SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)— If you feel like your mail is taking longer to deliver, you may be in for a treat. The new U.S. Postal service standards started its first-class mail and packages on Oct. 1, lengthening the delivery time to 30% of its volume at a higher price point according to USPS. An antique store in Eastwood, called Martketplace on James, is already experiencing the change.
Eileen Porto, owner of Marketplace on James, opened her small business a month ago and felt excited to open her love for antiques to customers.
“I started a collection of figurines,” said Eileen Porto. “My son told me I would have spreadsheets up in a few years and start opening up a store, now I’m here.”
With the new recent changes to USPS, Porto has been experiencing difficulties she could never imagine.
“Things that we needed to get for opening were very delayed,” said Porto said. “We were going to do smoothies, I could get the lids but not the cups.”
According to USPS, recent changes in delivery times and increased cost on all parcels during the holiday season is a part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year Delivering for America plan.
During the first quarter of 2021, 21% of first-class mail was delivered late reported by USPS. The rising high demand of e-commerce means that USPS is struggling to keep up with other delivery services like FedEx, UPS and Amazon.
“I work for FedEx on the side,” said Porto. “This is definitely an industry problem and unfortunately, the service is slow.”
An employee at Marketplace James, Logan Anhorn, said USPS delivery pricing is not only hard on a small business but also customers.
“I have my own vending company called Customize by Logan,” said Anhorn. “A recent order I had by the Finger Lakes, she was messaging me every week or so and it was a birthday present.”
As USPS creates changes, customers will more than likely see adjusted postal rates twice a year going forward according to the Delivering for America plan. Not all first-class mail and packages will be impacted by the snail mail but the farther your package has to travel, the longer your loved one may have to wait.
“Our shipping will be the same here for our customers for holiday shopping,” said Porto. “Just try to be patient with everyone in the process, we all are trying our best.”
On Monday, Dejoy advised holiday shoppers not to wait last minute on ordering gifts for the holidays. Dejoy also added that 45 new facilities will be added during holiday season to control extra shipping volumes.
“For most part people understand it’s out of our control,” said Anhorn. “However, for this season people are going to start realizing how long it takes to ship things now.”
