Like everyone else, I've been learning to adjust to USPS delays and lengthy shipment times, even for Priority Mail, but this is the first time I have seen this kind of notification in USPS tracking:
"A train derailment has delayed delivery. We're adjusting plans to deliver your package as quickly as possible. New Stanton, PA"
Trains are delaying my trains!
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Suspect convenient alibying. Think the current Post Master General disposing of 100's of modern sorting machines has a lot more to do with the delays.
I have like five projects on hold due to USPS delays. some days over due, some weeks over due. From all the delays from last Christmas. Just nuts.
Almost all the parts, supplies, etc. that I have ordered this year have shown up within 5 days regardless of being 1st class or Priority. I do have one order via media mail (almost always slow........) that appears to be lost in Baltimore. But, lost in Baltimore seems to be normal now.
In Dec, things were bad; I rarely buy anything in Dec expecting the worse; I stop selling late in Nov. It's just not worth the pain of going to the PO that month.
@JBuettner posted:Like everyone else, I've been learning to adjust to USPS delays and lengthy shipment times, even for Priority Mail, but this is the first time I have seen this kind of notification in USPS tracking:
"A train derailment has delayed delivery. We're adjusting plans to deliver your package as quickly as possible. New Stanton, PA"
Trains are delaying my trains!
I had one of those late last year, but in Arizona. Was a first for me. Just took a week to get some paint from Arizona, "first class", no train wrecks. I've gotten it before, same dealer, same shipping, in 2 days.
Something to add, for those who this could apply to. I sold a Lionel F3 truck on eBay. I shipped it the next day priority mail small flat rate box. Tracking on eBay showed USPS had possession, and the package moved from my local PO to a sorting center. There it sat for three weeks! USPS wouldn’t let me file a lost claim, because they claimed it was just delayed, not lost. The buyer filed a claim with eBay, and eBay refunded his money from me. Meanwhile the part did arrive almost a month late. I’m not sure what could’ve been done differently other than not use USPS, but in this instance eBay’s buyer protections can really help stiff a seller.
@mark s posted:Suspect convenient alibying. Think the current Post Master General disposing of 100's of modern sorting machines has a lot more to do with the delays.
And I thought anything which purposely delays the mail is a Federal offense!
They got tired of using COVID as an excuse....now they use RAIN.SNOW.SLEET ETC.and anything else they can think of.....the times,they are a changing....
@Sam Jumper posted:Something to add, for those who this could apply to. I sold a Lionel F3 truck on eBay. I shipped it the next day priority mail small flat rate box. Tracking on eBay showed USPS had possession, and the package moved from my local PO to a sorting center. There it sat for three weeks! USPS wouldn’t let me file a lost claim, because they claimed it was just delayed, not lost. The buyer filed a claim with eBay, and eBay refunded his money from me. Meanwhile the part did arrive almost a month late. I’m not sure what could’ve been done differently other than not use USPS, but in this instance eBay’s buyer protections can really help stiff a seller.
If you now have prove it was delivered ebay should be able to make you whole if the buyer doesn't.
@joe krasko posted:They got tired of using COVID as an excuse....now they use RAIN.SNOW.SLEET ETC.and anything else they can think of.....the times,they are a changing....
Right!!!! My monthly medication for Asthma, from my local VA Hospital, was picked up by USPS (parcel select) on February 16 (because February 15 was a national holiday), even though the VA Pharmacy had it "ready for pick-up" on Friday, February 12. I live about 20 miles from Hines VA, in the western suburbs of the Chicago area. When the package didn't show by February 19, I called the VA and got the USPS tracking number; low and behold it was in Pittsburg, PA!!!!!! I started calling USPS, and eventually discovered that, yesterday (Feb.23) the package was in the LaGrange, IL Post office, i.e. NOT the Western Springs Post Office where we live! Since it is only 2 miles, I drove over to the LaGrange Post Office with my tracking information, and explained to the nice man behind the counter what has been transpiring. He said he would look in the back for one of those "puffy white plastic bags, with meds in them". Took about 15 min. and sure enough he found it, and explained that it was a really good thing that I drove over to his post office, as the package was obviously in the incorrect location, and would subsequently be "forwarded" to the Fox Valley Distribution Center. I said, "Well since it has already been to Pittsburg, PA, nothing surprises me anymore.". He got a good laugh at THAT, and just rolled his eyes.
