Post by PickyChicky on Nov 14, 2016 13:38:41 GMT -6
I had started this conversation on Etsy, but peeps don't seem to understand what I'm saying. LOL So I thought I'd come here to see what y'all's thoughts are about this based on your experience with the USPS over the past year -- prior and subsequent to the latest rate change.
As for my experience, I've never had issues with the USPS prior to the rate change in January of this year. My First-Class and Priority packages were typically delivered within 2-3 days. Now it takes 4-5 days, which is a day or two later than the "expected" delivery date on a Priority package and is how long it previously took to ship via PSG. Is that why it only costs five cents more than PSG now?
It got me to thinking that the USPS has set itself up to ruin its Priority service. Now that Priority is the more economical service over Parcel Select Ground (PSG) up to Zone 8, more people are obviously going to choose Priority. So, with the incalculable increase in the number of Priority packages, they can no longer meet their own expectations.
Ever since this rate change occurred, I have yet to have a single Priority package make it within the timeframe they project. Last week, I had a package going to California that was supposed to be delivered Thursday, but wasn't delivered until Saturday since it was delayed and they were closed Friday.
This has nothing to do with the holiday season because it's been happening all year since the rate change. With a mere five-cent difference between Priority and PSG for even a 70-pound package to Zone 8, which method do you think people will choose? Even if a customer doesn't pay that extra five cents for Priority, why wouldn't I just go ahead and upgrade it on my own dime (or nickel, as it were)?
Before, it was only more economical to ship via Priority for packages weighing 3-4 pounds. Now you can ship anything to Zone 8 via Priority for five cents more than PSG. Imagine the number of Priority packages they are now dealing with. Other than First-Class and the tree killers (unwanted ads), it would make up the bulk of their mail.
So, how can they expect to deliver on their 2-3 day projection now? I know many have said theirs still get delivered within 2-3 days. They try to blame it on the North Houston distribution center (NHDC), which isn't fair. Since at least 1990, Houston has been ranked as the fourth largest city in the States and our NHDC has always been reliable -- even after closing several distribution centers.
Of course, if you live in a rural area or a city of smaller size, it will be easier for your PO to keep up. Some have also suggested that the NHDC could be understaffed, but you would think they'd have fixed that by now after 11 months of consistently failing to meet expected delivery dates for its fourth biggest customer.
No, this problem didn't arise until after the rate change, so I can only conclude that they simply cannot handle ALL of that Priority mail. They're even located right next to our international airport, so it's not like they have to travel far. I'm sure they just simply don't have enough room on the planes for all that Priority mail.
Of course, it doesn't help that they're contracting with their competitors (Fedex, UPS, etc.) to have USPS mail shipped via their competitors' planes. I'm sure they're limited to how much mail they can put on the plane, especially since their competitors have their own mail to deliver.
At this point, the USPS can't even afford to rebuild its own fleet. I swear this just reeks of conspiracy to do away with the people's postal service. I sure hope Mr. President can do something about this, especially since he claims to be on the people's side. Maybe we should write to him about it so he's aware of the issue...hmmm...
Anywho, so what are your thoughts? Are you seeing what I'm seeing or...?
As for my experience, I've never had issues with the USPS prior to the rate change in January of this year. My First-Class and Priority packages were typically delivered within 2-3 days. Now it takes 4-5 days, which is a day or two later than the "expected" delivery date on a Priority package and is how long it previously took to ship via PSG. Is that why it only costs five cents more than PSG now?
It got me to thinking that the USPS has set itself up to ruin its Priority service. Now that Priority is the more economical service over Parcel Select Ground (PSG) up to Zone 8, more people are obviously going to choose Priority. So, with the incalculable increase in the number of Priority packages, they can no longer meet their own expectations.
Ever since this rate change occurred, I have yet to have a single Priority package make it within the timeframe they project. Last week, I had a package going to California that was supposed to be delivered Thursday, but wasn't delivered until Saturday since it was delayed and they were closed Friday.
This has nothing to do with the holiday season because it's been happening all year since the rate change. With a mere five-cent difference between Priority and PSG for even a 70-pound package to Zone 8, which method do you think people will choose? Even if a customer doesn't pay that extra five cents for Priority, why wouldn't I just go ahead and upgrade it on my own dime (or nickel, as it were)?
Before, it was only more economical to ship via Priority for packages weighing 3-4 pounds. Now you can ship anything to Zone 8 via Priority for five cents more than PSG. Imagine the number of Priority packages they are now dealing with. Other than First-Class and the tree killers (unwanted ads), it would make up the bulk of their mail.
So, how can they expect to deliver on their 2-3 day projection now? I know many have said theirs still get delivered within 2-3 days. They try to blame it on the North Houston distribution center (NHDC), which isn't fair. Since at least 1990, Houston has been ranked as the fourth largest city in the States and our NHDC has always been reliable -- even after closing several distribution centers.
Of course, if you live in a rural area or a city of smaller size, it will be easier for your PO to keep up. Some have also suggested that the NHDC could be understaffed, but you would think they'd have fixed that by now after 11 months of consistently failing to meet expected delivery dates for its fourth biggest customer.
No, this problem didn't arise until after the rate change, so I can only conclude that they simply cannot handle ALL of that Priority mail. They're even located right next to our international airport, so it's not like they have to travel far. I'm sure they just simply don't have enough room on the planes for all that Priority mail.
Of course, it doesn't help that they're contracting with their competitors (Fedex, UPS, etc.) to have USPS mail shipped via their competitors' planes. I'm sure they're limited to how much mail they can put on the plane, especially since their competitors have their own mail to deliver.
At this point, the USPS can't even afford to rebuild its own fleet. I swear this just reeks of conspiracy to do away with the people's postal service. I sure hope Mr. President can do something about this, especially since he claims to be on the people's side. Maybe we should write to him about it so he's aware of the issue...hmmm...
Anywho, so what are your thoughts? Are you seeing what I'm seeing or...?
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I have noticed that orders coming into me seem to take longer than usual. I wonder what this means for customer shipments when we actually get into the holiday season.
