MISSOURI CITY, Texas – Are you a resident in the Missouri City area who still has not received your packages that were sent off months ago? You’re not alone.
Several customers have reached out to KPRC 2 saying they have not received their packages that include medication, Christmas gifts, passports and other needs.
There are signs inside the Missouri City USPS locations that say the following:
THERE IS A NEW PROCESSING FACILITY LOCATED IN THE MISSOURI CITY AREA (77489)
PACKAGES ARE BEING PROCESSED AT THAT PLANT, NOT THE MISSOURI CITY POST OFFICE
PACKAGES ARE NOT HERE AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS NOR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THAT FACILITY
THE MISSOURI CITY POST OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTACT NOR CONNECT TO THIS
PROCESSING FACILITY
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE
Employees told KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel the packages are at a separate sorting facility in Missouri City. Customers are not allowed to go to that sorting facility. They still have to wait for it to be delivered.
Christmas may be over but many people, like Rachel Stevens, are still waiting on their packages. Stevens placed her orders in November.
“I ordered so many Christmas gifts. I expected all of them to come in on time so I could get them on the 25th and I never got to gift those to this day and it’s the next year,” Stevens said.
“So your packages are in this facility right now. But you can’t go inside and get them? How does that make you feel?” Peel asked.
“It’s a little frustrating,” Stevens said.
Congressman Al Green has been in contact with USPS about the issue.
“Here’s what they have said, that the south side facility is just coming online, and they have people who are working there with the technology, and they are acclimating to the technology. Sometimes mistakes are made. They don’t contend that this is something that should not happen. They want to fix the problem. And they tell me that they about the business of getting that done,” Congressman Green told Peel.
Stevens, who received one of her packages Wednesday, said she is still waiting on three more. She hopes the rest of her packages arrive before Valentine’s Day.
USPS said they are working on the issues and they encourage anyone with delayed packages to reach out. After Peel reached out, they sent the following statement:
As part of its 10-year Delivering for America plan, the Postal Service is working to modernize our mail and package processing network. For decades, our outmoded network has created significant financial losses, increased deferred maintenance costs, deteriorated workplace conditions for our employees, and failed to efficiently integrate mail and package processing and delivery. The transformation of our network is necessary and fundamental to our continuation as an organization and a service to the American people and our business customers.
In the Houston area, network adjustments are ongoing. We have initiated the complex transition of the North Houston Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) to a Regional Processing & Distribution Center (RPDC). Under our 10-year plan, we are combining and centralizing mail processing operations in approximately 60 new RPDCs nationwide over the coming years, which will handle originating mail and all package processing. Many of the RPDCs, such as North Houston, will be developed from existing postal facilities. The entire USPS geography is being assessed to determine the most appropriate mix of facilities within each regional ecosystem.
These new RPDCs will allow USPS to better use resources — including space, staffing, processing equipment and transportation — to take advantage of state-of-the-art technologies that process mail and packages more efficiently, while also creating brighter, cleaner, and more modern workplaces for postal employees.
As part of our network transition, we are also establishing Local Processing Centers (LPC) throughout the nation. The Missouri City, TX facility is designated as the South Houston LPC. Nearly all LPCs will be developed from existing postal facilities. It’s anticipated that up to 180 stand-alone LPCs will be opened in the next few years. The LDCs will process destination mail and transfer mail and packages to delivery. The LPCs will be modernized with standard designs in workflow and refined operations, with benefits similar to the RPDCs, including repositioning of machines to improve mail flow, removing obstructions from the workroom floor, improving overall visibility (i.e., lighting), and improving employee common areas.
This process, as with any such transition, takes time. The Postal Service will adhere to all legal, statutory, contractual, and regulatory requirements as network modernization continues in the coming years.
As with any transition, some unintended and temporary disruptions may occur. We are taking steps to ensure packages are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible and apologize to any customers who may be experiencing issues with delivery of their items. We strongly encourage customers who have concerns to contact us either online or via our toll-free number. When customers reach out, they can provide vital details to our customer service staff. A number will be assigned to each case, which allows the Postal Service to fully research the situation and provide a suitable resolution for our customers. Customers may call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), or visit our website at www.usps.com/help.