The Post Office never seems to improve...

[Blueridge]

nm

[bkpan]

Technology is wonderful in many ways, but the eventual loss of our cheap, daily mail delivery will be a real tragedy.

[FaithManor]

I saw this in today's news:

"The US Postal Service's net loss widened to $5.2 billion during the three months that ended in June, and the cash-strapped agency warned on Thursday that without help from the US Congress it will face low cash and be unable to borrow money this fall..."

:001_huh:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2012/08/09/postal-service-loses-52-billion-warns-low-cash/

 

 

Wow!

 

Why haven't they ended Saturday delivery yet? I thought that was supposed to save a lot of money and yet, we can still go to our PO Box and get mail on Saturdays.

 

I also thought there was a list of 2000 or so post offices that were supposed to be closed and their services consolidated to other offices. Yet, the one near us that was supposed to close, is still open.

 

It seems that some of the proposed cost saving measures were not implemented.

 

Faith

[Carrie75]

They could cut mail to once or twice a week, cut out junk mail, and cut out pensions.

[mrsrevmeg]

Hmmm... so I guess I shouldn't hold my breath for the $400.00 refund on the package of books they mangled and lost part of. :glare:

[Tenaj]

They could cut mail to once or twice a week, cut out junk mail, and cut out pensions.

 

The P.O. has tried to make changes, such as closing certain offices and changing the delivery to less times per week but Congress has to approve any action and so far have refused, pending a further investigation. At least, that was the last I heard.

[Liz CA]

They could cut mail to once or twice a week, cut out junk mail, and cut out pensions.

 

Yes. Not to mention the poor service we get at the counter (at least in some post offices). It is always obvious to me that the employees are not overly motivated.

[celticmom]

Technology is wonderful in many ways, but the eventual loss of our cheap, daily mail delivery will be a real tragedy.

 

:iagree:

[bkpan]

They could cut mail to once or twice a week, cut out junk mail, and cut out pensions.

 

Actually. I assume they make money from the junk mail :confused:

 

Also, I would think that cutting mail to once or twice a week would severely hurt commerce and business. Perhaps they would use more private companies which would up prices for all of us.

[Sharon H in IL]

A Republican dominated Congress passed legislation several years ago to punish the Post Office employees' union that always assisted Democratic candidates.

 

The legislation required the post office to pre-fund all employee pensions for 75 years from current income. So pensions for employees who weren't even born yet had to be fully funded. Then they denied the post office the authority to close offices or take other money-saving measures.

 

Sad.

[Liz CA]

All the places around here have very good service. I can't complain there.

 

Their international shipping rates are killing me though. I can't believe I'm not keeping them in business with that. ;)

 

Must be a regional thing. After several odd experiences, I have to admit to having a bad attitude toward the post office now. ;)

[Carrie75]

Actually. I assume they make money from the junk mail :confused:

 

Also, I would think that cutting mail to once or twice a week would severely hurt commerce and business. Perhaps they would use more private companies which would up prices for all of us.

 

I am thinking that they would need less man power if there was less mail and less people out delivering. Isn't the majority of the cost for post offices salaries and pensions? I could be wrong.

[twoxcell]

The P.O. has tried to make changes, such as closing certain offices and changing the delivery to less times per week but Congress has to approve any action and so far have refused, pending a further investigation. At least, that was the last I heard.

:iagree:

Yes the congress has there hands in the postal service even though it is technically not a publicaly funded business. My dad has worked for the US postal service for 30+ years and he is the hardest working guy you'd ever meet. He does work with some wackadoodles though.

[Caraway]

I would vote to double the cost of sending junk mail. :glare:

[brett_ashley]

The P.O. has tried to make changes, such as closing certain offices and changing the delivery to less times per week but Congress has to approve any action and so far have refused, pending a further investigation. At least, that was the last I heard.

