Mail delays frustrate Louisville residents, businesses as USPS struggles

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- If you're still waiting on a package, bills, medicine, or any other kind of mail, you're not alone.

Recently, an employee shared a video revealing that delays had been a problem long before the recent winter storm.

“No, it... it was like this before the weather even came,” the employee said, adding that the post office was overwhelmed with mail and the situation would likely persist for some time.

The delays have not been isolated to Louisville.

In Denham Springs, Louisiana, for example, Lonnie Honeycutt, who runs an online business, is feeling the effects. Honeycutt sells primarily on eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, and Mercari, and says delays have disrupted his operations.

Despite the snow in his area having already passed, Honeycutt reports that USPS tracking continues to cite "weather delays." He said USPS has been proactive in addressing insurance claims for lost packages, but that the ongoing delays are negatively impacting customer satisfaction.

"I want to tell your viewers that after 15 days, after you’ve shipped ground advantage or priority packages, you can go online, you can submit that insurance claim," Honeycutt said. "But the problem is, it’s affecting customer confidence."

Honeycutt believes that USPS’ failure to hire seasonal workers during the holiday season exacerbated the situation. He also pointed to manpower shortages as the root cause of the delays.

"I think it’s more of a manpower delay than anything," he said.

As a result, he’s shifted a significant portion of his shipping business to UPS, despite the added inconvenience.

Art Campos, president of the union representing postal employees, expressed confidence that USPS employees are working hard and that the situation would return to normal soon.

For businesses and everyday customers alike, these delays have far-reaching consequences. For Honeycutt’s business, it means delayed orders and lost sales, with customers receiving refunds when packages don’t arrive on time.

But he’s also concerned about the broader implications for individuals waiting on essential mail, including medicine, checks, and important documents.

“I think about that,” Honeycutt said. “What about people waiting on checks? What about people sending in applications for things? What about the medicines?”

USPS has not yet provided a clear explanation as to when customers can expect normal mail delivery to resume. In the meantime, frustration continues to grow among those who rely on timely deliveries.

Related Stories: