Possible USPS job action.

[Paul Smith]

Up until now I have been rather defensive and supportive of our US Postal Service.

A couple weeks ago I thoroughly price-shopped all available shippers and USPS was, by far the low bidder.  The local PO in Utica Michigan is nice to deal with.

So, on January 21st I shipped two boxes from Utica.  One to Kansas and one to Colorado, both were promised to be delivered by January 25th.
The same day, a customer sent be a check from Kansas to Michigan, sent Jan 21, promised Jan 25.  He paid a high premium of $10.10 for expedited delivery.
There have been no forest fires, floods, hurricanes, or riots between Michigan, Kansas and Colorado.
The Colorado package made the trip in three days, which is the normal proper service I expect.
The check showed up January 30th, which is better than nothing, but still!  Nine days for a letter size envelope!
The kit is still out there someplace after ten days.  USPS tracking just says:

OK, you shipped it Jan 21.
We promised Jan 25 delivery
Still not delivered Jan 31.
So what!  It's just late.

I went to the PO and the nice clerk went in back and used his special private computer.  Result: It made as far as Pontiac Michigan.  If you don't get resutls by Monday (Feb 3) file a claim.

I addressed this with an enlarged photocopy of the customer's address and stuck on a machine printed return address.

I still expect that the package will either get to destination or back to me at some point in time, with no explanation or excuse from USPS.

I suspect some sort of employee job action in protest to the new President.

[Dave_Trible]

I have had things delayed several days beyond when they were supposed to arrive.   My postman says the major problem is they are pretty short handed.   When someone gets sick there is nobody else available to carry that persons load.   It usually just sits until they return.   I’d suspect it is more a problem of trying to cut postal staff than other motives.   Write to Mr. Dujoy.   See if that letter arrives.

Dave

[Paul Smith]

What got my attention is TWO pieces of mail going opposite ways from the same addresses, BOTH long-delayed, in this case, a three-day trip that took ten days one way and eleven and counting the other way.

It isn't Christmas or Valentines Day.  But Ground Hog Day is just around the corner.

[Dan McEntee]

    I have had 5 packages that I was expecting this month, and non of them arrived on time. One spent almost two weeks going back and forth between two distribution centers here in the area, and another spent about 5 days ping ponging around. I went to the post office to check on the first one, and they checked and claimed there was a problem with the label, and that I should file a claim. These were all eBay purchases so I was pretty sure that they all had computer generated labels on them, nice , crisp and clean and easy to read. I went home and got into my Informed Mail account and found the form for "Missing Package Search" and filled that out with the tracking number, sender's address, and my address along with cell phone and email contacts. That was Saturday afternoon. On Monday Morning I woke up to text alerts and emails that the package was "Out For Delivery" !! The second set of packages got delivered to the wrong address. They were CLEARLY labeled with my address and this just means that the carrier didn't give a damn and didn't look at the label to make sure it matched the house number and street name. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!!. And it happens WAY too much!! Another eBay purchase was given an identical tracking number as a UPS delivery that , by chance, went t5o an address near me and was under a different name. I got the email notice from eBay that it was delivered, but nothing ever came to my house. I contacted UPS Customer Service, and they told me the name and address that was related to the tracking number, so I went there to check up on it. A very nice lady who reminded me of my dear departed Mother listened to my story , showed me this huge pile of heavy boxes that contained shelving for her son, and even suggested  taking a photo of the shipping label, and that came in handy later. Some more time passed and the seller tried to extort me by telling me their account was locked, and if I would cease the actions I had started, t6hey would give me a refund. I refused, and asked for a replacement, which was a set of JIS screw drivers. They sent me a notice that they had shipped another but it had the same, bad UPS tracking number!!! In the end, when the time limit ran out, eBay sided with him and didn't gran6t me the refund because he had proof that it was delivered. The people at eBay Customer Service must be as dumb as a box of rocks also. I filed an appeal and sent the photo of the shipping label with the tracking number, and again asked them to compare that to the one that I was sent. Two days later, I got the refund, but the seller, who I think intentionally tried to defraud me, gets to still do business. I have no way of knowing if the screw drivers were ever shipped or not. 
     This NEVER used to happen!! I have a last name that people have trouble spelling and pronouncing, live in a city with a name that is difficult to spell and pronounce, and a street name that is the same also!! In the past I have had packages and letters delivered with one of these, and even all three, messed up and they STILL got delivered to my house on time!! That was because we had a postal service manned by workers that cared about the customer and took pride in doing their job. These jobs don't pay chump change either. I saw an article where a letter carrier showed a picture of his paycheck and with over time is making over $100,000 a year! They also have a great retirement plan. Why they can not hire and retain good workers only leads to the fact that people these days do NOT want to work for a living. Yes, a letter carrier has to walk outside in the cold and rain, but that's part of the job, and it isn't cold and rainy every day. You dress and prepare for the conditions. The USPS obviously has a culture that does not encourage pride in their work and providing good service, and you can see that just by trying to find out where your package is!! We had a 8" deep snow here over January 5th and 6th, and it seemed to paralyze everything!! I got NO mail for the entire week after that. The USPS blamed the weather, naturally, but I will have times where I get my morning Informed Mail alerts, but see no mail that day, and sometimes that goes for two or three days. The USPS has been mismanaged for many years and they have dug themselves a deep hole that they don't know how to get out of. Even with bar codes and all the new technology, they still can't get a simple letter from point A to point B on time. And I won't even get into the things I saw and experienced at the printing company I used to work at, where we did a lot of direct mailing, and had postal workers who just sat on their ass in the lunchroom reading the paper all day!! It's a double whammy of a bad corporate culture and poor workers attitudes. The sad part is we have really no alternative!
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[GallopingGhostler]

