Still Debating Saturday Mail Delivery
Despite a strong recommendation from the Postmaster General that the USPS eliminate Saturday mail delivery (along with other cost-cutting moves and a rate increase), the issue is far from settled. In late July, Senator Jon Testor (D-Mont) said that the senators who oversee the US Postal Service’s budget will block the proposal to stop delivering mail on Saturdays. The USPS cannot cut services without agreement from Congress.
Doc’s a bit on the fence about the Saturday mail delivery conundrum. The USPS is on track to lose $7 billion this fiscal year, so something has to be done. But there is a large concern among direct marketers and transactional printers that eliminating Saturday mail delivery will have a measurable affect on commerce, and hit rural areas particularly hard.
For a good read on the subject, check out this article from the New York Times.
As federal regulators consider a proposal to cut most Saturday postal deliveries, the business community is sharply divided about the consequences of switching to five-day service.
The post office estimates that cutting Saturday delivery would save $3 billion a year.
Some, like Donald J. Hall Jr., chief executive of Hallmark Cards, said that eliminating Saturday delivery and raising prices even incrementally would drive more business away from the United States Postal Service, resulting in a “slippery slope.”But others, like Andrew Rendich, the chief service and DVD operations officer at Netflix, said five-day delivery would be a better alternative to significantly higher postal rates. “Big rate increases will absolutely squash business and will absolutely slow growth for a company like Netflix,” Mr. Rendich said.
Doc wonders where you stand on the issue, especially if you do a lot of transactional printing and regularly send out customer correspondence. Many people I’ve talked to wish the USPS would eliminate one of the weekdays, since Saturday is traditionally a good day to get mail directly in people’s hands (when they are not at work and have time to deal with it right away). So which is better, elimination of Saturday mail delivery or a big rate increase? The way it’s looking now, we may be headed toward a combination of both!
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Eliminating Saturday delivery will just accelerate the downward spiral of the USPS, and yes I am an employee/Manager/customer. We are the US Postal SERVICE. We need to cut back on overhead and that means in Washington DC, at postal HQ, and no, that doesn't mean just moving the positions office space to some district office, the jobs and people must be eliminated, jobs consolidated. Postal HQ have been consolidating delivery unit staffing and even at Plants, it's time to push this up to Area and HQ, if we in the field have to do more with less (12hr workdays 6 days a week) then the Area and HQ needed to do with less. Over the last year I have seen IT dept reduce technology that we manager and supervisors could use so we could get more done, even, so we could take work home to complete. HQ as eliminated the lobby vending machines and refuse to invest in new APC?s, every lobby should have a vending machine and an APC, it is down right stupid that our customers have to wait in line to buy one stamp to mail a first class letter, or even wait in line to mail a small package when the could just use the APC and then be on there way. It is down right stupid when a customer comes to a plant lobby in the evening to mail important letter and the find no stamp machine, they then have to drive to local grocery store and buy a whole book of stamps, and many times, at a marked up price. We should go back to 24 windows at plants and invest in new vending machines and APC?s to increase our convents to our customers. Not everyone has access to the internet or even wants to use the internet. Why don?t we put internet terminals in our lobbies for customer use?????
@lostmechanic It's sad to me. The top people who run the USPS are uncreative, blind dolts as far as I can see. Your fixes are common sense.
On your point about lobbys: one relatively minor fix the USPS could attend to is simply to make post office interiors more attractive and consumer-friendly in many ways. Sheesh, it's 2011 and lobbys have hardly changed in a hundred years. Except that these days most interiors are dumps with ugly advertising plastered everywhere, and broken/missing pens on dirty writing surfaces -- a place that customers do not look forward to going to. (Duh.)
Some may think this point trivial (and they run the USPS), but I feel pretty certain that getting rid of the "warehouse office" interface at post offices across the country would help the USPS bottom line. And it is not an expensive fix, if done by smart people.
But will this get done by a bureaucracy which stifles innovation as a religion? Same story as Amtrak. And so sad.
