"Save Postal Service" resources

I don't know how to put this without starting a flame war, but I suspect more people would be sympathetic to the post office if we hadn't been hearing stories for decades about what a horrible workplace it is ... and, if they had been even minimally responsive at the retail end for changes in customer service.

Most of my experience with actual USPS personnel throughout my life has been waiting in line, trying to get recourse for their mistakes, needing to buy stamps and being held up by a person at the head of the line getting a passport, watching three people (plus supervisor) bumble around slowly behind a partition while 25 customers wait for one sales clerk at lunchtime on a weekday, etc.

My mail carriers have always been great. I feel sorry for them, though.

Between the 24 hour kiosks and the fact they sell stamps at every Kroger and Meijer store, I haven’t waited in line at post office for 10 years. Also, who uses stamps any more :)

I did use the postal scale on a Saturday last winter to make sure my son’s Pinewood Derby car was regulation weight. Kept going back to the parking lot, do so carving and go back in.

"First-class mail volume, which has fallen 25 percent since 2006, is projected to drop another 30 percent by 2016."

In my opinon, that says it all, If you owned a business that lost 25% of its business, and was projected to loose another 30% what would you do? You would either cut costs, or find a new way to bring in additional revenue. Since its unlikely that USPS will ever find a way to increase revenue it seems like to me the only answer is to cut cost.

I'm not sure how this is a "Manufactured Crisis." They are losing their primary source of revenue, very quickly. That would be a crisis for any company.

Most but not all of the PO problems are based on an the PO having to fund their Pension out for decades. Blame Congress for that one.

If I remember my civic class correctly we are guaranteed local delivery no matter where we live. And a good share of this country is sparsely populated so that drives up costs as well.

We use the Wernert's PO, when it is not a ramming rod for cars, and have no problems except for the limited parking. We have found the clerks friendly and love our local postman.

Fortunately for you Jackie, someone put in another parking spot right in the lobby!

I'm a big fan of the do-it-yourself kiosks. I wish they would install one at Kenwood.

I support the USPS.

When I get credit card offers with those little "BUSINESS REPLY MAIL" postage-paid cards in them, I drop them in a mailbox with a fake name on them.

Sometimes I wonder how many American Express cards have been sent out to Heywood Jablome...

MtR

That is unfortunate for us. The building is not owned by the PO and it adds to the delay in getting it repaired.

But twice they have made it a drive in PO in last 2 years.

"They are losing their primary source of revenue, very quickly. That would be a crisis for any company."
Maybe this is not your thought process glasscityguy, but folks should not confuse any governmental organization with a company. Schools get this blame often too. Government should seek to provide outstanding service while controlling costs.
But USPS is not a company with a revenue crisis - its a service.

"But USPS is not a company with a revenue crisis - its a service."

And that universal service is guaranteed to all in the USA.

Government should seek to provide outstanding service while controlling costs.

Yeah, they're doing a bang-up job on both counts.

Postal Service reports $5.2 billion loss in 3rd quarter (2012)

Customer Service Scorecard--USPS

It may be a service, but that doesn't mean it makes sense we throw billions down a hole to keep it going or keep the Postal union partying like its 1999, 1984, or 1955.

Where I work part time I get a chance to see a variety of delivery services as well as bus services. I always enjoy the contrast between UPS and Fed Ex drivers who seem remarkably efficient versus the lethargically slow almost feeble drivers for USPS (United States Postal Service) and also the drivers I see for TARPS and TARTA.

Not all the USPS drivers or TARTA/TARPS drivers are slow and unmotivated but collectively there is just a huge difference when you observe them frequently.

As much as technology is a problem for USPS to compete, they are grossly overpaying their employees, too.

"But USPS is not a company with a revenue crisis - its a service."

"And that universal service is guaranteed to all in the USA."

I don't disagree that it is a service or that it is guaranteed, but does that service need to be at the same level that it exists today even as the volume continues to decrease? Does not sound like a responsible way to continue this service to me.

Danneskjold: Please tell us your logic in bringing up transporters of human beings (TARTA & TARPS) within a discussion of non-human cargo transporters (USPS & Fed Ex). Do you not see the difference - especially when it comes to transporting the disabled?

MrsP - I think what Dannes was trying to do is compare the work style of two taxpayer-funded entities vs two private entities.

What's the real cost of mailing an envelope from say my house in Toledo to a BFE farmhouse in North Dakota? I’m sure it’s WAY more than from say Toledo to home in Atlanta. Again, it’s really about urban areas supporting rural areas. It was set up to be like that.

I just did the UPS cost estimator of sending a package from Toledo to Baldwin, ND and it looks like a 1” cube that weighs .1lbs would cost almost $16 to send. It told me that a letter couldn’t be delivered via ground using UPS.

dell_diva: Thank you for the clarification.

3.1 billion out of the 5.2 billion loss are costs for future retiree health benefits, which are paid to traditional insurers and HMOs. Sounds like a party to me.

Golly...only a $2 billion loss (not counting retiree health benefits). Why, they're practically breaking even <sarcasm>.

You take all costs into consideration, not just the ones you wish weren't there. What is so unreasonable about this? Service costs to BFE and servicing future retirees healthcare...add the numbers up and figure it out.

I'm not saying it's acceptable, but when 60% of the loss is coming from costs that are basically impossible to control, it's not a doomsday situation. Where is the outrage over the health benefit costs for all of the other federal employees?

Yeah, things need to change, and they will, it just takes time. They will raise retirement age, reduce wages and adjust contribution for new employees, and likely reduce service for rural areas.

5 billion is such a small portion (0.03%) of the national debt, that complaining about it is a waste of time. I can't wait until the forced spending cuts go into effect in January. Both parties need a wake up call and this hyper-partisan political environment needs to end.

"Both parties need a wake up call and this hyper-partisan political environment needs to end."

I agree!