming months.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 7:04AM

@bronzemat said:
The day I have been dreading.

Now we will be seeing more "missing coin in the mail" threads flood the forum in the coming months.

Exactly.

I have been cooling my jets with the hobby since losing a couple and getting many packages misplaced (delivered at wrong address) in the last year along.

Being friendly with the mailman and the supervisor at the local post office helped get me a refund for the lost ones and track the down the ones that were erroneously delivered elsewhere.

I have just relocated a month and a half ago, to another state and do not wish to have to deal with anymore of such hassles and hence keeping the buying to the very minimum. Got to wait and see now as to how long the 2021 Morgans and Peace dollar releases will take to reach me "when" the mint ships them out.

coinpalice · October 1, 2021 7:21AM

Delivered
Text & Email Updates
Tracking History
October 1, 2021, 9:23 am
Delivered, In/At Mailbox
MOUNTAIN CITY, TN 37683
Your item was delivered in or at the mailbox at 9:23 am on October 1, 2021 in MOUNTAIN CITY, TN 37683.
October 1, 2021, 6:46 am
Out for Delivery
MOUNTAIN CITY, TN 37683
October 1, 2021, 6:35 am
Arrived at Post Office
MOUNTAIN CITY, TN 37683
October 1, 2021, 5:05 am
Arrived at USPS Facility
ELIZABETHTON, TN 37643
October 1, 2021, 4:52 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
JOHNSON CITY TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
September 30, 2021, 6:16 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
JOHNSON CITY TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
September 30, 2021, 4:28 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
KNOXVILLE TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
September 30, 2021, 2:16 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility
KNOXVILLE TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
September 20, 2021
In Transit to Next Facility
September 15, 2021, 8:56 am
Departed USPS Regional Origin Facility
PHOENIX, AZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX
September 14, 2021, 7:53 pm
USPS in possession of item
PHOENIX, AZ 85003

how much slower can it get?

Mgarmy · October 1, 2021 7:30AM

My submissions took 4-5 to go from east coast to pcgs before the change. Heck the “overnight” takes two days.

MasonG · October 1, 2021 7:48AM

There's a solution to the problem if you're willing to use it, but most won't:

Stop looking up the tracking.

The post office didn't say they were going to start losing more packages. It'll get there when it gets there, regardless of how upset (or not) you get about how long it takes.

291fifth · October 1, 2021 7:56AM

The credit card companies are going to make a fortune in late fees. This slowing of first class mail will prove to be a disaster for the USPS.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 7:57AM

@MasonG said:
There's a solution to the problem if you're willing to use it, but most won't:

Stop looking up the tracking.

The post office didn't say they were going to start losing more packages. It'll get there when it gets there, regardless of how upset (or not) you get about how long it takes.

Easier said than done but when a package with an expensive coin is notified as delivered in the email and you physically check the mailbox not to find it there, then obviously tracking has to be looked up. Been there and dont that couple of times and the tracking actually helped me go to the local post office and approach the supervisor to lodge a complaint telling her that it was not delivered.
She looked up the tracking and said it was delivered at such and such a time and was physically present there with a trainee. We have a cordial relationship and hence five days later the package with an expensive trade dollar proof appeared in my mailbox.
There are many more of such instances that I can tell you about but the bottomline is that these tools are there for a reason and is supposed to actually help you.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 8:06AM

@291fifth said:
The credit card companies are going to make a fortune in late fees. This slowing of first class mail will prove to be a disaster for the USPS.

My aunt who back in the day was the assistant to many top foreign office officials, has started exhibiting begining stages of Alzheimers and she is one of those who writes out a check and mails it out.
It has been a tough act to let her give all the financial access to her daughter so as to make it all online payments, because of not being comfortable at all with web related transactions and it is like as if her dignity is being taken away from her by not allowing her to do it the old fashioned way.
Can only imagine how many are going to get stiffed with late charges.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 8:08AM

@Mgarmy said:
My submissions took 4-5 to go from east coast to pcgs before the change. Heck the “overnight” takes two days.