 

In our town, they closed the office that was run by a private contractor and made USPS a $1million profit last year, because they promised to only close office staffed with non-union employees. Real smart.:glare:

[curlylocks]

Ahhh...yes, the USPS is crying "wolf" again. :glare:

 

Maybe they could actually get out of the red if they figured out how to ship packages efficiently. (When I mail a package from Maine to New Hampshire and it ends up in a sorting facility in New Jersey, there is a problem.)

[FaithManor]

I would vote to double the cost of sending junk mail. :glare:

 

 

I vote for this!!!!!

 

Faith

[Lara in Colo]

they also have lots of problems with lawsuits. I have heard of people that have had more than one discrimination suit paid out by the PO against them and they are still working!!!

[Miss Peregrine]

Or how about not having elaborate campaigns or unveiling ceremonies for new stamps? They are they only ones who sell stamps. What is there to advertise?:glare:

[Denise in Florida]

This is not about their efficiency as a business or the quality of service. They are required to meet several accounting and funding limits that normal free-market businesses do not have.

 

They do not need a bailout they need relief from 'special' requirements imposed on them by Congress that are not required from any other business.

 

Net good to society of having a healthy postal service is huge. The politicians are using them as a hostage/pawn in a game of one upsmanship. It is a shame on the Congress not the USPS.

[Denise in Florida]

Or how about not having elaborate campaigns or unveiling ceremonies for new stamps? They are they only ones who sell stamps. What is there to advertise?:glare:

 

They make a tremendous profit on selling stamps to collectors. This is a big business and benefits both the hobbyists and the postal service. All those 'first day' releases are a legitimate hobby and investment. The postal service sells a stamp without the commensurate delivery of mail.

 

Like many public sector industries the postal service provides a public good and exists outside the free market system.

 

I am not an postal employee and I also get irritated by poor customer service, but that is not what the crisis is about.

[celticmom]

I would vote to double the cost of sending junk mail. :glare:

 

I love this idea.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

The Post Office is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but around here, it's the worst run "business" I've ever seen. The customer service is awful. The employees act like they are doing you some giant favor by handling your mail, answering your questions, etc. I get mail for people all over the neighborhood at my house, so I wonder where my mail must be going. I've even had mail for someone in another city delivered to my house. All the post offices I've been in don't seem to have efficient operating procedures, either. They seem to waste a great deal of time shuffling back and forth for things. I'm not surprised they are so cash strapped. I for one won't be sad to see the PO go. Let a private company take over mail delivery. I think we will be seeing a lot more electronic communication in the future and home delivery will become obsolete, anyway.

[Denise in Florida]

The Post Office is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't know how it is in the rest of the country, but around here, it's the worst run "business" I've ever seen. The customer service is awful. The employees act like they are doing you some giant favor by handling your mail, answering your questions, etc. I get mail for people all over the neighborhood at my house, so I wonder where my mail must be going. I've even had mail for someone in another city delivered to my house. All the post offices I've been in don't seem to have efficient operating procedures, either. They seem to waste a great deal of time shuffling back and forth for things. I'm not surprised they are so cash strapped. I for one won't be sad to see the PO go. Let a private company take over mail delivery. I think we will be seeing a lot more electronic communication in the future and home delivery will become obsolete, anyway.

 

 

I respectfully disagree :001_smile:

 

I totally get that they are inefficient and some places have poor customer service. But they are not a free-market business, they are a public good. They could be run better, definitely. But privatization isn't the answer anymore than it is the answer to public schools or utilities. There are marginals customer for the postal service that would be penalized and cut out of the market if it tries to run on a pure 'profit' system.

 

Most of their financial trouble come from special impositions by Congress. They must meet a benefit funding level that does not apply to anyone else.

 

As for customer service, that is luck of the draw. I had crappy service where I was before and have great service here. I don't know if there is any way to regulate service. Anybody with a good idea?

