HOUSTON — A local business owner is concerned about her reputation after she learned her customers' packages have been stuck at U.S. Postal Service processing centers in Missouri City and North Houston.
Shannon Wilpitz, the co-founder and CEO of Upper Room Candle Company, said she didn't even know there was an issue with her packages until a repeat customer tipped her off that their package hadn't arrived.
For weeks, KHOU 11 has been following the story about delays of packages through the Missouri City USPS processing center. Have you been affected? If so, email us at mailproblems@khou.com. If you have photos of the tracking, please include that, too!
Wilpitz did some investigation and learned it wasn't just one customer impacted but dozens.
“It just would say in transit," Wilpitz said. "Two of the packages, including the customer that tipped us off, their packages had actually gone all the way to Dallas and back to North Houston in 24 hours."
Wilpitz said her Houston-area customers aren't getting their packages, but her out-of-state customers are.
“The other customers that aren’t repeat customers, I don’t want them to think that’s how we do business,” Wilpitz said.
Wilpitz is not the only one who is dealing with this issue. In two days, KHOU 11 received thousands of messages from people all over the world saying they had packages stuck at USPS processing centers in Houston.
USPS blames the delays on a networking update and said it's working to get packages out as soon as possible.
“As with any transition, some unintended and temporary disruptions may occur,” USPS said in part of a statement.
U.S. Rep. Al Green and Rep. Sylvia Garcia have gotten involved and have asked USPS to make a customer service center to answer questions about delays. They are also requesting a tour of the two postal facilities.
Tracking the mail: Our stories on the postal delays
- Dec. 13, 2023: 'Processed as they are received' | In statement, USPS addresses issues at Houston-area post office
- Dec. 15, 2023: Man's medication stuck at Missouri City USPS sorting facility for a week and counting
- Dec. 16, 2023: New Hampshire woman joins list of people frustrated about packages stuck at Missouri City USPS sorting facility
- Dec. 19, 2023: 'Free my mail!' | Congressman looks into Missouri City postal facility with reported package delays
- Jan. 10, 2024: Congressman Al Green to tour Missouri City USPS facility with hopes of resolving mail delay issues
- Jan. 10, 2024: Here's why the post office says your mail is stuck
- Jan. 18, 2024: Package with $1,000 item stuck at Missouri City USPS processing center, customer says
- Jan. 19, 2024: 'We need to step it up and figure this out' | In one day, hundreds of people contacted KHOU 11 about mail delays
- Jan. 19, 2024: Congressman Al Green receives report from USPS Office of Inspector General on mail delay issues
- Jan. 19, 2024: Bride-to-be still waiting on wedding dress just days before big day