Is USPS shipping really getting this bad???

[mr_lincoln]

-On Monday the 24th this week I shipped a package USPS Priority Mail from PA to FL and when I got home there was a message from my customer asking if I would ship FedEx or UPS because their local Jacksonville bulk center is really slow in processing packages due to construction.  I let them know USPS is who I use but would keep an eye on tracking .... this is now Friday and the package was just now reported out for delivery ... PA to FL Priority Mail in the past was 3 days ... tracking shows it arriving and departing Jacksonville numerous times from the 26th to today, the 28th.

                                     

-I purchased an item from a Seller in MA shipping to PA ... it shipped Monday this week the 24th with ETA on the 27th .... hmmm.  Today is the 28th and tracking is showing it currently in Arizona ... 

I am pretty good with geography and am pretty confident that AZ is not between MA & PA ... unless they started moving things around without telling me.

                                         

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[gator08041971]

@mr_lincoln 

I have had issues with delays shipping things to Florida a few times.  But all of them turned out okay.  I would keep tabs and reach out to the buyer if it reached the expected delivery date but still in route and let them know that I was aware.  Most of the time, that's all it takes to keep them calm.

But yeah, I have seen a hike in delays across the board, but also have seen things get shipped very fast.  No consistency at the moment.

[mr_lincoln]

@gator08041971 

Thank you and yes, the customer and I were in touch all week.  What strikes me as odd is that they paid for Priority Mail and in checking the transaction details estimated delivery is now showing from the 26th to the 31st ...  sorry but it doesn't take 7 days for a Priority package to go from PA to FL and no way it would get there in 2 days considering USPS scanned it in part way through the 24th and earliest delivery being shown as the 26th ... 

[lakefor94]

@mr_lincoln 

All these threads about USPS delays made me go check my shipments. All USPS on both eBay and AMZ have made it on time.  Though I will say that my last 16 eBay orders have been sent UPS Ground or UPS Ground Saver. Everything is on time or better. I only ship the inexpensive eBay items USPS and that won't include Indy or thereabouts.....

I think I remember that UPS is not in your wheelhouse due to proximity. 

About AMZ Buy Shipping: they have Claims Protected(INR) and On Time Delivery Rate protections if the seller uses AMZ Buy Shipping.

Their system won't even offer a shipping label from certain carriers/services when they know delivery time will be impacted. If a seller chooses one of the approved offerings, the seller is protected.

Sellers can buy their own labels elsewhere and upload tracking, but they go unprotected by AMZ.

AMZ's Buy Shipping is so far advanced. A light year or two ahead of eBay.

[gator08041971]

Been awhile since I last used Priority mail for anything.  Most of it goes USPS GA and some goes Media Mail.  For bulky or larger items I use UPS Ground or Ground Saver.  I never ship FedEx.

[lakefor94]

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@gator08041971 wrote:

Been awhile since I last used Priority mail for anything.  Most of it goes USPS GA and some goes Media Mail.  For bulky or larger items I use UPS Ground or Ground Saver.  I never ship FedEx.

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@gator08041971 

Same here, not too many going Priority these days. I did have a buyer recently, specifically request USPS Priority as a prerequisite for purchase going to a suburb of Grand Rapids MI.  It seemed like, the buyer knew what it would take to receive the shipment on time. 

Agreed, I stay away from FedEx.  Would have to be one of my worst days to use them.....

[autosol15]

Yes, I've had multiple priority mail packages that left on Monday of this week and are just out for delivery today.   It's annoying.   Also at least 4 UPS next day air packages were delayed at least a couple days.   Looks like some weather coming in this weekend so likely more delays into next week.

....on top of their standard level of incompetence

[carlmarxx]

I do ask sellers before I buy from depending on location  if  they can ship priority  Mail  ,  UPS     .   

[stainlessenginecovers]

I have a package going to Arkansas (from Nevada) and it was 'out for delivery' on 3/24.

Then it went to the Dist Center in Tennessee on 3/25.

Then to another DC in Tennessee on 3/26.

Then to DC in Arkansas on 3/27.

Then received at Tennessee DC later that same day 3/27.

Talked to my local Post-Master and they could see more info than we can see in the tracking. 

The 'out for delivery' was done by a 'truck/trailer' scan- so the entire trailer was 'mis-scanned'

The other scans are also 'truck/trailer' and NOT individual package scans...

so, USPS is a mess. 

Tomorrow will be the same. 

