Anyone noticed more Sunday mail delivery lately?

[fan-of-fans]

I never knew that the US Postal Service delivered any mail on Sunday. But within the last 6 months I've probably gotten 3-4 packages on a Sunday. This was all Priority Mail that was sent by family or items that I bought online. It's odd how often this stuff has happened to arrive on a Sunday and not another day though. Maybe it has more to do with online shipping going more toward Priority Mail lately, but Sunday arrival dates seem to be more often than not.

 

[justjunque]

Hey Cole

Yup. I'd say just about every Sunday I see the mail truck driving through the neighborhood.
A few times, he's even stopped at our house!
Not for actual mail, but for packages.
In my case, it seems to be things purchased on Amazon.
I guess maybe the guaranteed two-day delivery includes Sundays.

Barry

 

[ea56]

I’ve seen this too, and there have also been some news spots on TV about this new USPS Priority Mail service on Sundays.

It’s to compete with UPS and Fedex, and in my opinion the USPS is doing a bang up job of it! If I have my choice of shippers, I’ll pick USPS, hands down every time. They are faster and more dependable than either UPS or Fedex in my area, Fedex being the WORST!

I buy a fair amount on ebay and other online businesses, and if they are going to use Fedex, I’ll pass, and choose another seller. I’ve had more bad experiences with Fedex than I can count, and I don’t know how they manage to even stay in business.

David once ordered a framed print from Art.com. The Fedex driver left it at the door, didn’t ring the bell. We were at home at the time and went right outside to bring it in. Right on the top of the box was a great big footprint where someone had stepped on the box, and as soon as we lefted the box we heard broken glass rattling around. Now there is no way that driver didn’t know the item was severely damaged, and he should have rang the bell and given us the option of declining the delivery on the spot. So instead we had to take it to the Fedex office after calling Art.com and wasting a lot of time. This is very poor service by anyones estimation, just say’n.

Eddie

 

[imperial70]

I have noticed this too. Part of the "Amazon affect", I suspect.

 

[launderess]

How long as this been going on?

For a few years now, at least in NY area USPS has been delivering "mail" (mostly always PM packages) on Sunday. This was once normal during Christmas season, but now is common all year long.

At the time made inquiries and was told that USPS simply has far too many packages to deliver M-Sa, so they've added Sunday as well.

UPS about a year or so ago now began Saturday delivery of ground packages (at no additional cost) for same reasons. Talk is that as of their latest contract with drivers Sunday deliveries for ground service may be coming to select areas as well.

Quite simply USPS, FedEx Ground, UPS and everyone else are drowning in packages thanks to Amazon.com, Jet.com and other online shopping.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I have been seeing the mail trucks on the roads for a while on Sundays, but I'd say within the last 6 months is when I first started getting packages then. We've always had family sending things PM, although I have been having things on eBay coming via PM more often, because it seems that's the only option from a lot of sellers these days.

I remember hearing a few years ago that USPS was considering stopping even Saturday mail delivery completely so it's quite a turn around that they've started on Sundays, at least with PM.

It's not often we get any packages via UPS lately and even rarer to have them from FedEx. Supposedly there is now a FedEx option to pick up or send off packages from Walgreens, has anyone tried that?

 

[iheartmaytag]

Amazon Prime

I was shocked when the U.S. Mail truck stopped in front of my house on a Sunday to deliver my Amazon Order.

Contrary to what some in Washington believe, Amazon package delivery looks to be good for the mail service.

 

[DADoES]

 
I don't recall any Sunday package deliveries via any service, and surely no USPS mail.  Saturday USPS packages but not other services unless it's specific overnight or next-day.

 

[launderess]

Priority Mail

Is basically what "air mail" was once for packages.

Nearly everything goes PM unless one specifies slower ground service, which once was "parcel post".

In many cases PM is cheaper than ground (go figure), especially if you can use one of those flat rate boxes. However even then sometimes it is cheaper to use regular PM instead of flat rate.

Have a USPS shipping account and last time checked cannot even do "parcel post"/ground online. USPS won't come to pick it up for "free", nor can you do online postage either.

@ DADoES:

Think USPS is only doing Sunday PM/package delivery in areas where demand warrants. Just like UPS with Saturday and perhaps even now Sunday delivery.

In areas where USPS can get things delivered M-Sat and not have huge backlogs, then that is what they are sticking with for now.

