Kim,

I think that you seem to be having some 
_exceptional_ problems.  Maybe it's your post 
office?   Honestly.  Since I work for the post 
office, I know of 2 in my area that just LAG 
horribly when it comes to shipping.  One I won't 
go to anymore because 2 packages I sent to Japan 
via surface (sea mail) were lost. I've shipped 
dozens of packages this way and not had any 
problems til I went to this other PO branch. 

Anyway, I'm a carrier and the packages that I've 
seen - about 95% of them are being shipped and 
received on time (2-3 days) and some much 
quicker. 

Something that you might not have known (not a 
lot of people do) is that with Express mail - 
shipped within the US - is guaranteed to be 
there on time. If it's not, you CAN demand a 
refund for the shipping costs.   Priority mail 
does not have that same guarantee though.

And as far as the USPS being "unprepared" for 
Christmas - We lost a LOT of people during the 
anthrax scare. Quite a few *career* employees 
(I'm talking 10-15 years or more invested) left. 
It just wasn't worth the risk to them or their 
families.  I can see their point in a way, I 
just started working for them at the time of the 
bombing and anthrax crap and I seriously debated 
whether I was all that interested.  So, it's not 
that we were expecting Christmas to not happen - 
it was more that we are *seriously* 
understaffed. (I'm currently working 12 to 15 
hour days because we're so short staffed. It's 
not pleasant)

Anyway, sorry if I am ranting a little. I can 
see how you are frustrated with your PO but my 
suggestion is to try a different one. Even if it 
means driving a ways. I won't go to either of 
the 2 closest to me, since they don't handle 
mail in the way it really *should* be handled.

Just a suggestion,

Sheri