How is your USPS service these days?

[ironglow]

  I don't know if the problems are local or federal, but my mail service has deteriorated severely over the last couple years.

  I have the rural delivery at roadside..and my mail is often very late...where it used to be no more than 2-3 days anywhere in the lower 48. 
   
  Sometimes my mail is delivered elsewhere...and I sometime get other folks mail..

  Right now, I am awaiting a new car title & registration from the state, which should have arrived within 10 days...more like 16 days now..

   With the local route being sometimes confused, if I have a letter going out, I now carry it to the PO, rather than, placing it in my roadside box,
  in hopes of eliminating one possible mistake point.

  Are these problems through the entire systam, or is it just my local PO ?  Has your mail service changed over the last 2-3 years?

 

[JustaShooter]

I think it's more your local PO.  My service (suburb of a small city) hasn't changed much. Delivery days from different parts of the country are still about the same as before COVID, same with local delivery times. The only thing I notice is that the time of day my mail arrives varies a lot from day to day - some days before noon, some days after 6pm, or anywhere in between.  Used to be super consistent around 11am.

[gene_225]

They changed/change workers frequently at our PO, so we always have new ones who need time to learn. And there is no residential delivery, so it's general delivery or pay for a PO Box. Switching workers around started when President Trump tried to close the USPS. The postmaster he appointed is still there, so I assume the current president also wants to end USPS. It seems to be the world we live in.

[Lloyd Smale]

dont see any change here

[Dixie-Dude]

Same problems here.  They say something is to be delivered by 9pm.  8pm and they say it was delivered in person.  Not so, but got it the next day.  Wife has app showing when letters and things are to be delivered, or what is out for delivery.  Delivery person many times delivers it the next day.  We order a lot by mail, including meds. 

[Ranger99]

It's sucked around here for a
very long time.
Even at the P.O., the counter
service is terrible.
Many make excuses for it,
but it's DEI . Irrefutably.

Hopefully,  ( most likely too
late for me,  but I'd like for
future generations to know
what it's like to get professional
service from a qualified employee)
the nation will come to it's
senses and go back to merit
based hiring for everything across
the board.  People who don't
excell at math in their head don't
belong behind the counter at
banks, or manning a cash register,
or working as an EMT if they
weren't the cream of the crop, etc.

Dang sure need to dispense with
DEI and affirmative action and hire
the most qualified for the job

[gene_225]

It's sucked around here for a
very long time.
Even at the P.O., the counter
service is terrible.
Many make excuses for it,
but it's DEI . Irrefutably.

Hopefully,  ( most likely too
late for me,  but I'd like for
future generations to know
what it's like to get professional
service from a qualified employee)
the nation will come to it's
senses and go back to merit
based hiring for everything across
the board.  People who don't
excell at math in their head don't
belong behind the counter at
banks, or manning a cash register,
or working as an EMT if they
weren't the cream of the crop, etc.

Dang sure need to dispense with
DEI and affirmative action and hire
the most qualified for the job

Agree, but it would mean paying decently to get good employees. Instead, almost everyone wants to pay minimum wages for good work. That's part of what's going on.

[Ranger99]

I respectfully disagree
P.O. jobs in this area pay pretty
decent ( the last time I checked)
Benefits out the wazzoo as well

Need to go back to merit based
hiring.  If you can't do the job in
the specified manner, you don't
get the job. If you can't train
yourself to improve your qualifications,
or schooling doesn't improve
you any,  you have to settle for
a lesser something.
Life isn't fair and isn't supposed
to be. There's always going to be
the first place winners and the
others

[scattershot]

Terrible here. I got a letter from my insurance company that took a month to get from Iowa to Colorado. I recently mailed a letter (bill payment) to a business two miles from my house that took ten days to get there.

When I go to the PO to mail a package, there’s usually a line out the door and one clerk on duty.

Lately, and I can’t prove this, it seems like they are skipping one or two days a week for home delivery.

A far cry from when I was a kid (50s). We used to have two deliveries a day, and other services were dependable as a  railroad watch.

