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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
Gutter Dandy
Jun 10, 2020
Your Comment
Mail from UK arrived in Chicago on April 19. Since then nothing. 3 other pieces of mail from the UK and Spain are weeks late as well. It seems international mail cannot reach the USA and may never get here.
  
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petra
Jun 15, 2020
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Same issue, ordered from US to Europe. It got to Chicago six weeks ago. Since then nothing.
Your Name
Jeremiah West
Jun 10, 2020
Your Comment
Hello, I run a small online business that mainly focuses on smaller value items under $50. Majority of my sales are on ebay and International packages going to Europe and Asia. I have been reading the comments below and am experiencing an extreme issue due to packages going to the Miami Distribution center and not progressing. I have shipped out hundreds of packages since March and they go to the distribution center and disappear. Can we please have an explanation what the next step is moving forward. Will the packages be returned to sender or what? I have had to refund my customers mainly on Ebay thousands of dollars for packages that are just sitting in a Miami warehouse.
  
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OIG Moderator
Jun 11, 2020
Your Comment
Hello Jeremiah. Thank you for your message. Regarding your concern, for questions or concerns about delivery during the pandemic, please go to usps.com to track mail or to get information from the USPS Coronavirus FAQs page. You can also 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 "Where is My Package" or "Where is My Mail."
     
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Dallas
Jun 17, 2020
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Why are you even on here? You’re not even answering anyone’s question. Save the generics!
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Donna Robinson
Jun 10, 2020
Your Comment
I tried to mail two small packages to my father in the Philippines that have essential asthma medications. They cannot get this medication in his Province (Zambales). The Post Office said that service operations to that destination are presently suspended. Is there another way I can ship his meds? I don't care if it costs more to go another route, but he has been out of meds since the COVID-19 protocols restricted foreign mail to other countries.
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Josh
Jun 9, 2020
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As others say, don't you USPS for international during the pandemic, period. My 2 packages shipped from Las Vegas to France and Italy never reached and tracking number says still in transit. One I shipped in March and other one I shipped in April. Since FOB rules doesn't work anymore for online customers, most likely I will loose money with no merchandise back.. I filed a claim at USPS site but some reason I cannot choose international and major goods such as products are missing at the category search box. It's just too bad situation that I need to dissolve.. sucks.
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Pedro Castellanos
Jun 9, 2020
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I went to the Post Office on April 27 to have a package delivered to Spain. The package tracker says it was delivered to the Los Angeles International Service Center on April 28, and there has been no movement or updates since. Should I file a claim? I understand the pandemic has severely hindered operations, but this is a long delay.
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Robyn L
Jun 9, 2020
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I am so angry and tired. I have claims on over 15 packages for my business sent in MARCH and APRIL via the USPS. No movement out of Miami. Is it me or is the phone no longer picking up to speak to a representative? I cannot get through. I emailed the Postmaster General to complain. Not that it did anything.
What are we going to do?? What is the Plan people?? As a business, why is nothing being done? How can the packages just be sitting with no response from USPS. I am now shipping third party DHL and Fedex. I will no longer use the USPS to ship internationally. The USPS is literally shutting my business down due to thousands and thousands of dollars stuck in Miami.??? Why??? Why can't they return the items to us? Or ship?
I just want my items back and shipping refunded. How can I make that happen at this point?
My customers are angry. And I don not have the funds to refund when this is not my fault.
Such a shame. We all barely have held on as small businesses, and the USPS is going to ruin us by not fulfilling their end of the bargain. They basically stole our $$. They should have not accepted ANY packages during Covid19 MARCH - NOW until they clear out the warehouses of all our boxes. I'm so disgusted, tired and angry. Never again will I use USPS for my international shipping. Never!
  
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Chase Schardt
Jun 10, 2020
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My packages have been stuck in miami that I shipped since April 5th too this is horrible and unacceptable.
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Chuck
Jun 9, 2020
Your Comment
Sounds like an excuse for lazy employees to me. Tell them "Slap a mask on and get to work". My packages take less than a week to to get on shore, and then, 5 weeks to get to my friggin' house! This is completely unacceptable. If you can't make it work, file for chapter 11 and farm it out to someone who can. It is that simple.
  
