40 years ago, I could send something from Japan to Florida and it would arrive in 5~6 days.

30 years ago, I could send something from Japan to Florida and it would arrive in 4~5 days.

20 years ago, I could send something from Japan to Florida and it would arrive in 3 days.

2 years ago, I could send something from Japan to Florida and it would arrive in 3 days.

Last year, I sent several things from Japan to Florida and they took 8~10 days to arrive!

What gives?

Does anybody have a valid explanation?

Anxiously awaiting a valid response!

FWIW

Covid. Putin. Trump. Shortages. Oil/Gas/fuel costs.  

Showtalk said...

Covid. Putin. Trump. Shortages. Oil/Gas/fuel costs.

Most of the shipments I experienced delays were from 2021 and the Covid outbreak startd Jan 2020 so Covid would not really be a valid reason. Passenger flights were restricted, but cargo flights were more or less continuing even through the pandemic.

Putin didn't invade Ukraine until 2022 so count that one out as my delays were incurred mainly in 2021.

Trump... LOL... there were no delays from the 3 day delivery for the past 20 some odd years so Trump isn't a valid reason.

Shortages... hmmm. Shortages in international mail/parcel post? I don't think so. Shortages in the US mail delivery system. Now there... yes that would be one possibility because those shortages occurred after Biden took office.

Fuel costs... that's another possibility because they did start going up in 2021 shortly after Biden took office. 

FWIW

Or lack of employees.

Well. 2nd ~ 3rd Quarter, expect a massive drop in our exports and a massive increase in imports... that will totally destroy our GDP.

Then... with the massive imports... current transport czar can't even handle the current import volumes... much less the increase in imports due to the cheaper overseas costs... will only further break our logistics system down even further.

That means that all kinds of delays will just get even worse. And with the spiraling cost of gas/fuel... that will increase the cost of many things only worsening our inflation which is now starting to stagflate and then move into a full blown recesion.

All combined... expect a lot worse than what we're seeing today in the next 2 quarters!

FWIW

Can a new Congress turn it around?

I doubt a new Congress could reverse anything, but they could stop a lot of damage from occuring in the later half of Biden's presidency basically reducing the damage.

If a super majority in both chambers (large enough to override a POTUS veto) were held, perhaps some things might be rectified, but it would be a tooth and nail fight all the way and there will be a lot of Democrat skulduggery going on behind the scenes.

FWIW

It’s hard to believe anyone wants serious inflation and shortages.

If you want to knock the US down to a 3rd world country level and usher in Socialism... that would be one way to begin the process. Of course, many other things would have to occur too, but many of them already are... higher crime rate. Catch and release jails. Worsening economic status. Etc.

FWIW

Very few people want that.