Mail about to get a lot slower. (1 Viewer)

[SaintInBucLand]

Mail delivery slowdown: USPS to slow delivery starting October 1

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year plan is aimed at cutting costs. Critics call it "disastrous."

www.cbsnews.com

And this comes on the heels of a recent price increase.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Not sure why that dude is still in the job

 

[efil4stnias]

It's slow now

My daughter ordered a pair of shorts.. USPS.

My tracking app shows the path (this is nuts lol)
Arrived in US in Vernon MD Sept 20. Left there to Vegas. From Vegas to Grand Prarie TX. So far been in US since 20th of Sept. I'm in LA.

Hope to have end of next week. Lolol

 

[Zztop]

Not sure why that dude is still in the job

It is not so easy to oust him. There are a nine-member board of governors who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Once confirmed to the board, governors can only be removed by the president “for cause”; that means their jobs are safe unless the president can show that they engaged in malfeasance or extreme neglect of duty. The board of governors, in turn, selects the postmaster general, who is not subject to Senate approval. Once appointed, the postmaster general can only be removed by the board of governors

 

[AARPSaint]

It is not so easy to oust him. There are a nine-member board of governors who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Once confirmed to the board, governors can only be removed by the president “for cause”; that means their jobs are safe unless the president can show that they engaged in malfeasance or extreme neglect of duty. The board of governors, in turn, selects the postmaster general, who is not subject to Senate approval. Once appointed, the postmaster general can only be removed by the board of governors

So, idiocy is not grounds for removal for cause, I guess.

 

[St. Widge]

I seems to me that the real issue here is that the core of what the USPS does isn't as important for most people as it once was and that they are spending too much time, money, and effort trying to compete with Fed Ex and UPS in package delivery.

There is obviously still some need for delivery of basic mail for things like bills, letters, some legal processes, etc., but I suspect that need decreases every year as the population of people who write checks, write paper letters, and pay bills by mail likely decreases every year. I can't imagine anyone will be left doing it before long. I know that 90% or so of the mail I ever get is either junk mail credit offers, advertisements, or catalogs. And almost all the bills I receive have already been paid. Eventually, I don't know that we will really have any need for the USPS since most of what was First Class mail will be sent electronically and package delivery is better done by FedEx, UPS, etc.

So, it seems to me that until we reach the point that the USPS isn't needed at all, they should concentrate on delivering regular mail and stop spending money on advertising and other equipment and employees needed to compete with FeEx and UPS. They are just wasting money trying to compete in package delivery and frankly, they are terrible at it. On at least 10 occasions in the last year I have had stuff that was supposed to be delivered to my house that day by USPS not be delivered. Then when I read the reason that it was not delivered, it either said could not deliver because the "business was close" or the "door/driveway was not accessible." Which of course isn't true since it was my house, not a business, and nothing was ever blocking the door or driveway.

 

[AARPSaint]

Docusign plus online bill paying and direct deposits are bringing the USPS closer to obsolescence. But in rural America, the post office may be the only real shipping option because there's no nearby UPS or FedEx center.

As an example I often order coffee from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. There's 1 supermarket and no UPS or FedEx within a reasonable distance-- so they are pretty much limited to the USPS for their shipping. The Post Office needs to figure out how they can right-size so as not to force rural businesses into difficult shipping dilemmas. Either that or the private logistics firms could move into the more remote areas-- but where's the profit in that?

 

[2009ring]

Docusign plus online bill paying and direct deposits are bringing the USPS closer to obsolescence. But in rural America, the post office may be the only real shipping option because there's no nearby UPS or FedEx center.

As an example I often order coffee from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. There's 1 supermarket and no UPS or FedEx within a reasonable distance-- so they are pretty much limited to the USPS for their shipping. The Post Office needs to figure out how they can right-size so as not to force rural businesses into difficult shipping dilemmas. Either that or the private logistics firms could move into the more remote areas-- but where's the profit in that?

IF the USPS was actually smart, they'd focus their efforts on areas where FedEx and UPS are weak. That's what smart businesses do. But no, this is the USPS.

I am a former (very former) USPS worker and I can tell you even 25 years ago that organization was filled with so much stupidity, politics, and lack of common sense that it's a wonder they're even still around at all.

 

[tenordas]

Our daughter at LSU was waiting on an envelope we sent priority mail (iirc) through USPS. About a week after we sent it, she got a notice saying she had mail to pick up. That turned out to be a "thank you for visiting" note sent four weeks earlier from Baton Rouge. Two weeks later, she still hasn't received the envelope we sent through the mail.

We ended up overnighting the document she needed through FedEx, who also completely fell down on the job. Not only did it not get there the next day, it took four days for them finally to deliver it.

