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Pushing the Envelope Blog

Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Date: 04/06/20 | Category: OIG

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted our country in ways that were unimaginable months ago. It is changing how people across the U.S. and around the world are working, shopping, even interacting with one another. States have ordered many stores and businesses to close. Businesses that continue to operate are faced with protecting their employees and customers, while coming up with creative ways to market and deliver their products.

The Postal Service continues to serve the public, operating on the front line, fulfilling the universal service obligation to deliver to every house and business every day. USPS is finding itself serving a population that is relying on it now more than ever. For many home-bound and quarantined people, home delivery is the only source for medicine and other vital supplies. During this time, the Postal Service has also prioritized the safety of its employees and customers.

We recognize the reality of the pandemic and have adapted our operations to maintain continuity while ensuring the safety of our employees. We are taking abundant care to minimize exposure to both our employees and Postal Service employees, using technology whenever possible. As we have told our employees, we also ask you to follow CDC guidelines, remain home as much as possible, and stay safe.

For questions or concerns about delivery during the pandemic, please go to usps.com to track mail or get information from the USPS Coronavirus FAQs page.

Postal Service employees, for work-related complaints or issues, please use our Hotline to let us know.

Leave a Comment

  
Your Name
Truth Speaker
Jul 31, 2020
Your Comment
If your afraid of a media hyped plandemic, then you should stay home! This is America, the Land of the Free!
Your Name
Istlota Everyman
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
I have ordered pkgs from overseas for two or three years now. Since COVID-19, tracking shows pkgs get from Europe or Asia all the way to Customs in Chicago or NY with only 2 or 3 days additional delay. It is only AFTER pkgs get to America that our USPS and/or Customs SITS on it for about 30 days. The overseas companies I order from are now warning Americans to expect about a 30 day additional delay EVEN IF YOU PAY EXTRA for expedited shipping. The delay is NOT because of COVID-19. It is because the Democratic party is making a campaign issue out of trying to get MORE bailout funding for USPS from us taxpayers. Democrats LOVE to raise taxes. REMEMBER THAT this November.
  
Your Name
Robin
Jul 24, 2020
Your Comment
(To I. Everyman: If you really think its a conspiracy and the dem party is running the usps and making it slow. Consider moving to one of the countries you shop from instead so you don't have to wait.)

My reason for coming to this site is to try to find out if anyone else has experienced weird detours for their packages. Pre-covid I would notice 1 package every year or two would do this, now about 1 in 4 does it. What I mean by this is when my package arrives to my local destination post office, sometimes it takes a detour to a (usually) rural city post office somewhere in the state. It seems almost random in where it goes and is different most times, then it comes back a day or two later to either the main hub (11 miles from me) or my smaller local city postal sorting ctr where my mail comes from. This leads to a delay of 1-5 days from original ETA. Farthest it went was halfway across the country. The time I knew they were obviously somewhat pointless detours was when a local online shop 5 miles away shipped a small flat and it went over 200 miles away and back. Under normal circumstances, the furthest it goes is the closest metro hub (11 miles away). Does anyone know why packages are taking weird detours so frequently during the pandemic? Is anyone else experiencing the same thing or am I just lucky to have my items get to take a vacation to the beach or country towns before they arrive to me? I thought maybe it was due to certain post offices being closed or short staffed due to covid-19 but it doesn't make sense to send a package out one day and bring it back to that exact same hub the next. I have also witnessed this with other shipping companies once or twice (but definately less) so its not just USPS.
Your Name
Evelyn Mountain
Jul 22, 2020
Your Comment
Complete BS- USPS is refusing to deliver a package that is too big for the mailbaoxes to my front door. It doesn't require a signature, it doesn't have to be handed to me directly and LITERALLY EVERY OTHER CARRIER is still delivering to the front door as it is lower risk than FORCING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO GO INSIDE A STORE. What do they do at houses if they won't deliver to front doors?? Really pissed off and just requesting my package be sent to a different address.
Your Name
SCOTT R MCHENRY
Jul 22, 2020
Your Comment
USPS NO First Class Mail international to Canada option online, only more $$ options
So for weeks I have been trying to purchase online first class International postage label as have done in past.
NO OPTION, so we all have to go stand inline for an hour at P.O. during PANDEMIC!??
They happily make available EXPENSIVE mail options.
Option always says "Temporarily unavailable" Never available!
Your Name
Robert
Jul 22, 2020
Your Comment
My friend placed an order for me using the WISH app. The order was placed during the first week of June. There have been emails and text messages asking if the package has been received. So, my question is, I understand covid-19 has affected delivery dates, can you give me an idea of how much longer I should anticipate waiting for the package to be delivered? Also, generally speaking, how long is it taking for packages to be delivered overall?
Thank you.
  
Your Name
Momo
Jul 22, 2020
Your Comment
China has not been able to ship to the usa until a couple weeks ago. There is not enough flights going in and out due to covid so international packages are heavily delayed. I would wait until mid august and if it still has not arrived I would apply for a refund through the app.
  
