key points:
- unpredictable weather conditions are some of the main reasons behind most delays in usps deliveries
- shipping to the wrong address is another reason you may experience delays on usps packages
- consider submitting a missing mail search request online at misingmail.usps.com or file an insured item claim if your package has not arrived
The United States Postal Services (USPS) is the national courier service authorized by the government to provide safe, reliable and affordable postal services. shipping packages from the largest cities to the smallest villages. With more than 31,000 retail locations within the United States, the courier service delivers approximately 700 million packages per day.
Due to its strong delivery network and affordable shipping service, it is trusted by many e-commerce retailers to provide cost-effective shipping solutions to their customers.
but all courier services encounter delays, and usps delays are unavoidable. how you handle them is what makes the difference. To avoid frustrating their customers, eCommerce merchants should understand the top reasons USPS shipping delays occur so they can prepare accordingly to address any delivery challenges before potential red flags are noticed by shoppers. .
merchants who want to ship with usps can access their most popular services at discounted prices through easyship. Plus, you’ll get access to dedicated tracking and a full branded post-purchase experience.
Here, we give you some reasons why USPS shipments may be delayed.
1. time
Unpredictable weather conditions are some of the main reasons behind most USPS delivery delays. For example, severe winter storms bring snow, freezing rain, and extreme temperatures to many parts of the United States. Unexpected power outages are also common during this period.
This makes it difficult to move delivery routes and leads to unavoidable interruptions in postal service caused by bad weather and other natural disasters or events such as floods and storms.
During those times, residential customers should check the USPS Mail Service Outages website for up-to-date information on USPS weather-related delays in their neighborhood or contact the Customer Service Center at 1- 800-ask-usps (800-275-8777) . To report an outage, companies can email [email protected]
2. delivery times are estimates
When shipping USPS, small businesses should always remember that most of their delivery services do not offer delivery guarantees, only estimates. The only USPS service that offers a delivery guarantee is Express Express Mail, and you can initiate a claim to initiate a refund if the delivery window is missed.
A delivery estimate, on the other hand, means that your package may arrive before or after the designated date. You are not entitled to any refund in case your package is delayed.
For example, USPS First Class Parcel offers a delivery estimate of 1-3 days. but your package may arrive faster than expected or arrive a couple of days after this deadline.
For services with an estimated delivery of 1 to 3 days, it is recommended to wait 5 days and up to 14 days for services with an estimated delivery of 2 to 10 business days. If your package does not arrive within that time, you should contact USPS Customer Service to discuss the issues behind the delay.
3. holiday fever
There is usually a spike in online shopping during the holidays. The Christmas and New Years holiday seasons are typically the busiest times for USPS package delivery. In 2020, parcel volume increased 14% through December. 12 compared to the same period in 2019.
In order to meet the holiday delivery deadline, private express carriers like fedex and ups, as happened during the 2020 holiday season, cut deliveries for some retailers. That means most new orders that arrive during the holidays go through USPS.
such a holiday rush results in delivery volume surges that exceed usps delivery capacity. This results in delays in USPS shipments as customers rush to shop and send gifts to their loved ones.
To avoid getting caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle, e-commerce retailers should encourage their customers to make their holiday purchases well in advance. You can easily do this by displaying holiday shipping times on your website so your shoppers know what to expect before they purchase.
4. covid-19
Since COVID-19, there has been an unprecedented rise in online shopping as more Americans take action for their health by avoiding in-person store visits. It’s important to remember that the USPS is not immune to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
From lockdowns and social distancing restrictions to USPS employees affected by the virus, there are many reasons small businesses may experience USPS shipping delays.
For example, according to the American Postal Workers Union, nearly 19,000 of the 644,000 USPS workers had contracted the virus as of December 22, 2020, and were in quarantine.
Such instances affect the courier’s ability to deliver on its promises, leading to packages sitting inside USPS facilities for days.