Needless to say, we're trying to find other ways to send things our kids need to them. UPS has been recommended to us for normal delivery time by others sending to Baton Rouge, but we haven't had the need to try them yet. We certainly won't be sending anything to her by the USPS again.

 

[tenordas]

IF the USPS was actually smart, they'd focus their efforts on areas where FedEx and UPS are weak. That's what smart businesses do. But no, this is the USPS.

I am a former (very former) USPS worker and I can tell you even 25 years ago that organization was filled with so much stupidity, politics, and lack of common sense that it's a wonder they're even still around at all.

I'm certain in saying that if they weren't funded by the US government, they wouldn't exist any more.
Many years ago, I worked for UPS for about 5 years. They were trying to work out the legal hurdles get into normal letter delivery, but the government blocked them from it, and still does.

 

[St. Widge]

Docusign plus online bill paying and direct deposits are bringing the USPS closer to obsolescence. But in rural America, the post office may be the only real shipping option because there's no nearby UPS or FedEx center.

As an example I often order coffee from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts. There's 1 supermarket and no UPS or FedEx within a reasonable distance-- so they are pretty much limited to the USPS for their shipping. The Post Office needs to figure out how they can right-size so as not to force rural businesses into difficult shipping dilemmas. Either that or the private logistics firms could move into the more remote areas-- but where's the profit in that?

Yeah, there is no doubt still a need for USPS, especially in rural areas. But, I suspect that as we are better able to supply high speed internet to rural areas by satellite or other means, the need in even rural areas will quickly decease to the point of not obsolescence at some point.

I guess I didn't think that there was any place that FedEx, UPS, or Amazon trucks didn't cover. But I guess there is. Still, I think that all three would quickly fill the gaps of USPS package pickup if USPS pulled out of that area. I suspect that with USPS servicing those areas there is no profit, but if they leave a void, it will leave room for them to make money. Alternatively, USPS, could switch to only providing package service in places UPS/FedEx don't service and then USPS could just transfer the package to UPS/FedEx at that point.

We still need to keep USPS for now, but I think they should concentrate their resources on that work instead of trying to compete in package delivery everywhere.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I'm certain in saying that if they weren't funded by the US government, they wouldn't exist any more.
Many years ago, I worked for UPS for about 5 years. They were trying to work out the legal hurdles get into normal letter delivery, but the government blocked them from it, and still does.

Probably for the reasons you mentioned in your previous post - the govt needs to make sure that all citizens have access to mail
Corporations will find a way to drop unprofitable routes (not right away, maybe after 5 yes or so)

 

[superchuck500]

The whole junk mail issue is really interesting.

The vast majority of Americans hate junk mail. You throw it away. It's such a waste of trees, electricity, the carbon footprint, etc. to create and distribute for such a low rate of usage.

Junk mail gets a substantial discount (about 65% off) because it is a steady, reliable source of revenue for the USPS. So everyone hates it and its terrible for the environment but it keeps the USPS going so we not only tolerate it but USPS pricing encourages it.

But like other mail, the USPS's junk mail revenue is also decreasing year over year. Advertisers aren't going to use a method that doesn't result in net gains and as people turn more and more away from the mail, junk mail is seen as less effective. Then, there is also a push from environmentalists and others to end the heavy price discounting for junk mail as a matter of environmental policy . . . but that would likely only result in further discouraging use of junk mail (which is, after all, their ambition), putting additional strain on the USPS financial viability.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

The whole junk mail issue is really interesting.

The vast majority of Americans hate junk mail. You throw it away. It's such a waste of trees, electricity, the carbon footprint, etc. to create and distribute for such a low rate of usage.

Junk mail gets a substantial discount (about 65% off) because it is a steady, reliable source of revenue for the USPS. So everyone hates it and its terrible for the environment but it keeps the USPS going so we not only tolerate it but USPS pricing encourages it.

But like other mail, the USPS's junk mail revenue is also decreasing year over year. Advertisers aren't going to use a method that doesn't result in net gains and as people turn more and more away from the mail, junk mail is seen as less effective. Then, there is also a push from environmentalists and others to end the heavy price discounting for junk mail as a matter of environmental policy . . . but that would likely only result in further discouraging use of junk mail (which is, after all, their ambition), putting additional strain on the USPS financial viability.

So I should hurry up and subscribe to Fingerhut’s eletter?

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

I so rarely use USPS for anything anymore. Pay all my bills online, send emails instead of letters, etc. I’d say about half the things I order online are delivered by USPS & the rest a combo of FedEx/UPS/DHL, carrier pigeon, etc.

I send the occasional birthday card. That’s about it.