Nevertheless, I feel pretty strongly that stopping Saturday delivery by the USPS would be a boon for private carriers, and nothing more. No, more like a giveaway. And it would accelerate a decline in a great, necessary institution, one that is important to communities in so many barely visible ways (/invisible/ ways to rabid right-wingers). And it would hurt those in the lower economic strata disproportionately.
But while many clueless consumers will lose out when they lose Saturday delivery, they're conditioned to support higher profits for those invested in package carriers that this change will bring, and that's what it's all about in this era of idiots like Palin, you betcha.
On your point about lobbys: one relatively minor fix the USPS could attend to is simply to make post office interiors more attractive and consumer-friendly in many ways. Sheesh, it's 2011 and lobbys have hardly changed in a hundred years. Except that these days most interiors are dumps with ugly advertising plastered everywhere, and broken/missing pens on dirty writing surfaces -- a place that customers do not look forward to going to. (Duh.)
Some may think this point trivial (and they run the USPS), but I feel pretty certain that getting rid of the "warehouse office" interface at post offices across the country would help the USPS bottom line. And it is not an expensive fix, if done by smart people.
But will this get done by a bureaucracy which stifles innovation as a religion? Same story as Amtrak. And so sad.
Nevertheless, I feel pretty strongly that stopping Saturday delivery by the USPS would be a boon for private carriers, and nothing more. No, more like a giveaway. And it would accelerate a decline in a great, necessary institution, one that is important to communities in so many barely visible ways (/invisible/ ways to rabid right-wingers). And it would hurt those in the lower economic strata disproportionately.
But while many clueless consumers will lose out when they lose Saturday delivery, they're conditioned to support higher profits for those invested in package carriers that this change will bring, and that's what it's all about in this era of idiots like Palin, you betcha.
@lostmechanic Fantastic! I love it!! 
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jaeger lecoultre watch longine watches louis vuitton watches 
Privatizing the USPS was just such a bad idea. This is only one example of why. As 'lostmechanic' says, it is a SERVICE, not a profit center.
@mejohnsn
But not the entire path from source to destination.
Let the USPS deal with the first and last miles.
In-between can be any of the transportation firms; e.g., FedEx, UPS, et al who firms now doing business on their own terms.
How is it privatized services make a profit and the USPS doesn't?
But not the entire path from source to destination.
Let the USPS deal with the first and last miles.
In-between can be any of the transportation firms; e.g., FedEx, UPS, et al who firms now doing business on their own terms.
How is it privatized services make a profit and the USPS doesn't?
@Mihi Nomen Est
Part of why the private companies make money while the USPS does not is that they have the option of choosing to only do the profitable parts of the service. The USPS offers money losing services: delivery to remote rural areas (note that even UPS and FedEx depend on the USPS to deliver to some of those locations), hand addressed first-class mail sent by individuals, bargain rate Media Mail and second-class (magazines). Oh yes, and Saturday delivery without an extra fee, a day on which mail delivery volume is lower because many businesses don't accept mail.
Part of why the private companies make money while the USPS does not is that they have the option of choosing to only do the profitable parts of the service. The USPS offers money losing services: delivery to remote rural areas (note that even UPS and FedEx depend on the USPS to deliver to some of those locations), hand addressed first-class mail sent by individuals, bargain rate Media Mail and second-class (magazines). Oh yes, and Saturday delivery without an extra fee, a day on which mail delivery volume is lower because many businesses don't accept mail.
@Mihi Nomen Est
Exactly!
Exactly!
@Mihi Nomen Est Privatizing the shipping of mail from one plant to another is a way to cut cost, but not by much. The plants themselves would cost more to privatize, as would shipping mail from plant to post office. Contracting the shipping and handling of mail to UPS, FedEx, or DHL would end up making the whole process much more expensive.
As far as privatizing the whole thing? When the German Postal Service was privatized, the cost to do mail went through the roof. Imagine what it would do with the USPS and it's perennial deficit.
