DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

For the billions of pieces of mail processed there are bound to be some issues.

There seem to be some on here who believe that our low percentage of Covid related deaths is acceptable, but have issues with the mail. Go figure.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I've have had issues with the Post Office for at least 8-9 months now, maybe longer...Long before this Covid 19 pandemic or the change in Postmaster...No issues getting "junk" mail though...

JBRIII

I believe what happens is that somewhere in the chain someone scans the label as being delivered, but it is not. Maybe makes the record look better, etc. Has been happening periodically for me for quite sometime with Amazon packages.

The postal system is symbolic of the central problem with the country. Regardless of party we all want low taxes, but can't, won't? decide what we are willing to pay for or do without. The postal problems have been around a long time, it started when it became semi-non-government, they had federal retirement which the government left the benefits in place, but did not fund. Since then many proposals have been made to change things, 3 day delivery week, close small post offices, but congress has blocked virtually all of it. Again we want our post office, want 6 day delivery and want cheap stamps.

We can argue for ever on what is most important, Social security, defense, research, etc., but in the end, not choosing will leave us like many other countries in history, BROKE.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Not the "delivered" emails, but many of the others are system generated.. I get lots of "Out for Delivery" emails on items that haven't even gotten to the local PO.

Pumble

Interesting. Know I'm not one to complain, I'm satisfied with the USPS. But the constant sound of their financial woes grows on deaf ears.

Looking at this "Informed Delivery", they're giving away information for free. They could rightfully set a subscription fee for this service. You know any other retailer would figure out a fair cost and rake it in. They'd package the daily email with a discount on shipping, ability to print stamps at home, make it an annual commitment with an automatic renewal. My guess would be $3-5 a month, less than the cost of one coffee at Starbucks. And people would sign up still... After all, information is king. I have to wonder how many millions are signed up for the service. I bet a large number of UHH readers just signed up after reading this thread... It just illustrates that those running the USPS are not in the mindset for running a business, but more being a governmental agency.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I have "Informed Delivery" and it is fraught with errors. If they went to a paid model, they would have to seriously improve their accuracy... Note that on each individual package tracking, they also have a "Premium" tracking service and there is a cost for that......

Pumble

Well said. The whole Covid thing is a perfect example of our political strife. Seems Government knows better about everything but they can't even take care of their own business ...

Pumble

Understood. But remember the days of DOS, Windows 3, Photoshop ver 1 and more? How about the old bag cell phones, the first digital DSLRs... Consumers always wind up footing the bill for improvements ...

dpfoto Loc: Cape Coral, FL

I have a trash can, mounted just below my mailbox, labeled "POLITICAL JUNKMAIL". When I go out to get my mail, any political stuff gets torn in half and deposited into that trashcan. :)

FrankR Loc: NYC

One of the biggest problem the post office faces, maybe the biggest, is that it operates under a business model that requires them to prepay retiree healthcare and medical benefits of approx $5 Billion a year. That money would certainly go a long way to improve service and efficiency. They’re required to do this by a law enacted in 2006, when the Legislative and Executive Branches were controlled by the same party trying to undermine confidence in and cripple the Postal Service today.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Here in Prescott AZ our local Post Office (PO) gets it's mail trucked in from the large Phoenix PO. At the Phoenix PO they have one of the those huge mail sorting machines that also scans the mail and sends the Informed Delivery Daily Digest to me every day. So after that it's put on the truck to Prescott during the night and then the local Prescott PO sorts it for each of the carriers routes. That morning I get my Informed Delivery Daily Digest emailed to me.

But what I was told happens is if for some reason the person at the local PO doesn't sort it correctly and the wrong carrier gets your package they will simply return it to their branch, it goes back on a truck to Phoenix, gets sorted again by hand, put back on a truck to your local PO and then gets hand sorted for the carrier again.

Because of COVID-19, many of the people working at the PO are doing jobs they aren't trained to do or do well. It's not their normal job. I even had a brand new carrier that wasn't even in a uniform deliver my mail at 9pm one night because they were so strained. Anyway, because of this, these mistakes are occurring and mail is being delayed. I expect a rent check from CA every month and sometimes it gets here in 3 days. Other times 6 days. I even had to report one was missing so that the check could be sent again only to get the check 12 days later. Basically it was 9 days late. It had me worried.

Bottom line, COVID-19 has made things a mess at the PO and you should expect delays. Count your blessings if you get important mail on time.

Woody99

UHH folks, don’t forget legislation from 2001 to the present. Starting in 2001 all of Congress, both Dems and Reps passed legislation concerning the financing of the USPS retirement plan and future healthcare costs of retirees. A certain percentage of USPS profits must first go to cover the USPS retirement plan and retiree future healthcare costs before any other expenses are covered. This year I believe 5.6 billion dollars are allocated to this fund before any other USPS operating expenses are covered. Blame the Congress both Dems and Reps for this. The Presidents Bush and Obama both signed this legislation. This I believe was done before Trump was elected, so don’t blame Trump.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Yeah, don't blame Trump for throwing gas on the fire to stir up more discontent in his war against mail in ballots.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Hey Jerry, do you want some cheese with that whine? Please go out and do something useful! Make an image perhaps? Best of luck.

Charlie157 Loc: San Diego, CA

The head of USPS is a Trump appointee. He recently got rid of a lot of the higher-ups and put on a hiring freeze to fill the vacanies. Trump wants to stop mail in ballets. This current mail situation was predicted