Your Name
Citizen
Jul 31, 2020
Your Comment
I ordered from Wish on May 2. I got 3 packages but the other 8 haven't arrived. They were consolidated into 1 package and just now got to the USA and hopefully I will get them this week. So the delay for my shipment will be 3 months if they arrive this week.
Your Name
Amy
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
Knowing the government- I doubt anyone reads or dies a thing about the comments-

As many issues as there are, CHICAGO seems to be a job, who don’t you start there? Mines been sitting there longer than it took to cross the pond- and if you read the comments, I am not alone...
Your Name
Dani
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
Despite the hardships the post office is going through right now, I would like to say thank you to all postal employees for showing up to work, working long hours and being the brunt of constant complaints. It takes a strong person to handle all of that and still be willing to show up for work the following day. How about instead of everyone complaining about specific packages, or proper face mask placement, the price of beer and how you don't agree with the President, and acknowledge how appreciative you are that these people show up everyday for work? They do it for us! The least you can do is acknowledge their willingness to show up to work despite a pandemic and a huge increase in work load.
  
Your Name
dan fuscaldo
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
yes you are correct but that is also easy to say when you know where your package is cuz my parcel has been stuck at isc new york for over 2 weeks now! it got mailed from the uk on june 30th i still do not have it and im in CT right next to new york!
  
Your Name
Anonymous
Aug 1, 2020
Your Comment
Thank you, Dani.

Thank you USPS workers and carriers!
Your Name
Barbara
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
I live in PA. Aren’t mailman expected to wear masks and or gloves when handling and delivering mail?
  
Your Name
Cartero
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
Only if the local government mandates the wearing of mask outdoors. I have not heard of any government mandating the use of gloves and in some locations disposable gloves can not found
Your Name
Shellye
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
My package from Australia has been stuck with this update since July 6, 2020...
International arrival - awaiting clearance
LOS ANGELES (US)
Are packages not being processed through customs? I’m really concerned that it has had no updates.
  
Your Name
Brittany
Jul 22, 2020
Your Comment
Same boat! Waiting on merino wool baby clothes from a friend in New Zealand. Held for clearance since July 7...
     
Your Name
Aundrea
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Same! I am also waiting on a package from Australia that was ordered in 06/18/20, arrived in Los Angeles on 7/7/20, arrived at sorting facility 7/8/20, and no update since. I've never had an item take this long to clear customs once it has made it. I'm hoping I see an update soon. I have waited 1.5 month's for this product.
        
Your Name
Cynthia
Jul 23, 2020
Your Comment
Same here. Package arrived from Australia June 22, it’s still sitting in the LA facility. Today is July 23rd.
           
Your Name
Nicole E
Jul 25, 2020
Your Comment
Ditto. But I ordered the end of March. My packages arrived April. They have been sitting in Customs since April 23rd. My new delivery date is Sept 3. Not cool no refund since my time has passed.
  
Your Name
zejun
Aug 3, 2020
Your Comment
Same here, got a package from China, arrived at LA on July 18th, and the last update was 'arrived at LA international distribution center in transit to destination', and up until this point there are literally no more updates. It's been more than 10 days! This is ridiculous.
Your Name
Barbara
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
I am not filing a complaint at this time just looking for information. I was informed by my postal worker that he would not continue to deliver mail to our 2nd floor offices due to the fact that there is covid testing office on that floor. Will delivery be stopped, because of this? I need to know because it will affect many of my tenants.
Your Name
Package sitting in Chicago
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
My package from the UK arrived and was processed June 3rd in Chicago. It has been there since. I put in a missing package ticket last week and an LA USPS employee called me and said it is still there but things are slow. Almost 7 weeks now and still says in transit!! Meaning it is sitting at the facility in Chicago still. I have been told of course to be patient as the pandemic along with customs is slowing things way down, but 7 weeks is kind of ridiculous!
  
Your Name
good luck
Aug 2, 2020
Your Comment
good luck, my package from germany has been sent on may 12 and still waiting...
Your Name
Lara P
Jul 20, 2020
Your Comment
I was literally just in your Smithtow,n New York branch (July 20, 2020, 4:45pm), and the employees were neither wearing their masks correctly over their noses, nor were they enforcing the mask policy for any customers within the branch. This is a state mandate! It makes the US Postal Service look uncaring & irresponsible and like the management doesn't care to enforce rules to have your front and visible employees both flaunt and disregard this mandated state policy. Where's the respect for the general public?!
  
Your Name
I agree
Jul 21, 2020
Your Comment
Absolutely correct. We all know that the federal government isn't going to do anything about this out of loyalty to and/or fear of the authoritarian occupant of the White House. But USPS employees I know would be thrilled to see their superiors Do the Right Thing, as (fortunately) many governors and mayors are doing. Hey, Postmaster General: You can do the right thing! So do it!