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I respectfully disagree :001_smile:

 

I totally get that they are inefficient and some places have poor customer service. But they are not a free-market business, they are a public good. They could be run better, definitely. But privatization isn't the answer anymore than it is the answer to public schools or utilities. There are marginals customer for the postal service that would be penalized and cut out of the market if it tries to run on a pure 'profit' system.

 

Most of their financial trouble come from special impositions by Congress. They must meet a benefit funding level that does not apply to anyone else.

 

As for customer service, that is luck of the draw. I had crappy service where I was before and have great service here. I don't know if there is any way to regulate service. Anybody with a good idea?

 

I understand what you are saying. However, it's hard to get me to want to rally support for the PO and plead with my congressman on their behalf when it sends me over the psycho edge every time I have to deal with the PO.

 

ETA: Kinda why I chose homeschooling- tired of dealing with public school ineptitude. :tongue_smilie: Hard to get me to vote to pass a levy when I know they're not going to improve anything with the money. :D

Edited August 9, 2012 by thescrappyhomeschooler

[Ibbygirl]

This is not about their efficiency as a business or the quality of service. They are required to meet several accounting and funding limits that normal free-market businesses do not have.

 

They do not need a bailout they need relief from 'special' requirements imposed on them by Congress that are not required from any other business.

 

Net good to society of having a healthy postal service is huge. The politicians are using them as a hostage/pawn in a game of one upsmanship. It is a shame on the Congress not the USPS.

 

I didn't realize Congress was doing this. It's starting to make more sense now. I've never understood why the PO was always so strapped for cash. They keep raising the postage all the time. The change in media mail rates has been HUGE. Ebay surely gives them tons of business they didn't have before so I couldn't figure out why they are always needing to raise the postage yet again. I figured it had something to do with pensions or something. I didn't know that about Congress. Why am I not surprised. :glare: As far as customer service, my local PO was always awful. The lines were always at least 45 minutes long and many times longer. You had to wait in line just to buy a stamp. I always hated going there and would try anything to avoid it. I have to say though that the last two times I've gone there they've made tremendous strides in getting the line down. I've gotten in and out of there the last two times I was there in 20 minutes so not bad at all. :)

Edited August 9, 2012 by Ibbygirl

[MollyAnn]

I receive poor customer service at many places.

I can't say that I have ever received poor customer service at the PO. Maybe a little indifference, but never outright rudeness. I have never had a single problem with mail/package delivery.

The PO would be fine financially if Congress would left the required amount they are forced to contribute to pensions. I am in no way against pensions, but the fact they are required to put money away for future employees is ridiculous.

[happi duck]

This is not about their efficiency as a business or the quality of service. They are required to meet several accounting and funding limits that normal free-market businesses do not have.

 

They do not need a bailout they need relief from 'special' requirements imposed on them by Congress that are not required from any other business.

 

Net good to society of having a healthy postal service is huge. The politicians are using them as a hostage/pawn in a game of one upsmanship. It is a shame on the Congress not the USPS.

 

Thank you for all of your great posts! I appreciate the USPS for many reasons.

[Denise in Florida]

I understand what you are saying. However, it's hard to get me to want to rally support for the PO and plead with my congressman on their behalf when it sends me over the psycho edge every time I have to deal with the PO.

 

ETA: Kinda why I chose homeschooling- tired of dealing with public school ineptitude. :tongue_smilie: Hard to get me to vote to pass a levy when I know they're not going to improve anything with the money. :D

 

I do understand, the place I lived before had crappy service.

 

As I understand it they are not asking for a bailout (or any additional tax money), they are asking for relief from a Congress imposed punitive accounting requirement.

 

Yep, public services (schools, utilities, postal service) can drive you crazy but the for-profit solution will only hurt the marginal customers and not guarantee a benefit to anyone.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I do understand, the place I lived before had crappy service.

 

As I understand it they are not asking for a bailout (or any additional tax money), they are asking for relief from a Congress imposed punitive accounting requirement.

 

Yep, public services (schools, utilities, postal service) can drive you crazy but the for-profit solution will only hurt the marginal customers and not guarantee a benefit to anyone.

