Unverified: USPS Directives Could Result in Delayed Mail

by: iheartjacksparrow

The July 10th memo is either a fake or the guy who wrote it flunked grade school:

"we may see mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor or docs (in P&DCs)" [sic]

The correct word is "docks."  

by: mjr55

USPS has been doing a GREAT job throughout COVID. Most of you are clueless as to what you are even talking about.

As to the poster who said her "friend" works at USPS and they aren't allowed OT, she is full of it. Tell that to the numerous people I know at actual sort facilities (which are processing 24 hours a day) who have been working 6 day, 15 hour a day weeks because they want the OT.

There have been some aberrations.....Michigan has had some issues with COVID as have other hubs. In these cases, Michigan's sort facilities have been sending their mail to other hubs in other states to be processed at times. I will tell you this, we ship 99.9% with USPS via 1st class and ship several hundred packages per week......our on-time tracking rate for the last 4 months is over 99%. ENOUGH SAID.  

by: Geetar

I was told by both my mailman and the clerk at the local PO that they are seeing a huge spike in volume. So much that they are being told to go back and get more mail in the middle of the day. The local office's where the carriers work out of are getting overloaded. Thats why there's overtime. There's a pandemic, everyone is ordering online. THERES NO ROOM! they cant leave it there for the next day.

by: UB

First class letter mail can not be delayed as there is standards that have to be met as per Congress.  Carriers can not delay 1st or 2nd class mail and can be fired for it. Yes, sometimes the machines missorted or missent letters which causes delays but workers can not delay the 1st mail intentionally. This memo is a joke! Another dullard that has never done the job!

by: wellspring

Our mail person said mandatory “no overtime.” No going back to local office to get packages. First class mail sitting in hubs, delayed. Packages sitting at the local office. Short staffed. Pickup paperwork not getting to carriers. A total mess. Mail delivery has come to an abrupt halt compared to normal standards.  

by: Vigilant Eye On eBay

US Postmaster General tells postal workers to leave mail behind if it slows down their route - Tim Levin Business Insider July 14, 2020

https://www.businessinsider.com/postmaster-general-carrier
s-leave-mail-delays-routes-usps-postal-service-2020-7

Postal Service memos detail ‘difficult’ changes, including slower mail delivery - Jacob Bogage The Washington Post July 14, 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-
service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/

Mandatory Stand-Up-Talk: All Employees July 10, 2020 Internal USPS Document

https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/internal-usps-d
ocument-tells-employees-to-leave-mail-at-distribution-centers/175dd1ae-e202-4777-877c-33442338d1cc/?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_13

by: Vigilant Eye On eBay

US New Postmaster General, Louis Dejoy tells postal workers to leave mail behind if it slows down their route.

US Postmaster General tells postal workers to leave mail behind if it slows down their route - Tim Levin Business Insider July 14, 2020

https://www.businessinsider.com/postmaster-general-carrier
s-leave-mail-delays-routes-usps-postal-service-2020-7

Postal Service memos detail ‘difficult’ changes, including slower mail delivery - Jacob Bogage The Washington Post July 14, 2020

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-
service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/

Mandatory Stand-Up-Talk: All Employees July 10, 2020 Internal USPS Document

https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/internal-usps-d
ocument-tells-employees-to-leave-mail-at-distribution-centers/175dd1ae-e202-4777-877c-33442338d1cc/?itid=lk_interstitial_manual_13

by: Snapped

This is about resource vs demand. The causes, these ‘interesting’ times we are living, exacerbated by social, political, economic and pandemic ‘issues’, compounded by simultaneity.

The impacts to the customer (the USPS is, after all, a business, in competition for yours) by this significant change in service philosophy - which will last while resources remain excessively strained - will vary by locale and for now, may mean a day’s delay added to the ‘last mile’ for a percentage of addresses’ paper mail on a few already overburdened routes.

It will not impact most at all - beyond already evident delays during mailpiece transit to your delivery unit chiefly caused by nationwide hub processing site staffing mail transport resource shortages. These too, will ebb and flow. ‘Logjams’ will form, and break loose.

It is important to consider a few additional facts.