I am holding back on sending out a few of my rarer coins (along with my my two coin ASE designer set) for grading because of this innate fear and the eight free vouchers will lapse soon.

bronzemat · October 1, 2021 8:09AM

@vulcanize said:

@291fifth said:
The credit card companies are going to make a fortune in late fees. This slowing of first class mail will prove to be a disaster for the USPS.

My aunt who back in the day was the assistant to many top foreign office officials, has started exhibiting begining stages of Alzheimers and she is one of those who writes out a check and mails it out.
It has been a tough act to let her give all the financial access to her daughter so as to make it all online payments, because of not being comfortable at all with web related transactions and it is like as if her dignity is being taken away from her by not allowing her to do it the old fashioned way.
Can only imagine how many are going to get stiffed with late charges.

Not just that, but as other articles have mentioned, people who order their meds through the mail are gonna be affected too.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 8:09AM

@coinpalice said:
Delivered
Text & Email Updates
Tracking History

how much slower can it get?

I hear you. It is literally snail mail at this point. Receiving the package itself is a cause for celebration now-a-days.

vulcanize · October 1, 2021 8:11AM

@bronzemat said:
Not just that, but as other articles have mentioned, people who order their meds through the mail are gonna be affected too.

Yes, it is going to affect a wide spectrum in many ways.

DelawareDoons · October 1, 2021 8:15AM

If you're still paying your bills through the mail, please feel free to stop and join us online in the 21st century.

CoinHoarder · October 1, 2021 8:19AM

These days, MOST people pay their bills electronically. No need to mail a check anymore. I don’t worry about the mail. It gets here, when it gets here. No sense in worrying about things you have no control over.

MasonG · October 1, 2021 8:26AM

@vulcanize said:
Easier said than done but when a package with an expensive coin is notified as delivered in the email and you physically check the mailbox not to find it there, then obviously tracking has to be looked up.

You get an email saying the package is delivered but when you look for it, it's not there? Ok. So how is looking up the tracking going to help? If the email is wrong, what makes you think the tracking won't be, too?

@vulcanize said:
There are many more of such instances that I can tell you about but the bottomline is that these tools are there for a reason and is supposed to actually help you.

Ok- then look up the tracking.

JBK · October 1, 2021 8:44AM

So, the "critics" in the article don't like the plan. So what is their alternative to reduce costs?

Per the article, over 60% of first class mail will not be impacted.

Personally, my hobbies are 99% reliant on the mail, but the average person has had less and less reliance on the old mailbox. In fact, many street boxes I drive past have days' worth of mail pile up in them, so the owners are not too worried.

Bills? Mail them out a day or two sooner, and/or the recipient sends the check back a day or two sooner.

As the article stated, the majority of mail won't be impacted, so those people are already doing fine under what will be the new process for the other 40%.

TwoSides2aCoin · October 1, 2021 8:53AM

Cool. Christmas in July.

Liquidated · October 1, 2021 9:22AM

Deleted

privatecoin · October 1, 2021 9:24AM

@DelawareDoons said:
If you're still paying your bills through the mail, please feel free to stop and join us online in the 21st century.

Sadly it is not always an option in rural America...

originalsandman · October 1, 2021 9:35AM

yeah, I will pay up for the 'hopefully' more quick and efficient shipping!

MasonG · October 1, 2021 9:35AM

There are places in the US that don't have internet access? I suppose it's possible, I've been told having copies made can be difficult.

mbogoman · October 1, 2021 10:11AM

This is what it looks like. 15 minutes after drop-off, the package gets thrown into a bin and waits...
BTW - I checked. There is no emergency at the Rockaway PO...

September 30, 2021, 3:35 pm
Processing Exception, Other Delay
Your shipment has potentially been delayed due to emergency or other conditions at 3:35 pm on September 30, 2021.

