Atlanta-Area USPS Delays Worry Online Sellers - Will Marketplaces Step Up With Protections?
USPS delays in and around the Atlanta area have caught congressional attention and online sellers are worried about impacts to their businesses.
United States Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) has launched an inquiry into what's going on at the postal facility in Palmetto, GA demanding answers as to what's causing delays and what actions are being taken to resolve the issues.
Mitchell Taylor, the president of the American Postal Workers Union, told local Atlanta news outlet 11Alive he believes the delays are due to the facility not being properly planning before opening.
The regional facility opened on Feb. 24 and Taylor says that poor planning has led to trucks loaded with mail sitting at the facility for hours – logjamming the entire process.
"This level of impact and movements and disruption. I've been doing this for 20 years, 20 years plus at union and I haven't seen it like this. They're supposed to go in and out of that facility in like 30 minutes – drop off, pick up and be out. Ideally, that's the way you want it to be. But, that's not happening. I don't think it was designed to handle what they're trying to do with it," Taylor said.
Meanwhile, sellers in the eBay community are expressing concerns that these delays are causing an increase in Item Not Received cases and eBay has not yet acknowledged the problem or promised to provide protection due to the issue being outside of sellers' control.
Yes, it's a nightmare scenario right now. Google USPS GA problems and you will see plenty of info including our senators asking the Postmaster General for explanations.
I have tons of eBay Standard Envelope orders that are in limbo. Some got their origin scan but many did not. USPS Ground and Priority packages get scanned and then stall at one of the Atlanta Distribution Centers. I have some of those that have been out for several days and not left Atlanta.
I hear that there are loads of trucks at the distribution center full of mail with no movement for quite some time. The INRs are starting to come in and it would be really great if eBay could help somehow!
Request EBAY post a message which is available to all Buyers and Sellers who may have shipments go through the ATLANTA Metro area of processing. The message should advise everyone as to potential service delays and what EBAY will do to handle this unique and terrible condition.
Are Atlanta USPS processing center delays harming your business? Let us know in the comments below!
