2020 Holiday Shipping Challenges for Small Businesses
To my dear customers & to everyone shopping online this year (which I think might be most of us in this wild, 2020, virtual holiday, consumer world we live in)- it feels necessary for me to name the reality of how challenging this moment is for small businesses all over the US.
For many of us, the United States Postal Service is the backbone of our operations. We rely on this public service to get our products to our customers in an affordable and reliable way. Currently the USPS is experiencing record breaking backlog and delays of packages this season. These numbers have skyrocketed this year for a few reasons including 1) many of us have turned to shopping online for safety 2) people are mailing gifts to family members that would usually get gifted in person 3) shorter staffing from COVID19. Millions of packages are currently delayed all over the country. This is frustrating and can be heartbreaking for all of us.
Currently hundreds of the packages I personally have dropped off at my post office this month still say "Pre-Transit" making it look like they are still sitting at home. I know the USPS is cutting back on scanning/tracking every package in an attempt to save time. This however makes it very frustrating for customers & business owners alike to not get any information regarding where our packages are and when they will arrive. I want to affirm those frustrated feelings.
On the backend though, this means that so many small businesses are receiving a dramatic increase of messages from customers wondering where their order is, some asking for new shipments, others asking for refunds. For many of us this feels as though we are between a rock & a hard place. I've heard from several other small biz owners that this is the most stressed they have ever been as a business, & there are moments when I feel the same. Can we ask you to wait a bit more? Can we afford the financial hits? What is the appropriate process for what feels like a mass infrastructure failure that is outside of our control?
Without wanting to make this post too long, I am asking for your patience, for me, for all my small business friends and for everyone working overtime with USPS right now. This continues to be an extremely challenging year for all of us. I have faith (that with some extra time) our postal service will get your packages to you! I just don't know when. If any packages by chance don't make it, each business will be making their own decisions regarding steps forward and I ask for your grace and understanding in that process while we wade through this unprecedented moment.
Lastly, I just want to express some deep gratitude. Thank you for shopping small. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Happy Solstice!!! Wishing you some warmth and rest this week.