As far as privatizing the whole thing? When the German Postal Service was privatized, the cost to do mail went through the roof. Imagine what it would do with the USPS and it's perennial deficit.
and start to offer e-mail services as well. They could set up secure email servers for each zip code and your email address could be 123.main.street@90210.usps Then email scams and spam could be prosecuted as mail fraud. They could set up the ability to have certified email. They could be set up to only accept mail from other usps addresses on a secure network so that all email can be secure and tracked back to the sender. I would be willing to pay a small postage fee for the advantages that a secure and traceable email system could provide. By not keeping pace with the state of technology they are obsoleting themselves.
@dkramer3
Why do I need a USPS e-mail account on top of my 5 current address'??? I can secure my own e-mail probably for a lot less then the USPS would charge!!
Why do I need a USPS e-mail account on top of my 5 current address'??? I can secure my own e-mail probably for a lot less then the USPS would charge!!
@dkramer3 As if the US Govt has enough resources (read: PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DO THEIR JOBS) to chase down spam too?
@travisspain
Yes, obsoleting is a verb
obsoleting - 3 dictionary results
ob?so?lete? ?/??bs??lit, ??bs??lit/ Show Spelled
[ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet] Show IPA
adjective, verb, -let?ed, -let?ing.
?verb (used with object)
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate: Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.
Yes, obsoleting is a verb
obsoleting - 3 dictionary results
ob?so?lete? ?/??bs??lit, ??bs??lit/ Show Spelled
[ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet] Show IPA
adjective, verb, -let?ed, -let?ing.
?verb (used with object)
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate: Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.
The answer is finding what customers want and are willing to pay for, and then deliver it. dkaramer has some good ideas - perhaps he should run the post office. Invest in new services. Do an economic analysis. Adjust prices - for example, charge a premium on Saturday delivery (see private market practices). Cutting down on important services without offering more value is suicidal.
Most important: The Postal Service may provide the country with an enormous economic value, much more than its losses. Pending an analysis, we the citizens (quaint term) may be better off and have more money at the end of the day by paying off the post office deficits than by closing it because of its losses. Did anybody look lately at UPS Ground rates?
Most important: The Postal Service may provide the country with an enormous economic value, much more than its losses. Pending an analysis, we the citizens (quaint term) may be better off and have more money at the end of the day by paying off the post office deficits than by closing it because of its losses. Did anybody look lately at UPS Ground rates?
@yishaika@... "Did anybody look lately at UPS Ground rates?"
People who call the USPS obsolete fail to see one thing... Show me one private company that can send a card across the country for the price of a 1st class stamp, currently 44 cents.
Loosing Saturday delivery, is something that I think most people can get used to. DKramer3 did have an interesting idea, I don't know how feasible or how much of a demand there would be, but interesting to say the least.
People who call the USPS obsolete fail to see one thing... Show me one private company that can send a card across the country for the price of a 1st class stamp, currently 44 cents.
Loosing Saturday delivery, is something that I think most people can get used to. DKramer3 did have an interesting idea, I don't know how feasible or how much of a demand there would be, but interesting to say the least.
@Snooki_smoosh_smoosh
I agree regarding the Saturday delivery thing, and I live in a rural area
I agree regarding the Saturday delivery thing, and I live in a rural area
Nope. Not a verb. Nor an adjective. Nor. . .
ob?so?lete? ?/??bs??lit, ??bs??lit/ Show Spelled
[ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet] Show IPA
adjective, verb, -let?ed, -let?ing.
?adjective
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, esp., out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
5. Biology . imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
?verb (used with object)
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate: Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.
Use obsoleting in a Sentence
See images of obsoleting
Search obsoleting on the Web
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin:
1570?80; L obsol?tus, ptp. of obsol?scere to fall into disuse, perh. equiv. to ob- ob- + sol ( ?re ) to be accustomed to + -?scere -esce
?Related forms
ob?so?lete?ly, adverb
ob?so?lete?ness, noun
non?ob?so?lete, adjective
sub?ob?so?lete, adjective
sub?ob?so?lete?ly, adverb
sub?ob?so?lete?ness, noun
un?ob?so?lete, adjective
?Can be confused: ? 1. archaic, obsolescent, obsolete ; 2. obsolescent, obsolete .