It used to be that USPS had veteran preference above others, which many postal workers were prior military service. Overall, they did a very good job and kept the agency running smoothly, faithfully delivering mail as expected along with good processing. Many stayed until retirement.

IMO, DEI has taken precedence, so we no longer have this strong basis of qualified candidates. IMO, this DEI started back with President Bill Clinton.

Hopefully, the new administration will be able to address this.

But like in all systems, it takes a while to undo what another foolishly started.

And, a little soap box ... I remember in the early 1970's, that the US Army had a higher number of racial minorities in it. However, it was a meritocracy, one had to prove themselves to get promoted. It wasn't white versus black or male versus female, etc.

I thought it was a very fair system then. Many made it a career because of this unbiased fairness. Those are my personal experiences. It is why that I continued in reserves until vested in their non-regular retirement (taken after age 60). it was nice to meet with regular folk without an agenda, away from workplace politics.

I hope the new administration can restore the military services back to their high standards of service as previously.

[Ty Marcucci]

Here in Huntsville, the USPS has a new program called "meet your neighbors"..How this works is the delivery person puts your mail in the neighbors box and his mail in your box.. Thus I have met people I didn't know. This program is ongoing for about 6 months now.

[Dan McEntee]

Here in Huntsville, the USPS has a new program called "meet your neighbors"..How this works is the delivery person puts your mail in the neighbors box and his mail in your box.. Thus I have met people I didn't know. This program is ongoing for about 6 months now.

   Yep, been down that road also!! After the last regular guy we had retired, we went through a series of temporary help until we got a new regular guy. The first week, he managed to get EVERY HOUSE ON THE STREET WRONG!! He obviously never looked at the house numbers and compared that to the mail!! At least he was on the correct street!!
    Type at you later,
    Dan  McEntee

[944_Jim]

All I can say is "uggh." I live on a numbered Avenue in a house numbered very much like the Ave number. I also live on the north side of town. Occasionally I get mail addressed to a school house with a very similar "house" number as mine, but on the Street (not Avenue) on the south side of town. One time I was waiting on a package "out for delivery," then delivered...but not to me.
At the same time I had mail for the school house so I skipped over the next day to ask if they got my package. The staff, and particularly the principal told me in no uncertain terms that USPS never makes mistakes. They really didn't care to entertain my questions or concerns. I ran out of patience, and suggested theirs never comes to me. Then I tossed their mail in their garbage can and walked out (admittedly not one of my more gentlemanly interchanges at that point). This just goes on and on, so I tell senders to ensure the address is correct, take pictures of the address label, send insured and forward the tracking number.