What even happened to"neither rain nor sleet nor snow!!!!!!!!!!!"
@Richard Cuozzo posted:What even happened to"neither rain nor sleet nor snow!!!!!!!!!!!"
Long gone! We didn't receive our mail for more than 5 days, not including the President's Day National Holiday, because of the SNOW. Quite a different work ethic in our country anymore.
Having grown up in a small town and then moved back to it over 35 years ago, everyone seems to know or lives next to someone who works at our local post office. In speaking with the postmaster I was informed there were three main reasons for the delays we all seem to be experiencing: "In the last half of 2020 the newly appointed Post Master General made three decisions: Remove high speed sorting equipment from many locations; Reduce employee overtime; Handle all incoming mail on a "First In - Last Out " basis, meaning anything that was not processed the day it was received went into a pile to be processed later on a time available basis working from the top of the pile (Last In) down opposed to working from the bottom of the pile up (First In). In the USPS record keeping methods this method kept their delivery numbers up!" 
On 2/12 I ordered a small item from Burlington, WI (small town between Chicago & Milwaukee) to be shipped to my home about 45 NW of Albany, NY. Yesterday it left Spokane, WA. where it had been resting for 8 days. Tracking info here.
Funnily enough, we got mail on President's Day.
I am still awaiting a package shipped 11/6/20. At this rate, it might be in time for NEXT Christmas.
PITIFULL! :-(
Our experience here around the holidays was horrible...presents shipped to a family member went back and forth, back and forth for a month. Recently, for us, USPS service has been as good as ever. Just received a small shipment sent Monday by Priority Mail from the other side of the country. I was expecting arrival tomorrow according to the tracking info and it showed up today
Dejoy and the Board need to be fired immediately.
@Hot Water posted:Right!!!! My monthly medication for Asthma, from my local VA Hospital, was picked up by USPS (parcel select) on February 16 (because February 15 was a national holiday), even though the VA Pharmacy had it "ready for pick-up" on Friday, February 12. I live about 20 miles from Hines VA, in the western suburbs of the Chicago area. When the package didn't show by February 19, I called the VA and got the USPS tracking number; low and behold it was in Pittsburg, PA!!!!!! I started calling USPS, and eventually discovered that, yesterday (Feb.23) the package was in the LaGrange, IL Post office, i.e. NOT the Western Springs Post Office where we live! Since it is only 2 miles, I drove over to the LaGrange Post Office with my tracking information, and explained to the nice man behind the counter what has been transpiring. He said he would look in the back for one of those "puffy white plastic bags, with meds in them". Took about 15 min. and sure enough he found it, and explained that it was a really good thing that I drove over to his post office, as the package was obviously in the incorrect location, and would subsequently be "forwarded" to the Fox Valley Distribution Center. I said, "Well since it has already been to Pittsburg, PA, nothing surprises me anymore.". He got a good laugh at THAT, and just rolled his eyes.
Sorry to hear about meds....about the only thing that does come on time are my VA meds....
@modeltrainsparts posted:In speaking with the postmaster I was informed there were three main reasons for the delays we all seem to be experiencing: In the last half of 2020 the newly appointed Post Master General made three decisions: Remove high speed sorting equipment from many locations; Reduce employee overtime; Handle all incoming mail on a "First In - Last Out " basis, meaning anything that was not processed the day it was received went into a pile to be processed later on a time available basis working from the top of the pile (Last In) down opposed to working from the bottom of the pile up (First In). In the USPS record keeping methods this method kept their delivery numbers up!
Postmaster General DeJoy is testifying before Congress right now. People who don't follow the news and understand what's been happening to the Post Office Department should tune in. The issues have been going on for a long time. One thing DeJoy is proposing is the following, this from the Washington Post:
"Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told a House panel Wednesday that his forthcoming strategic plan for the U.S. Postal Service may include slowing first-class mail and removing a significant amount of mail from air transportation."
There's also a move on to replace some of the members of the Post Office Board of Governors due to issues, and to remove DeJoy, appointed during the last administration, for mis-management.
By the way, if you have to put a by your statement, you may have missed all the news (and there was a lot of it) about at least some of the reasons all this may have happened, and the timing, late last fall.
The Post Office is in the Constitution. Screwing with the USPS violates the intention of the Constitution and Ben Franklin, who put it in.
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