[gene_225]

I respectfully disagree
P.O. jobs in this area pay pretty
decent ( the last time I checked)
Benefits out the wazzoo as well

Need to go back to merit based
hiring.  If you can't do the job in
the specified manner, you don't
P
get the job. If you can't train
yourself to improve your qualifications,
or schooling doesn't improve
you any,  you have to settle for
a lesser something.
Life isn't fair and isn't supposed
to be. There's always going to be
the first place winners and the
others

I certainly agree merit is and must be a requirement.

My recollection is that the national Post Master lowered PO pay scales, but I could be wrong on that. But that's the way I remember it playing out when the previous president started this mess.

[Bob Riebe]

Usually good but there are spells where while it is normally here by Ten A.M., it does not show up till Fve P.M. if at all.

I am assuming some one is on vacation and a stand-in is doing it.

[wtxbadger]

Our mail service has been going downhill for years now and continues to get worse. Our local postmaster doesn't give a rats behind when anyone calls and complains.

[neckisred]

USPS sucks here.........................................

[ironglow]

  Thanks guys...  I guess it depends upon the area..

   My grandaughter, who married last year, and has bought a home in this same small town, recieved some of my mail, and brought it to me.
   Now, here's the kicker..since she is married now, she doesn't even have the same surname any longer.. so how did she get my mail?

  I know everybody-knows-everybody here..but that is a stretch, since inquiring about mail service at the PO, I found that the rural delivery gal,
   doesn't live here.  Seems she is from a nearby town, where I only know some of the people.

   To be fair, I think she is a bit overworked, since she is running delivery both there and here...and perhaps other places.  I really hate to complain about her, since she is so friendly and cheerful.  She even offered to help me carry groceries in from my car one day !

  ..And no guys, don't get any ideas..since I am nearing 88, and she is perhaps 30...

   I have experienced some of the delays thaat  Scattershot has..so wondered if it was a local or national problem.

[DDZ]

I also have a rural mail delivery, and my USPS is the best its ever been. Small community P.O. that does a good job. We also have an excellent woman that runs delivery, which I think makes a big difference. She cares about her job, and does the best she can. Unlike many people that don't care if they do a good job, just so they get a paycheck. 

[Ranger99]

That's good if your postal service
still functions as it's supposed to.
They all should,  but unfortunately
we enable and make excuses for
criminal behavior these days, and
theft, fraud, and embezzlement isn't
prosecuted and punished adequately
anymore.

[ironglow]

  I talked with a lady yesterday in the coffee shop.  Sheis an iold friend and a former USPS employee at the local PO.  She still has friends who are 
    working for USPS, so she clued me in on some things.

  Kim said the PO, like most institutions under the O'Biden mal-administrations, is suffering and hemorraging funds.  most rural delivery peoiple are
  not full employees, but rather "contract workers".. 

   If you use postage stamps, buy them up now...the "forever stanp" is due to jump another nickle soon.

  No longer a "post master" at each post office, but a postmaster that serves 5 or 6 offices...and is usually at aother location.

  Even in larger towns and cities, there is talk of "cluster boxes"... a bank of many post boxes on the nearest corner, rather than delivery to each
    residence..much like trailer parks or some year-around campgrounds.

  To be fair...the business of doing things on line rather than through the mail, has wounded the USPS..  Paying bills used to be a good profit margin
    for them..

    Of course, cranky employees have not helped their own job situation..

  Perhaps it is time they handed ALL their business over to UPS or Fedex..

 

[Bob Riebe]

USPS has a contract delivering some of the UPS packages for the UPS.

[gypsyman]

  Was pretty good for quite a few years. Then, the P.O. closed down the main office in Toledo, and all our mail was sent thru the Detroit office. For many years, wasn't worth a squat. Mailed a check to pay my TSC credit card, owed them about $15, Columbus was destination, a little over 2 hours away. Sent it 8 days before it was due, didn't get there for 2 weeks, and TSC sent me a bill for $20 for non payment on time. I was told at my local little office were I had a P.O. box at the time, it was probably the personnel they had to hire at the Detroit office. It has got better, as like stated, USPS is competing with UPS, has for many years, Amazon, and several other delivery service's. More money in delivering package's than letters, maybe?