Up to now, much of the mail and parcel delays experienced since March have been customer induced. For example, a vendor will communicate a shipment, but because their fulfillment entity is itself ‘impacted’, and again, this varies by location, the USPS hasn’t even received it yet. Or a central delivery point access or business will be C-19 shuttered denying delivery access. Overseas incoming (and outgoing) via customs is harder to clear. They have their own staffing vs volume vs support challenges.

And with ‘everybody’ purchasing without pants on now, the volume has increased five-fold. Way above holiday period volume. Which means even as the percentage of ‘Issues’ hasn’t changed, the sheer number has increased. Thus increasing your individual chance of being ‘disappointed’ with the quality of delivery service.

Next, this is a somewhat sudden paradigm shift to absorb nimbly. Ideally, only 2nd and 3rd class letters and flats will be those curtailed for a day. Your free pizza coupons and magazines on Wed vice Tue, etc. And for now, packages are all being strictly monitored for same day delivery obligations. It’s about ‘figuring out’ how to minimize impact while still adhering to (not a small bit politically suspect) a new ‘agenda’.

At least until the ‘people’ wake up and realize they have the choice to better and smarter ‘congressionally mandate’ their USPS. Happens in November.

Unless they manage to convince the unwashed masses by then that voting by mail won’t work, even though Ballots and Political mail will not be curtailed.

Now why do you suppose that might be part of Mr. Dejoy’s agenda?

by: RKTOYS

"the first postmaster general in more than 20 years to lead USPS without prior experience working there"

Because that always works so well.

by: purpleiris

I have to agree that this is a move in the right direction. If they aren't getting enough done in the regular time allotted, it will be rather obvious who the weak links are.

It will also save them a ton in overtime pay. Gone will be the days of dragging one's feet to get that overtime pay. If they continue to drag their feet, they may very well be shown the door.

Operating efficiency is what that speaks to me.

by: fashionista

I have to say, that I'm very pleased overall with USPS and my shipped packages and almost all delivered packages are arriving before I expected.

I have been buying much more online, and one thing I've noticed that packages that I receive from Mercari, all postage is 4 oz,  none of the packages have weighed that, most don't qualify for first class, most are near 3 lbs, I don't know how they're not catching this,  that's a huge loss to USPS.  I don't know if the sellers there are more dishonest than other market places, but it has been a pattern.  Haven't had this problem with Ebay  

by: BargainzBabylon

Mercari absolutely needs to get rid of that 4 oz postage tranche - it's being abused.  Poshmark was smart to set it at $7.11 priority up to 5 lb and encourage bundling of items.

So now we have a know-nothing crony in that important office as PMG - that's nothing new.  If the senate would get off their do-nothing duffs and pass the bill to eliminate pre-funding, most of this nonsense would go away. But that's not politically expedient so we have a vital service hamstrung. Part for the course, including the probable 24 'wrecking crew' handicap.  

by: purpleiris

I would just like to add that while the new PG might not have any previous experience with the postal service, it could actually work to the benefit of the USPS to have fresh eyes looking at the mess previous PG's have made. It could lead to some truly beneficial changes that needed to be made long ago.

by: purpleiris

Sorry, forgot to mention that I haven't had any issues with package delivery either. They've been allowing extra time during the pandemic when estimating the arrival date, so, every package has arrived a day earlier than stated.

It's odd how so many have had issues when my only gripe is the cost.

by: toolguy

My mail carrier is getting overtime, he got here at 5:30 tonight and 6 pm last night. .

by: purpleiris

It's one thing when the overtime is actually needed to get a job done, but another thing to expect overtime pay every paycheck. That changes one's work habits rather significantly...they have more time to do less.

by: Snapped

Tool, you don’t know what time they started. And for those who believe USPS OT seems to be a Constitutional Right, and have nothing better to do for a few moments, may consider this:

Carrier OT is predetermined daily for each route based on a variety of variables related to the time projected to complete a particular route. Each route is timed to consider stops, line of travel efficiency, carrier performance over time, and performance standards adjustable for volume, for every work element the carrier performs.

These routes are (ideally) inspected and time metrics adjusted as need be. And for all that, the amount of time v volume v standards dictates how much of that 8 hr day is allotted for mail preparation and loading vs that for street delivery. Occasionally, volume, weather, other acts of man and nature, will require expending OT in order to complete the route and deliver all the mail and parcels.