 

Believe it or not, I could actually be considered a socialist on some days. :lol: I actually do usually vote for school levies because I figure if my electrical bill has shot up in the past 3 years, theirs must have, too. I have two POs equidistant from my house, and I aways say to the kids, "Which one should we go to, the really bad one or the really awful one?" And we never have the same delivery person two days in a row. My mail is always screwed up. I understand the benefits of public services and generally support them. My best friend's husband is a mail carrier, and he is a conscientious sort of fellow. I just think, regardless of the accounting requirement of Congress, the Post Office will eventually become a thing of the past.

[Denise in Florida]

Believe it or not, I could actually be considered a socialist on some days. :lol: I actually do usually vote for school levies because I figure if my electrical bill has shot up in the past 3 years, theirs must have, too. I have two POs equidistant from my house, and I aways say to the kids, "Which one should we go to, the really bad one or the really awful one?" And we never have the same delivery person two days in a row. My mail is always screwed up. I understand the benefits of public services and generally support them. My best friend's husband is a mail carrier, and he is a conscientious sort of fellow. I just think, regardless of the accounting requirement of Congress, the Post Office will eventually become a thing of the past.

 

:lol::lol: I laughed out loud to see that. We have an awful library here in town. The one we can walk to has the meanest librarians I have ever seen. There is a nicer one 5 miles away, but I prefer to walk.

 

I would take my girls and we would split up pick books and check out (they had their own cards after age 8). We would meet in the foyer and ask each other "Did anyone get bit?" :lol::lol:

 

I hope the P.O. doesn't go away. I have friends who depend on the mail plane in rural Alaska and my sister uses the P.O. in the Grand Canyon for all her mail order, copy machine and faxing needs.

 

There are folks out there for whom the postal service is their primary contact with the outside world.

[cdrumm4448]

The post office should be run like a normal business. No special accounting requirements and no bailouts. Either you break even and stay in business, or you don't and you're out of business. We'd live without a post office. My UPS guy is here every day, anyway.

[Amy in NH]

A Republican dominated Congress passed legislation several years ago to punish the Post Office employees' union that always assisted Democratic candidates.

 

The legislation required the post office to pre-fund all employee pensions for 75 years from current income. So pensions for employees who weren't even born yet had to be fully funded. Then they denied the post office the authority to close offices or take other money-saving measures.

 

Sad.

 

:iagree::iagree: They have somewhere around $54 BILLION sitting in this retirement account, which is to fund health care in the future. That surplus would have covered losses in harder times, but like Sharon posted a Republican Congress made them put it away for people who haven't been born yet.

[Serenade]

From what I understand though they don't make as much per piece as regular first class mail. I'd love it if they charged them more. Maybe I'd get less junk mail!

 

Amen to that!

[Denise in Florida]

The post office should be run like a normal business. No special accounting requirements and no bailouts. Either you break even and stay in business, or you don't and you're out of business. We'd live without a post office. My UPS guy is here every day, anyway.

 

We really, really wouldn't. They are not a normal business, they are a public good like a utility. The folks in remote areas depend upon the postal service in a way that the urban folks do not. Connecting all our citizens is an important function.

 

Minor example - my sister lives in the Grand Canyon, she does not have a street address (she lives full time in a travel trailer, her dh works in the canyon). When she orders things from Amazon or a catalog company they deliver to the post office (even when the delivery comes through UPS).

[ThisIsTheDay]

We just received a credit application from someone who wants to rent our old house. She works for the post office. She is not the postmistress (and in fact will be working at two different locations). Her salary: $84,000/year.

 

The post office is going broke because it is poorly managed. If a private company were managed the same way, it would have been out of business a long time ago (unless it was bailed out, but I suppose that's another post, lol).

[LaxMom]

I think there are quite a few changes that would help, not the least of which is Americans getting over our aversion to paying an appropriate amount for things.

