USPS has finally admitted the reason why residents’ packages stopped being delivered – and there’s no real solution.

Colorado mountain residents have said that the end of a contract between USPS and UPS has led to packages being returned to the sender.

There is also ongoing confusion about how to effectively get packages delivered.

USPS’s contract with UPS SurePost ended at the start of January.

And Summit County residents soon found out that the change meant UPS would no longer deliver to PO boxes at US post offices.

This has led to a gargantuan issue of packages failing to arrive, since USPS won’t deliver them to most physical addresses.

But when shopping online, Summit County residents say it’s not easy to tell what the vendor is sending the package with, whether it’s USPS, UPS, or another company.

Frisco resident Patti Plummer told the Summit Daily: “We’re still trying to figure out what’s the best way to get items shipped to us.

“It’s very time consuming. You can be on hold for a while.

“Because we don’t have mailboxes here, USPS cannot deliver here – but UPS will deliver here, and USPS will only deliver to the PO box.”

UPS was able to drop off packages at US Post offices for “last-minute delivery” under the now-expired contract.

Resident of unincorporated Summit County Ian Zinner also told the news site: “I don’t know how my stuff is getting sent unless [the online vendor] specifically says, which is about one of 10 times.

“We pretty much just put our home address and hope that it shows up.”

USPS response

The US Postal Service has said in a statement that it’s been working to implement a “new strategic approach” with its contracts with companies like UPS that use its Parcel Select service.

It said: “Prior agreements failed to reflect operational and financial realities, the evolving postal network, or the enhancements to our portfolio of product offerings.

“As a result of our new approach, some businesses negotiated new agreements with us, and some have not.”

USPS also said that it has kept transparent throughout its new strategic approach, and that it will continue to communicate “openly and transparently” in the future.

The statement added: “Throughout this process we have been transparent – both publicly and privately – with business partners, customers and the shipping industry about our intent to either negotiate new agreements or to let prior disadvantageous agreements expire.

“Communications to affected businesses began in the Spring of 2024 with multiple, follow-on public announcements made through the end of the year.

“How these aggregating businesses have communicated about these developments to their stakeholders is beyond the control or responsibility of the Postal Service.”

And US Senator Michael Bennet said that he “continues to advocate that [the U.S. Postal Service] prioritize excellent customer service in its operations and is deeply concerned by reports that President Trump plans to privatize the [Postal Service] or remove the Board of Governors.”