U.S. Postal Service mail delays


This seems pretty obvious, given the headlines and TV news, but anything shipped during the last few days to or from DC and possibly NJ (because of the illnesses of workers at the Trenton Distribution Center) may be delayed beyond the normal mailing times to these locations. The Washington Post has a map today showing that mail service to and from more than half the zip codes in DC has been suspended. I have been receiving emails from a very disgruntled buyer in Jersey City who still hasn't received the cables I mailed him last Thursday. He wants to know what I intend to do about it. I can only apologize and ask for his patience as mail facilities and Postal Service workers are screened for anthrax! You'd think he would be a little more understanding, esp. since I mailed him the cables before his PayPal payment even cleared into my account. In fact, I mailed the cables about 15 minutes after I received email from PayPal indicating that he had made the payment. I thought I gave him express, speedy, ASAP service, but he is quite upset anyway, since the package hasn't yet arrived (it should only have taken 3 days max, from VA to Jersey City). So if anything is CRUCIAL and MUST be received without delay, please think of using FedEx, UPS, and the like until our mail service is back to normal.
I would like to thank our Postal workers for even continuing to show up for work! At the federal agency where I work, our clerical help, who receives and opens mail for us every day, now has to wear latex gloves and a chintzy mask while performing these duties.
sc53
Sarah,

I dont think you have any reason the have to feel responsible for the delay, and if the seller is upset at you, this is someone who I would not want to do business with at any point in the future.

I have been waiting, possibly rather naively, for a record clamp sent from Brazil over 4 weeks ago. The seller who has 5+ feedbacks and has contributed in forums here, appears to be on the up and up, but who knows?

Should I blame him or myself, for not realizing that mail theft from Brazil is fairly common? I had a choice to pass on the deal and went forward, buyer beware I say.

In my past deal with you, you were one of the most responsive quik shippers Ive dealt with, thanks for the heads up on unavoidable mail delays.
Sarah is not alone, I sent priority mail/delivery confirmation payment to seller in Honolulu, HI (I live in Ohio) usually takes 4-5 days and just got to him in 10 days. Agree that for now it probably best to use Fed-X or UPS.

USPS workers are doing a heroic job showing up for work everyday considering the circumstances!
I'm awaiting the shipping from Toronto to NY and it's already been more than 2 weeks with UPS?

Maybe not only USPS got "Anthraxed"?
Hi again Sarah, ask the buyer to call the Head Postmaster at his local PO for an explanation. Maybe he doesn't have a tuner, no TV & doesn't read the paper. I drive for a mail contract carrier & for everybodys information, any post office is subject to shutdown at a moments notice. It happened yesterday at a facility our company deals with multiple times on a daily basis. The mail has to be rerouted to another sorting facility & of course this delays everything except express. Express is still guaranteed. Good luck!