Sometimes that is able to be estimated, sometimes that estimate falls short, and sometimes a carrier will take ‘unauthorized’ time to complete the work. Depending on circumstance, history, many things, that last one can subject the carrier to formal discipline. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll recall there’s sort of a cash flow crunch been goin down for about a decade now at the USPS. OT abuse is monitored, dealt with, and subjects all in the ‘offending chain’ to micromanagement. That alone is powerful incentive for judicial OT approval.

Now if another carrier calls out (say, can’t get daycare due to pandemic reasons...or yes, normal life stuff too), that route (all typically 6+ hours plus prep time) needs to be split up, and other carriers each get a piece. And that adds earned OT too for each of those carriers. It also explains why your mail may be way late or early on a given day.

What the new honcho wants to do it seems, is reduce OT, by reducing prep time, by reducing the volume TO prep, and thus to carry, also reducing street time.

So, the (evolving) edict is, come in, grab what’s ready: Presorted letter and flat mail, parcels, and go. Leave behind any late(er) morning arriving pieces and use the time ‘saved’ in the AM prepping that mail in the PM for next day grab n go. Parcels are also more likely to be finished sorting since (attendance strained these days) manpower resource doesn’t have to work morning mail until after carriers depart. And since carriers don’t have to take as much time prepping, they are pushing back start times.

Given decline in 1c and flat mail, and the unprecedented increase in parcels, this amounts to a better ability to efficiently deliver same day packages albeit delaying for a day about 3% or less of the mail that was delivered pre-paradigm shift, and in declining volume at that.

This does not include or impact political mail, express mail, or any parcels or Spurs (small packets) even if those be standard rate postage.

Ok, those are just the facts. The juicer rumors to come will have all sorts of ‘unreliability’ tags. Just in time to ‘discuss’ as mail-in voting becomes the next kids soccer game ball for the media to swarm around. Imagine that.

by: purpleiris

"What the new honcho wants to do it seems, is reduce OT, by reducing prep time, by reducing the volume TO prep, and thus to carry, also reducing street time."

Wouldn't it be far more cost effective to hire additional folks at regular pay than to pay your entire staff OT every day? I'm not saying they don't have a monumental task to complete. What I am saying is that they need to review more cost effective ways to complete that task.

by: purpleiris

What's more, hiring contractors instead of union employees is NOT the best use of their money. They have no skin in the game. That's not to say that what the union expects for its members isn't ridiculous, but I can't really comment on that as I do not know those terms.

However, the government expecting the USPS to pre-fund pensions a lifetime in advance of a person's need for them IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!

by: laweez65

I think a huge point though is...
Ebay has not posted anything about the changes. My buyers have been contacting me asking why their packages are no longer arriving in the post time frame. If they purchase Priority, they expect the 2 to 3 day time frame.
Now, packages sit in local city offices. Not being delivered for days. Add 2 to 3 days easy.
If you track your packages, you can see the movement. It's arrival. Then sitting locally etc.
Without the overtime. Mail carriers only take out daily what is there when they leave. And are actually being told by their local Postmasters to leave mail if it's more than they can carry etc. So things sit in your post office for days without movement.
WE, the sellers look bad.
Also, they now pick up mail, but do not scan in. So, I ship within my 1 day claim I have on ebay. They pick up. But it's un-scanned. So buyers are asking why I'm not shipping when I post. WE look bad.
If this new Postmaster General wasn't being sneaky, why wouldn't he post a notice of the changes? He's not.
He's left old rules in place, but hung us out to dry.
And my local mailman is taking advantage of the new rules. Less mail. No rush or push.
Something is rotten in Denmark. I only found out by doing some research. Found the newspaper articles. And then started tracking my packages daily.
You will find dates posted in line. Then suddenly dates have changed and blank notices about your package is moving through the system. Updates will be available etc. And this is after the package has arrived locally.
In other words, it is going to sit locally for a while until they can get around to delivering it.
I just want honesty by the post office so I can be honest with my buyers.
Some kind of cover up is going on. I understand they need to save money. But then notify the public of changes to do so.
This is underhanded and being covered up!
And on the other hand. That works for packages being delivered to us also. Same thing. My merchandise is sitting locally without delivery now. Hence, fewer items to sell etc.