USPS slowdown starts Oct. 1 | What to know about new delays and price hikes for mail

||| FROM MSN.COM |||

If you’re like me, sending a letter or package across the country through the US Postal Service feels like a game of chance. Will it get there in a week — or two? During the first quarter of this year, around 20% of first-class mail across the US was delivered late. And now snail mail is about to get slower for some of the 160 million residences and businesses that rely on the Postal Service.

Starting Oct. 1, the USPS will implement new service standards for first-class mail and packages, lengthening delivery time for about 30% of its volume. That means some letters, parcels and magazine subscriptions traveling longer distances could take up to five days to arrive, instead of two or three days. The changes are part of a 10-year plan called Delivering for America to overhaul the agency and try to tackle its $160 billion debt. The plan would also reduce post office hours and raise prices for customers, and there’ll be even more postage hikes during the peak holiday season.

Every hour, an average of 17.7 million mail pieces are processed and delivered by the USPS, a portion of which are packages from online retailers like Amazon. But there’s been a massive decline in the volume of first-class mail like letters, cards and bills as Americans rely more and more on electronic payments and communication. And with the rising demand of e-commerce, the agency is struggling to match the quick delivery of competitors like UPS, FedEx and even Amazon itself, which has its own delivery network.

What do the USPS’ service changes mean for you? Costlier or erratic mail delivery could lead to delays in wedding invitations or even late unemployment checks or child tax credit payments. Below, we’ll explain the major changes you should know about, who the USPS price hikes and delays could affect most, what to do if you’re facing a USPS holdup, and what options you have to send mail.

Why is the USPS making changes I need to know about?

The Postal Service has said it’s struggling to meet high performance standards, and it’s been financially underwater for a while now. The COVID pandemic exacerbated the USPS’ sluggish service and cash crisis, as staffing shortages collided with both the surge of online buying for essentials and the influx of 2020 election ballots.

One way the USPS plans to reduce costs is by using fewer airplanes to ferry mail and instead use more trucks, which can deliver a higher volume of mail for less money. Ground transportation is also more reliable than air in all seasons, according to the USPS.

The Postal Service’s 10-year plan also includes a multibillion dollar contract to modernize the now ancient delivery vehicle fleet, with the new trucks appearing on carrier routes in 2023. There are also proposed investments in equipment and infrastructure to help transport the growing volume of packages more efficiently, as well as upgrades to postal facilities.

When asked for comment, a USPS spokesperson said the new service standards will increase delivery reliability, consistency and efficiency for customers.

However, some critics wonder why the agency would opt to slow down mail when it’s already struggling to deliver mail on time. The Postal Regulatory Commission issued an advisory opinion on July 20 that found that the estimated annual cost savings for the USPS’ proposed service standard changes won’t, in fact, lead to “much improvement” of the agency’s current deficit woes.

Experts say the new changes will lead to the biggest slowdown of mail in more than a generation. Sarah Tew/CNET

What does this mean for first-class mail and packages?

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 USPS 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 USPS says only 9% percent of publications will now be delivered in up to five days, and 93% will still be delivered in two days or less.

READ FULL ARTICLE: www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/usps-slowdown-starts-oct-1-what-to-know-about-new-delays-and-price-hikes-for-mail/

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2 Comments

David Turnoy September 26, 2021 at 8:44 pm

Number one, we need to get rid of the ridiculous requirement that the Postal Service have enough money in reserve for retirement healthcare benefits that will cover their retirees for the next 75 years. Number two, we need to get rid of the current Postmaster General, a Trump holdover who was put into office largely to slow down the mail so mail-in votes would not reach their destination in time to be counted. There is no reason that eight months into the Biden Administration we are still stuck with this.
B. Sadie Bailey September 27, 2021 at 6:31 am

David Turnnoy understands about the elephant in the living room concerning the USPS. Why the postal service is the only government- controlled agency that has the 75-year retirement holdings requirement is beyond me – except that it seems to be an attempt to destroy and bankrupt the postal service. Whatever, it needs to be overturned once and for all.

We are so fortunate to have our post offices and mail service; we must not lose USPS. Shame on the Biden administration for not appointing someone more competent and less obstructionist as Postmaster GeneralL. That should have been a major priority of this administration, especially during the ongoing pandemic.

I’m bummed about the increases and slowdowns, but this is minor stuff compared with what’s to come.. Given the above-mentioned, what else can we expect? .Our local staff is wonderful. I see our poor local mail carrier sometimes as late as 8pm or later, still out delivering our mail. Kudos to our dedicated Postal workers.