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Brian
Jun 10, 2020
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So true they don’t know how to deliver packages And mail in a timely fashion I’ve had 2 checks in the mail for over 4 weeks and still don’t have them. Now wonder they are bankrupt.
  
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maz
Jun 12, 2020
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i mean there are people that are dying, but i guess your package is just so so much more important!! :((( poor you!!
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Elizabeth Brayboy
Jun 8, 2020
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Why hasn't the post office let people know that mail is running slow due to major hubs closing due to Covid-19?
Or has this been done due to budget issues?
The public has a right to know.
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Marlan
Jun 8, 2020
Your Comment
For those of you who have not received your order, you may contact the seller. That's what I did. I bought an ipad from Best Buy. It's been a month but I have never received it. USPS was giving me the run around. They could not tell me where my package is and when it will be delivered. Emailed them multiple times, sent direct message thru their twitter account, and filed a missing package report. No response from them. I brought the issue to Best Buy and they refunded me the full amount. I am thinking that my package is already stolen and I am disgusted by this.
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Katie
Jun 8, 2020
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Can you tell me how long it should take for local mail to be delivered right now? I mailed several cards on 6/3 from Austin, all sent to addresses within the Austin area, that have still not been received. Thanks.
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Courtney
Jun 8, 2020
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I am still waiting for my packages that was sent 3 months ago! When will these packages start moving? I have one in L.A and one in Chicago.
  
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Robert
Jun 9, 2020
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Me too - I ordered some antique bicycle fenders from a seller in Greece on 4 April, 2020. His communication was great - he told me there would be a delay in shipping because Greek airports were closed. The Parcel’s left Athens on 5 May and the last scan was at ISC Chicago on 21 May where it was “processed through.” No clue if it is sitting in a container or where or ‘lost’. I imagine, because the airports in Greece were shut down, there is a huge back log. U.K.-sent items have arrived within two weeks throughout this pandemic.

I know a few postal workers who are hard-working good people; I don’t blame the workers. As with many of our government agencies, it’s the system, government mismanagement and that many in ‘leadership’ have lost nearly all sense of public service because our governmental systems are so Byzantine, dysfunctional and inaccessible those they are supposed to serve.
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Derek honeycooter
Jun 8, 2020
Your Comment
Been waiting over a month.is this normal for the delays?
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Bert Backelboppel
Jun 7, 2020
Your Comment
How do I contact US Customs to see where my package is? It was shipped from Germany on May 12, and now it's not appearing in tracking. Also, I fear you guys may damage it. How do I expedite delivery?
  
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Alyssa
Jun 9, 2020
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Same issue here, ordered from a shop in Netherlands, was shipped may 13th, almost a month later and still no change just says sent to country of destination. No updates. Now I’m getting concerned.
     
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Terry
Jun 9, 2020
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Same thing here mine has been siting in origin post is preparing for shipment since the 12th
  
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No name
Jun 10, 2020
Your Comment
Hi Bert,

Are you in contact with the receiver of the package? Maybe it was delivered but not scanned?
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Melanie King
Jun 7, 2020
Your Comment
I have a package that has been sitting in the Jamaica office for a couple months and I need to know how to retrieve it. I have the tracking number but it is stuck there because borders were shut down due to COVID 19. Can anyone help with suggestions on how to get it?
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Sandra Girard
Jun 7, 2020
Your Comment
I am just beyond distraught. I completely realize the coronavirus and Covid epidemic but three months??? I mailed two very large packages to my daughter and her family in Paris, France from Alabama. Why is nothing moving from the Miami, Florida distribution center??? My granddaughters have never even received their Easter gifts. I know that sounds trivial to most but it’s important to me and I paid hi dollars for this international shipping. What in the heck is going on??? This is awful! Three months!!