Why is the mail running slow? This is what’s behind Charlotte delivery delays
If you’ve made the trek to the mailbox for an expected package or letter recently only to be disappointed, you’re not alone.
Many around the country have voiced frustration with the speed of mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, and Charlotte hasn’t been immune to trouble.
Here’s what to know about mail delivery in Charlotte and what to do if you’re having issues:
‘Unforeseen circumstances’ behind delivery issues in Charlotte
Mail delivery issues in the Charlotte area have been relatively minor, USPS spokesman Philip Bogenberger said in a statement to The Charlotte Observer on Monday, with “most Charlotte area customers experiencing regular mail delivery.”
“There are some postal employees out due by unforeseen circumstances,” he said in response to a question about delivery delays in the area.
Locally, the Postal Service has authorized overtime for employees, extended delivery hours and pulled “additional carriers” from other offices to “maintain mail deliveries,” according to Bogenberger.
“Any impacted customers who experienced a brief delay should expect delivery to return to normal soon,” he said.
On a national scale, USPS announced last year that it was slowing some mail services, NPR reported.
How long should it take for mail to arrive?
The Postal Service’s “delivery standards,” the time in which a piece of mail should be delivered, vary depending on the type of mail:
First Class Mail should be delivered within one to five business days. If the mail hasn’t arrived within five business days, you should contact customer service, USPS says.
First Class Package Service mail should be delivered within one to three business days. If the package isn’t delivered within five business days, you should contact customer service.
Priority Mail should be delivered within one to three business days. If the mail hasn’t arrived within five business days, you should contact customer service.
Priority Mail Express packages have a guaranteed delivery window of one to two days. You should contact customer service if your package doesn’t arrive within that window.
Retail Ground packages, Media Mail, Bound Printed Matter and Library Mail should arrive within two to eight business days. You should contact customer service if the package doesn’t arrive within two weeks.
Parcel Select and Parcel Select Lightweight packages should be delivered within two to nine business days, and you should contact customer service if they don’t arrive within two weeks.
Periodicals, such as magazines, should arrive within three to nine business days after shipping. If they aren’t delivered within two weeks, you contact customer service.
Marketing Mail should be delivered within three to ten business days, and you should contact customer service if it hasn’t arrived within two weeks.
Reasons the Postal Service won’t deliver mail
There are a number of reasons why your mail delivery could be delayed or even cut off, according to the Postal Service, including:
Your mailbox being blocked by things such as an “accumulation of snow” or vehicles.
“Loose animals,” such as dogs, posing an “immediate threat” to “the delivery employee, mail security, or postal property.”
Severe weather or natural disasters creating “hazardous conditions” for mail carriers
Your mailbox being full.
Traffic or road construction delaying or preventing your mail carrier from reaching your area.
USPS also cautions that it’s “normal for an address to not have any mail slated for delivery on any given day.”
“If you have not received any mail within a two-day period or if you are not receiving mail regularly (i.e. on a specific day of the week) for two or more weeks in a row, please contact us,” the Postal Service advises.
What to do if your mail is late
If your mail is late, you have a few options for tracking it down.
If you have a tracking number for your package, you can enter that here to see where the parcel is and what the latest delivery estimate is. The Postal Service recommends reaching out to the person or company that shipped the package if you don’t have a tracking number to either get the tracking number or have them track the parcel for you.
If it’s a magazine or other type of periodical you’re waiting for, USPS suggests touching base with the publisher “to ensure they have your correct information and the subscription has not expired.”
And you always have the option of contacting your Charlotte-area post office to get information. You can find your post office by entering your ZIP code here.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 5:44 PM.
