For those needing to go to the PO to ship something for Christmas take your lunch with you. I went there yesterday to mail a golf package and there were about 15 people in line. And with the people 6' apart the line was very long. I got some forms and decided to come back later. I had to go to the other side of town near the other PO (1 of 2) and it was worse. The first PO has 3 clerk stations but only 2 clerks and the other has two stations with one clerk working. WTF? So after lunch I go back to the first PO and there are about 10 in line so I jump in. One of the two clerks has a customer with an issue and stays there for the duration of my visit. As I move up in line I looked back and the line is about 20 deep now and stretches down the hall. As I get to about third in line I turned around, waived my hand and yelled, "Anyone want to buy my spot in line?" I got a few yucks and it seemed to brighten up a dismal situation. I finally got to the clerk and handed him my stuff which was a box to Canada which I have not shipped to in a long time. I fortunately had the right form and filled out properly but it still took the clerk forever to process. The original lady with the problem is still there. As I wait I can hear the bulls in the line starting to hoof the floor and snorting. Finally I am out of there and the line is even worse. I can't believe that the USPS can't do better in probably the busiest time they have ever had.

    Two days ago got my first delivery from Amazon that was delivered by their own vehicles. The tracking was great and showed exactly where the vehicle/santa sled was on an area map and how many stops till it got to me. Great service.

    Day 9, and the package is still showing in Des Moines. Now, I have had 2 other packages pass through that same dist. center. 1 made it to the QC area, and is sitting at my P.O., as of Sun. a.m.. Or, I should say it 'was'. Tracking now shows it being 'in transit to it's destination'. Guess I'll be moving, as soon as I find out where the package ends up. The next package left Des Moines 4 days ago, enroute 'to it's destination'. migawd, I hope they both end up in the same place, and it is warm year 'round. Orders were placed 12 & 13 days ago for these items.

    I also have a package coming in from CA, via FedEx. In checking tracking, it brought back memories of my trips to So Cal, in the early '70s. Making all those stops along Route 40, as is my package. They must be gassing up at all the Whiting Bros. stations, and getting their $.02/gallon savings.

    Rickochet You're nuttier than I imagined. 😆 No f'n way would I go into a place like that, esp. right now. I'll do no shipping until well after Christmas, and even then, the idiots are going to be in there with all their returns.
    I'm building 'toys' now, but there won't be any sales/shipping til '21.

    I'm doing a curbside pick up today at Lowe's, and that will be the extent of any shopping.

      Rickochet I feel your pain! It seems like this happens to me whenever I go to the Bank, the Post Office, wherever.....I usually take care of my business (make a deposit or withdrawal, buy stamps, whatever) in a reasonably short period of time and then scram. But, almost invariably, there's someone ahead of me who has some SUPER complicated, convoluted item of business, or worse, they want to have a conversation after they transact their business!!! Come ON!!! Move along here!!!! ...... There....rant over, lol...!

        Rickochet The nearest PO is at the gas station--about 5 mins away. Very few people and are extremely helpful.

          Rickochet our PO here, in Mason, used to be great, then came the take over. Had 2 men that worked there "forever" and one disappeared. I ran into him at Lowe's and asked what happened. He said the women that have started working there were ridiculous. Then the other quit, same deal. Ran into him at Speedway, same shit. Said the women were more into technicalities and "playing by the book" instead of getting shit done. I avoid it like the china virus, these days.

          I use the dutch door and the drop off bin, but will NEVER take anything there that's not prepaid. I'll still drive down to the old 'hood and drop off at the Ace Hardware hub, if I have to. Was there last week before surgery and good ol' Paulette still rules the roost, after all these years.

              LBlack14 I use the dutch door and the drop off bin, but will NEVER take anything there that's not prepaid. I'll still drive down to the old 'hood and drop off at the Ace Hardware hub, if I have to. Was there last week before surgery and good ol' Paulette still rules the roost, after all these years.

              I don't have many options. No dutch door or bin for prepaid stuff. Plus I don't trust them to scan the package in before it ships. Insurance doesn't help if you can't prove it was accepted by the PO. I have to wait in line for a scan by a person at the counter if I want one.

