By KODY FISHER
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Hoosiers are seeing long delays in getting packages delivered because of issues at the new U.S. Postal Service distribution center on Brookville Road in Indianapolis.
People with packages inside the distribution center described it as a black hole.
Tiffany Tubb said, “Jan. 18, I ordered an item. It was scheduled to be here on the 22nd and still … it’s lost.”
I-Team 8 heard from dozens of people Friday, and the stories were nearly always the same. They order something or try to ship something, and, once it’s at the distribution center, it basically disappears. It’s something people have been dealing with for a while.
Travis Bell said, “Since November it started getting bad and now, as we’re here into February, it’s just terrible.”
For Bell, it’s impacted his business’ bottom line. Bell said, “One hundred to 150 guests that got a refund from November to right now and, like I said, for a small business that’s tough. If you’re losing a third of your business and there’s only two thirds left that hard to pay everybody.”
I-Team 8 reached out to the Postal Service to get answers about the problem. Instead of providing details, a spokesperson said they’re asking customers to contact the Postal Service to inquire about their lost packages.
The chief trustee of the Indianapolis Area Local American Postal Workers Union, Steve Vaughn, gave a lot more details about what’s going on. “They opened the facility at the wrong time of year, during peak season. They were not prepared. They’re improperly staffed with trained management. They’re improperly staffed with the number of employees.”
Now, U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Indiana, and other lawmakers in Congress have stepped in, mostly because of the number of calls they’ve gotten. As News 8 reported Thursday, Indiana lawmakers in Congress have penned a letter to the U.S. Postal Service over delivery delays at its distribution hub in Indianapolis.
“As a pattern, I’ve had more on this one subject than any other,” Shreve said Friday.
In their letter, Shreve and his fellow lawmakers asked the postmaster general to investigate and to fix the problem. “This is a mechanical, it’s a systems, it’s a hardware, it’s a process solution. It’s fixable. I just need their attention on the problem, so we can take care of our customers,” Shreve said.
Shreve expects a response from the Postmaster General Louis DeJoy by next week, but he does not know exactly how long it will take to fix the problems.
Tubb, hearing about the congressional action, said, “I think that’s great. I think that’s what we elect them for is to solve problems that we personally can’t solve.”
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/i-team-8/usps-delays-indiana-postal-service.
I waited over 3 weeks for a package from Joann Fabrics. They assumed it was lost and I was refunded my money, only to receive the package two days after refund. Companies that rely on the USPS to ship product, cannot afford to take such losses. I personally mailed a package going to Canada on February 7th and it is still hanging around the Indianapolis Distribution Center as we speak. I am sick with worry that my package could end up lost. This situation is in dire need of some serious fixing. And now I’m seeing where the Post Master General is resigning. Imagine that. They are claiming to be shorthanded with emoloyees. However, my grandson applied for a job with them and they are saying they aren’t currently hiring. Whats up with that? I just hope and pray this problem resolves.