USPS Delays

Question

What is going on with USPS. Multiple shipments are being delayed and eBay needs to help us sellers communicate broadly. It is not just express orders, but first class regular shipments. I can't get past the chat bot.

thunderdogct · Answer

Here is the info from google (sellers beware!!!!)

New Postmark and Processing Rules

A major policy change in early 2026 has shifted mail processing from local post offices to large Regional Processing and Delivery Centers (RPDCs).

Tracking Gaps: Your package may not receive its first "real" scan until it reaches a regional hub, which can take several days. This often results in tracking staying at "Label Created" or "Pre-Shipment" even while the item is in transit.
Postmark Delays: The official postmark now reflects when an item is first processed by an automated machine, not when it was dropped off, potentially adding 1–2 days to the official "start" date.

Amazon Seller Central +2

2. Service Standard Adjustments

Under the "Delivering for America" plan, USPS has officially adjusted service standards to save costs:

Intentional Slowdown: Approximately 11% of First-Class volume may experience longer delivery windows.
Shift to Ground Transport: USPS is moving more mail by truck instead of air, which is naturally slower but more cost-effective for the agency.

USPS +2

3. Immediate Regional Disruptions

Severe Weather: Snow and blizzard conditions in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, and Great Lakes regions (including Washington, Minnesota, and Illinois) are currently impacting processing and transportation.
Facility Consolidations: The ongoing launch of new Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DCs) in March 2026 has caused localized bottlenecks as operations are centralized.

USPS +1

4. Technical Incidents

On March 11, 2026, USPS reported a data delay incident (Incident 10465287) impacting multiple data feeds, which may explain why some tracking information is not updating in real-time.

USPS | PostalPro