 

I can send an envelope anywhere in the county in three days or less for, what, 47 cents? Or pay UPS or FedEx $15. FedEx ground shipping takes as long as USPS media mail, and costs much more.

 

Do they lose or damage things, occasionally? Sure. As do other carriers. I once dated a guy who had worked in a FedEx hub while he was in college. They used to use packages for batting practice. But the other carriers don't handle the little, fiddly pieces, like #10 envelopes or oddly shaped ones for greeting cards, or post cards, do they?

 

And their guarantees are about the same. For instance: UPS suspends its guarantee of timely delivery from Nov 1 - January, including pallets of freight, but they don't tell you that unless your pallet of labels has been waylaid (or lost outright) on its way to a customer for whom it has now caused production delays. And they charge extra for Saturday delivery. Why shouldn't the USPS?

 

We've been through three letter carriers in 13 years. Karen (our original carrier) is still there, she's just at the counter. JR and Tameka work different days and have been delivering to us for... 6 years? I may go into the PO 3 times a year, but Karen knows me by name, where I live, and my dog's name, too. That is a direct reflection on them, though, just as the surly counter staff and the letter carrier I had in another town who wouldn't empty the blue box on the corner for weeks, and who was eventually caught dumping mail in the storm drain.

 

Frankly, I think they could double the rates (or you know what, just make it an even buck, just to humor those of us who like round numbers), stop Saturday deliveries, and still be ahead of the private carriers.

Edited August 10, 2012 by MyCrazyHouse

[cdrumm4448]

From About.com US Government Info

 

"The correction required is obvious: Go bankrupt, suspend the union agreement/obligations, restructure to a rational business model with reasonable pay for the skills employed. Postal workers, due to unionization, are paid much more than the skills required. Where else can you get over $50k/year for delivering parcels? No wonder they are approaching bankruptcy - any pizza delivery service that paid this kind of salary to its largely unskilled delivery workforce would go bankrupt too. The only reason it is taking so long is that Congress keeps throwing good tax dollars at the problem and bailing out the USPS unions. It is time to let them fail and force them to restructure to a competitive model, with salaries and benefits set by free and open competition. Pay should be set by the salary required to get somebody with the right skills. Virtually anybody can drive a truck around and deliver mail - there is no rational reason to pay postal carriers anything close to what they are making."

[LaxMom]

My dad knows a guy who retired from UPS in his 50s and bought a Lamborghini. Just sayin'. ;)

[Pawz4me]

Apparently if someone delivers for the USPS and makes $50,000 they are being significantly underpaid when compared to UPS drivers. According tro this USA Today article (dated way back in 2003), salaries for UPS drivers go as high as $70,000 or more per year.

 

Link to USA Today article

 

And Wiki Answers has some newer information, but it's in the same range given the time difference.

 

I'm among those who believe the USPS does a great job considering the almost mind-boggling scope of what they're tasked with. It's a shame a silly directive from a Republican Congress holds them to a pension-funding standard so far above and beyond what most privately-held companies do.

Edited August 10, 2012 by Pawz4me

[mlktwins]

I used to audit the USPS. There is so much that goes into what they do that many don't think about or understand. I didn't have a clue as to all that was involved (just thinking of the equipment and software alone) in the process of delivering mail until I took that job. Unfortunatley, I was there when the anthrax scare (and deaths) occurred. A ton of money and time was invested in quickly developing and testing equipment that checked for biohazards. All that takes a lot of money. It's not just about the people that work in the individual post offices or the carriers.

[cdrumm4448]

Apparently if someone delivers for the USPS and makes $50,000 they are being significantly underpaid when compared to UPS drivers. According tro this USA Today article (dated way back in 2003), salaries for UPS drivers go as high as $70,000 or more per year.

 

Link to USA Today article

 

And Wiki Answers has some newer information, but it's in the same range given the time difference.

