I ship via USPS all the time. VERY dependable I find Over the years I've shipped well over 1,000 parcels, 99.9% on time. Yes..A bit of slippage as of late BUT my still the "go to" shipper. Even a package I rec'd from New Zealand 2 weeks ago arrived quickly without delay. WAY WAY WAY better than Fedex Home Delivery for on time performance.
I'll echo and add AMEN! to the positives on USPS. But - (1) I do believe service varies from region to region, and (2) don't think there is any question service in virtually every industry and area has suffered in the days of the pandemic.
And let me add: Many or most carriers are not full-time, permanent USPS employees. Both my wife and I have done stints as "Rural Carrier Associates"; the turnover tends to be very high.
I've shipped all over the world for 20+ years, and - unless there are drastic changes - USPS will always be my shipping method of choice.
How about this option: We purchased an item online from Home Depot recently. Advertised as very quick delivery. An (obviously contracted) shipping service arrived days later and left FIVE (5) items at our front door. Took a few days for Home Depot to even acknowledge the error; I then found myself corresponding by email with someone outside the U.S. who was providing "customer service" for Home Depot - and whose English was somewhat handicapped.
About a week later, the shipping service returned and picked up THREE of the FOUR items left in error. More contact ensued - again with someone outside the U.S. - and finally, about 2 weeks after the initial delivery, the FOURTH item left in error was picked up.
All things are relative. Did I mention feeling the USPS is doing a really outstanding job for the most part, especially in the current environment?
Dennis