Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
Will the U.S. Postal Service ever get straightened out?
On Jan. 28th, I received a card from one of my sisters. I wondered why. Christmas was long over. It wasn't my birthday.
But it was a Christmas card!
Was she so busy that she didn't send cards until the middle of January?
Then I looked at the envelope more carefully.
Yup! Mailed Dec. 15th in Jersey and arrived at The Little House On The Swamp on Jan. 28th.
The postal service was one aspect of U.S. government that most of us liked, so of course 45 had to screw it up.
What stories do you have to share about problems with the mail? What's the longest it's taken for something you mailed to be delivered, or for something to arrive at your house?
I apologize for my recent absence. My sister-in-law died, which turned me into a lump of sadness. She was in a nursing home because of dementia, and she got COVID.
Although I've mourned this loss, I'm recovering from the attack. I'm doing quite well, physically and psychologically.
I'll visit as many of your blogs as I can this week. I miss you!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Keep recovering. Please. With nothing more happening that you need to recover from.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mail can be sorted. And quickly. Ours is going down the tubes. Fast.
I'm sorry about your mail. It's a pain.
DeleteSending sympathy on the loss of your sister-in-law. That's why your sister's card was so late. The Postal Service knew you'd need a little Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I like Christmas no matter what time of the year it is.
DeleteI've been cut off from a pen pal in South Africa. USPS won't even send mail there because of covid. So far I can still send to Australia and Wales and our neighbor Canada. My Australian pen pal got a second letter first because the first one took like a month and a half to get there.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that is something else Biden can help fix?
Sorry about your SIL. Hope you are felling back to your old self soon, my friend.
Does that mean mail from South Africa isn't delivered to the U.S.? I've been wondering about Biden's plans for the postal service and haven't heard anything, but getting people vaccinated is far more important.
DeleteI'm not sure, but my letter came back with a stamp telling me I could get a refund for my postage if I went to such and such a website but for $1.20 I passed on dealing with the government--LOL! So the letter never made it out of the country. She hasn't written to me. We've been emailing. :)
DeleteMy sympathy on the loss of your sister-in-law. And keep that recovery going!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Martha. Will do.
DeleteI mailed my cards out on the same date and I have no idea if they were ever received. One came back two weeks ago with a message that said the address was no good. I contacted my friend and she said she hadn't used that address for 2 years. Meanwhile I had used that address last year and also sent her a sympathy card when her mom died. I guess those cards ended up in mail limbo. :-/ So sorry about the loss of your SIL, but good to know you are dealing with the loss and also recovering from your attack. It's been a challenging time for you. I'm so sorry. Sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lorraine. I mailed about 30 cards. Five were returned because of the address. I received your card. It was really cute.
DeleteCondolences re your sister-in-law. I'm glad to hear that you are recovering well from the attack. Onwards and upwards!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debra. Definitely onwards and upwards!
Deletemy condolences on the loss of your SIL.
ReplyDeletebut good news to hear that you are moving forward stronger and better!
I am trying to avoid the USPS like the plague.
Thank you, Anne Marie. I was glad I didn't have to mail any Christmas gifts.
DeleteMy goodness. That IS a long delay. I've heard the mail service is struggling. Our mail here in the UK is going through difficulties, too.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your sister-in-law! I'm glad you're doing better, though.
Thank you, Steve. When 45 wanted to frighten people away from mailing ballots (more common with Democrats) he made Louis DeJoy the postmaster general. DeJoy promptly removed a lot of equipment and we're still paying the price.
DeleteI have no idea what is going on toots. I sent out Christmas card too. ,mostly in the US, UK, Canada and Brazil. The person in San Diego just received his two weeks ago!!!!!! And I send cards to Mitchell from up above's , brother, who live in NYC, only an hour and a half away, and we're not sure he got his either. Good thing I pay bill over the phone, otherwise at this rate, you'd have to mail bills a month out for pete sake!!! I suspect the department never will bounce back from it's hack job they did.
