USPS is having issues lately

Manorcourtman

I have been a staunch USPS supporter for many years years and until recently(2015) they were my first choice for shipping coins. However, this year they started closing Sort facilities across the country which has had a devastating effect on their service. I have talked to several other people on this Board who have also noticed a huge drop off in service levels. Express is becoming two day service and Priority is turning into a week long wait in some cases. Registered has also been slow ( which is expected) but this is out of control:

Tracking Number:rb36742xxx1us
Tracking history
4/29/15 12:38 AM NEW YORK, NY 10199 Arrived at USPS Facility
4/24/15 9:29 PM KEARNY, NJ 07099 Arrived at USPS Facility
4/24/15 4:42 PM BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921 Departed Post Office
4/24/15 3:21 PM BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921 Acceptance

5 days to go 27 miles. I urge those who have had issues to write or call their Congressman or Senator. I am a small fry compared to some here but i do ship 5-10 things per week usually. I have kept a log and have been told by my local Postmaster that the only way things will improve is if you complain to USPS!! I suspect writing/calling your elected rep. will work better. Anyone else care to share your shipping experiences this year??? End of rant.......

keets

you should probably contact your Senator or Congressman.

many people are under the misguided impression that the USPS gets Federal funds, they don't. they are self-funded. the current problems are the result of Congress forcing the USPS to fund their Pension Fund for a 75 year period within five years and it has put a burden on the best bargain in the land. I suppose that Congress has done this so they can figure out a way to raid the Pension just as they have raided Social Security.

bronco2078

<< <i>you should probably contact your Senator or Congressman.

many people are under the misguided impression that the USPS gets Federal funds, they don't. they are self-funded. the current problems are the result of Congress forcing the USPS to fund their Pension Fund for a 75 year period within five years and it has put a burden on the best bargain in the land. I suppose that Congress has done this so they can figure out a way to raid the Pension just as they have raided Social Security. >>




I heard rumors to the effect that lobbyists for UPS or Fedex instigated this

keets

that may or may not be true but Congress passed the requirement.

bestday

<< <i>that may or may not be true but Congress passed the requirement. >>




If Congress didn't require the yearly pension funding .. the P.O would a too big to fund failure down the road, that would be have to bailed out by Taxpayers..

keets

the problem is that they were required to fund for 75 years within a five year period. something like that would put a strain on even the most successful and solvent private company.

hammer1

They will fund themselves like they always do, by increasing first class postage. With this new mandate, it will soon cost $2 to mail a letter.

derryb

<< <i>5 days to go 27 miles. >>


Isn't that a registered tracking number?

BStrauss3

Sad fact is that the ORIGINAL mandate to serve every address is the US means that their fixed costs don't drop in parallel with the drop in the number of 1st class letters being handled. You still have to drive a truck to every single address every single day, just to drop off the junk (3rd class or 'standard mail' as it's now known, a/k/a adverts). Yet when was the last time you received a real letter?

FYI - the junk travels at rates from 29.5c down to 15.3c per piece. 8.7c for a non-profit

GotTheBug

.

USMoneylover

I have had several packages sent out recently (some to forum members) that took up to 4 days just to make it to the sort facility after it's scanned at my local PO. Fortunately for me, everyone has been patient so far, but I always include tracking info too.

Davideo

Their pricing scheme for letters, while simple, doesn't make any financial sense. If I drop off a letter at the post office, it costs the same to deliver to a PO Box at that same post office as it does to deliver to Barrow Alaska. (And no, I don't live anywhere near Barrow)

It's also interesting to note that for packages they don't do "dimensional weight" like FedEx and UPS. So you can ship an empty refrigerator box for the 5 lb rate.

I want to see the post office be successful, but a lot of things don't make financial sense and it being run as a quasi-governmental organization I'm sure doesn't help.

Flatwoods

<< <i>Sad fact is that the ORIGINAL mandate to serve every address is the US means that their fixed costs don't drop in parallel with the drop in the number of 1st class letters being handled. You still have to drive a truck to every single address every single day, just to drop off the junk (3rd class or 'standard mail' as it's now known, a/k/a adverts). Yet when was the last time you received a real letter?

FYI - the junk travels at rates from 29.5c down to 15.3c per piece. 8.7c for a non-profit >>




This isn't totally accurate. Lots of addresses cannot receive mail.
I can't get mail at my home address.

agentjim007

I have a first class package on the truck for delivery today ( Chicago) shipped from California Monday. Priority service for first class cost.

bronco2078

<< <i>Their pricing scheme for letters, while simple, doesn't make any financial sense. If I drop off a letter at the post office, it costs the same to deliver to a PO Box at that same post office as it does to deliver to Barrow Alaska. (And no, I don't live anywhere near Barrow)

It's also interesting to note that for packages they don't do "dimensional weight" like FedEx and UPS. So you can ship an empty refrigerator box for the 5 lb rate.

