The U.S. Postal Service faces an “unprecedented” volume of mail going into the holiday weekend amid reports of delayed parcels.
On its website, the postal service stated that it “experienced unprecedented volume increases and limited availability of employees due to the impacts of COVID-19.”
The large volume and effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the staff have led to reports of delays for several people waiting for Christmas packages.
Several people told The Associated Press that no gifts had arrived before the holidays, with delivery times exceeded initial estimates.
A man from Grand Rapids, Michigan, said he ordered the collector model of a NASCAR race car for his father for Christmas on Nov. 30. 8, had not yet reached his father on Thursday night.
“I understand the situation, but it’s still a little frustrating,” Austin Race, 21, told the AP.
A woman from Ann Arbor, Michigan, experienced a similar situation and told the store that the Christmas decorations she ordered on Nov. 17 got stuck in Detroit, despite a Dec. 11 postal service message. who claimed that he had already reached his destination Columbus, Ohio.
“Last week I felt frustrated thinking,‘ Come on, get here, ’but now I’m kind of laughing,” he said.
He added that the recipients of the ornaments will be able to hang them on the tree next year and have a story to tell how the pandemic sent them on a journey and delayed their arrival.