I borrowed a forum member's JRoberts Cobra kit and was on pins and needles while it worked it's way here. Likewise, I ensured to insure the kit on the return leg. I think I was hyper-ventilating the entire time it worked it's way across the two state lines between us!

FedEx and UPS are not much better, and if called to recover a mis-delivered box, they are quick to suggest I should deliver it on their behalf-really! It is so bad, I'm starting to change my buying habits to either local purchases or not buying at all!

[Gary Dowler]

My daughter ordered something that shipped USPS and should have arrived about Dec 20th.  It got stuck at a point somewhere in the USPS system and remained there for a month.  It finally arrived out of the blue on January 25th, 35or so days late.

The USPS indeed has some good people, but the entity needs to be completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up. It is so inefficient (loosing billions every year)  bloated and filled with so many people, many of whom are very lazy, that I fear there is nothing that will fix it but a complete teardown and rebuild.

Gary

[Paul Smith]

I started a test today.  I photocopied the same identical address I used for the package back on Jan 21 and mailed a simple letter from the same post office, handing it to the same man who received, priced, and stamped the kit.

Yes, the USPS has a lot of good people.  But it only takes one bad link to break a strong chain.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

In some cases I'm sure weather played a part.  Not in all cases certainly, but ...  Large swaths of the country have been hit with unusual winter storms.

Nine (9) semi trailers blew over on Wyoming highways last week, with winds gusting to 85 mph.  Highway 25 North and South from Casper was closed, along with Interstate 80.

The Postal Service is also in turmoil.  The (previously very efficient) processing center here in Casper is being closed, leaving the entire state of Wyoming with second class service.  Our mail will now go to Denver first.

I dropped off several packages on January 22nd.  Tracking shows them received in Casper on the 22nd and delivered in Casper on the 22nd - never mind that they were all addressed to out-of-state recipients.

It's going to get worse unless changes are made quickly - those in the cities might get even faster deliveries, while we in rural areas may soon wish for "the old days" when it comes to mail service.

Dennis

[Dennis Toth]

Paul,
One firm that I have been using for several years now is 'Pirate Shipping". (https://www.pirateship.com/) Several others on the forum have used them and they are reliable with very good pricing.

Best,   DennisT

[Joseph Lijoi]

I suspect some sort of employee job action in protest to the new President.
[/quote]

Great call man. Maybe it's a DEI hire. Or maybe one of those J6 goons had to go back to the post office to work since his recording career didn't take off like he expected.

[Paul Smith]

Oh, what a relief it is.

The USPS promised 4-5 day delivery.
On the 5th day the tracking says, "OK it's late".
No update for ten days.  Nothing.  This was beginning to make me nervous.
On the 15th day of the 4-5 days, I got a report that's it's on the customers porch.
And, better yet, a report of OK condition.

I guess that a business shipping hundreds or thousands of cheap easily-replaced products wouldn't be concerned about percentage of loss.
But shipping just one out-of-production kit is another matter.  I passed on the insurance on the theory that money wouldn't really compensate for the loss of the kit.  But maybe postal insurance is a form of extortion. As in, "if you don't pay the godfather you will wish you did."

[GallopingGhostler]

I passed on the insurance on the theory that money wouldn't really compensate for the loss of the kit.  But maybe postal insurance is a form of extortion. As in, "if you don't pay the godfather you will wish you did."

Last November I sent a letter of inquiry to an out of state vendor, hadn't received my deposit yet after a month. I sent the letter via certified with return signature postcard. It took 3 weeks to cross 4 state lines. I should have just sent it with tracking.

