Post office package pickup clusterfudge

My postal carrier who delivers to my business said that the number of packages they receive has grown astronomically over the past few years as they have become inundated with Wal-Mart and similar online shipments.

Maybe your local depot is trying to make it more difficult and time consuming to discourage online shopping?

For years PO claimed UPS etc were negatively impacting their biz, and now that they are finally getting more business they can't handle it? They should be grateful for the biz.

Too many packages? Hire more people!

oh, please. that will never happen.

i hear the very mean lady at the gallows bay office is no longer there?

Too many packages? Hire more people!

I think the Postmaster is probably just trying new things to deal with the increase in online shipping - whether it works out or not, time will tell. It is a pretty strong union in the PO, change is not an easy option.
Frenchtown PO just installed large package lockers and - supposedly - instead of a yellow slip you get a notice and a key in your box and leave the key in the lock when you retrieve your package. I still see a lot of yellow slips out front.
Haven't had occasion to use it yet - I really don't buy much of anything on line.

I have received several packages since Frenchtown got the keys to the boxes, but still got yellow slips instead of key. Haven't had to wait in line long, though.

I work in the postal and parcels business. First class mail has been in a slow but steady decline over several years albeit not as fast a decline as originally predicted with increased online activity. 3rd class mail is actually rising slightly due to better targeted marketing and business releasing they can still get a better return on targeted mailings v.s. other options. And yes, the parcels business is growing in leaps and bounds and is what will keep the USPS afloat. Couriers are trying various options, in the states FedEx will deliver to the local USPS for delivery to the last mile to the mailbox since the USPS does this best with their regularly scheduled service to every mailbox. The use of remote lockers at various locations like retail centers, even supermarkets, filled by FedEx, UPS, maybe the USPS is going to increase. Progress, automation, additional staff, may come slow to the VI USPS who in the mean time may be challenged to keep up. As we say in business having too many orders and too much work to do is a good problem to have, even for the USPS.

It wasn't my intent to slam USPS at all, just to give a forewarning to anybody who may have packages to pick up at Sugar Estate. I don't know if the other POs are trying the same thing, just hoping that the process will be better organized and tweaked during its trial stages. Packages were being put into the new large boxes and maybe when this gets better organized it'll help too.

Sometimes I walk into the P.O.to check mail, want to buy stamps or pick up a package, I look at the line and decide.....tomorrow might be better!

I'd happily pay for USPS mailbox on my property and delivery to my home.

i miss being able to buy stamps at the grocery store

Went to P.O. today.
Had a package slip and a key to the parcel mailbox they started using in my box.
Unfortunately, the package in the box they left the key to, was not for me.
The line for returning the wrong package and picking up my package wasn't long tho, so in and out rather quickly.

Ha, ha, Alana! That's priceless. Wrong package in the box. Which post office was this?

When that Happens aren't they supposed to give you the choice of any unclaimed package in the back??

Ha, ha, Alana! That's priceless. Wrong package in the box. Which post office was this?

Sugar Estate P.O.