Slow USPS / mail?

I can how it might be a day late. Trays are placed in containers. Sometimes the container is mislabelled and all the mail goes to a station it is not meant for. Then it has to be returned for shipment to the proper office. Sometimes a tray is put in the wrong container and shipped to the wrong office. But that should only delay it a day

Something is going on with local carrier personnel, I suspect. Some days we haven't gotten mail until 8:00 p.m.! And other days when we don't get any at all, I suspect it's just that our neighborhood was skipped entirely for the day. I am theorizing that, at least at my own closest post office, they've cut staff. Never before have I ever experienced getting mail so late in the evening.

Having Saturdays off, there should be more staff during the week and service should improve.

Not necessarily, Trilby. They would cut back by the contract. If they have supplemental employees (not protected under the contract) they would go first. Then any Part Time Flexibles (not "regular" carriers) would be cut. Use of overtime is preferred to having enough staff to cover sick leave, and vacations. Management gets reward pay for cutting staff to the bone. They seldom bring in a "relief" to cover for someone who is sick or on vacation. That cuts into their bonuses.

My brother who works for Postal Service says they are hearing rumors that the Postal Service might cut to a 4-day work week. That could be just the carriers. They would work 4×10hr days, and have 3-day weekends. The fifth day of delivery would be filled in with T-6s (higher levels who train others).

One thing about this is the shock to carriers. They have gotten off Sundays with some other day during the week or rotating days. Now they could actually get two or three days in a row. Management could use this as a bargaining tactic to lower their pay. There would be no more need to pay a premium because they have lost out on time with family.

When i worked in an hourly position...four tens were the first shift I went after. I don't see why more operations dont go to this. If anything the USPS would just need to juggle carriers or open up more part time positions to cover.

I don't see why this has to turn into a "Management could use this as a bargaining tactic to lower their pay" discussion. If the operation is losing money, you gotta make cut backs. This sense of entitlement to a certain level of pay needs to end. If you don't like the pay level, find another job. If you are in an area where you can't find another job, look at moving.

Really need to change their postage, bulk mail should be higher than a regular letter. I say make bulk (junk) mail 50 cents and leave regular mail alone.

I've had somewhat the opposite effect. There have been times when family members would sent me a letter and I'd get it in 3-4 business days. Other times I'd send something and it would take 1-2 weeks for them to get it. Not sure where the kink in the line is.

Just make them work "full" days. It is commonly known that many carriers need to stretch their time on the routes. New employees who finish 2-3 hours quicker are reminded not to make anyone look bad.

We had issues awhile back where our mail was returned without ever having been delivered. We called the post office when we realized what had been going on only to be told our regular mail person was on vacation. Not realy what I wanted to hear because I lost a package and some important documents. I would call your local office. At least you may get some info.

LC, I love that idea! It will save us from a certain catastrophe!!
http://blogs.kcls.org/librarytalk/2009/12/motel-of-the-mysteries.html

LC, like Nana I totally agree,raise the cost of junk mail! instead of finding ways to jerk the public off.Like the 1 standard fee BS,starting with $4.99 box that a standard wallet wouldn't fit into and everything else over$10.00 and doing away with the single stamp machines forcing us to buy a "Book" or wait in line for 10-30 minutes to buy 1 stamp !!

Junk mail is someone's business, blacjac687. It is sometimes called "business mail". These pieces that are paid at a "standard rate" for bulk mailings, and given discounts because the mailer does the work by sorting to different separations (including sorting to the carrier, and "walk sequencing" the mail) are supposedly ready for the carrier to deliver on his route. I doubt that businesses would send "junk mail" anymore if prices were raised as you suggest. They'd would just go out of business, or "spam" your e-mail account. It is businesses that have fought to keep the cost of junk mail low enough to not be a loss to their bottom line.

Is it against policy if your mail carrier reads your magazines during the lunch break (sitting in the vehicle) and then delivers them to you right afterwards? Several of us have witnessed this.

Yes it is. The question arises, though, is what you're seeing correct? There is no possibility that he was reading his copy, and not yours? People actually saw him reading in his seat, and take the magazine directly from there to someone's address? Pretty stupid on his part.