?Synonyms
2. antiquated, ancient, old.
?Antonyms
1, 2. new, modern.
But yes. Saturday delivery should be eliminated. And Mondays too, if necessary!
ob?so?lete? ?/??bs??lit, ??bs??lit/ Show Spelled
[ob-suh-leet, ob-suh-leet] Show IPA
adjective, verb, -let?ed, -let?ing.
?adjective
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, esp., out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
5. Biology . imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
?verb (used with object)
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate: Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.
Use obsoleting in a Sentence
See images of obsoleting
Search obsoleting on the Web
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Origin:
1570?80; L obsol?tus, ptp. of obsol?scere to fall into disuse, perh. equiv. to ob- ob- + sol ( ?re ) to be accustomed to + -?scere -esce
?Related forms
ob?so?lete?ly, adverb
ob?so?lete?ness, noun
non?ob?so?lete, adjective
sub?ob?so?lete, adjective
sub?ob?so?lete?ly, adverb
sub?ob?so?lete?ness, noun
un?ob?so?lete, adjective
?Can be confused: ? 1. archaic, obsolescent, obsolete ; 2. obsolescent, obsolete .
?Synonyms
2. antiquated, ancient, old.
?Antonyms
1, 2. new, modern.
But yes. Saturday delivery should be eliminated. And Mondays too, if necessary!
Here in Russia, I can go to my local branch post office and buy postage, mail letters, pay utility bills, order and pay for magazine subscriptions, buy all sorts of school supplies and stationery including decorative seasonal envelopes and greeting cards, buy railroad, airplane, and theater tickets, and use one of the Internet workstations. The lines are sometimes long, but I remember some long lines in the USA, too. Sadly, my branch here doesn't accept debit cards ... yet.
I vote for continuing Saturday mail hours as it is the only day I can conduct USPS business. I vote for eliminating Monday mail, and that way USPS employees can have two days off in a row.
Most of those responding have failed as did the PM General, on the actual cause of their projected losses for the USPS and that is the fact that between $70,000,000,000 to $75,000,000,000 dollars have been taken from the USPS by the OPM. That coupled with this disintegrating economy and the US Congress $5,000,000,000 prefunding of miss projected amount to cover future health insurance costs.
No other federal agency of for that matter any private business is required to prepay to this extent and with this burden was to become reasonable then the USPS would have been in the black four (4) or the last five (5) years.
dkramer3's statement of "By not keeping pace with the state of technology they are obsoleting themselves."
Yes technology is always changing look what has happened to the phone in the last five years as it use to be a device to talk on and that was great. Now it is something to type on excuse me "text on" and now instead of having to listening to you inane conversations I have to listen to just as inane laughing while you text. This may seem like advancement to you and the death knell to the Postal Service, but there still millions of people out there that get their medications through the mail. Try that with your phone text!!
No other federal agency of for that matter any private business is required to prepay to this extent and with this burden was to become reasonable then the USPS would have been in the black four (4) or the last five (5) years.
dkramer3's statement of "By not keeping pace with the state of technology they are obsoleting themselves."
Yes technology is always changing look what has happened to the phone in the last five years as it use to be a device to talk on and that was great. Now it is something to type on excuse me "text on" and now instead of having to listening to you inane conversations I have to listen to just as inane laughing while you text. This may seem like advancement to you and the death knell to the Postal Service, but there still millions of people out there that get their medications through the mail. Try that with your phone text!!
My friend Maxwell works for FedEx in Sydney, Australia ... and he says it can get so busy that he must work seven days per week and on some days - 20 hours per shift. He couldn't convince the management team to empathize with him so after burning out, he jumped off the gravy train and quit! He told me how much he enjoyed working there but he couldn't take anymore of it.