ReplyDeleteSome credit card statements and other bills still say to allow three days for delivery! How about three months? I haven't paid any bills by mail in a long time, but some people still do--especially older folks.
DeleteYou're not alone, Janie! The Canadian postal service is just as bad. It's likely due to COVID causing people to order more stuff online (a lot of merchandise is sent by mail) and there aren't enough workers. Our main sorting facility was recently hit by a COVID outbreak, so snail mail will become even slower. That is sad about your sister-in-law. Condolences to you and the family.🌷
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debbie. Our mail delivery was still pretty good in spite of COVID until 45 wanted to frighten people into not mailing ballots and his postmaster general removed a lot of equipment and cut way back on staff.
Delete"...What stories do you have to share about problems with the mail?"
ReplyDeleteYou mean-- like the package that went from Oregon to California via Hawaii? Or the letter that arrived seven months after it was date-stamped?
As to the ones that never made it here, who would even know? :0
Maybe every sent item which arrives in a timely manner should be regarded as a miracle, and we can celebrate the many in our lives.
I can't help laughing about the package going to Hawaii.
DeleteI'm very sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeletePlease tell your sister the next time she has mail for you, I'll walk across country to pick it up, then to deliver it to you. It'll be faster.
Love you.
Thank you, Robyn. You made me laugh. Prepare to walk: I might get some cards later this month.
DeleteI have SO many mail stories, most of them insider ones. :) I think, major changes are coming for the Postal Service. We need streamlining, no doubt, but there are MANY ways to do that without impacting/significantly delaying customer service. The biggest impact to our bottom line, IMO, is to go abck to 5 day delivery of mail. Packages, meds, etc would still go out 7 days a week, but your bills, etc? That can go to 5 days. It would eliminate OT for the entire country (half a million strong) drastically reducing our bottom line. Example? I am NOT on the OT list, I don't do OT unless it is desperate times, yet I made an extra 10% last year on top of my yearly salary in OT last year. If you can cut 10-25% off payroll for half million employees, that would make a dent in the deficit, and not impact customer service at all. Most mistakes and delays are caused by carriers that have no idea what they are doing that day, or are over worked. 40-45 hour work weeks eliminate a lot of that.
ReplyDeleteDon't like the current PMG and I hated 45's policy, but the postal service does need reform, just not the way they are doing it. Glad you're feeling better, and that you got your Christmas Card. :)
I'm so glad you stopped by. You are the expert on mail, and your info is very interesting.
DeleteI'm sorry Covid took a loved one.
ReplyDeleteThe longest delivery delay I had was two months from postmark to delivery from Silver Spring, MD, which is a six hour drive from me.
Thank you, Joanne. Two months between Maryland and Pennsylvania!
DeleteI recieved a return to sender letter in January of this year of a letter posted to a pen pal in 2018
ReplyDeleteThat beats every other story about slow mail!
DeleteMany years ago, I lost the opportunity to have a children's book published because the offer letter got lost in the mail. I only found out the publisher liked my manuscript after I had written to withdraw it. Such is life. Big hugs to you, Junie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a disappointment.
DeleteMy friend in Canada messaged me a few days ago and thanked me for my Christmas card. The one I mailed the first week of December!
ReplyDeleteAnother sister texted me yesterday to say she received the card I mailed early in December.
DeleteI'm sorry about your recent loss, Janie! It's always hard to lose people we love. As for the US Post Office, I hope that Biden fixes the sorry mess 45 created in his pitiful attempt to stay in office. Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteI hope it gets straightened out, but what President Biden is doing now is more important.
DeleteHi Janie - sorry about your sister-in-law ... I'm just glad our postal service seems to be fairly safe - more so now a lot of our National Health appointments are by post and many deliveries. Glad you got your card eventually ... take care - Hilary
ReplyDelete