Unfortunately, delays related to COVID-19 are still a reality today, and since the USPS has not issued any advisory on when normal delivery services should resume, e-commerce retailers should be aware of the impact of covid-19 on your shipping options.
5. the packet was lost
Although this is a rare case, a damaged or lost package is another reason you may experience USPS shipping delays. If you haven’t received your package for more than 7 days after the estimated delivery time, you should consider raising the issue with usps.
Consider submitting a missing mail search request online at missingmail.usps.com or file a claim for insured items that meet the appropriate time period. You can also visit your local post office for help completing a missing mail request.
6. the address is not correct
Shipping to the wrong address is another reason you may experience USPS package delays. This happens when your customer provides you with the wrong address, or when there is a typo or mistake in the recipient’s delivery address.
That means your package will be delivered to the wrong address, or there will be a delivery exception, which will lead to more delivery delays.
To help avoid USPS delivery delays due to an incorrect address, the courier service offers package intercept services within the United States. To redirect a package, it must have a tracking number and it must not be standard or newspaper mail.
As long as the package has not been delivered or released for delivery, USPS will make every effort to locate the item, redirect it, and deliver it to the correct address.
To redirect a package, just log in to your USPS account and submit your request. you will need to pay the package intercept fee plus the estimated shipping cost to the new address.
7. collection notice left at your residence
Sometimes USPS delays occur because the couriers may not be able to deliver your package. after all, there was no one to pick him up, his house was locked, or there was a dog barking at his residence.
In such cases, your package is left at the nearest post office and you will find a collection notice about where your package is and the possible collection time.
8. unusual circumstances
A lot happens during the fulfillment and delivery processes, and there are often unforeseen circumstances that cause USPS package delays. truck breakdowns, accidents, traffic problems, natural disasters, changes in carrier routes, inclement weather, and post office staffing fluctuations are just a few of the unusual reasons why that your package may be delayed.
And there is usually nothing you or the courier can do in these situations, and it may take a little longer for your package to arrive.
eCommerce retailers should consider sharing tracking information with their customers so they can stay up to date on the delivery status of their packages and lessen much of the delivery anxiety that arises due to these unusual circumstances.
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how easyship can help
usps delivery delays, just like any other carrier, are unavoidable due to the various reasons we’ve discussed above. easyship can help you get around most USPS shipping delays in the following ways:
- a network of fulfillment centers: we partner with fulfillment centers in different locations to help you reduce shipping costs and reduce delivery times.
- commercial plus pricing (cpp): all usps shipments made through easyship take advantage of cpp rates to help you realize substantial savings.
- manage all The USPS Shipping Experience: Through our platform, you can easily schedule pickups, generate shipping labels, and provide accurate pricing and delivery estimates using a shipping rate calculator.
- tracking: You can leverage our tracking system to offer your shoppers a streamlined post-purchase experience with branded emails, dedicated tracking pages, and text message alerts.
Sign up for a free easyship account and integrate your usps account into your easyship dashboard to get started!
usps delays frequently asked questions
what happens if my usps package is delayed?
As we have already seen, most USPS services do not offer a delivery guarantee. that means your package may arrive before or after the estimated delivery time.
Therefore, we recommend that you wait an additional five days after the delivery window has passed. if the delay persists, consider contacting customer support to inquire about the delay.
what happens if usps tracking doesn’t update for days?
The most recent tracking status of your package should appear on the USPS tracking page. If no status is available or information doesn’t change for days, consider emailing usps customer service or calling them directly at 1-800-ask-usps (1-800-275-8777) to make an inquiry. query. we can say here that you can consult this guide.
What happens if USPS loses my package?
First, you must send a search request for missing mail. USPS will do everything possible to locate your lost package and send it to you.
If the item is not found, you may be able to request a refund if you used a service with a money-back guarantee, such as express priority mail.
If you had insurance coverage for your mail or package, you may be able to file an insurance claim for a lost or damaged package within 60 days.