The mail delivery in email marketing and campaigns is the most important factor to consider
How much do they cost now? I maybe send one letter a month, so I could care less.
the addition of other services as noted from Russia by
johanpdx@... sounds like a good idea to consider. like the fire department being trained to serve as EMT's as well, since they are available and well located to respond.
johanpdx@... sounds like a good idea to consider. like the fire department being trained to serve as EMT's as well, since they are available and well located to respond.
If it would cut down on crap I get in the mail I would say get rid of saturday delivery, but it won't. The "direct marketers" that would complain about getting rid of saturday delivery are in part a cause of the problem. The lighter a delivery truck weighs the less gas it will need to use on the route. The less junk mail in the truck the lighter it will be. So in other words the less junk mail the trucks have to carry (that I just throw in the trash anyway) the less gas they will have to use. There's no telling how much money they could save if they had a "junk mail" system in place. Hell they could then take the discarded junk mail, recycle it, and use it for their own paper products saving them even more money.
@SpiderTech
Direct Mail a.k.a. Junk Mail is a large portion of the revenue channel. Cutting direct mail for fuel efficiency is like amputating the arm for a finger prick.
Direct Mail a.k.a. Junk Mail is a large portion of the revenue channel. Cutting direct mail for fuel efficiency is like amputating the arm for a finger prick.
Waves @ Doc ? , "The Junk Mail" the 161st episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. Laughs ! Another "Dinosaur Industry" bites the dust, classic beggars ! To exceed the limits, resources.Who really thought this would work ? vehicle maintenance , fleet fueling cost, wages and retirement.Mimetic ( a high pitched voice) an all we have to do is walk a $0.50 piece of paper to your door everyday.Here is a typical example of the ending , US GOV bails them out , they cut the jobs anyway.A golden parachute is born just like all the other dead brick and mortar businesses that screwed the taxpayers. My opinion ? deliver only on the weekends
We haven't had Saturday deliveries of mail for years in Australia and you get used to it, life goes on 
Also, 44 cents is cheap we pay 60 cents to send standard letters. Our post office also, like johanpdx@... said happens in Russia, sells all sorts of other items and services to compliment their income stream.
Also, 44 cents is cheap we pay 60 cents to send standard letters. Our post office also, like johanpdx@... said happens in Russia, sells all sorts of other items and services to compliment their income stream. 
Why make me and the average American pay for the brunt of the mail load when JUNK (Bulk) MAIL sent to my house (and most likely yours, too) just ends up in the trash anyway??? Bulk mail gets a discount but we average Americans don't? I suggest the USPS switch it around and make bulk mail so costly, businesses would think twice about sending it. The USPS would be able to handle the more-modest load and could get the credit for Greening the service. Kudos to my mom for this suggestion.
@pstirn@...
Where do you think the bulk of the revenue comes from? John Doe's 20-some-odd post cards a year, or the constant influx of direct-market saturation?
The USPS provides uniform service to the public, and is funded not by tax payer dollars, but by the revenue generated from business mail.
Where do you think the bulk of the revenue comes from? John Doe's 20-some-odd post cards a year, or the constant influx of direct-market saturation?
The USPS provides uniform service to the public, and is funded not by tax payer dollars, but by the revenue generated from business mail.
As a small business owner (I own 3) and office manager (I bookkeep and do operations for an additional 2) I am simply changing my practises to eliminate the use of USPS mail. the expensive it gets, the less convenient it gets, the less use it get, and I would imagine most small businesses will follow this example.
I already accept (and require!) payment from clients via ACH. I charge them a fee if they want me to mail them a invoice (as opposed to email) to recover the cost of paper, envelope, postage etc, as well as the extra administrative time in printing, folding, inserting and placing postage as well as the inconvenience of getting them mailed since the USPS has removed all convenient post boxes, and my carrier can't figure out how to pick up outgoing mail from my box when the itty bitty box they provide is packed to the point of the mail coming back out the slot.
So don't deliver on Saturday, it will just be one more reason not to use US mail, IMO.
