Problems with USPS?

We've only had an occasional package that took a long time.
Most the time they are very reliable where we live.
The postal service would be absolutely fine if it weren't for the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA).
It did the exact opposite of enhancing our postal service.

Under PAEA, USPS was forced to “prefund its future health care benefit payments to retirees for the next 75 years in an astonishing ten-year time span” — meaning that it had to put aside billions of dollars to pay for the health benefits of employees it hasn’t even hired yet, something “that no other government or private corporation is required to do.”

As consumer advocate Ralph Nader noted, if PAEA was never enacted, USPS would actually be facing a $1.5 billion surplus today:

By June 2011, the USPS saw a total net deficit of $19.5 billion, $12.7 billion of which was borrowed money from Treasury (leaving just $2.3 billion left until the USPS hits its statutory borrowing limit of $15 billion). This $19.5 billion deficit almost exactly matches the $20.95 billion the USPS made in prepayments to the fund for future retiree health care benefits by June 2011. If the prepayments required under PAEA were never enacted into law, the USPS would not have a net deficiency of nearly $20 billion, but instead be in the black by at least $1.5 billion.

This bill was/is backed by Fed Ex and UPS and it's given them an unfair market advantage.
I don't think it's a good idea to shackle the postal service in favor private companies.
PAEA needs to be repealed.
The postal 'crisis' has been artificially manufactured.

Nope, I've not had any problems!! (knock on wood!!)

I ordered a new bedding set for my guest bedroom - shipped via USPS - ordered/paid on Thursday - received Monday.

I mail my mom & dad stuff to California - typically gets there in 2 to 3 days.

I would talk to the Postmaster at your office!

I sell online and ship packages often. I've noticed the opposite actually. First class and Priority only take 1-3 days as usual, but the Parcel and Media packages that typically take much longer are being delivered more quickly.

My guess is that something is up with your local office or a sorting hub.

We've not had any issues with USPS packages. I ship and receive priority on time regularly.

I do most of my shipping through FedEx since my packages are over some weight limits for USPS. I LOVE FedEx

Maybe it is your local USPS?

Hahahahahahahha...in Chicago, you're lucky if you EVER get your package from USPS.
No joke, the delivery rate was below 50% in our old neighborhood. About 75% in our current one.

DH and I have seriously learned not to patronize any businesses that ship using USPS, just because we'll never get it.
We only use UPS or FedEx 3 day (because FedEx ground hands off to USPS for final delivery...).

Yes, the u s mail is in danger of being eliminated. They are so out of date. I suggest that you request the rest of your packages come through some other source.

You should report it.
Flaming Turnip, I used to work for FedEx. You can definitely ask them to hold your package for delivery at the FedEx Office closest to you.

i've noticed a few things arriving more slowly, but i've actually been surprised and impressed with how well our local USPS has handled the budget and personnel cuts. there's still no cheaper or more efficient way to send something across the country.
i'm with B, the PAEA was a travesty.
khairete
S.

They said they were going to do this months ago crying budget cuts. Of course they focused on the letter no longer being deliverable in one day. Considering the small number of jobs that didn't get filled because of the budget not being increased I feel like these are purposeful delays to drive the point home of how dependent we are on fast service so we better give them more money.

Thing is I can send stuff UPS or FedEx for pennies more and it gets there in two days so USPS can stuff it.

Another oddity, FedEx has this thing, can't remember the exact name, but they get it on the ground in your city in a day and hand it off to the USPS where it "should" arrive the next day. Week later I get my stuff. Amazon uses this, or used this a lot. Haven't seen it in a while. I swear I want to call FedEx and say, just hold it there, please! I will come get it after work!!
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Persimmon, I know they will hold it. I just didn't reach this level of frustration until a couple months ago.
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Ya know the comments about the USPS running a surplus but for the PAEA? The post office has been subsidized since at least the 90s. So maybe they wouldn't be AS bad off but they have been in the red for the past 20 years.

PAEA was a reaction, albeit bad one, to the problem, not the cause.

Yes our cousins in LA ordered Girl Scout cookies from my daughter and it took a month for them to get there. They have slowed down a lot.