Had a hazmat priority mail shipping of a small 12 Volt sealed lead acid battery I ordered for a battery backup garage door opener start its USPS trek on Jan. 19, 2025 from a Dallas suburb, then five (5) "in transit to next facility" statuses. It finally left Dallas Jan. 29, to Chicago, then back to Dallas on Feb. 1. Since, got two (2) "in transit to next facility". This "in transit to next facility is new. They used to state exactly what city it passed through.

There might be some pushback, but I don't think so. They are now cleaning the dead wood at the top. It may take some time, but give it a year. The previous administration at the very top forgot that they are here to serve the people. Unfortunately, a good number of Federal employees who were doing the brunt of the work decided to retire early or if younger left for other employers.

I'm still waiting for all the bleeding heart celebrities who said they were leaving US if Trump got elected actually leave. It would make this a far better place, IMO if they truly would carry out their promises, but I seriously doubt it, just like 8 years ago. 

[Rusty]

I suggest looking for the kit on ebay given the USPS criminal reputation.  They lost (or stole or trashed) 3 certified letters, all deliverable in my state in two years.  I demanded to speak to the post master where I mailed them and he refused to talk to me.  They sent a clerk to see what I wanted.  The comment that stuck with me was when he said, "This happens all the time."  I than asked why isn't people being fired and he walked away.  America needs a new mail system. 

[Dave_Trible]

The postal service and the head guy are chosen and operated by a Board of Governors.   That board, selected to seven year terms were all put in place by "45".   I'm going to miss the spinners, wheels , hinges a few props , etc.,  I get from China through Ebay (maybe close to the only source left for these type things).   The USPS just shut off importing small packages from China and Hong Kong.

Dave

[Paul Smith]

After ten days of worry, I've learned my lesson about dealing with USPS.

If I ship another $300 package I'll ensure it for $600.  That way I'm make a profit if they lose it.
But they won't lose it because they never lose over-ensured packages.

Such is the life of dealing with the low bidder.  FedEx, UPS, and Railway Express all wanted over $160 vs $35 for USPS.

[Dennis Leonhardi]

The postal service and the head guy are chosen and operated by a Board of Governors.   That board, selected to seven year terms were all put in place by "45".

Dave

Not true, Dave.  Where do you find that kind of "information"?

Four (4) of the Six (6) current "Governors" were appointed by Biden.  But Democratic Presidents have appointed Republicans to the Board, as have Republican Presidents appointed Democrats.  In an ideal world, politics wouldn't enter into the process.

That said, I'd like to see Trump's Postmaster General - Louis DeJoy - gone tonight, but reality is the Board of Governors has had to approve his plans.

Reality is his 10-year plan is designed to speed up service to those living in "urban" areas at the expense of those of us living in "rural" areas.  There's been substantial outcry from many members of the Senate, among others, but to no avail. 

26 senators tell USPS to ‘pause all changes’ to delivery network until regulator’s review - https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2024/05/26-senators-tell-usps-to-pause-all-changes-to-delivery-network-until-regulators-review/

The entire state of Wyoming is considered "rural".  And we ain't happy!

Dennis

[Dave_Trible]

Not true, Dave.  Where do you find that kind of "information"?

Four (4) of the Six (6) current "Governors" were appointed by Biden.  But Democratic Presidents have appointed Republicans to the Board, as have Republican Presidents appointed Democrats.  In an ideal world, politics wouldn't enter into the process.

That said, I'd like to see Trump's Postmaster General - Louis DeJoy - gone tonight, but reality is the Board of Governors has had to approve his plans.

Reality is his 10-year plan is designed to speed up service to those living in "urban" areas at the expense of those of us living in "rural" areas.  There's been substantial outcry from many members of the Senate, among others, but to no avail. 

