SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- There have been multiple reports sent in to WRDE about mail delivery issues in Laurel and Delmar.
People have been coming to their mailbox for several days and have not found anything inside which is leading to questions for their local post office.
Robert Aldrich lives in Delmar and says for about a week, he has not received any mail and he's only seen packages be delivered.
"We get prescription renewals and everything else in the mail," Aldrich said. "We get bills in the mail and occasionally we might get a check I said you know being retired. So, it doesn't matter the importance. I'm paying to have it delivered and that's what I want.
While it's not clear what is causing the delays, the post office says it is working "feverishly" to fix the problem and blaming it on staffing shortages.
"As we do every year, the Postal Service seeks temporary employees to help with the holiday season, USPS Eastern Area Communications Manager Paul Smith said. "Our hiring efforts, just like all other companies are experiencing, has been challenging."
Nationwide, both FedEx and UPS say to shop and ship early. Postal Union members tell NBC News that as online shopping grows, so does that demand and potential for delays.
Last week, Etsy's CEO told CNBC that small businesses feel they have an advantage right now as the shops who source locally are not stuck with international supply chain issues which trickle down to delivery times.
Instead of dealing with those shipping delays, there are local businesses that have handmade and personalized pieces that make great holiday gifts. Out Of The Box has DIY projects that you are able to order online and you can also make it from home. Founder of the Developing Artist Collaboration Leah Beach says expectations are high and these projects are popular.
"We are fully expecting to be super busy when we have our shop open and the big thing for us is we want people to continually support us," Beach said. "So you can give the gift of a monthly subscription box or if you want something really custom or tailored to a new baby or a marriage project, we are an organization that is run by artists so we can kind of make anything happen."
Carriers work around the clock as it ticks closer to Christmas.