I want to see the post office be successful, but a lot of things don't make financial sense and it being run as a quasi-governmental organization I'm sure doesn't help. >>




They certainly do charge dimensional . Try sending priority in a box bigger than 12x12x12 beyond zone 5

Davideo

<< <i>

<< <i>Their pricing scheme for letters, while simple, doesn't make any financial sense. If I drop off a letter at the post office, it costs the same to deliver to a PO Box at that same post office as it does to deliver to Barrow Alaska. (And no, I don't live anywhere near Barrow)

It's also interesting to note that for packages they don't do "dimensional weight" like FedEx and UPS. So you can ship an empty refrigerator box for the 5 lb rate.

I want to see the post office be successful, but a lot of things don't make financial sense and it being run as a quasi-governmental organization I'm sure doesn't help. >>




They certainly do charge dimensional . Try sending priority in a box bigger than 12x12x12 beyond zone 5 >>



Ah, you are quite correct. Odd, that they don't for the other zones and only just charge extra for longer distances (though they do have balloon prices where you get charged for 20 pounds if it is really big for shorter distances).

LindeDad

Sure know that last year it did not take a week to get coins from David Lawrence.
Tracking says it will be here today ordered on the 22nd.

OperationButter

my last 2 day priority mail took 8 or 9 days to get to the person that lived 2 states away. usps is full of fail.

3stars

I had a large painting shipped from Northern Virginia to Alaska parcel select and it took 4 days to get here. Guess I got lucky.

BigA

This Monday at noon I sent two 8.5 lb. boxes (over 12" long) Priority (for $9.52 each) from MA to Baltimore and Falls Church VA and they were both delivered an hour ago...(exactly 2 days)

fishcooker

I just shipped 2 boxes 1700 miles and it only took 2 days. Ordinary flat rate Priority.

TopographicOceans

I have the same kind of issue, but with 1st class packages.
Mine used to go to San Diego and then leave that day but now they go to a facility up north out in the boondocks where they sit for a couple of days.

I talked to the guy in charge of my PO and he said he didn't have any control over that and I should call the Consumer Affairs line (you can find yours here)

It turns out that office is run by government workers who don't care.

Rampage

I must be lucky, as I have had no problems. Very efficient service here.

Flatwoods

I have been mailing several packages each week priority mail. I ship Monday and they are always delivered Wednesday.
This week I sent 6 packages on Monday. None of them were delivered on Wednesday.

lcoopie

If only 27 miles, and it was from CAC,
You might like to drop off and pick up personally, I would prefer that myself.

VanHalen

I shipped an eBay sale on Monday and it was delivered Tuesday - 150 miles away. 1st Class package in less than 24 hrs.

Cougar1978

I don't really worry about USPS shipping times as long as there is tracking. Once coins are shipped to customers it is out of my control - some things get there fast, some don't. They can check the tracking number to see where it is. I do insure almost all packages as breakage can occur not just theft.

For the most part items arrive in 2-3 days 1st class. Some metro areas are simply bad places to ship to or from. Even service in the same city can vary as the people working behind the counter at one PO can be much sharper and experienced than the ones working behind the counter at another who have problems even processing a simple, repetitive transaction.

Nap

I get annoyed when packages get tied up for long periods of time in sort facilities, or get routed across the country by mistake, but I'm still happy as long as they arrive safely. I buy a lot from overseas sellers, and the sort facility delays pale in comparison to the weeks that packages sometimes get caught up in customs.

roadrunner

It may only have gone 27 miles but it's across state lines for one. And NY can be a black hole for REG mail, especially over a weekend. I've had REG packages sit in Jamaica Plains, NY for up to 5-7 days before they were sent on their way to me. One of those was from NGC in Florida. 4 days to NY, 5 days in Jamaica Plans, NY, then 2 more days to get to me. 11 days total. These days, I'm just happy IF it arrives. Been losing non-REG packages as of late.

3sidesofsilver

Interesting. A recent shipment from Ian at GC took 3 days to go from Irvine to Anaheim, then 2 days to Harrisburg, PA. 3 days to cross the street, but 2 days to cross the country. Hmmm.

Manorcourtman

I appreciate all the experiences posted. I've seen the same thing happen with shipments being good and VERY bad. But the bad now outweighs the good. Sad to see it headed south so fast this year.

pitboss

I have had no problems at all and am very satisfied with their service.

LALASD4

The problems is with the new people at the sorting facilities and having too few sorting facilities. Everything that gets deliver to the local post offices gets deliver the save day.

Moldnut

<< <i>I have had no problems at all and am very satisfied with their service. >>

pf70collector

I've noticed when I request signature confirmation, both electronic and the one that requires the pink form, I never get it when the item is delivered. It has happened about 2 times already in the past year. Never had that problem before. Dangerous when you do ebay which requires the signature confirmation. So far my buyers have been honest.

Manorcourtman

<< <i>I have had no problems at all and am very satisfied with their service. >>



Good for you! You are lucky to have not yet seen the results of the cuts yet!

BigA

<< <i>3 days to cross the street, >>



Heavy Traffic?

