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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
Concerned
Aug 16, 2020
Your Comment
I’ve been waiting over 3 weeks for a parcel that was processed through the ISC Chicago and then nothing...3 actual weeks. What is going on in Chicago ISC???

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Jefferson Eng
Aug 28, 2020
Your Comment
Apparently, the same thing that is happening at ISC Los Angeles: nothing!

I have two incoming packages from Australia that have pretty much fell into a black hole there since August 4th. I called 1-800-ASK-USPS twice and they've been no help saying "ISC is Customs, not USPS". Surely, customs processing can't be experiencing a 4+ week backup...right?!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

  
Your Name
WaitingCanadian
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
Hey, did you eventually get your package or at least got an update other than "in transit to next facility" ?

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

  
Your Name
Barbara Forte
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
Isn't Chicago where all the riots are?

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

  
Your Name
Steve
Sep 9, 2020
Your Comment
Ernest, Viruses are NOT alive, therefore NOT contagious. This whole thing is HOAX! Oh, you cannot catch a virus. That is biology 101! There are no boogey man viruses waiting to get any of us whether on surfaces or even through droplets. IT'S Lie! and we are being Deceived!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
CanadianAmerican
Aug 11, 2020
Your Comment
I sent two packages on July 5th and they have been stuck/lost at Los Angeles airport distribution center. I have tried to call and talk to someone about this but the automated system will not allow that. I’m understand with COVID that things may take longer but why offer priority shipping..? If someone would so kindly reach out and offer insight if the package is most likely lost or if this is just the new pace of sending a package in North America.
  
Your Name
WaitingCanadian
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
Hi, Any updates on your package, I had 2 packages coming in from LA as well, one arrived on Aug 11th and another that has been stuck since Aug 5th in LA distribution center with no updates whatsoever, I hope its not lost but i keep checking everyday and nothing other than "In Transit" which basically means nothing

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Kyle Miller
Aug 10, 2020
Your Comment
The USA is no longer a first world nation. The standard of the postal service have fallen to abysmal levels. Its literally a %50 shot that I'll receive anything correctly anymore and that was pre-covid
Your Name
Avery
Aug 10, 2020
Your Comment
I ordered airsoft parts online from the states (I'm Canadian) on July 12 and selected USPS Priority and its been a month now. For 3 weeks my package has read "in transit" after being in a Chicago Intl Distribution Center. I want my stuff! When trying to make an inquiry it wont even let me select the date I ordered it on because it was a Sunday. This system is flawed and Covid-19 isn't an excuse to fail.
  
Your Name
Andres Magan
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
Did you get it? Have the same problem
With Chicago

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Lanie/Carla johnson
Aug 10, 2020
Your Comment
My husband has a package in customs in Chicago and the 24 days is up when delivery was expected due to pandemic. It's been in customs over a week but ordered and paid express delivery on July 7th. I'm so sick of this!!!
Your Name
Teri
Aug 9, 2020
Your Comment
My business uses USPS delivery every day and until recently I haven't had many problems, but low and behold now that our President is complaining of mail fraud possibilities and our Inspector General is a Trump support my mail is being delayed and lost almost on a daily basis. Please help resolve this issue! I understand there is a pandemic, but mail was traveling fine until recently!
Your Name
USPS Customer
Aug 9, 2020
Your Comment
I have visited the Noble, OK office a few times in the past couple months and although there are now signs on the door saying masks are REQUIRED, the worker at the desk (a big dark haired man) doesnt wear one. HE IS DANGEROUS! if yiu have someone who "cant" wear a mask they shouldnt work the desk handling hundreds or thousands of people's mail daily. he's typhoid mary/covid mike waiting to happen. please make them protect us all!! i cqn avoid many things, but not picking up mail!

who can customers report these blatant disregards for safety to?
  
