No more USPS on Saturday ?

[Hector]

Gotta dis-agree with you there Chuck. USPS is part-privately owned. It's not a total Govt. run operation. I don't know to what degree though. If perhaps they ran the USPS like Social Security - usually no senior misses a check, or the IRS which seems to have arms longer than "the law", the organization might be better run.

Mail-handlers do have a tough job and I think they unfairly get a bad rep. They do move millions upon millions of letters and packages on a daily basis.
We hear about the bad apples in the USPS more than the good ones because a reliable mail carrier story is boring but someone who snaps and gets a gun and starts shooting their co-workers is ratings gold on TV. In a poll a few years ago the USPS came out on top for most employee complaints/most employee dissatisfaction.

I had also heard for the past few years they were actually considering opening Sundays providing 7 days a week service, ( at least 2 banks here in NY do that now). That would be great if they could make a profit but won't help if the organization is badly run.

Another exactly...

[Hector]

The problem is that USPS is legally forced to serve areas that are unprofitable. They don't have the freedom other companies have in dropping routes and closing offices, because Congressman A from Podunkville will kick up a fuss if you close the post office in his district, even though there's a bigger newer one a few minutes' car ride away. They are in a unique position; they are financially independent from the government, yet the government oversees them and forces them to follow laws other companies don't have to.

They literally go everywhere in the U.S., places FedEx and UPS won't go. I remember seeing a TV report a while ago about how they had to fly a small plane through backwoods Idaho to deliver mail to residents, and it was costing them a ridiculous amount of money... they tried cutting the flights, but Idaho congressmen and their constituents got upset so they had to reinstate it even though it was costing them $48,000 a year.

The other problem is that they legally have to pre-fund their retirement health benefits. According to a recent editorial written by the postmaster general, that's where the bulk of their losses have occurred.

I am not affiliated with the post office at all, but I think they get a lot of crap flung their way that they mostly don't deserve. What other company can get an actual physical letter anywhere in the United States for only 44 cents?

Exactly.

[Hector]

Also, think about this .....

Does this mean just the post office wont be open on Saturday ? ... or does this mean not only will the post office be closed but the mail won't move as well.

As it is now the US mail moves 7 days a week including Saturday AND Sunday

If this changes, you will see the US mail delivery times change drastically for the worse.

Add 2 more days to what the current delivery estimates are now

The mail facilities and all its hubs...they never stop...you have mailhandlers, clerks, forklift operators, truck drivers, computer technicians, mechanics, custodians, managers, supervisors, etc...working the mail during days, afternoons, and graveyard...it never stops moving.

But cutting Saturday delivery...that probably means they will get rid of junior personnel...and that includes union members...if you have less than six years seniority...the postal service can let you go.

As far as veterans go...the post office is currently offering early retirement to many employees...many are indeed taking it...but most don't...because the earlier you retire...the less your monthly retirement paycheck will be.

[mego73]

That would suck, one less day for netflix

Just what I was thinking. If you are quick you can get 2 shipments from Netflix a week. That will be impossible with Saturday being eliminated.

[English Paul]

The problem is that USPS is legally forced to serve areas that are unprofitable. They don't have the freedom other companies have in dropping routes and closing offices, because Congressman A from Podunkville will kick up a fuss if you close the post office in his district, even though there's a bigger newer one a few minutes' car ride away. They are in a unique position; they are financially independent from the government, yet the government oversees them and forces them to follow laws other companies don't have to.

They literally go everywhere in the U.S., places FedEx and UPS won't go. I remember seeing a TV report a while ago about how they had to fly a small plane through backwoods Idaho to deliver mail to residents, and it was costing them a ridiculous amount of money... they tried cutting the flights, but Idaho congressmen and their constituents got upset so they had to reinstate it even though it was costing them $48,000 a year.

The other problem is that they legally have to pre-fund their retirement health benefits. According to a recent editorial written by the postmaster general, that's where the bulk of their losses have occurred.

I am not affiliated with the post office at all, but I think they get a lot of crap flung their way that they mostly don't deserve. What other company can get an actual physical letter anywhere in the United States for only 44 cents?

