Adjustments to Priority Mail and United States Postal Service Ground Advantage service expectations effective since Oct. 1, now means Guam residents can expect longer transit times for mailing and receiving packages to and from the United States.
According to a USPS Industry Alert dated Sept. 25, Priority Mail packages to or from Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Freely Associated States now have a two- to six-day service expectation.
"The service expectation was previously capped at 3 days but has been adjusted due to travel time and consideration of the Pacific locations past the International Date Line," the USPS Industry Alert states.
The adjustments were made to algin service expectations with "actual performance and transportation capabilities."
"Priority Mail package transportation modes and timing should not be impacted by the newly adjusted service expectations," USPS said.
Priority Mail Express, however, is not changed and remains an available expedited service for the areas.
Postal officials also noted adjustments to USPS Ground Advantage products weighing less than one pound to and from noncontiguous locations will now "primarily utilize surface transportation," as opposed to both air and surface.
"USPS Ground Advantage packages between the contiguous United States and the following locations will have a 10-day or more service expectation: Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Freely Associated States. Days will vary due to the range of distances between some locations. Most transit days have been adjusted, and some service expectations may be significantly longer than 10 days," USPS said.
The Industry Alert also provides a tool on usps.com for customers to look up service expectations for mailings from one ZIP Code to another on a particular mailing date.
Guam News Network used the tool to determine service expectations for mailing a package Monday, Oct. 5, from Hagåtña, Guam, to a ZIP code in Las Vegas, Nevada. The results showed an expected delivery date of Oct. 14 for Priority Mail, a 10-day transit period.
For USPS Ground Advantage a package one pound or more, the expected delivery date is Monday, Nov. 9.
Meanwhile, mailing a package from Las Vegas to Hagåtña on Oct. 5, the transit times differ by one day. For Priority Mail, the expected delivery date is Oct. 13, while USPS Ground Advantage is Nov. 10.
USPS said the adjustments are necessary to algin operational capabilities and service expectations while ensuring the safety of the mail and setting "realistic customer shipping expectations."
"The Postal Service also seeks to increase customer satisfaction in these areas by providing more realistic service expectations in line with available transportation options and in consideration of travel distance. The simplified product selection allows customers to choose between lower costs and faster service. Simplifying transportation will also allow employees to focus on operational improvements to target Priority Mail items incorrectly identified as HAZMAT," USPS said.
These changes follow the elimination of the $800 de minims exemption affecting residents and businesses on Guam. The U.S. Customs Border Protection regulation affects mail originating from the territories requiring a Declaration ID and prepaid duties. According to the Federal Register, duty payments apply regardless of mail class or package weight.
Guam Delegate James Moylan has pushed for the reinstatement of the de minimis exemption noting in September that he and the Congressional Territories and Commonwealths Caucus sent a letter to key federal officials requesting a meeting with the Administration to address the de minimis changes.
As of publication, a request for comment from Moylan on the adjustments to service expectation and impact on the Guam community was pending.
