COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Small business owners are concerned after the U.S. Postmaster said it could take 60 days to improve mail delays in Georgia.
“Customers are like, ‘You promised same day. Are you just printing labels and telling us it’s shipped, or are you actually dropping them off?,” said Fahad Pathan.
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Pathan has owned Indian Hair Shop for more than a decade. He described how deliveries have changed since the United States Postal Service opened its new processing center in Palmetto.
“I drop off orders daily. They just don’t get scanned in until two or three days later,” said Pathan.
He said customers who paid for priority or overnight shipping demand refunds.
“Those are the customers that get the most upset because they’re expecting their package the next day,” said Pathan.
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He’s watching closely since U.S. Senate grilled U.S. Post Master Louis Dejoy this week.
The expectation was that the Palmetto processing center would bolster effectiveness by consolidating Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Duluth centers.
“We had to move 2,000 people from all these different plants to one location, and we had strict requirements as to when they move. It’s a big facility we opened up. We had inbound transportation issues,” Dejoy told Congress.
Dejoy said he brought in new management, revamped truck schedules, stabilized machine operations. He predicts the delays will stop in 60 days.
Pathan will have to wait and see if that timeline affects his company’s reputation.
“It is a government run agency. We’re paying taxes,” said Pathan. “I do expect that service to be up and running for me and my customers.”
A metro Atlanta business owner is desperate for relief at the mailbox after delays at the newly opened postal distribution center have been negatively impacting his business.
The delays are affecting mail delivery everywhere in Georgia.
Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco checked with a small business owner who ships his hair products across the U.S.
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He said some customers expect him to drop off their orders on the same day they place their orders.
Some pay extra for priority or overnight shipping.
And since the new distribution facility has failed to maintain proper service, that’s not happening and some customers are demanding refunds.
“I drop off orders daily, they just don’t get scanned in until two to three days later. And it doesn’t matter if you pay for priority or overnight. So, those are the customers who get the most upset because they’re expecting their package the next day, and two days later it’s still saying ‘waiting for acceptance,’” Fahad Pathan said.
Congress stepped in to question the Federal Postmaster this week.
He said opening the new distribution center in Palmetto had issues with management, truck scheduling, and difficulties with machinery.
He expects to be at normal operating standards within 60 days.
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