Your Name
OIG Moderator
Aug 13, 2020
Your Comment
Hello. Thank you for your comment. Regarding your concern, please file a complaint directly with the Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or at https://emailus.usps.com/emailUs/iq/usps/request.do?forward=emailUs . Just choose the tab marked "Personnel."

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Raylon Zeman
Aug 7, 2020
Your Comment
i shipped out a package at the beginning of July and it is currently sitting at the LA ISC. I haven't gotten an update in almost a month. All it has said for the past three weeks is "Your item was processed through our LOS ANGELES CA INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER facility on July 26, 2020 at 7:09 pm. The item is currently in transit to the destination." Package is heading to Canada and customer is getting antsy. There is no ETA and all i got out of calling customer service was that they have to wait for a plane. JUST SOME INSIGHT OR AN ETA WOULD BE GREAT THANK YOU!

also- i appreciate every usps worker that is working through this pandemic.
  
Your Name
CanadianAmerican
Aug 11, 2020
Your Comment
I’m literally in the same
Boat! Sent a package on July 5th from
Phoenix Arizona arrive in LA on the 7th and still hasn’t moved in over a month...this is a little crazy! If you under promise and over deliver customers won’t be mad but to say shipping times will only change by a few days is an absolute lie. I feel your pain! I sent my 87yo grandmother a birthday gift a month before her birthday and now it won’t be there on time

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Kaila Callaway
Aug 16, 2020
Your Comment
Me too unfortunately. I ordered a hat block from Berlin exactly 30 days ago. Last update was on July 23rd 2020, it said "processed through the New York international sorting center (ISC NY)", it is now August 15th with no updates or movement :(

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

        
Your Name
Anonymous
Aug 21, 2020
Your Comment
My package from germany was likely in that shippment aswell as there were according to person i talked to 3 packages scanned that day from germany, mine is also stuck in NYC ISC, they wont provide any eta or anything.

In two days it will be a month since the last scan, as it is my customers are very angry with me since i cannot provide them with any information and i am now hemorrhaging money to keep fed as ive lost all my business and i have to refund everyone now

Please do something

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
John Jay
Aug 6, 2020
Your Comment
Thank you Trump for putting a new head of USPS that clearly has conflicting interest to the well-being of the company because he is invested in competitors.

Thank you for cutting workers and any overtime pay to address the serious influx of mail due to covid and delaying everything. I am glad the USPS which is an American Institution is being misappropriated for grossly unethical means.
  
Your Name
Kit
Aug 8, 2020
Your Comment
Oh please.... stop blaming Trump for everything! This is so old. We've got the plague going around. Can't we all just get along?

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Nami
Aug 12, 2020
Your Comment
It is clearly Trump’s fault. You’re misinformed or delusional if you don’t see it. Don’t worry though. I’ve lost faith in this country and I’m sure he’ll be re-elected.

Enjoy paying $20 minimum for shipping once Trump kills USPS and we have to rely on private companies like UPS and FedEx.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
David
Aug 12, 2020
Your Comment
DRUMPH is in charge. It IS HIS FAULT! Either through his normal gross incompetence. His everyday GRIFT and Croynism. Or his scheme to delay mail-in ballots. Worse President in US History!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

  
Your Name
Ben
Aug 14, 2020
Your Comment
The postal service has always been a joke as it relates to efficiency. Blaming trump is beyond stupid, I would hope as Americans we would decouple from China and get rid of globalism. How putting America first is anything but patriotic is beyond me. I can see that trump is a narcissist but that doesn't mean he hasn't done a great job putting Americans first.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

     
Your Name
Barbara Forte
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
100% dead on!

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Your Name
Claire
Aug 6, 2020
Your Comment
My international package shipped on May, okay, I wait almost 2 months to get it updated of arrived at New York. But since the package arrived on July 5th, no further updates anymore!!! What the heck the customs are doing? I understand the COVID-19 pandemic due to the package delay, but for over a month with no update?! I hand another package arrived on July 7 and it came out from custom just one day after, and this package for over a month?! This is ridiculous!!