OPA

<< <i>

<< <i>I have had no problems at all and am very satisfied with their service. >>

>>



Likewise...

GrumpyEd

For years I've thought they should reduce delivery to 3 or 4 days a week instead of 6 days a week.
Reduce waits at the PO and cut costs.

I'm ok to wait an extra day to get coins in the mail.

LALASD4

<< <i>For years I've thought they should reduce delivery to 3 or 4 days a week instead of 6 days a week.
Reduce waits at the PO and cut costs.

I'm ok to wait an extra day to get coins in the mail. >>



Mondays are 10+ hour days already, cutting deliver days will just increase overtime.

Wabbit2313

The question was asked, is that a registered package? If it is, not a fair comparison. My CAC packages take forever and they always arrive safe, but they are registered mail.

I dropped a first class packaged coin in the mail Saturday at 4 PM in WI and it was delivered on Maui that Monday morning. That is amazing to me.

keets

from the replies it seems that service varies depending not so much on service type but on geographic location and staffing at sorting facilities. overall I think the USPS does a good job when you consider what they are required to do.

NewEnglandNotes

Just had one first class package take 6 days to go 10 miles, though there was a Sunday thrown in there.


April 20, 2015 , 7:42 am

Delivered


PLAISTOW, NH 03865





Your item was delivered at 7:42 am on April 20, 2015 in PLAISTOW, NH 03865.



April 20, 2015 , 7:36 am

Sorting Complete .

PLAISTOW, NH 03865


April 20, 2015 , 7:33 am

Arrived at Post Office .

PLAISTOW, NH 03865


April 15, 2015 , 10:27 pm

Departed USPS Facility .

BOSTON, MA 02205


April 15, 2015 , 6:03 am

Arrived at USPS Origin Facility .

BOSTON, MA 02205


April 14, 2015 , 6:15 pm

Shipping Label Created .

METHUEN, MA 01844


April 14, 2015 , 5:46 pm

Departed Post Office .

METHUEN, MA 01844


April 14, 2015 , 4:42 pm

Acceptance .

METHUEN, MA 01844


April 14, 2015

Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS .

oreville

The PROBLEM is that nearly every state is beginning to MANDATE efiling of personal and business returns!!!

The various states should be ASHAMED of themselves.

They are going to kill off the post office system in every small town and as a result, destroy the small towns in every state and destroy the tax generating backbone of every state.

Governments killing off USPS by MANDATES!!!!

They want us to do their work!!!

DBSTrader2

Not coins, but I sent my son an important package with an item he needed before leaving on a trip.

PA to DE.

Small padded envelope with 1-day Priority Mail.

Small enough to fit in his apartment building's standard, in-the-wall locked mail boxes.

Took 2 days to get there. Then tracking indicated a note was left and the package taken back to the local P.O. because there was "no secure location to leave the package".

Son went to P.O. next business day & found out that it had been delivered after all earlier that day...... waste of a trip, even though instructions said would remain at P.O. for his pick-up..........

HOW was a mailbox not a secure location in the first place, but then was the second time around?

What a joke...... I've now had SEVERAL packages sent 2-Day Priority that took longer, and no refund/recourse.... So what exactly are we paying a premium for?

Connecticoin

Wow for me first class takes two days, sometime one throughout the Northeast. I think part of that reason is the Springfield, MA sort facility seems to be pretty efficient.

Something fishy is going on in New Jersey methinks.

agentjim007

After sticking up for the PO twice my latest first class going out went from my PO to sort facility only to retun to my PO two days later. Now after a week it is in Chicago, about 40 miles away.

derryb

When one considers the volume of items handled by USPS is it really fair to expect 100% perfection? I find their margin of error to be acceptable.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>The question was asked, is that a registered package? If it is, not a fair comparison. My CAC packages take forever and they always arrive safe, but they are registered mail.

I dropped a first class packaged coin in the mail Saturday at 4 PM in WI and it was delivered on Maui that Monday morning. That is amazing to me. >>



Several weeks ago my mailperson picked up a first class package from my mailbox in Ames, IA at noon on a Tuesday and it was delivered in Honolulu on Friday evening.

MsMorrisine

<< <i>The PROBLEM is that nearly every state is beginning to MANDATE efiling of personal and business returns!!!

The various states should be ASHAMED of themselves.

They are going to kill off the post office system in every small town and as a result, destroy the small towns in every state and destroy the tax generating backbone of every state.

Governments killing off USPS by MANDATES!!!!

They want us to do their work!!! >>




they better find a way to make submission free for the masses then.

My tax software wanted $20 to efile state, so I printed it and mailed it in. I think the refund check came in 5 weeks. I'm not paying $20 to do something that should be much lower cost.

Also, for those looking to protest these mandates, one idea is simply to ask the tax software people to print a barcode of all the data on each page. The paper return could then be scanned in with little chance of error.

Although I'm not sure how this would work on fed forms. Think of all the data on a sched d page.



While I have noted my nearby sort facility has been slipping of late, it appears to have found an stopping point in its slide. Only some of the express mail is getting stuck for a day.