And when you don’t get your mail/package/medicine on time, who do you blame Harley? The only problem with the USPS is Congress. There is no tax money. It is “off-budget”. Yet Congress keeps insisting on telling the USPS how to act. The current mandate that the USPS, and ONLY the USPS pre-fund retiree health/benefits out 75 years, and do it within a 10 year funding period, is the reason the USPS loses money, NOT a 6th day of delivery. Without the mandate, the USPS was profitable in 3 of the last 5 years. When the USPS comes up with an idea, the vested interests (those who would profit in its abcence) rush to a sympathetic Congressman and cry NO FAIR! But then THEY want a subsidy/monopoly sanctioned so they can profit without competition.
The issues of the Postal Service are several, and a number of them are NOT in their control, thanks to the US Congress.The majority of mail now is junk mail, which is billed at lower rates. If the USPS had the option to charge through the nose for junk, it would solve their funding problem overnight (and undoubtedly reduce the junk mail load!). Congress, heavily lobbied by FedEx, UPS, etc., has essentially forbidden the USPS from competing as well as they certainly could.Contrary to the stereotype, the Postal Service is extraordinarily efficient and capable. For well under a dollar you can sent a letter from Maine to Hawaii – over 5,000 miles. Try doing THAT with FedEx.
Interesting little fact: A few weeks ago, the POST OFFICE delivered a package to us. It was shipped FedEx, which contracts with the Post Office to deliver their packages. Now, the package in question was late in coming, because FEDEX, let it sit in THEIR warehouse for FIVE DAYS before handing it off for delivery the next day, by the POST OFFICE!
Post Office is union, as is UPS. FedEx is rabidly anti-union and their employees are always getting shafted, and their equipment is often downright dangerous because of poor maintenance.
I ship either USPS or UPS, because they’re more efficient. FedEx “AIR” for which you pay extra, a lot, does deliver here daily, but if it’s regular ground, your package may sit for over a week until they have a full truck, or turn it over to the Post Office.
The amount of “savings” btw by eliminating Saturday delivery, keeps going down with each estimate, delivering packages, but not letters on that day, is just, well, dumb.
Very good comments here among the silly ones. All I can add is because of Citizens United, we can be certain every two years and during special elections, the USPS will see huge increases as special interest groups and superpacs flood our mail boxes with lots of paper for us to put in our recycling bins, or to donate to the local animal shelter for them to put under dogs and cats. A truly useful purpose for political junk mail.Tiredly,C.
1. I subscribe to Netflix’s DVD program. Every few days, they deliver a DVD to my door, and I keep my list updated.
2. I am a US Stamp collector. I get their catalog so that I know which stamps are new and which stamps are going to be scarce each quarter. Even though I get my supplies from a private company, buying directly from USPS is a lot cheaper as I’m buying at face value.
Ebay dosn’t “create” anything. They offer an auction ste where one can bid/buysomeyhing that you want to sell. Then the Postal Service delivers it. Ebay has no infrastucture to even begin to be a post office!
and since the USPS will mandate tha the regular carrier work M-F, that leaves subs to deliver all those packages, regardless of whether someone is home/moved/vacant. I’m constantly apologizing to customers because a package has been “delivered”, but it’s nowhere to be found.
edward thomas Premium Member about 11 years ago
And when you don’t get your mail/package/medicine on time, who do you blame Harley? The only problem with the USPS is Congress. There is no tax money. It is “off-budget”. Yet Congress keeps insisting on telling the USPS how to act. The current mandate that the USPS, and ONLY the USPS pre-fund retiree health/benefits out 75 years, and do it within a 10 year funding period, is the reason the USPS loses money, NOT a 6th day of delivery. Without the mandate, the USPS was profitable in 3 of the last 5 years. When the USPS comes up with an idea, the vested interests (those who would profit in its abcence) rush to a sympathetic Congressman and cry NO FAIR! But then THEY want a subsidy/monopoly sanctioned so they can profit without competition.
Motivemagus about 11 years ago
The issues of the Postal Service are several, and a number of them are NOT in their control, thanks to the US Congress.The majority of mail now is junk mail, which is billed at lower rates. If the USPS had the option to charge through the nose for junk, it would solve their funding problem overnight (and undoubtedly reduce the junk mail load!). Congress, heavily lobbied by FedEx, UPS, etc., has essentially forbidden the USPS from competing as well as they certainly could.Contrary to the stereotype, the Postal Service is extraordinarily efficient and capable. For well under a dollar you can sent a letter from Maine to Hawaii – over 5,000 miles. Try doing THAT with FedEx.
Mickey 13 about 11 years ago
Oops, I misspoke as the politicians say. Fed Ex is non-union. Lo siento mucho.
Uncle Joe Premium Member about 11 years ago
“Do away with the Mailbox Monopoly.”Only if we require those private competitors to deliver to all those unprofitable rural addresses.
pirate227 about 11 years ago
What other organization has to have billions of dollars in healthcare money to cover 75 years? Stupid Congress.
Dtroutma about 11 years ago
Interesting little fact: A few weeks ago, the POST OFFICE delivered a package to us. It was shipped FedEx, which contracts with the Post Office to deliver their packages. Now, the package in question was late in coming, because FEDEX, let it sit in THEIR warehouse for FIVE DAYS before handing it off for delivery the next day, by the POST OFFICE!
Post Office is union, as is UPS. FedEx is rabidly anti-union and their employees are always getting shafted, and their equipment is often downright dangerous because of poor maintenance.
I ship either USPS or UPS, because they’re more efficient. FedEx “AIR” for which you pay extra, a lot, does deliver here daily, but if it’s regular ground, your package may sit for over a week until they have a full truck, or turn it over to the Post Office.
The amount of “savings” btw by eliminating Saturday delivery, keeps going down with each estimate, delivering packages, but not letters on that day, is just, well, dumb.
chazandru about 11 years ago
Very good comments here among the silly ones. All I can add is because of Citizens United, we can be certain every two years and during special elections, the USPS will see huge increases as special interest groups and superpacs flood our mail boxes with lots of paper for us to put in our recycling bins, or to donate to the local animal shelter for them to put under dogs and cats. A truly useful purpose for political junk mail.Tiredly,C.
Ketira about 11 years ago
At least I help USPS, in two ways:
1. I subscribe to Netflix’s DVD program. Every few days, they deliver a DVD to my door, and I keep my list updated.
2. I am a US Stamp collector. I get their catalog so that I know which stamps are new and which stamps are going to be scarce each quarter. Even though I get my supplies from a private company, buying directly from USPS is a lot cheaper as I’m buying at face value.
So what are you doing to help the Post Office?
edward thomas Premium Member about 11 years ago
Ebay dosn’t “create” anything. They offer an auction ste where one can bid/buysomeyhing that you want to sell. Then the Postal Service delivers it. Ebay has no infrastucture to even begin to be a post office!
edward thomas Premium Member about 11 years ago
and since the USPS will mandate tha the regular carrier work M-F, that leaves subs to deliver all those packages, regardless of whether someone is home/moved/vacant. I’m constantly apologizing to customers because a package has been “delivered”, but it’s nowhere to be found.