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FUMING USPS customers said they have been waiting for their mail since Xmas.
Postal Service employees claim they are doing everything possible to get people their packages.
With worsening weather, more delays are expected to affect USPS deliveries.
Kentucky locals are tired of finding their mailboxes empty — some have been waiting for packages since Xmas.
A local entrepreneur, Brandon Newsome, makes a living by selling vintage sneakers online.
Although his business has taken off, Newsome is struggling to complete online orders with the constant USPS delays, as reported by Fox’s Kentucky local affiliate WDRB.
He hasn’t been able to track some of his packages while others have been shipped to the wrong location — or even the wrong state!
“I just want to hurry and get it to the customers so that we can complete the transaction,” Newsome told WDRB.
WDRB’s requests for comment have gone unanswered by the USPS.
While some are hopeful that the delays will be resolved, employees say they have been stretched thin to keep up with demand.
“Employees have been working hard to get things back on track,” said Art Campos, president of the union representing postal employees.
“We’re getting to a point now where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Campos blames the snowy weather for the postal delays, but one union member disagrees.
Steve Vaughn, a union trustee for Indianapolis postal workers, said the delays have nothing to do with the winter storms.
“It’s not a weather issue,” Vaughn said.
“It doesn’t stop processing mail inside a facility. It’s warm, it’s dry, and the lights are on,” he added.
Avoiding mail theft
To prevent mail theft, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) recommends residents take several precautions.
- First, avoid letting mail sit in your mailbox—inspect it daily and remove it promptly.
- For package deliveries, track shipments on the USPS website and sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed.
- If you’re not home when your mail is scheduled to arrive, consider asking a trusted neighbor to pick it up for you.
- For longer absences, you can have your mail held at the Post Office by requesting this service online.
- If valuable mail such as checks doesn’t arrive, immediately reach out to the issuing agency.
- It’s also crucial to update your address with the Post Office and any businesses you regularly correspond with to avoid potential issues.
- Lastly, for outgoing mail, it’s safer to hand it directly to your letter carrier or deposit it inside your local Post Office for added security.
Source: U.S. Postal Inspector
Vaughn slammed the USPS for its lack of coordination and logistical issues.
It’s important to note that the US Postal Service handles mass amounts of mail every day.
In fact, nearly 45% of the world’s mail is processed and delivered by the USPS.
According to the USPS website, the total mail volume was roughly 116 billion in 2023.
That same year, the Postal Service delivered mail and packages to 166.6 million delivery points nationwide.
The US Postal Service does not share how much of that mail is lost in the process, but some slip ups are inevitable.
USPS did not immediately reply to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.