Why Is USPS So Slow & What Are Causing These Delays?
No doubt if you are ordering things online you are probably noticing delays.
The USPS is a critical part of the country’s infrastructure, providing service to every single person in the country. But it’s struggling to manage its debt — and that’s starting to pour into everyday life and impact those who rely on its critical services.
The United States Postal Service started slowing its mail delivery on Friday, part of an effort by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to cut costs over the next 10 years.
The most widespread and significant change will affect first-class mail — things like letters, small packages, bills, and tax documents. Prior to the changes, customers throughout the US could expect first-class mail to reach its destination in one to three days; now, that timeframe will extend to between one and five days.
That “means mail delivery will be slower than in the 1970s,” for an estimated 40 percent of first-class mail, Paul Steidler, an expert on the postal service and supply chains at the Lexington Institute, told CBS.
That’s because the USPS is set to reduce its reliance on planes to transport mail as part of a broader cost-saving effort, instead of shifting some deliveries within the continental US to ground transportation. According to the Washington Post, the Postal Service will reduce the amount of mail transported via plane from 20 percent to 12 percent.
According to an August notice from USPS in the Federal Register, using cargo planes and passenger aircraft to transport mail is more expensive and less reliable because of “weather delays, network congestion, and air traffic control ground stops.”
How Is First-Class Mail And Package Delivery Changing?
Not all first-class mail will be affected by the new service standards. Here’s how it breaks down.
First-class mail (standard-size, single-piece letters, and envelopes): The Postal Service says 39% of mail will now be delivered in three to five days, depending on the distance between origin and destination. The rest (61% of local mail) will be unaffected and will be delivered in one to two days.
First-class package service (smaller, lightweight parcels): The Postal Service says 32% of packages will now be delivered in four to five days, with the longest distances having the longest timetable (such as between California and New York). The remainder (68% of packages) will still be delivered in two to three days.
Periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers): The Postal Service says only 9% of publications will now be delivered in up to five days, and 93% will still be delivered in two days or less.
What to Know About the USPS’s 10-Year Plan
Like every Pinterest user back in the day, DeJoy created a 10-year vision board for the USPS. The goal: give the agency a much-needed economic boost. He announced the plans back in March. And says they’re needed to ensure more consistent delivery and bring down financial losses. It includes measures like adding new vehicles to its delivery squad (with the goal of going electric) and expanding seven-day package delivery. But there are two key changes starting to impact people around the country…
Slower service: Some mail delivery is slowing down. It could take up to five days for first-class mail to get to its destination (compared to the usual three-day time frame). That’s because the Postal Service is going to put fewer items on planes and more on trucks, which will cut costs. Oh, and your zip code could impact how delayed your mail and packages might be.
Price hikes: They’ll be in place until at least Dec 26. And it could cost anywhere from 25 cents to $5 more to ship packages depending on the service. But don’t expect costs to go down much in the New Year: the agency plans to adjust prices twice a year, in January and July.
Not everyone is jumping for (De)Joy over this. Some postal advocates worry the plan will give USPS’s competitors (like FedEx and UPS) a boost. The federal regulator that oversees the USPS says it’s not clear whether these changes will actually make a difference, and that it didn’t test them out in advance. It also recommends that the agency closely monitors things to make sure its plan is actually effective.
What Is Lab Me Doing About All Of This?
Dr. Anthony Close, CEO of Lab Me made a statement to the press late last week stating that Lab Me has partnered with BILT-Group in order to maintain control of logistics and distribution of Lab Me test kits.
He stated, “Our customers have definitely been impacted by USPS. Our company as well as millions of other companies rely on the United States Postal Service to fulfill orders to customers around the USA and Canada.”
“The issue here is that USPS holds no accountability and the customer naturally will blame the company they ordered from when such circumstances are far out of their control.” When asked how he was going to solve the problem he said, “Since we have procured our own shipping warehouse, we will be looking to other courier companies such as FedEx and UPS. We will continue with free snail mail however the positive is that their will be options for those in need and willing.”
A Lab Me representative said that in a company survey 48% of customers said they wanted faster shipping and they were willing to pay more for it. They expect 2 days FedEx to increase the shipping price by up to $20. However, free shipping will still be available.
All of this is planned to take effect in November of 2021.
Read More On USPS & Their Issues:
https://www.theskimm.com/news/usps-delays-and-price-hikes-why-theyre-happening/
https://www.vox.com/2021/10/3/22707067/usps-mail-slower-more-expensive-why