26 senators tell USPS to ‘pause all changes’ to delivery network until regulator’s review - https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2024/05/26-senators-tell-usps-to-pause-all-changes-to-delivery-network-until-regulators-review/

The entire state of Wyoming is considered "rural".  And we ain't happy!

Dennis

Thats what came up when I googled it......

Dave

[Dick Pacini]

Paul,
One firm that I have been using for several years now is 'Pirate Shipping". (https://www.pirateship.com/) Several others on the forum have used them and they are reliable with very good pricing.

Best,   DennisT

I use Pirate Ship and they are basically a broker that finds the best and cheapest way to ship an item.  They show a list and you make the choice or select the one they show as cheapest.

Today I shipped a 6 pound box and Pirate Ship showed me the USPS price of $9.10.  I selected that and printed out the label for the USPS.  They deducted the cost from my default account.

[Paul Smith]

I remember President Eisenhower's Postmaster General Arthur Sommerfield.  He did a great job. 
Before he got into The Cabinet, he owned Sommerfield Chevrolet, the bigger Chevy dealer in Flint Michigan.
Across the street from his dealership is The Sommerfield Post Office, Michigan's biggest and best post office.

There is A LOT to be said about giving Cabinet positions to men who know how to run a business. 
Mr Sommerfield only charged 3 cents for a first class letter and a penny for a post card.

[GallopingGhostler]

Post above I posted 2 days ago, my garage door opener backup battery arrived yesterday. Installed, cleared error message and periodic beeps. What normally took less than a week from Dallas TX to Clovis NM took several weeks. At least I got it. Otherwise, most everything else has come through as it should have. In general, the USPS shipments have had less damage than UPS and FedEx boxes, although as of late it seems they are trying to clean up their act.

[katana]

I think this is a worldwide problem - post / mail is largely an out dated concept when faced with e-mail and delivery services! Here in the UK this morning, a TV crew went out and asked various people when they last sent or received a letter (our post office service is trying to stop Saturday deliveries to save money). A lot of 'younger' people have only ever sent birthday cards, some have never sent a letter / card, and when asked about the cost of a stamp (1st class letter post here costs £1.65 / about $2.00) and the guesses varied wildly from 50p (which it was back in the 80's) to £7.00 ! ! ! Its a dying thing and as the older generations die out, it becomes more un-sustainable! 

[Dan McEntee]

I think this is a worldwide problem - post / mail is largely an out dated concept when faced with e-mail and delivery services! Here in the UK this morning, a TV crew went out and asked various people when they last sent or received a letter (our post office service is trying to stop Saturday deliveries to save money). A lot of 'younger' people have only ever sent birthday cards, some have never sent a letter / card, and when asked about the cost of a stamp (1st class letter post here costs £1.65 / about $2.00) and the guesses varied wildly from 50p (which it was back in the 80's) to £7.00 ! ! ! Its a dying thing and as the older generations die out, it becomes more un-sustainable! 

   We are a much bigger country with much more population that still relies on the Postal Service for a lot of communication and commerce. No matter what the advances of the internet and email has brought about, there is still a need. The on line vendors need the USPS for package delivery in addition to the other existing services because they go more places and handle a bigger variety of smaller packages. Letters or anything in an envelope are almost all automated for most of their handling. What is irritating is the outright theft and just plain indifference in the USPS on an everyday basis. Most of the problems boil down to a human being caring about the customer and being consciences is doing his or her job! I see it every time I have to go into a post office. I used to see it from the postal employees I would see at work. It is seen in the everyday poor performance of their duties that we never used to have before. They can't make up their mind on what the problem is. If there is less volume, then you would think there would be fewer problems but there are far more. I have known people that worked for the USPS that told me the pay and benefits are great but the culture there sucks! I think that is the root problem. The people and their attitudes from top to bottom!
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee
   

[Paul Smith]

The US Mail is a basic Constitutional Right, as stated in the original document, not just one of those flakey amendments that come & go. 

Reducing the work week from six to five days does not reduce the total work volume.  If such a thing were done, the work force would increase during the shortened work week and result in more headcount with the associated benefit cost.

