A Postal Puzzle

 It's no secret that I'm continually bamboozled by the USPS.  I've blogged about it many times before (example which has examples in it:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2024/09/failed-by-usps-again.html) I’ve ranted about the poor quality of service many (too many?) times.  So maybe, like our current president, they hold a grudge against me.  (Or maybe I'm being paranoid?  But even the paranoid have a reason to be so on occasion.)

Speaking of paranoia, we are in the least favorite time of year for me:  tax season.  Yes, when it comes tax time, my anxiety goes through the roof.  (I inherited this from my mother.)  "Back in the day" my husband used to do our taxes.  Then my mother died and things got tricky, so it was time to turn to an accountant.  (The wonderful one that did my parent's returns for years).  Then my father died and it got even trickier.  Needless to say, we will be using this accountant until he decides to retire.  (Which also gives me anxiety.)

I like to get all my forms and paperwork to him as soon as possible.  I want it off my plate and into the hands of the IRS.  (Does anyone still work there?)  If I have to pay, I want to pay ASAP.  If I'm getting a refund, I'd like that soon as well.  I just want the whole thing over and done with.  

My son had 2 part time jobs over the summer.  The form from employer A came to our home in NJ. The form from employer B went to my son at college.  As soon as he got it, he called me and we had him go to the campus post office, get an envelope and mail it to us in PA.  (Which is where we had all tax paperwork in a file.)  He did it the same day, mailing it from Staten Island, NY to Barrett Township, PA on the afternoon of Monday, February 24.

The distance from the college campus to our home is just under 100 miles.  Now I realize a letter doesn't just go from point A to point B.  With that said, it still isn't that far.  I though getting it by the end of the week was reasonable.  Then I could take all the paperwork and send it to the accountant.  Do I have to say that Friday came and went with nothing?  Saturday came and went and nothing.  Monday came and went...well you get the picture.

Anxiety levels rising, I was able to contact employer B ask them to reprint the paperwork and sent it to our home in NJ where I would be for several days.  Thankfully the woman in change is understanding and not only did she have everything printed out again for me, she hand delivered it to our house.  (Which was probably cheaper and definitely safer!)  I was able to return to PA on Wednesday night with forms in hand.  

On Thursday morning I packed everything up and took it to the UPS store that afternoon to get to the accountant.  It wasn't cheap (what is these days?), but I have tracking info and am pretty confident that the package will arrive on Monday as I requested.  (Keep those fingers crossed for me.)

Can you guess what arrived in our mailbox in PA that afternoon?  You don't have to.  On Thursday, March 6th the envelope my son mailed on February 24th with a postmark date of 2/5/25 FINALLY arrived.  Personally, I think if I HADN'T gotten employer B to print me out fresh copies, it would never have shown, but that's just me.

While I'm happy everything has turned out okay, I'm also a little upset and frustrated.  What is going on? Shoddy service for sure, but...

On Thursday morning, I made a purchase online.  It was not from a big box company, but a small vendor that sells books. (Not new books; used and collectable ones.)  My interaction with the person was great.  She told me she would send it media mail that day.  I know media mail is generally slower, but I had no problem with that.  She sent me a picture of the label once she'd printed it out and then when she dropped it off at the post office, she also sent a picture of the receipt.  It was a nice, honest touch.  It is important to note that this package was coming from West Virginia; approximately 450 miles away from my home in PA.



Imagine my surprise when that package showed up in my mailbox this morning!  These books, which traveled nearly 500 miles were shipped just before noon on Thursday and were in my mailbox Saturday morning.  (I don't know what time they arrived in the box, but when we went to get the mail at 10:15, there was a box.)

So...how does a package from WV get to PA (a distance of 450 miles) in two days while a first class letter from NY to PA (a distance of 100 miles) took 7 business days?  If you can explain it to me...go for it.  I'm willing to wait for answer.  I'm just not willing to wait for my mail.


Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM

    Check w your accountant. Most practices have a client portal to upload your forms (and get your returns back to you) without risking the post office factor :)

    ReplyDelete

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