[ironglow]

Around here,years ago mail was I belkieve, sent directly toward the address on the envelope.  Then a few years ago they got the brainstorm that they
   would route all our mail through the nearest large city (Buffalo).

 Now, according to my friend, they are transferring everything through Rochester.  It appears Rochester will gather mail from longer distances from
  west, east and south..further than they ever have.  (north is Lake Ontario)..

  Yes, UPS does much of their deliveries...  Should UPS get all the mail..and drop the USPS?

[gene_225]

Around here,years ago mail was I belkieve, sent directly toward the address on the envelope.  Then a few years ago they got the brainstorm that they
   would route all our mail through the nearest large city (Buffalo).

 Now, according to my friend, they are transferring everything through Rochester.  It appears Rochester will gather mail from longer distances from
  west, east and south..further than they ever have.  (north is Lake Ontario)..

  Yes, UPS does much of their deliveries...  Should UPS get all the mail..and drop the USPS?

No, UPS and FEDX usually can't find our cabin so they either send the PKG back or leave at a neighbor's cabin.

[Ranger99]

The last few years I've sold this
and that hunting/fishing/camping
accoutrements that are gathering
dust to folks on the various outdoor
groups I belong to.
Some along the eastern coast, some
along the great lakes.
Since they've had the huge bureaucracy
they have now, everything I send out
of town spends a 1-2 days at the local
office, then makes a trip to the big
"distribution center " right at 50 miles
W/NW of here. Then, it spends 2-3 days
minimum for those people to deal with
it before getting put on a truck to the
closest "distribution center " to the
final destination where it spends another
2-3 days letting those people diddle
with it. All the time knowing that THAT
"distribution center " might be miles
past the final destination of the package.
So it may well have to backtrack some
miles to the office that's local to the
final destination.
IMO it's so as many employees as
possible can lay hands on it to say that
their job and involvement was crucial
to the delivery of the package.

Just now received my medication that's
some days late getting here from the other
side of town. It can be driven in less
than an hour with traffic, but it's
imperative that everyone gets to handle
as many things as possible, even if
it's standing in front of an empty bin
and a full bin and taking things out of
the full bin with one hand and putting
them in the other bin with the other hand.

I sincerely hope none of yall have to
file a claim on a lost package that's
something expensive. If you don't
understand, I truly hope you never
have to find out

[ironglow]

The last few years I've sold this
and that hunting/fishing/camping
accoutrements that are gathering
dust to folks on the various outdoor
groups I belong to.
Some along the eastern coast, some
along the great lakes.
Since they've had the huge bureaucracy
they have now, everything I send out
of town spends a 1-2 days at the local
office, then makes a trip to the big
"distribution center " right at 50 miles
W/NW of here. Then, it spends 2-3 days
minimum for those people to deal with
it before getting put on a truck to the
closest "distribution center " to the
final destination where it spends another
2-3 days letting those people diddle
with it. All the time knowing that THAT
"distribution center " might be miles
past the final destination of the package.
So it may well have to backtrack some
miles to the office that's local to the
final destination.
IMO it's so as many employees as
possible can lay hands on it to say that
their job and involvement was crucial
to the delivery of the package.

Just now received my medication that's
some days late getting here from the other
side of town. It can be driven in less
than an hour with traffic, but it's
imperative that everyone gets to handle
as many things as possible, even if
it's standing in front of an empty bin
and a full bin and taking things out of
the full bin with one hand and putting
them in the other bin with the other hand.

I sincerely hope none of yall have to
file a claim on a lost package that's
something expensive. If you don't
understand, I truly hope you never
have to find out

     Big government efficency at work...

  As  things slide toward an "all holy" big government, we are likely to experience more an dmore delays, F - - ups and SNAFUS  in all government "services"..
  We used to hear of all the mess ups from "central planning" in the old Soviet Union..  Things like ACs and ceiling fans to Siberia..while shipping
  Swamp boots and machetes to the great Russian arctic desert.

  ....Continual examples of "carrying coal to Newcastle" !  To leftists, government is god...and their god can do no wrong...