[carlmarxx]

Yea It is a mess  I have a package coming  from Saint Louis  MO.  to me Southern CA.   The package arrived today in Chicago IL.  USPS sorting plant . I never once  had anything go from Saint Louse  or Kansas City   MO.  go to Chicago IL..

[buyselljack2016]

@mr_lincoln  your package just wants some time in the sun. Took a ride to AZ 🤣 Or perhaps it thought you were one of the "snow birds" that is waiting to return from a seasonal departure🤣

[carlmarxx]

That some  Ride    I agree .   but do to   Orange butterball  45/47  placing his lap dog Dejoys in charge of the USPS  and managed to trash it in 5  years before  resigning  as postmaster Gen. 

[mr_lincoln]

@lakefor94   Comments - question in red:

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@lakefor94 wrote:

@mr_lincoln 

All these threads about USPS delays made me go check my shipments. All USPS on both eBay and AMZ have made it on time.  Though I will say that my last 16 eBay orders have been sent UPS Ground or UPS Ground Saver. Everything is on time or better. I only ship the inexpensive eBay items USPS and that won't include Indy or thereabouts.....  I have had more than one customer ask me to ship UPS or FedEx instead of USPS ... and your comment below is correct, due to proximity the other carriers are not an option.  You have a good memory too by the way!

I think I remember that UPS is not in your wheelhouse due to proximity. 

About AMZ Buy Shipping: they have Claims Protected(INR) and On Time Delivery Rate protections if the seller uses AMZ Buy Shipping.

Their system won't even offer a shipping label from certain carriers/services when they know delivery time will be impacted. If a seller chooses one of the approved offerings, the seller is protected.

Sellers can buy their own labels elsewhere and upload tracking, but they go unprotected by AMZ.  Ok, now THIS comment I am really curious about.  When you say "unprotected" by AMZ what exactly does that mean?

AMZ's Buy Shipping is so far advanced. A light year or two ahead of eBay.  Do you mean the process or the service they provide?  Are ALL AMZ packages delivered by AMZ delivery trucks?

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[lakefor94]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@lakefor94   Comments - question in red:

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@lakefor94 wrote:

@mr_lincoln 

All these threads about USPS delays made me go check my shipments. All USPS on both eBay and AMZ have made it on time.  Though I will say that my last 16 eBay orders have been sent UPS Ground or UPS Ground Saver. Everything is on time or better. I only ship the inexpensive eBay items USPS and that won't include Indy or thereabouts.....  I have had more than one customer ask me to ship UPS or FedEx instead of USPS ... and your comment below is correct, due to proximity the other carriers are not an option.  You have a good memory too by the way!

I think I remember that UPS is not in your wheelhouse due to proximity. 

About AMZ Buy Shipping: they have Claims Protected(INR) and On Time Delivery Rate protections if the seller uses AMZ Buy Shipping.

Their system won't even offer a shipping label from certain carriers/services when they know delivery time will be impacted. If a seller chooses one of the approved offerings, the seller is protected.

Sellers can buy their own labels elsewhere and upload tracking, but they go unprotected by AMZ.  Ok, now THIS comment I am really curious about.  When you say "unprotected" by AMZ what exactly does that mean?

@mr_lincoln 

Amazon Buy Shipping has protections against INR’s and a metric called On Time Delivery Rate. All I have to do is pick one of the offerings they list, as protected. Most of the time, it is everything a seller could need. Sometimes carriers or one of their services are omitted because AMZ knows it won’t be delivered on time.

If I choose a service that is not on the protected list, then I can take a metrics hit on OTDR or be responsible for an INR. 

I can buy a label elsewhere and upload the tracking, but it will not have the protections.

If a seller's OTDR dips below 90%, their account can be in serious trouble, as in, gone. You know, like yesterday's newspaper;)

AMZ's Buy Shipping is so far advanced. A light year or two ahead of eBay.  Do you mean the process or the service they provide?  Are ALL AMZ packages delivered by AMZ delivery trucks?

The AMZ Buy Shipping program knows what USPS areas and such are having major issues and will not offer USPS as an option. i.e. When the hurricanes hit Florida, UPS and Fedex were the only purchasable options to a lot of cities in FL. No USPS was offered. Same with other cities with issues, USPS does not come up as an option.
(A seller could have bought USPS shipping elsewhere and entered tracking at their own risk.)

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[carlmarxx]

From number of these threads  , I would say   sellers may  use DHL  ,UPS  and FedEx   if wired  surcharge issues  are worked out .