Anyone else experiencing the new USPS hub system and delays? Ebay?

[skeletonstore]

Shipped an order on the 5th,  Priority.  Handed it to the carrier.  It left my city and was in NH early the next morning.  There it sat. It only just departed their new hub in Memphis on it's way to CA.  Six days and counting for Priority?  It had 1st class weight but I upgraded the order to Priority because I thought it would be better paying a few more bucks.  $9.39 though.  This is unacceptable.  I'm not even seeing indications it was delayed by weather.  Is the USPS even a viable shipping company any more?  Should Ebay be trying to work out a deal with Fedex or UPS to pick up the slack by installing drop off boxes in cities and larger towns?  I've shipped thousands of orders over the years and I can remember when it would take no more than 2 days from my city in MA to LA,  CA because I was near a hub and LA was a major city.  What's going on?  It CAN'T just be the weather.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

It could be weather related.  Last week Memphis was shut down for at least two days due to no power and blocked roads because of an ice storm. The airport was shut down, no transportation in or out.  They're probably behind just due to the massive backup of incoming packages.

I'm in north MS and all my mail goes through Memphis. I have not had any issues with USPS (I shut down during the weather), but I had several Fedex packages delayed by almost a week because they couldn't move.

[buyselljack2016]

Not sure if it still works that way, but at one time FedEx hauled much of the USPS Priority mail on the FedEx jets.

With delays/backups my guess is that FedEx packages would be the 1st to get on the way taking a "priority" over USPS.

[lepke1979]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Not sure if it still works that way, but at one time FedEx hauled much of the USPS Priority mail on the FedEx jets.

With delays/backups my guess is that FedEx packages would be the 1st to get on the way taking a "priority" over USPS.

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I've been told UPS and FedEx both use USPS to fly their stuff. Wouldn't surprise me if FedEx or UPS did the same for USPS.

I'm in southern California. I've had a few packages be slow to update/scan this week Maybe last week two. One of which was dropped off with three other packages on Monday that just showed up as accepted and actually moved today. One or two showed up as delayed specifically for weather earlier this month. Maybe took an extra day or two to be delivered. But for the most part have had no issues or complaints.

[buyselljack2016]

Seriously?  Did not know that the USPS had any aircraft.

[yuzuha]

No problems here... I shipped 4 things First Class on the 8th (two to the West Coast-- I'm on the East Coast) and 3 of them have already been delivered, including both of the West Coast ones. The only one that hasn't been delivered yet is going to MO and I'm guessing that it's being affected by the aftermath of the same weather that hit Memphis.

[iart]

We rarely have problems with USPS.

You want problems with late delivery? Try Fed Ex.

You want to pay a lot more? Try UPS.

[714ricki]

Please keep in mind that the USPS network is evolving & also affected by many outside factors such as short staff, weather, or other. If your parcel was routed into Memphis, maybe the shipment was stuck there by the big weather problems in that region. If that is the case, Express, Priority, & First class, FedEx parcels would be delayed. Although its an inconvenience for a seller & definitely upsetting for a buyer on the other coast, I wouldn't say its unacceptable. Lots of moving pieces in logistics....do your best & don't stress over it too much. At least your parcel is still showing movement. Other sellers aren't as fortunate. 

[tsme35]

We got hit hard last week in MO, 8-12" of snow on top of 2-3" of sleet, their trying to catch up, but the last month or two, I've had a few packages get scan when picked up and not scanned until out for delivery. I've had a few complaints from buyers, I advise them its the new norm and they will get their orders.

[theteamsetguy]

See below. FedEx Contract with USPS goes thru 2024.

https://about.usps.com/news/statements/022317.htm#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Postal%20Service%20is,Mail%20....

FedEx has moved at least a portion of the USPS volume since 2001.

[katzrul15]

@skeletonstore 

Memphis has been "woeful" Hub for over a year for us......I dread when parcels head thru there.

We are in the Midwest and we had 3-4" of ice in the latest storm before almost 14" of snow.  Planes were not flying at all.........When O'Hare and Midway are down, usually the ripple effect is pretty bad.

We finally have parcels moving, but it has been slow(er) the past 7-10 than it has for a while.  Overall, especially with the storm, we have been pretty pleased.  

[theteamsetguy]

The USPS used to have their own planes but got rid of them a long time ago. When they got rid of the planes they bid out the contract to move overnight and priority mail packages and UPS won the contract. However, since 2013 FedEx has had the contract to move USPS Express and Priority mail.

Current contract FedEx has with USPS goes thru 2024. Will probably go up for bidding again next year for another 4 years.

[johnjefprks]

I was just going to say that.

[divwido]

I have a package that is supposed to be coming to me in California.  Right now it's doing a city by city tour of Ohio trying to be out for delivery.   It's been doing that for the last week or two.

I've given up hope, now it just seems stupidly funny.

[vintagecraze50]

Weather events stifle all carriers including Fed Ex with their main Hub in Memphis getting snowed and iced where the planes cannot leave or land.