The new service standards for first-class mail and packages, which started Oct. That means that letters, parcels and magazine subscriptions traveling longer distances could take up to five days to arrive, instead of two or three days. There was a price increase in August and the Postal Service just temporarily increased the cost to ship a parcel during the holiday season.
The current changes are part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's year Delivering for America plan to overhaul the agency and try to tackle its massive debt. Besides lengthening mail timetables and raising rates, DeJoy's plan, which has generated controversy , also reduces post office hours. And every hour, an average of On top of that, there's been a massive decline in the volume of first-class mail like letters, cards and bills as Americans rely more and more on electronic payments and communication.
The rising demand of e-commerce also means that the agency is struggling to match the quick delivery of packages from competitors like UPS, FedEx and even Amazon itself, which has its own delivery network. We'll explain how the Postal Service's changes affect you. Costlier or erratic mail delivery could lead to delays in wedding invitations, birthday cards, unemployment checks, mail-in ballots or child tax credit payments. Below, we'll explain what these price hikes and delays mean, what to do if you're facing a holdup with a package, and what options you have to send mail.
This story was recently updated. The Postal Service has said it's struggling to meet high performance standards, and it's been financially underwater for a while now. The COVID pandemic exacerbated its sluggish service and cash crisis, as staffing shortages collided with both the surge of online buying for essentials and the influx of election ballots, which pushed DeJoy into the national spotlight.
More on that below. One way the USPS plans to reduce costs is by using fewer airplanes to ship mail and instead use more trucks, which can move a higher volume of mail for less money.
Ground transportation is also more reliable than air in all seasons, according to the Postal Service. When asked for comment, a Postal Service spokesperson said the new service standards will increase delivery reliability, consistency and efficiency for customers. The year plan also includes a multibillion-dollar contract to modernize the ancient delivery vehicle fleet , with the new trucks appearing on carrier routes in There are also proposed investments in equipment and infrastructure to help transport the growing volume of packages more efficiently, as well as upgrades to postal facilities.
Not all first-class mail will be affected by the new service standards. Click here to view sample tracking numbers by mail service. Enter up to 35 tracking numbers separated by commas and click 'Track. If there is no status available or the information has not changed since the last time you viewed it, check back regularly as information is updated periodically throughout the day. If you have questions about the status of your mailpiece, you may contact us.
If you were notified by a shipper that they have sent out a package and believe it has been delayed or possibly lost, contact the mailer of the item and request them to:.
If you are experiencing a delay in receiving magazines or periodicals, please contact the publisher of the magazine to ensure they have your correct information and the subscription has not expired. Often there are identifying marks on an envelope that pinpoint the cause of a delay. Go to USPS. Sign In. FAQs Home. Does Ground Service go to Puerto Rico? Who is Jimish Kothari? What is a Commercial Invoice for Customs?
Learn how long your returned package might take to come back to you and what to expect from USPS when it happens. Post a Comment Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Post Comment. Related Shipping Guides. See all guides See all guides. About the Author. Average number of days based on origin and destination. Available only for certain products and to certain destinations. Restrictions and exclusions apply. Insurance does not cover certain items.
For details, visit Priority Mail Express service comes with a signature option. PS Form by mail only. Restrictions apply. Skip to Main Content. English Use arrow key to access related widget.
0コメント