The "six day" work week is something of a farse considering the every-growing plethora of Federal "holidays". 
The occasional actual six day work week is, most likely' viewed as cruel and inhuman punishment.

[Dave_Trible]

Postmaster Dejoy came in with the plan to destroy the post office from the beginning.   Why?   To have it taken over by a for-profit business.   He had said as much before he was appointed.   They had partially installed new high speed processing equipment.  He had it all removed.    He closed several busy processing centers.    The post office is made to pay ten full years ahead into their retirement system to cash-strap them.  He has almost succeeded.    Bad attitude?   Sort of understandable.   He made the work environment.....postal...

Dave

[john e. holliday]

The USPS needs to charge more for all the stuff I have to put in the recycle barrel.

[realSteveSmith]

Postmaster Dejoy came in with the plan to destroy the post office from the beginning.   Why?   To have it taken over by a for-profit business.   He had said as much before he was appointed.   They had partially installed new high speed processing equipment.  He had it all removed.    He closed several busy processing centers.    The post office is made to pay ten full years ahead into their retirement system to cash-strap them.  He has almost succeeded.    Bad attitude?   Sort of understandable.   He made the work environment.....postal...

Dave

Dave....my understanding was they have to fund a full 75 years in advance.  If you want to read more, this was part of the 'Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act' signed into law by GWB, in 2006.  As you suggested, the entire point was to put them out of business, thus out of competition with the likes of UPS, FedEX, DHL, etc.  No doubt, there was some serious lobbying money thrown around to encourage this course.  It's interesting to note that many of the same members of Congress that passed this law (thereby demanding that USPS be 'accountable') also voted to help Wall Street and other large elements of Corporate America hide from accountability after the crash of 2008.

[Dave_Trible]

Dave....my understanding was they have to fund a full 75 years in advance.  If you want to read more, this was part of the 'Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act' signed into law by GWB, in 2006.  As you suggested, the entire point was to put them out of business, thus out of competition with the likes of UPS, FedEX, DHL, etc.  No doubt, there was some serious lobbying money thrown around to encourage this course.  It's interesting to note that many of the same members of Congress that passed this law (thereby demanding that USPS be 'accountable') also voted to help Wall Street and other large elements of Corporate America hide from accountability after the crash of 2008.

Funny how that works sometimes.....corporations are people you know.....

Dave

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I’m always astounded by some of what I read here presented as “fact”.

Example: Does it state somewhere in that 2006 Law the objective is to eliminate the Postal Service? (Just asking for a friend, of course ...)

I’m also grinning after seeing the term “postal” here.  As one who briefly delivered mail, I stated here some years ago working for the USPS can be pretty stressful - and got largely ridiculed for the comment.  (My favorite mail clerk in our previous city worked for USPS for more than a dozen years - and didn’t know where he would be working from one week to the next, sometimes one day to the next.)

As an eBay seller, I use the Postal Service much more now than 20 years ago.  We’ve received as many as 3 packages in a single day just this week.  And as contributors to non-profits, we’ve actually received as many as 4 appeals by mail in a single day.  Not to mention advertising and personal business mail.

You want to eliminate the Postal Service?  And pay an extra $15 or more for delivery to an isolated area?

When frustrated by poor service, idiots, etc., I try to achieve change instead of just complaining.  And I make a LOT of mistakes!  But - based on “inside knowledge” after USPS service - here’s one of my experiences -

I was shipping many packages via First Class Mail and dropping them off at the local Post Office.  I found instructions on the USPS website and confirmed the validity of the service for those packages with a call to USPS National Customer Service.

So, I was shocked one morning when the clerk informed me they would no longer accept those packages.

She stated the Postmaster had given her those instructions; I asked her to check with him again.  She returned after speaking with him and assured me that was the case.  Whereupon I asked for the name and phone number of the Area Supervisor.

She returned from another visit to the Postmaster to inform me, “Never mind, we’ll keep taking them.”

