Mail about to get a lot slower. (5 Viewers)

[soupcan dan]

my mailman was walking backwards today taking stuff outta my box----said it might rain next week, maybe wind. He's 50/50 on my chances of mail.

 

[Maxp]

My wife used to ship plenty of packages for her company through USPS from Puerto Rico to Hawaii. Never really had too many problems until DeJoy came in and destroyed the postal service before the last election. Now, they are just way too unreliable to use.

 

[jrdbrn]

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.

My FIL is 71. He was a postmaster forever. He also said they did a lot of stupid things and that politics are strong even in the smaller regions.

 

[bigdaddysaints]

multilevel problems in the post office. It’s a government service and is meant to be. However, they want it to run for a profit, which is a stupid model as the entire way it’s set up will never make it money. It serves everyone, everywhere. The two just won’t work well together. So instead of investing in real tracking and modern equipment, you get a note saying it’s in the system and maybe it will get there.

FedEx, UPS, Amazon all serve only profitable areas. Small rural communities are not always served. The big guys will take packages through their services then use the post office to deliver. And things like UPS SmartPost is an epic mess. But for some it’s the only way.

Unfortunately for the post office it’s being run by a person who doesn’t believe in government. Reagan popularized the saying about we are the government here to help you. Since that time it’s almost seemed like instead of putting people in place to make the system work, it’s almost like
Putting fools in to tear it down

The USPS was never designed to run on profit, or even break even. They are a Gov't service, just like the DMV, Poilice Dept, Fire Dept, etc. We don't expect the PD and FD to turn profits.

 

[bclemms]

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

No, otherwise we wouldn't have a government.

 

[tomwaits]

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.

 

[St. Widge]

The USPS was never designed to run on profit, or even break even. They are a Gov't service, just like the DMV, Poilice Dept, Fire Dept, etc. We don't expect the PD and FD to turn profits.

Which is why they really need to stop doing package delivery services everywhere other than in areas not served by the private shipping companies. They shouldn't be trying to compete in an area that they are not equipped to compete in when there is already an industry serving that market. And, the only reason to stay in that market is to try to turn a profit.

Either that or they need to spend huge amounts of money to develop the kind of logistics that Amazon and UPS have. But I don't see the need to do that when they have what they need to fulfill their letter delivery and package delivery in unserved areas just as they are.

I mean, they don't need to turn a profit, but it would be nice if they would break even which I think they can do by concentrating on their traditional rolls and not trying to compete in the very competitive package delivery market.

 

[Zztop]

I guess this is as good of a place to post this as any

A Brief History of Children Sent Through the Mail

In the early days of the parcel post, some parents took advantage of the mail in unexpected ways

www.smithsonianmag.com

 

[Zack Lee]

I guess this is as good of a place to post this as any

A Brief History of Children Sent Through the Mail

In the early days of the parcel post, some parents took advantage of the mail in unexpected ways

www.smithsonianmag.com

Uh, is this gonna require a signature?


and animals allowed were bees and bugs? Bees got specifically allowed? Lol. I’d like to mail some wasps.

 

[Zztop]

Guess who is about to dissolve the USPS postal board of governors and place the agency under the control of the Commerce Department

"what could possibly go wrong?"

 

[Eeyore]

Guess who is about to dissolve the USPS postal board of governors and place the agency under the control of the Commerce Department

"what could possibly go wrong?"

Some people are unable to comprehend that the United States Postal Service is a SERVICE. It isn't supposed to be profitable. It's supposed to cost exactly as much as it needs

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Some people are unable to comprehend that the United States Postal Service is a SERVICE. It isn't supposed to be profitable. It's supposed to cost exactly as much as it needs

now preach on mass transportation

 

[buzd]

Some people are unable to comprehend that the United States Postal Service is a SERVICE. It isn't supposed to be profitable. It's supposed to cost exactly as much as it needs

And the reason that it is not profitable is because Congress sabotaged it with some rule that their pension has to be totally funded for 50 years out (or something like that). So it's not that the business model is a continual loss - it's actually structured so it can't possibly break even.

 

[Eeyore]

now preach on mass transportation

I'll settle for high speed rail between major cities.

 

[TheRealJRad]

Some people are unable to comprehend that the United States Postal Service is a SERVICE. It isn't supposed to be profitable. It's supposed to cost exactly as much as it needs

I don’t even think FedEx and UPS service all areas, so good luck to the really rural folks