It is exactly the same here. The competition can cherry pick the best bits leaving Royal Mail with the parts of the country no one else will touch. Hardly a level playing field. Royal Mail has to make it's contracts public for a month in which time the competition can waltz in and undercut us at the last minute. Royal Mail also has to charge it's customers a set price per item whilst the others can charge what they like and Royal mail still ends up doing the final mile of delivery and dropping it through the letterbox.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I do the same with my 360 but the movies they have aren't the best

Have you watched Spartacus the tv show? I highly recommend it Cat

Just saw this. Thanks Damien I will check it out!

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

You should stay here and be a permanent American

I'm glad you guys think I should stay. It's very tempting. I will certainly be staying here a lot more in future.

[johnmiic]

USPS - Government Run and a complete fiasco. Coincidence I think not.

Gotta dis-agree with you there Chuck. USPS is part-privately owned. It's not a total Govt. run operation. I don't know to what degree though. If perhaps they ran the USPS like Social Security - usually no senior misses a check, or the IRS which seems to have arms longer than "the law", the organization might be better run.

Mail-handlers do have a tough job and I think they unfairly get a bad rep. They do move millions upon millions of letters and packages on a daily basis.
We hear about the bad apples in the USPS more than the good ones because a reliable mail carrier story is boring but someone who snaps and gets a gun and starts shooting their co-workers is ratings gold on TV. In a poll a few years ago the USPS came out on top for most employee complaints/most employee dissatisfaction.

I had also heard for the past few years they were actually considering opening Sundays providing 7 days a week service, ( at least 2 banks here in NY do that now). That would be great if they could make a profit but won't help if the organization is badly run.

[ScottA]

Another day we'd have to wait on MM and PS cards. Booooo.

[MegoSteve]

The problem is that USPS is legally forced to serve areas that are unprofitable. They don't have the freedom other companies have in dropping routes and closing offices, because Congressman A from Podunkville will kick up a fuss if you close the post office in his district, even though there's a bigger newer one a few minutes' car ride away. They are in a unique position; they are financially independent from the government, yet the government oversees them and forces them to follow laws other companies don't have to.

They literally go everywhere in the U.S., places FedEx and UPS won't go. I remember seeing a TV report a while ago about how they had to fly a small plane through backwoods Idaho to deliver mail to residents, and it was costing them a ridiculous amount of money... they tried cutting the flights, but Idaho congressmen and their constituents got upset so they had to reinstate it even though it was costing them $48,000 a year.

The other problem is that they legally have to pre-fund their retirement health benefits. According to a recent editorial written by the postmaster general, that's where the bulk of their losses have occurred.

I am not affiliated with the post office at all, but I think they get a lot of crap flung their way that they mostly don't deserve. What other company can get an actual physical letter anywhere in the United States for only 44 cents?

[Zemo]

USPS - Government Run and a complete fiasco. Coincidence I think not. Wanna see the USPS run correctly? Sell it to UPS. Not sure they're going to close the offices on Saturdays I believe the initial plan is to stop the deliveries. With the new flat rate boxes the system has become easier, just wish they would have more sizes and shapes of boxes. They're still more expensive than UPS on domestic shipping costs with tracking and insurance. Unless your shipping cotton balls, then they have an advantage. Anything a pound or better is far more secure with UPS. I ship about 2% of our packages at work via USPS and the rest UPS. I lose about the same amount of packages annually between the both of them. And the insurance claim through UPS gets me my payment in about 4 weeks and I've never had them dispute a claim in the 10 years I've been dealing with it. If it wasn't backed by the taxpayers the USPS would have folded long ago.

You got it. The government couldn't even run a *****house and proved it.

[Adam West]

I really have never understood why quasi government run agencies like USPS and even our D.C. Metro can not figure out how to make money.

It seems like they charge enough for their services. Maybe it is just an attitude from the top that they don't need to make a profit and can simply raise their fees at will or have the government bail them out for any losses.

[toys2cool]

I watch Netflix instantly through my PS3 (as well as ordering them by post)...another thing we don't have in Australia.

I do the same with my 360 but the movies they have aren't the best

Have you watched Spartacus the tv show? I highly recommend it Cat

[toys2cool]

You should stay here and be a permanent American

I agree

[Mikey]

I watch Netflix instantly through my PS3 (as well as ordering them by post)...another thing we don't have in Australia.

You should stay here and be a permanent American