Have you shipped anything this holiday season through the mail? If the answer is ‘yes’ you are not alone. Record-breaking numbers of shipments are expected throughout the remainder of the holiday season for major carriers – including the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx.
USPS is blaming delays and lost packages on staffing issues and seasonal volumes, which have ramped up amid the pandemic. It has put people like Sally Clark of Hammondsport, in a difficult position.
“They said you can file a claim to get reimbursed,” she told News10NBC. “I said, yeah, that’s easy for you to say but some of that stuff I made.”
She regularly mails crafts and personalized items to her grandchildren in Virginia. Clark even paid extra for two-day shipping.
“Monday came and went. They did not receive it. Tuesday came and went. They did not receive it,” she explained. “We found out Tuesday that it was in Richmond, in some distribution center.”
Another frustrated customer spoke with News10NBC about a package getting ‘stuck’ in Jackson, Mississippi. Officials with USPS say they faced issued connected to the pandemic, and then increased volumes.
“COVID is always the response and I’m sorry, that’s an excuse,” Clark added. She’s hopeful that her package isn’t lost entirely.
Either way, it’s a good idea to get your package in the mail now – if you want it to arrive on-time via the USPS, or seek out a different carrier.
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