One of the things I learned early in life is there is usually a chain of command - that is, most of us report to someone who reports to someone ...  Working up the chain is generally much more effective than just bit--ing ...

Your own mileage, of course, may vary.

Dennis

[Dave_Trible]

I have NO desire to eliminate the postal service- others do and have made it obvious by their actions,  like Dejoy.   He has been called before congress numerous times and asked to resign.    It would just be better if he and others would get out of the way,   stop trying to make a buck on everything they think they can get ahold of,  and just let the postal service do it's thing without obstruction.  In all most of the time I wouldn't complain too much about the service though like everyone else I''ve waited and waited at times.   It just seems to me that if folks want to place blame they should understand what and who to blame.    The average postal worker is doing their job as best they can with very little support from above their office.


Dave

[Dennis Leonhardi]

I have NO desire to eliminate the postal service- others do and have made it obvious by their actions,  like Dejoy.   He has been called before congress numerous times and asked to resign.    It would just be better if he and others would get out of the way,   stop trying to make a buck on everything they think they can get ahold of,  and just let the postal service do it's thing without obstruction.  In all most of the time I wouldn't complain too much about the service though like everyone else I''ve waited and waited at times.   It just seems to me that if folks want to place blame they should understand what and who to blame.    The average postal worker is doing their job as best they can with very little support from above their office.

Dave

Dave, aren't you ignoring the fact DeJoy's programs won't go anywhere without the approval of the Board of Governors?

Complaints about delivery?  Do you and others here realize many of those who deliver have No Benefits, No real path forward?  That Postmasters are promoted based on service, not the ability to even get along with people, much less manage them?

Dennis

[Dave_Trible]

Well a lot of what he wanted to accomplish he has already,  eroding the faith in many eyes of the postal system.   Yet again one should also consider where the Board members come from as well and what their desires are.    Maybe there has been SOME balance over these years,  we can hope hope so.   There probably could be a lot of improvements to the system.    It's very obvious that would require a change in leadership and a strong desire for the service to continue as it was designed to do.   I do know after years in the corporate/business world,   this gentleman would have been replaced a long time ago.

Dave

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Well a lot of what he wanted to accomplish he has already,  eroding the faith in many eyes of the postal system.   Yet again one should also consider where the Board members come from as well and what their desires are.    Maybe there has been SOME balance over these years,  we can hope hope so.   There probably could be a lot of improvements to the system.    It's very obvious that would require a change in leadership and a strong desire for the service to continue as it was designed to do.   I do know after years in the corporate/business world,   this gentleman would have been replaced a long time ago.

Dave

On that we can mostly agree Dave, although I admit (in most cases) to not having the ability to read the hearts, minds and intentions of others.  I'd like to think many in public service want the best - as they see it - for the public they serve.  The USPS really needs major changes, and I'm not referring to delivery schedules.  It needs to accept no enterprise will achieve greatly without good leadership, from the top down.  A phone call from a Supervisor should not create fear ...

Dennis

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Postal Regulatory Commission Says Rural Populations Will Suffer Under ‘Delivering For America’ Plan -

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/02/10/postal-regulatory-commission-says-rural-populations-will-suffer-under-delivering-for-america-plan/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=eBvbd4OiYgUVzSf0C14c0KA8VbCaMe441KeM5nv9zp5zKEVMcLRf7xDxKlsMXHpO.UXPtrV

Dennis

[Steve Helmick]

From reading the online news from "Cowboy State News" (IIRC), the rural delivery is most of the problem with Wyoming's mail system. Folks are being forced to go to town (which might admittedly be a fur piece) to get their mail. But once a week should suffice, judging from the crap that is put in my mailbox.