I already accept (and require!) payment from clients via ACH. I charge them a fee if they want me to mail them a invoice (as opposed to email) to recover the cost of paper, envelope, postage etc, as well as the extra administrative time in printing, folding, inserting and placing postage as well as the inconvenience of getting them mailed since the USPS has removed all convenient post boxes, and my carrier can't figure out how to pick up outgoing mail from my box when the itty bitty box they provide is packed to the point of the mail coming back out the slot.
So don't deliver on Saturday, it will just be one more reason not to use US mail, IMO.
To be spun off into a separate "Private" company... but have your hands tied with "Congress" approving decisions that need to be made to control loss or profit - is just plain stupid.
As the postal service was "Part of the Government" and assumed all the benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.) of many military and other government employees... There is no way to balance out and become a viable private operation.
>My Nickel's worth
As the postal service was "Part of the Government" and assumed all the benefits (health insurance, retirement, etc.) of many military and other government employees... There is no way to balance out and become a viable private operation.
>My Nickel's worth
Am I the only one who remembers that Saturday mail delivery to residences was not always provided? I don't remember when it was added, but it was in days before UPS and FEDEX were even a gleam in their father's eye. Residential customers lived with Mon-Fri service before except for extra cost express services. Why not now?
Keep Saturday delivery, but deliver during the week only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. With email and other forms of communication, there is nothing I get via "snailmail" that would be life shattering on Tuesday or Thursday.
USPS should go to 3 day a week delivery.
Fire 1/2 of workforce.
End of $7G problem.
Fire 1/2 of workforce.
End of $7G problem.
Eliminate Tuesday delivery if any. Cutting out Saturday delivery would create a Monday morning logistical nightmare each and every week. Eliminating Tuesday service along with other suggestions mentioned above would move the USPS in the right direction.
@CheckedOut
Yeah, ask around. Tuesday is the lowest volume day.
Yeah, ask around. Tuesday is the lowest volume day.
There are many issues that bothers me as a citizen and a consumer in these United States. First of all, for my own mental health, I vote - on everything, every time. Second, when I acknowledge the fact that I can't change most of these things, I wrap these concerns in the phrase "When I am King, things will be different...". So when I am King, Saturday delivery will go right out the door. The competitors only do it for a premium price. USPS should do the same. Second thing to go will be "special rates" for mailings like media mail or non profit mailings. The citizens should not subsidize any mailings in this fashion. Third, bulk rate would go unless it actually costs less to handle these pieces, they should go at the normal rate. Which I know if bulk rate dies then people will be really missing all that advertising crap we get in the mail. Business reply rate - gone. Postage should reflect the actual cost to handle, period. Cost should include money for capital improvements. Unions - bust'em. If it was 1897 they may have a place but not anymore. There are plenty of people who would like to work for a fair wage that don't have to be organized, cost the employee money, cost the USPS money and ultimately cost us money. Unions were needed at one time but not anymore. I have been in the work force for many years and advanced or failed on my own accord without the help of organized labor. Machines in the lobby to vend postage - good idea. Counterworkers taking union mandated breaks right in the middle of lunch rush hour - bad idea. Post office managers - measured on how efficiently they move the mail. Slow service, lots of complaints = crappy or no raise. Fast, innovative service - raises or promotions! Yep, lots of things to change when I am King...