 

I'm among those who believe the USPS does a great job considering the almost mind-boggling scope of what they're tasked with. It's a shame a silly directive from a Republican Congress holds them to a pension-funding standard so far above and beyond what most privately-held companies do.

 

I'm curious to know if the repeated mention of partisan politics is allowed?

[nmoira]

I'm curious to know if the repeated mention of partisan politics is allowed?

 

At least she posted links to factual content, as opposed to quoting a fact-free and unsourced reader response (an essentially anonymous one at that) to an about.com article.

 

usgovinfo.about.com/u/ua/consumerawareness/Survive-Without-The-Postal-Service.htm

[Denise in Florida]

From About.com US Government Info

 

"The correction required is obvious: Go bankrupt, suspend the union agreement/obligations, restructure to a rational business model with reasonable pay for the skills employed. Postal workers, due to unionization, are paid much more than the skills required. Where else can you get over $50k/year for delivering parcels? No wonder they are approaching bankruptcy - any pizza delivery service that paid this kind of salary to its largely unskilled delivery workforce would go bankrupt too. The only reason it is taking so long is that Congress keeps throwing good tax dollars at the problem and bailing out the USPS unions. It is time to let them fail and force them to restructure to a competitive model, with salaries and benefits set by free and open competition. Pay should be set by the salary required to get somebody with the right skills. Virtually anybody can drive a truck around and deliver mail - there is no rational reason to pay postal carriers anything close to what they are making."

 

What's up with all the union hate lately? Not referring to cdrumm, referring to the About.com article. I am not a member of a union nor am I a 'Union Only" fan, but they have a legitimate place in the market. It is not that we pay union members too much, it is that minimum wage and low paying Wal-mart work is too little. Real income has fallen steadily for years.

 

Unions can be super annoying but they also watch out for the employee's work condition and real wages in a way that the employers do not.

[LaxMom]

I'm curious to know if the repeated mention of partisan politics is allowed?

 

Indeed, I am left wondering the same.

 

This is a discussion about the US Postal Service, not about who did or didn't do what with whichever fleck of legislation. It is clear that the Federal laws governing the USPS are no longer working, yes, but I don't really think there needs to be a partisan brawl to bring the autonomy in line with the responsibility.

[Denise in Florida]

I'm curious to know if the repeated mention of partisan politics is allowed?

 

I think we have been keeping it civil, but this is a good reminder. I have been careful to only mention Congress not a particular party.

 

I have enjoyed the discussion because the post office is one of those weird hybrid animals we have. Expected to run as a business but their prices are set, their locations/hours are directed and they have to request approval any changes. Approval from a congress (both sides) which does not act quickly in a business manner.

 

They also meet a need that is probably not for-profit viable, providing equal communications to everyone across the country. They are also an important part of our State department by taking passport applications even in the remotest areas where it would be a burden to travel to a government building.

 

Huh??? I never viewed myself as a postal service fan before. ha

[FaithManor]

I think we have been keeping it civil, but this is a good reminder. I have been careful to only mention Congress not a particular party.

 

I have enjoyed the discussion because the post office is one of those weird hybrid animals we have. Expected to run as a business but their prices are set, their locations/hours are directed and they have to request approval any changes. Approval from a congress (both sides) which does not act quickly in a business manner.

 

They also meet a need that is probably not for-profit viable, providing equal communications to everyone across the country. They are also an important part of our State department by taking passport applications even in the remotest areas where it would be a burden to travel to a government building.

 

Huh??? I never viewed myself as a postal service fan before. ha

 

 

:iagree: I am not a fan and yet see the need.

 

Now, if congress would just close our local post office where the postmistress sits there all day watching reality T.V. (it's the running joke in town and yes, formal complaints have been made) and doesn't sort mail for PO Boxes until 11:00 a.m. and then wears herself out in an hour so the packages don't get sorted until tomorrow or the next so that when the USPS website says your package was delivered today, it will actually be two days before she knows where it is and will require you PRINT the screen that says your package is there before she will go look for it, then I could REALLY get behind the postal service.