September 30, 2021, 3:20 pm
USPS in possession of item
ROCKAWAY, NJ 07866

September 30, 2021, 10:31 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
ROCKAWAY, NJ 07866

fcloud · October 1, 2021 10:14AM

I think they started doing this long ago and are just putting it in writing, so for me there probably won't be a change. It has been taking over a week sometimes for me to get a two or three day package. It may actually improve if they stick to the five days. LOL

mbogoman · October 1, 2021 10:16AM

On another note, I have had 3 packages in the last 3 months where tracking showed "Delivered" to my address, but I had received nothing. I had to go down to the PO each time with the tracking number. The Postmaster brings it up on their system and checks the delivery location. When they scan the item as "Delivered", it takes a GPS reading. It was clear the packages weren't delivered to my address. The Postmaster called the delivery person and instructed him/her to go back and get the item. I eventually got each one a day or two later. If you ask me, it was a lot of avoidable, unnecessary extra work...

golden · October 1, 2021 11:05AM

I bet the junk mail comes through on time!

amwldcoin · October 1, 2021 11:25AM

Let's just hope for us ebay sellers ebay will update the later estimated delivery times. I've been lucky as so far my buyers have been patient and understanding when a package is slow to arrive. But many buyers out there are not.

vulcanize · October 3, 2021 10:13AM

And this news article makes one go hmmmmm!!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/believe-it-or-not-you-can-legally-buy-unclaimed-amazon-and-usps-packages-heres-how/ar-AAP4jY9

Wonder if there will be an increase in those package numbers

logger7 · October 3, 2021 10:27AM

Plus this is very upsetting and demoralizing for postal workers. How much longer will we have this postmaster?

cameonut2011 · October 3, 2021 10:33AM

@291fifth said:
The credit card companies are going to make a fortune in late fees. This slowing of first class mail will prove to be a disaster for the USPS.

Most pay their bills online now so no not really. I think USPS is only shooting itself in the foot as the few that haven’t caught up to the 21st Century will start discovering email and online bill pay.

renman95 · October 3, 2021 12:40PM

So this is what build back better looks like - the service may cost more but at least it's slower.

edwardjulio · October 3, 2021 1:05PM

.

logger7 · October 3, 2021 4:58PM

This used to be an in state operation. You dropped your mail in the local box to a local delivery, greeting, seasonal or other friendly card, and it would be delivered the next day. Now it goes to another state and best scenario is it gets delivered in 2-3 days. I remember when they did pick-ups on Sundays. Those days are long gone. No guarantees on express shipments even. I'm not sure the alternatives of UPS or Fed Ex with all the added expense are that much better.

koynekwest · October 3, 2021 5:42PM

If I'm not mistaken the guarantee on express is still in effect.

ricko · October 4, 2021 3:48AM

I do not mail much anymore....Some local bills, (i.e. water) I drop off in person....Others online....I still mail greeting cards though. Cheers, RickO

coinpalice · October 4, 2021 9:36AM

so i mailed a package this morning first class, because they wanted over 10 dollars to ship a 3 ounce package priority mail, 7-8 days cross country is the new normal for first class, the post office lady told me

TurtleCat · October 4, 2021 9:42AM

At this point I'm generally only mailing registered mail so the service slowdown won't likely impact that although I have noticed the price has gone up. On the bright side, though, I like the new monster "forever" stamps they have now.

JBK · October 4, 2021 9:49AM

@edwardjulio said:
I mail a check for payment of the utility bill in my home town. The envelope travels 160 miles to a regional processing center, then back for local delivery. 21st Century operation.

As mentioned above, in the old days there was a second mailbox outside the post office that said "local" vs the "out of town" box. Local mail never left the town.

But mail processing changed decades ago and the Local boxes disappeared.

JBK · October 4, 2021 9:52AM

So far no slowdowns for me.

