I have been struggling with this especially the past month and half. I
deliberately did no ebay and did no posting in December to reduce the number of
packages as I didn't want to go into a crowded post office and wait in line. A
few things sold off CAF anyway one is still out 30 days now to an adjacent
state. I mean without covid I would have just taken a day each way and driven
it there!
My sense is from incoming packages is that the post office is prioritizing
recently sent mail and slowly getting through the backlog. Volume jumped during
the holidays - people got sick in the second surge and it was hard to hire
temps. they hired the normal number and 2/3rds didn't show up. Trucks were
backed up a mile to unload at the regional post office. The problem is that you
don't know which regionals have problems. Detroit has been bad shape all year
as has northern Ohio from looking at what i have received from there. Something
sent from a functioning region will reach here in half the time one that goes
through more than one dysfunctional regional.
I haven't done much overseas as I have tried not to do much shipping period .
Fortunately I am retired and on social security so I don't need additional
income. I know at various times post offices in other nations had similar
problems . Some countries just shut down all international shipping. I had a
package from Chile that was delayed 2 months that way! I have been exploring
UPS and Fedex. UPS has worked well on incoming and has a discount going right
now that reduces the price. Headache is figuring out their insurance- shipping
place says one thing UPS site says another in terms of coverage. Fedex I use
rarely cause here they require an open package that they seal and they limit
insurance on art t o$1000. The y are real pricey (they also maybe the
subcontractor for post office express mail at this time)
The UPS is using contract drivers at times these days in some areas . I had a
painting delivered by a woman in a beat up car so that is something else to
consider!
I am probably going to do UPS on lower cost packages and Fedex on high cost and
take the risk for a while. Guess is that the backlog may be cleared up at the
post office in a few weeks based on my contacts.
I was glad a letter went from here to the small city next door in 48 hours
yesterday! That was 20 minutes away. Stuff inside small cities stays in the
city so if I mailed something to and from ypsialnti it is pulled and arrives
quickly. I am not sure that is true with multi-zip cities as when I was in
Madison the mail got routed from one zip code to another via Milwaukee an hour
and a half away
George Hagenauer
----- Original Message -----
From: "massa frederic" <badmarru@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 11:06:43 AM
Subject: [comicart-l] International shipping: current situation
Hello everyone
I know that everything is slower these days in terms of shipping because of the
pandemy, national or international, but has anyone met any difficulties because
of it? USPS or Fedex?
I have various pieces on hold from shipping as I usually wait for the end of
the year rush to pass but I fear that covid has prolonged/is prolonging that
situation.
Best,Fred
From: comicartl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <comicartl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf
of Mark F McDermott <journey2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 4:59 PM
To: comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [comicart-l] Re: POST OFFICE- It is time to fix it
They (AMZN Fresh) can’t even deliver chilled or frozen products. The frozen
items would occasionally (depending upon that day’s temperature) be thawed out
as they are placed only in brown paper bags and they tend to drive around in a
non-refrigerated vehicle for 90 to 120 minutes. From what I have heard, the
vaccine
requires critical storage, temperature control. Thus, adding inoculations to
their repertoire might be a bit of a stretch…
Mark
From: comicartl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <comicartl-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Mark Nevins (Redacted sender "nevins_mark" for DMARC)
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 10:26 AM
To: comicartl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [comicart-l] Re: POST OFFICE- It is time to fix it
Not to be a wise ass, but if we could teach and certify Amazon and UPS drivers
to safely administer the vaccine, we could all be inoculated by St. Patrick’s
Day.
Mark Nevins
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 14, 2021, at 10:20, yellowkd@xxxxxxx wrote:
<blockquote>
My guess is that more than just I on this list, have had problems with the post
office recently. I currently have a package sent to Western Pennsylvania that
is out over 30 days. Things are getting better - I got a package of silent
animate DVDs from New York media mail in 5 days yesterday and some comics also
media mail arrived in 12.
One of the key problems here is the virus which has deeply affected the
regional sorting hub in Detroit (and it seems elsewhere based on my tracking
packages-there are obvious regional centers that are in crisis).
As such I found it interesting yesterday in talking to postal workers (ship a
lot, you know a lot of postal workers- I am also on the local post office
advisory board so I talk to a lot of people about the post office) to discover
there is no plan to vaccinate postal workers! Yep the best way to do it is
offer it on the job- all these folks locally are in the post office picking up
or sorting mail at key times of the day. You bring in the vaccine and get every
worker who wants one gets it at the same time. I mean it ain't rocket science
and it is a federal program.
Right now a key part of commerce due to the pandemic and a key support for all
types of small businesses is the post office. It is a essential that it works
well. A lot of little main street stores are only surviving because they are
selling on line.
So I am sending off an email to my Senators telling them this needs to be
addressed and with a new administration coming in with people who think
government should work - maybe we can see some solutions-
Best George Hagenauer
</blockquote>
