Let's hear it for the USPS

[AnasaziWrites]

Three cheers for the USPS--they have set a new record for delivery time (6 months, 24days). A Valentine's Day exchange card I mailed on February 5, 2024 has just been returned to me on August 29, 2024, claiming insufficient address. Although they pasted a sticker over it, I have a scan on this envelope the day I sent it and the address is complete, correct, and current, and completely legible, as it is printed.
I'll be resending it in a larger envelope with the hope it arrives in time for Valentine's Day, 2025, but it might be close. I could walk to CT from GA in less time.
Anyone missing an exchange card from me this year--there's still hope you'll get it.

[Erica McPhee]

Wow. That is just atrocious. And it would be one thing if this was a one off for you but it seems to be a regular occurrence via the Atlanta PO. Such a shame. 

[Bianca M]

Good grief.  Time to start training pigeons again.

[ireneblumenthal]

That must be a record.  I had an envelope returned 3 months after I mailed it, but it was improperly addressed to Australia.  I left a line out of the address.  I put it inside another envelope and mailed it again.  In all it took 4 months to arrive.  I find that gold ink in general, black  or red envelopes addressed in white or gold are the most likely to cause problems.  I participate in a lot of exchanges and I wonder what percent of my envelopes actually reach their destinations.  People don't necessarily acknowledge receipt, nor do they notify me if they don't get an expected envelope.

[Erica McPhee]

This is so true Irene. Especially the white or gold ink on red or even a dark color. The Post Office optical system struggles to read it so it gets kicked out and then (gasp) a human has to intervene. Which I learned last year after having 5 holiday envelopes returned to me - all with complete and correct addresses and 5 different excuses reasons for the return. I suspect reading cursive is the blockade and it is easier for them to return to sender. But the mystery is where does it go during all that time. I suppose it’s just sitting waiting in a bin somewhere for the backlog to be sorted.