I think that the USPS does a very good job with first class mail. The problem is all the junk mail that comes through it which must be costing the senders very little or they would not use USPS.
A second problem is the incredibly favorable postage rates given to items from China. These low prices are left from when China was literally a starving country. Congress needs to end this completely unfair policy.
Generally good, yes. But there is a significant reduction in timing of deliveries last few years.
Monthly we get a package from the Midwest to FL. Usually shipped on Friday or Saturday in a Priority Envelope. Normally we get it Monday or Tuesday.
This month it was mailed on Friday. It went the wrong direction for about 4 days and sat there. Finally arrived on Monday 9 days after shipped. There should be a partial refund when their 2-3 day goal is blown to hell.
I do remember in college (1970s) I was an engineering student and was very very good at lettering. I addressed an envelope home with perfect block lettering. A few days later it came back as undeliverable. I was heading home the next week and brought to the post office and asked what made it undeliverable. They had no excuse. I asked for a refund. That was a hard “no.”
And, in my experience, with First Class Packages, now called something else.
Your point about cheap rates for China is well-taken. Dirt cheap for them to send it here, but if you ever have to return something at your own expense to prove it’s defective, you’re screwed. Costs more than the item is worth, and there’s no proof of delivery.
“Sorry, customer. Can’t refund your purchase price because you didn’t return the product.”
Or President Trump needs to praise Chyna for no longer being a starving country and reward them by treating them like a big boy and ending the free mail policy...