Mail Backlog Cleared in Birmingham Area: A Test Expansion
Last month, several companies including TwoDingbatsDesign reported a difficulty in getting their priority mail packages delivered through the U.S. Postal Service. The company shared recently that their packages sent in March were finally delivered. However, new orders are still marked as ‘in transit arriving late.’
In a recent announcement, the USPS stated that all backlog has been cleared. This update, although appreciated, failed to address the core issue – why customers were forced to wait for weeks for mail deliveries in the Birmingham area.
Customer Complaints Bring the Issue to Light
Following our first report on the slow service, over 250 responses flooded our social media, most of which were complaints. A commonly cited problem was the apparent inability of the USPS to separate mail efficiently due to inadequate staffing.
Resident John H. Jenkins, Jr., shared his unfavourable experience, “I mailed a wedding gift. It was two weeks later getting there. The wedding was over, and they were gone on the honeymoon,” he lamented.
Putting the Post Office to the Test
Due to the mounting complaints and slow service, we decided to put the post office service to the test. Last week, we dropped off three priority mail packages at the Riverchase post office in Hoover, bound for various parts of the country.
The packages were sent to Illinois; Daytona Beach, Florida; and Colorado. Priority mail promises to deliver within three to five business days. We monitored the packages until their delivery.
As per the receipts provided to us, all three packages arrived within the promised delivery times. One package reached Colorado on Saturday, while the two others arrived on Monday.
In addition to this, we dispatched five letters to Connecticut; Eclectic, Alabama; Fayetteville, Georgia; Panama City, Florida; and Port St. Lucie.
The delivery to Eclectic, Alabama was the first to be completed on Saturday. Deliveries to Connecticut and Panama City happened on Monday, while the final two made their way on Tuesday.
USPS Makes Improvements
In our test, the postal service managed to meet our expectations. USPS spokesperson Debra Jean Fetterly echoed this sentiment in an official statement, “Local postal officials confirm that all available packages have been processed in Birmingham. We offer a sincere apology to customers who may have experienced a service delay. We appreciate our customers and thank them for their patience as we continue our focus on service improvement.”
Continuing to Monitor Service Quality
While it seems the postal service has managed to clear its backlog, the issue of mail delivery efficiency in the Birmingham area requires continuous monitoring. Customers encountering issues with their service are encouraged to report these incidents for further investigation.