 

I have postal service envy. My MIL has superior postal delivery. We finally gave up and are having our packages and as much mail as possible sent to her house. Driving the six miles to pick it up (I wish we had her zip code - that is one top notch post office up there) is less angst than dealing with the queen postmistress of TLC (WHY DOES OUR POST OFFICE HAVE CABLE TV????). I don't mail anything here anymore...I drive to MIL's post office where I have first rate customer service with a smile.

 

Actually, the whole town is so mad about the situation here that everyone is finding ways to subvert it. I'm not the only one getting mail and packages at a relative's home in another zip code. We've also banded together as a township and agreed not to buy stamps from her or mail parcels from there.

 

Faith

[Nestof3]

As a regular shipper, I wish they would make printing labels online easier and have carriers pick up all packages except ones that would be too heavy for the carrier -- not just priority and up. Parcel post packages still cost a lot to ship.

 

I had to go the post office to ship a DVD for DVD Swap to an APO address. The employee automatically charged me Priority rate without asking what I wanted. The package weighed 8 ounces. She was then annoyed when I asked for first class.

 

I am sure this varies by location, but in my neighborhood alone, there are three carriers. We're talking about 15-20 streets -- 5-7 streets per carrier. That just doesn't seem very streamlined.

 

I find UPS drivers on a whole so much more pleasant and helpful. I haven't had horrible carriers, but there is a big difference.

[Ibbygirl]

What's up with all the union hate lately? Not referring to cdrumm, referring to the About.com article. I am not a member of a union nor am I a 'Union Only" fan, but they have a legitimate place in the market. It is not that we pay union members too much, it is that minimum wage and low paying Wal-mart work is too little. Real income has fallen steadily for years.

 

Unions can be super annoying but they also watch out for the employee's work condition and real wages in a way that the employers do not.

 

:iagree::iagree: Sometimes they can go overboard, but I do think they are a good thing overall. When my great grandfather first came to this country to work as a cigar maker there were no unions and the workers were horribly exploited. They pushed to get unions installed in that industry to protect the workers from sweat shop conditions. Many of them were killed because of it, but they did get the unions and it did make things better for the workers.

 

I think we have been keeping it civil, but this is a good reminder. I have been careful to only mention Congress not a particular party.

 

I have enjoyed the discussion because the post office is one of those weird hybrid animals we have. Expected to run as a business but their prices are set, their locations/hours are directed and they have to request approval any changes. Approval from a congress (both sides) which does not act quickly in a business manner.

 

They also meet a need that is probably not for-profit viable, providing equal communications to everyone across the country. They are also an important part of our State department by taking passport applications even in the remotest areas where it would be a burden to travel to a government building.

 

Huh??? I never viewed myself as a postal service fan before. ha

LOL Me neither, but you're convincing me! :p hehehe

[LaxMom]

As a regular shipper, I wish they would make printing labels online easier and have carriers pick up all packages except ones that would be too heavy for the carrier -- not just priority and up. Parcel post packages still cost a lot to ship.

 

I had to go the post office to ship a DVD for DVD Swap to an APO address. The employee automatically charged me Priority rate without asking what I wanted. The package weighed 8 ounces. She was then annoyed when I asked for first class.

 

I am sure this varies by location, but in my neighborhood alone, there are three carriers. We're talking about 15-20 streets -- 5-7 streets per carrier. That just doesn't seem very streamlined.

 

I find UPS drivers on a whole so much more pleasant and helpful. I haven't had horrible carriers, but there is a big difference.

I haven't had any problem printing postage/labels. I either do it straigh through Amazon, or through Stamps.com.

 

Here, I think the lack of package pickup is because I live in Mayberry and our carriers walk their route. With a bag. Except the rural carriers, of course; they deliver to your mailbox on the street.

 

And it's different than, say, a UPS route. The carriers have to stop at every address.

 

I do wish package shipping could be streamlined, though.