As far as criminal activity in the USPS, we should count our blessings. My brother sent me a Christmas card with two crisp $50 bills stapled inside it, and I think it may have been a day or two late. In other parts of the world, modelers order obscure items that have no known use to the general public, but they are sometimes spotted by the original purchaser in a black market stall with a price tag on it. Wouldn't that chap your hide?    Steve

[GallopingGhostler]

The USPS really needs major changes, and I'm not referring to delivery schedules.  It needs to accept no enterprise will achieve greatly without good leadership, from the top down.  A phone call from a Supervisor should not create fear ...

Dennis, you have first hand experience having worked for them.

Work took me to Alamogordo, NM in 2010. The post office then in that small city was poorly run, one employee behind the counter was very beligerent. At times I would go to another post office run by an independent contractor in a store, and mail my stuff from there.

I was gone for 2 weeks on training for work, filed a hold-mail notice. When I came back, our mailbox was stuffed full, lost some mail due to wind.

We stayed only 2 years there, then I retired and left. If we had stayed, I would have rented a box from an independent mail office and have all my mail and packages sent there, so I would not have to deal with that office.

Most places I lived, we had good results from USPS. It was that one office that sucked.   

[Paul Smith]

I had a friend who ran a small business.  He took delivery for me on packages from overseas that required a live signature during business hours.  This worked WELL while he was in business.

If you have trusted local business this is a good way to go vs renting a box at a franchise business. 

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Possibly better things to come? -

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/02/18/dejoy-gave-himself-an-a-for-gutting-rural-mail-delivery-now-says-hes-quitting/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&_kx=eBvbd4OiYgUVzSf0C14c0KA8VbCaMe441KeM5nv9zp5zKEVMcLRf7xDxKlsMXHpO.UXPtrV

Dennis

[spare_parts]

The Indianapolis hub was(is?) experiencing substantial delays. If it went through Indy, it's going to be late.

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/indiana-congressman-uncovers-the-reasoning-behind-usps-delays-at-indianapolis-distribution-hub

[Dan McEntee]

The Indianapolis hub was(is?) experiencing substantial delays. If it went through Indy, it's going to be late.

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/indiana-congressman-uncovers-the-reasoning-behind-usps-delays-at-indianapolis-distribution-hub

    I have never gotten any mail on time. Several packages that bounced back and forth between the two "sorting/distribution centers" that here in my area and one is about 3 miles from my house. They get from the sender to my area fairly quickly, but then take twice that time just to get delivered !! I think my record for a package to actually be here in town before it was delivered is 8 days !! In my mind it's a matter of people doing the job!! It never used to be this way!! I have informed mail service that the USPS offers and my mail is running a couplie of days late right now. If they are shorthanded, why can they not hire and train more people? These people don't make chump change!! I saw a video recently of a guy who was a letter carrier that said with OT he was making 6 figures and showed a pay stub to prove it! yeah, you may get cold  or hot and you may get wet but you are compensated for that! It's part of the job!! Their retirement benefits are reported to be very good. What's it take to get people to actually work these days!!
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Joseph Lijoi]

Dejoy is resigning. Trump is expected to fire the board an possibly privatize the USPS.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/20/trump-usps-takeover-dejoy/

[Dave_Trible]

The plan all along.....

Dave

[Ken Culbertson]

I read that he was planning to move it under the Dept. of Commerce.  It is provided for in the Constitution. 

Ken

[John Rist]

I guess  am lucky.  I seem to have good mail service.  Some times it is fairly late in the day but outside of that it has been ok.  I went to :  https://www.usps.com/  ,  and signed up for email alerts for incoming mail.  Seems to work well.   

[Dan McEntee]

I guess  am lucky.  I seem to have good mail service.  Some times it is fairly late in the day but outside of that it has been ok.  I went to :  https://www.usps.com/  ,  and signed up for email alerts for incoming mail.  Seems to work well.   

   That service is called "Informed Mail" and I have it also, primarily to help me track packages!! It is worth having to get an idea of what will be in that days mail, if they actually deliver it!! Last week we had a little more snow and it made the deliveries run 2 days behind what I was seeing on Informed Mail. Warmer weather will hep, and also some newer, better management and hiring practices!!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee