Well not only are there mail sorting games played, but also logistics screw-ups thanks to plain old human error. While letter sized mail is sorted mostly by machine these days, and the resulting mistakes from that, parcels are still sorted by hand. So a sleepy or distracted clerk can and will make mistakes. Then the mail handlers can place a Post-Con on the wrong truck so your stuff ends up two states away. Then once the Post-Con with your stuff actually gets to where it belongs it may be rolled into a corner to be forgotten until the next shift. And then sent somewhere else again. While lots of stupid stuff happens consider how much right stuff gets accomplished. Millions of items get where they are going without a hitch every day. The sheer size and complexity of the USPS is mind boggling and while not perfect it still considered the best and least expensive in the world. Probably the only thing I can compare it to is the US military. Anyone who has served can testify to the idiocy that occurs yet look at the accomplishments. Now consider that the USPS has the largest number of Veterans in it's workforce than any other government service.
