I run a small online business and I use the USPS for all my shipping. I probably mail 100 packages a week, and have been doing so for years.

I don't think most people understand the scope of what has been happening over the last month or so in terms of delays.

First class mail (letters and packages) used to always arrive within a week or so. Always. I can't even count the number of packages I sent domestic via USPS that experienced significant delays over the past few years because the number was so small.

Since DeJoy took over the USPS? 5-10% of my mail is taking WEEKS to be delivered. Some have been stuck in the system for OVER A MONTH.

Buyers are PISSED, and systems like eBay and TCGplayer aren't set up to deal with mass postal delays that aren't the seller's fault.

The system didn't fail. It is being sabotaged. I can show you my shipping records and prove to you that it's being sabotaged. And I don't know what I'm going to do if it keeps down this path, because alternative shipping companies do not have competitive small business rates.

The other problem: if I'm buying something that I 100% need to have right now? I'm going to Amazon and making sure that I buy it via Prime. I have to.

And the consolidation continues.

Since this thread blew up, I thought I'd answer some of the hundreds questions I've received:

1) "Just used FedEx/UPS!"

These services are *NOT* competitive at sub 1-lb rates, which is 90% of what I ship. These are also the parcels that are getting delayed.

2) "This is deliberate sabotage by the GOP to prevent mail-in ballots in November!"

Yes, and the GOP/right wing operatives have been trying to privatize the USPS for years as part of their Grover Norquist-style fuckery. It's just more of a priority now because of the election.

3) "How do you know it's not just the USPS being overwhelmed by COVID?"

I mean, it IS! But the USPS worked fine in March, April, and May. It's being sabotaged now because of budget cuts/not allowing employees to work overtime.

COVID is the gasoline - Republicans are the match.

4) "Postal workers and employees are working as hard as they can under amazingly difficult circumstances!"

Yup! I've got nothing but love and respect for postal workers. This thread is NOT about them. They are incredible ppl who put up with so much crap. They deserve raises.

5) "USPS rates are just not competitive! They should raise prices!"

The USPS shouldn't have to run a profit - they're a government service - but shockingly, they do!

Or they would if the GOP didn't force them to prefund 75 years(!) of pensions. This is a MANUFACTURED crisis.

6) "Amazon uses the USPS too. Prime shipments have been delayed recently!"

Yes, but they're fast building their own logistics network, and their packages always get priority over mine. Most of the Prime delays in March/April were on the warehouse/fulfillment side, not shipping.

7) "Don't send USPS! Use the regular mail!"

Since two different people (?!?) tweeted this to me today, I guess there's some confusion over what the United States Postal Service is.

It's "the regular mail."

8) "Everybody go buy stamps to save the post office!"

That might make you feel better, but it's not gonna do much. The best way to fix this is to DEMAND that your Democratic reps make this issue a priority NOW. Call them. Write to them. Show them that you need them to push this.

I also just want to say that the USPS is low-key fantastic. It's a logistics miracle. I ship thousands of things a year and almost never had issues before this summer.

It's killing me to see the agency being strangled to death, and I'm going to keep using them as long as I can.

If you're wondering why I'm not engaging with the endless sea of horrible people tweeting bad faith questions at me after reading this thread, I wrote an essay about how I deal with online hate: https://cassieceleste.substack.com/p/i-will-not-debate-you