eBay

andrew547 · ‎03-16-2020

From a San Jose newspaper today 3/16:

The U.S. Postal Service will close all offices until further notice to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Unless otherwise notified, services will otherwise continue “without interruption,” according to an announcement from USPS today.

This is one of the 7 Bay Area counties that issued the "shelter in place for 3 weeks" order of the public that starts at midnight tonight. Only essential services workers are supposed to be out, which includes mail, but this does not mean the post office will necessarily be open.

Does anyone know if post offices are indeed closed? If so, how are we supposed to ship? Flag down mail carriers? The USPS did say they will continue service without interruption so I assume they are still delivering mail.

God, if we aren't careful, there will be no economy left to save.

picknparley · ‎03-16-2020

You can always schedule a package pick-up on USPS . com

We may all have to suspend shipment for a few weeks. Each area is going to be different. Highly populated areas have tighter restrictions.

nobody*s_perfect · ‎03-16-2020

If there is still carrier delivery, then there should also still be carrier pickup?

The USPS page regarding service alerts has nothing (yet) about any service interruptions in those areas.

https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/residential/welcome.htm

mtgraves7984 · ‎03-16-2020

Just keeping the public out of the facilities. You should receive your regular pickup and delivery. Stay well.

andrew547 · ‎03-16-2020

I can't do a pickup. There is no way for a postal delivery person to contact me at my location, as it is secure with no public intercom. Unless USPS pickup can call me, which I doubt, I'm out of luck and will have to wander the streets looking for a delivery person every day for the next 3 weeks. Joy joy.

prettywoman-2012 · ‎03-16-2020

@andrew547 wrote:
From a San Jose newspaper today 3/16:

The U.S. Postal Service will close all offices until further notice to slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Unless otherwise notified, services will otherwise continue “without interruption,” according to an announcement from USPS today.

This is one of the 7 Bay Area counties that issued the "shelter in place for 3 weeks" order of the public that starts at midnight tonight. Only essential services workers are supposed to be out, which includes mail, but this does not mean the post office will necessarily be open.

Does anyone know if post offices are indeed closed? If so, how are we supposed to ship? Flag down mail carriers? The USPS did say they will continue service without interruption so I assume they are still delivering mail.

God, if we aren't careful, there will be no economy left to save.

I am still sending and receiving packages from / to NM. Schools are shut down since last Friday (effective today, Monday) but I have not heard anything yet about the USPS shutting down here.

PW

wastingtime101 · ‎03-16-2020

@andrew547 wrote:
I can't do a pickup. There is no way for a postal delivery person to contact me at my location, as it is secure with no public intercom. Unless USPS pickup can call me, which I doubt, I'm out of luck and will have to wander the streets looking for a delivery person every day for the next 3 weeks. Joy joy.

Where does USPS deliver your mail? Can you not leave packages by your mail receptacle?

Are you friendly with anybody who lives nearby? Can you work with them to arrange pickup at their location and all you have to do is drop off the packages?

Walk without rhythm, it won't attract the worm.

sodelight · ‎03-16-2020

If you know your carrier's approximate regular delivery time you could wait near the delivery area. OR got to a nearby drop box, which always has pick up times stated, wait in your car for the truck to show up.

greatmidwestcoin · ‎03-16-2020

Thanks to your Mayor. Not because of the USPS.

greatmidwestcoin · ‎03-16-2020

Thank your Mayor.

dippitydoo · ‎03-16-2020

Thank you Mayor, for protecting your community and the citizens who live within it. Thank you Mayor for fighting the battle against a contagion army of microbes hellbent on destruction and expansion at all costs.

Thank you Mayor for trying to preserve humanity.

-Dippity

andrew547 · ‎03-16-2020

@wastingtime101 wrote:

Where does USPS deliver your mail? Can you not leave packages by your mail receptacle?

Are you friendly with anybody who lives nearby? Can you work with them to arrange pickup at their location and all you have to do is drop off the packages?

I appreciate all the suggestions but my most reasonable options seem to be to (a) hope the news is wrong and the post office is in fact open, (b) flag down a mail carrier during the day, and/or (c) drive 21 miles to the nearest county that has no shelter in place directive and presumably an open post office. The rest is sketchy. Secure building, unsecure mail location, unpredictable mail delivery times, shipping fragile live animals.

go-bad-chicken · ‎03-16-2020

I just posted this within another discussion here within the community but it is appropriate for this discussion as well.

I just found this very interesting article about the fact that the US Military could be mobilized and has been mobilized in the past to augment the USPS when and if it is necessary. Who knew? It is well worth any eBay seller's time to read, considering that most of us (sellers) rely heavily on the USPS to survive.

"The Military Can Reinforce The Postal System If COVID-19 Causes Delivery Disruptions"

"The standing contingency plans speak to the immense logistical resources the military could provide to help keep vital supply chains functioning."

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32610/the-military-has-plans-to-reinforce-the-postal-system-if...

wastingtime101 · ‎03-17-2020

@andrew547 wrote:
I appreciate all the suggestions but my most reasonable options seem to be to (a) hope the news is wrong and the post office is in fact open, (b) flag down a mail carrier during the day, and/or (c) drive 21 miles to the nearest county that has no shelter in place directive and presumably an open post office. The rest is sketchy. Secure building, unsecure mail location, unpredictable mail delivery times, shipping fragile live animals.

At least you have a contingency plan. If you have to go with option C then driving that distance is do-able if you require the income and need to keep selling - it's better than shutting down completely. You can extend your handling time by a day or two if you don't want to make that drive every single day.

Walk without rhythm, it won't attract the worm.

andrew547 · ‎03-17-2020

UPDATE: My post office is open and has no plans to shut down.

I live in the same postal district as San Jose, according to the postal worker at the counter this morning. She said they have no plans to shut down and she's heard no talk of shutting down during the "shelter in place" directive in my county and neighboring counties.

So it seems the report of "USPS shutting down the post office" was either wrong or perhaps inartfully stated. Note to reporters: If you say "USPS has shut down the post office" in a story about a county-wide shelter in place directive, consider being more clear what you're talking about. It would have saved me from working all night long, and a considerable amount of anxiety. I'm sure there are others.