 

[tolivac]

Never seen USPS deliveries on Sunday in my area.For Fed Express anything delivered to me from them requires I be at my place and sign for the package-WHAT a MAJOR inconvenience!Sometimes I am not home or asleep.UPS leaves the packages-fine for me-they leave them in my open garage in front of my car-no one will see them there-been doing that for years.The new Fed Express system needs to go.They say its to prevent porch pirates.

 

[DADoES]

 
Neither FedEx, UPS, or USPS has required a signature in years.  UPS and FedEx leave packages on the patio, not in public view.  USPS leaves them (too large to fit in the mailbox) on the front porch which faces a busy FM road ... doofuses!  Majority of the time I'm home but they don't knock so I have to keep checking when something is expected (tracking is a wonderful thing).  Makes me nervous when I have to be out for an appointment or errand.

 

[launderess]

That is correct

Unless one specifies (and pays the extra fee)USPS, FedEx (ground and air),and UPS (ditto)no longer seek an adult signature.

Our UPS guy says there are just too many packages to deliver, then pick up during the day to take back all the ones where no one was at home.

Packages are left in a "secure" location, and that is that.

For the record those private Amazon.com delivery people are no better. Frequently arrive home to find packages left outside in vestibule, and or left in front of our or other buildings.

As you might imagine package theft has become a big industry. With some thieves actually following UPS, USPS or whatever trucks to see where things are left.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

It was around Christmas of last year (maybe year-before-last?) where I think I got a record (or something of some or that sort, that I ordered, delivered on a Sunday...! Usually foreign packages from within Europe, as well as Japan have to be signed for, or I have to pick up at the post office if I'm not home (or no one else is) at the time of arrival...

I saw the mail truck out Sunday, yesterday, but nothing came to me, or noticeably anyone else that I could see...

So, I suppose maybe around the holidays we will see (amongst religious/political musings, ruminations & ramblings!) we can expect to see more of this trend...

-- Dave

 

[iej]

Over here An Post (the post office) has started delivering small packages / parcels on Saturday to deal with what is mostly online shopping. It makes sense as people are more likely to be in.

We've had a lot of changes like they've been pushing secure delivery boxes with a key for you and one for the postman/woman. They can deliver to the box and scan a barcode and it's seemed the package is signed for. Handy as it accepts parcels and letters and you can also use it for sending out letters and small parcels if they're stamped / have prepaid postage.

Also their post early for Christmas promo is quite interestingly geeky if anyone ever wanted to see what goes on when letters are machine sorted.



Amazing when you consider what goes on behind the scenes to get all that mail and junk mail to your door lol

 

[liamy1]

Here

In the U.K,the only time we start getting actual mail through Royal Mail on Sundays (and it’s all and any mail, junk, bills, packages etc) is in the few weeks leading up to Christmas - so of course this includes lots Christmas cards etc.

Rest of the year, nearly all couriers are now Monday to Sunday, so packages (whether Amazon or not) will be delivered on a Sunday. Some retailers do charge extra for Sunday delivery, some don’t. But as far as I recall RM doesn’t operate outside of Monday-Saturday except in December.

Amazon, well they’re a law unto themselves (but they’re dangerously handy, I have used their 2 hour delivery a few times), can really see a time when their courier will be knocking you up at 3am to deliver a package.

 

[johnb300m]

I would much rather have more USPS package delivery on Sundays than having these Amazon "randos" with their back seats filled up with peoples' packages.

Call me a horrible person, but I'd rather have a certified carrier delivering my stuff than some weirdo in an ill-fitting track suit, with their dented '99 Concorde hooptie.
No thank you.

 

[petek]

Here in Canada we have probably the worst post office service in all of Christendom. Saturday delivery disappeared 40 or so years ago. Home delivery has been slowly gutted in favor of cluster/super mailboxes on your corner. And it's expensive to ship parcels , no flat rate boxes, no pickup at your house, as little as possible. They do weekend package deliveries over Xmas but that's about all whereas UPS, Fedex etc are 7 day service year round.

 

[mark_wpduet]

YES

I have seen this for a while. I remember being so shocked too when they stopped and delivered it since my brain has been trained over the years to forget Sunday for any kind of delivery.

 

[circlew]

I've not seen any in my area, but I have occasionally seen the mail truck delivering on Sunday in areas closer to the city.

The last two UPS deliveries I've received, I've had to sign for. I asked the driver about it the last time, and he said it was because I had filed a claim for a missing package. Last year a small box disappeared from my porch after UPS claimed they had delivered it. I don't know if one of the neighbor kids took it, or if an animal hauled it away, or what became of it.