I've had some mail arrive so quickly that if they sped it up it any more it might arrive even before it was sent.

ChrisH821 · October 7, 2021 5:13AM

I have never had a package stuck in St Louis Distro Center for three days before.

October 6, 2021
In Transit, Arriving Late
Your package will arrive later than expected, but is still on its way. It is currently in transit to the next facility.
October 4, 2021, 3:48 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
SAINT LOUIS MO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
October 3, 2021, 10:56 am
Departed USPS Regional Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
October 2, 2021, 9:50 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
October 2, 2021, 2:16 pm
Processing Exception, Other Delay
October 2, 2021, 2:01 pm
USPS in possession of item
MIDDLESEX, NJ 08846
October 2, 2021, 2:00 pm
Processing Exception, Other Delay
October 2, 2021, 9:38 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
DUNELLEN, NJ 08812

ChrisH821 · October 7, 2021 9:26AM

Well this is no good, looks like it went back to NJ somehow....

October 7, 2021, 12:38 pm
Departed USPS Regional Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Your item departed our USPS facility in JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER on October 7, 2021 at 12:38 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination.
October 6, 2021
In Transit to Next Facility
October 4, 2021, 3:48 am
Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
SAINT LOUIS MO NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
October 2, 2021, 9:50 pm
Arrived at USPS Regional Origin Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ NETWORK DISTRIBUTION CENTER
October 2, 2021, 2:16 pm
Processing Exception, Other Delay
October 2, 2021, 2:01 pm
USPS in possession of item
MIDDLESEX, NJ 08846
October 2, 2021, 2:00 pm
Processing Exception, Other Delay
October 2, 2021, 9:38 am
Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
DUNELLEN, NJ 08812

RichieURich · October 7, 2021 10:36AM

Today, October 7, I received a letter from someone postmarked August 5.
I also received the Heritage auction catalogs which were mailed 3-day priority on July 29.
I hope the slowdown effective October 1 doesn't slow things down even more!

JBK · October 7, 2021 10:43AM

There is a very good chance at least some of that mail was misdelivered and the person who got it finally got around to throwing it back into the mail.

coinpalice · October 7, 2021 11:32AM

i mailed a first class package on Monday cross country, it got there this morning. not too bad, 4 days

TurtleCat · October 7, 2021 11:49AM

Mail delivery may be slower but I had the fastest ever registered mail package. Left TN on this past Monday and arrived at CAC today. 4 days. That has to be a record.

vulcanize · October 7, 2021 11:57AM

LOL.
Just posted on another thread about my last year's experience with UPS mail innovations.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/13063237/#Comment_13063237

I bet USPS folks reading this thread and expediting all package shipping.

But all jokes aside, a package sent on 5th by the mint is arriving today and that has to be a record of some sort

October 5, 2021, 7:58 am
Accepted at USPS Regional Origin Facility
MEMPHIS TN DISTRIBUTION CENTER ANNEX

Expected Delivery on Thursday 7 October 2021 by 8:00pm
Status
Out for Delivery, Expected Delivery by 8:00pm

CoinJunkie · October 7, 2021 12:00PM

@renman95 said:
So this is what build back better looks like - the service may cost more but at least it's slower.

No, it's what not being able to oust an appointee from a previous administration for procedural reasons looks like.

Walkerguy21D · October 7, 2021 1:36PM

@JBK said:
So far no slowdowns for me.

I've had some mail arrive so quickly that if they sped it up it any more it might arrive even before it was sent.

Same here.

I mailed a couple coins to a forum member in the Los Angeles area from the east coast of Florida on Monday afternoon. Standard first class shipping in a bubble mailer envelope with insurance. He received them Wednesday (yesterday) afternoon. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the speed.

MilesWaits · October 7, 2021 6:41PM

Just had a delivery come from Maui to the West Coast in three days. FedEx.

Mail delivery slowdown: USPS to slow delivery starting October 1

Comments

Leave a Comment