I have worked with mail since early 80's. First in the industry for a Bulk Mailer then in 1984 to now for a Campus Mail Service at a university. The behind the scenes look would enlighten everyone as to why the market mailings are cheaper and if as suggested the rates are raised so they would not mail would be a punch in the financials of the USPS. Why would you not want them to mail if they are revenue for the Post Office? Your Non-Profit mailers would suffer as well. These mailers also work very hard for these discounts. They more they do for the Post Office in preparation of the Bulk Mailings the better the discount. This means very little man power is used to process the mailings which are handled by equipment. If this mail was stopped - You would not be informed of the conferences you need to attend to maintain your level of professional development or that your local university is offering Non-Credit short courses that enlighten your personal life. Our university offers classes/programs for retirees. Very successful program.You can have your name placed on a list at the Post Office to let them know you do not want what you are commonly calling Junk Mail. My Dad was a Letter Carrier. He worked very hard for his salary. Was bitten a few times by someone's "friendly" dog. Fell from a truck and broke his wrist as well as risked his safety as he was given a route that was on a very busy highway. Do you think about them, the mail handlers on the docks, the staff who run the high speed sorters/optical character readers when you want the mail to stop? Unfortunately the very long lines in the lobbies are sometimes due to the customers not understanding what they need to send their packages, letters that are past due, and that a kiosk in the lobby would serve their purposes. Did you know that a lot of customers have not sufficiently packaged their item to prevent loss or damage in transit? Or they did not bother to double check the address or include a zip code? I understand many may not have access to the internet or http://usps.com which has a wealth of information. I would love to know the answers to their financial woes and a lot of suggestions offered here are very viable. I for one would agree to omitting Saturday deliveries. I believe it is the best choice if the USPS reduces service deliveries to 5 days only. Monday would be the worse day and Tuesday would be the 2nd best day. And...they could benefit by improving their technology which is used by the consumer. They have been working with technology for quite a few years now. Many employees have been encouraged to take early retirement or lose their jobs due to the use of technology to move/sort letters and flats in the Postal System for more than 20 years now.
Maybe we could restrict junk mail delivery to Saturdays and then do away with Saturday delivery! OK! That's not realistic but how about a "Do Not Mail" list just like the "Do Not Call" list. Think of the billions that alone would save not only by reducing the load on USPS but also on waste removal and disposal. I should have the right to NOT have advertising mail sent to my address and it should be as simple as a phone call. Junk mail, which most people don't read, is a burden on the masses and the masses should prevail.
As for the reduced cost of bulk mail, advertisers should pay more than they do because of the extra labor needed to meet this demand some of which requires overtime pay.
Dan
As for the reduced cost of bulk mail, advertisers should pay more than they do because of the extra labor needed to meet this demand some of which requires overtime pay.
Dan
Interesting comments! My perspective, having lived half my life in Canada (where postal service is now privatized) is that Americans don't know how good they have it! I lived in Calgary, Alberta and it would routinely take 6-7 days to mail a letter across town, much less across country. You have the fastest, best mail delivery in the universe and I still hear complaints about it all the time. Maybe the US will do a better job of privatizing, but unless you have experienced mail delivery in other countries, you should just thank your lucky stars to have such a great system.
I'm still having a difficult time grasping how the bulk mailers will be negatively impacted by a lost day ... my assumption is that their catalogs and postcards will still arrive, and not melt like day-old manna if not delivered on Saturday.
For myself and the businesses I support (most of which, admittedly, don't 'post' much any more unless it needs a 'flat rate box'), it's probably likely that cutting all the way down to ONLY Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays wouldn't kill anyone long-term -- so long as the Post Office itself is still open for business through the other weekdays.
Billions of dollars in the red makes for a compelling argument against any throwback entitlement issues customers might feel. Either make it self-sustaining (by raising rates, cutting expenses, etc.), or leave the business. The tax payers have plenty of OTHER bailouts to pay for now, thank you.
For myself and the businesses I support (most of which, admittedly, don't 'post' much any more unless it needs a 'flat rate box'), it's probably likely that cutting all the way down to ONLY Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays wouldn't kill anyone long-term -- so long as the Post Office itself is still open for business through the other weekdays.
Billions of dollars in the red makes for a compelling argument against any throwback entitlement issues customers might feel. Either make it self-sustaining (by raising rates, cutting expenses, etc.), or leave the business. The tax payers have plenty of OTHER bailouts to pay for now, thank you.
The topic of Saturday mail delivery, and the US postal service in general, always spurs a lot of debate. Doc is fine with losing Saturday delivery ??? he remembers when many people actually took the weekend off. But then that was when we still had weekends. Now everyone works 24/7 thanks to all the modern communications devices we have. So one extra day without mail coming to the home is reasonable, especially if it preserves the rest of the great (and affordable) services the USPS provides.
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