                  Rickochet I got over that fear quick as every prepaid package has made it to its new home. Sometimes it takes until 10 p.m. for that initial scan to show , but it always does and I breathe a sigh of relief once I know it's in the system. You can also prepay and have your carrier pick up for free at your house. Might work better for you!

                      I'm in a quandary with these guys. I have 3 packages out, "in transit to it's destination". (monkeyfuckspeak) 2 of them have been floating around somewhere around Des Moines for 9 days, after traveling there an additional 2-3 days. Purchases were made on the 2nd & 3rd. Ebay purchases, and I did contact 1 seller that he should contact USPS and let them know what's going on over there in IA. He 'said' he did and got the 'ITTID' reply; being he got that reply I'm thinking he just looked at tracking. I cannot do anything with the P.O. as the buyer, only the seller can raise shit. So, I'm thinking of filing an Ebay claim(s) for refunds......"not delivered". I do need the items in transit, but I'm tired of all the bullshit from USPS. Maybe I can light a fire somewhere. I am going to contact my local office about the package it shows has been there since Sun. a.m.. Although, it's status has also been changed to the (USPS popular 2020statement)... 'ITTID'.

                      Yes, it was my ignorance for ordering anything in Dec........2020! Shoot me.

                      Maybe later today........
                      Dec 15, 2020
                      8:09pm
                      PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50395

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      2:46pm
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50321

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      1:13pm
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      OMAHA, NE 68110

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      9:16am
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50321

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      9:14am
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50321

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      9:01am
                      ARRIVE USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50321

                      Dec 11, 2020
                      8:54am
                      ARRIVE USPS FACILITY
                      DES MOINES, IA 50321

                      Dec 10, 2020
                      5:38pm
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      AKRON, OH 44309

                      Dec 10, 2020
                      5:13pm
                      DEPART USPS FACILITY
                      AKRON, OH 44309

                      Dec 8, 2020
                      12:37am
                      PROCESSED THROUGH USPS FACILITY
                      AKRON, OH 44309

                      Dec 7, 2020
                      11:22pm
                      ORIGIN ACCEPTANCE
                      SOLON, OH 44139

                      Dec 4, 2020
                      8:23pm
                      PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT USPS AWAITS ITEM
                      SOLON, OH 44139

                      Dec 3, 2020
                      7:51pm
                      SHIPPING LBL CREATED USPS AWAITS ITEM
                      SOLON, OH 44139

                      Dec 3, 2020
                      11:51am
                      Tracking number provided

                      ode I got over that fear quick as every prepaid package has made it to its new home. Sometimes it takes until 10 p.m. for that initial scan to show , but it always does and I breathe a sigh of relief once I know it's in the system. You can also prepay and have your carrier pick up for free at your house. Might work better for you!

                      THIS. I've been lucky, I guess, in both states. In some cases, I just hand the prepaid package to my carrier. She scans it right there in her truck. I usually just mask up, walk into the PO, drop it on the counter and walk out. I'm batting 1000 on outgoing. Incoming is a whole different story.

                        What does "Out for Delivery" mean, in USPSspeak?
                        ima have the wife grab that package for me. 😉

                          sdandrea1 It just has an eerie sound to it, when you say it out loud. Esp. when you read it off the USPS tracking info, where it is normally written as 'in transit to the next facility'.

                              Par4QC

                              or "in transit backwards to a facility that is farther away than it was today"

                                  Rickochet
                                  I just use the Schedule a Pickup option on their website if the package is ready to just drop off. I put it on my front porch the next morning and the mailman comes up and gets it.

                                    sdandrea1 or "in transit backwards to a facility that is farther away than it was today"

                                    This happened.

                                    The package disappeared from my local P.O.. Had the wife call them yesterday and she talked with the person who, obviously, puts out all those 'famous' sayings on the USPS website. I will give the gal credit as I do think she checked the scanning on their website and found it was 'in transit', so she didn't have to go check to see if it was there hiding somewhere. Anyway, it must have lit a fire as it did show up last might. In Des Moines. Again. And is "on it's way to it's destination", having left there. Again.

                                    ima send someone an old meatloaf, with some fresh onion slices, just laying in a box. Let's see how long it is "on it's way to it's destination"!