#HasOurMailArrived? Investigating mail delivery delays

It’s been more than two weeks since the U.S. Postal Service stopped processing mail in Pocatello and began rerouting it to Salt Lake City.

In the weeks and months leading up to this, postal customers, businesses and elected leaders had voiced concerns about the potential impact this could have on delivery times.

At the time, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said mail could take as long as three to five days to arrive, while the USPS insisted it would only take the standard two days.

We wanted to know if concerns about delays had merit, so Monday morning, we began an experiment.

Our reporters mailed letters to our Idaho Falls office from the following locations:

Idaho Falls
Blackfoot Rexburg

If USPS’ two-day delivery claim is true, the letters should arrive by Wednesday or at least early Thursday.

We’ll be monitoring the progress of our mail all week long using the hashtag, #HasOurMailArrived? You can also tweet uswith the hashtag to share your stories or concerns about mail delays.

Is it taking longer for mail to be postmarked?

Bonneville County Treasurer Mark Hansen is urging taxpayers to send their property taxes in early (they’re due June 20) because he said he’s heard that some mail is no longer being postmarked on the day it’s sent.

“Don’t trust that if you put it in the mail on today, it’s gonna get postmarked today,” Hansen said.

If your taxes aren’t postmarked by June 20, Hansen said you will be assessed a 2 percent late fee.