USPS proposing to cut Saturday deliveries

[shilala]

Originally Posted by chenvt

I'll still use them because they're the most cost effective.. However, they need to treat it more like a private corporation than a government entity. For example, stop making it free for federal use. Federal agencies get budgets, make them pay for their use of the postal service. Non profits too.

The USPS is a private corporation. Actually, it's a public corporation. Or neither. It's the only entity that operates the way they are forced to operate (that I know of), and it's way screwed up. But it works.
The goverment does not own them, but they are forced to operate by guidelines that are set by the government.
They take those guidelines and do the best they can to not turn a profit. For many, many years they operated in the black, mainly because of their volume. That surplus kept rate hikes from happening. With the advent of email, they've taken huge shortages in volume and have really wrestled to stay solvent. The rise in fuel costs put a beating on them, too.
Problem is, when they need a rate hike, they have to go to Congress to get it approved. Usually it's too late, because they have to operate to a non-profit budget, and they're always heavily in the red before they can get a rate increase passed. Then they need another rate increase by the time the last one passes.
The good thing about this structure is that the same congress who dictates the crappy rules to which they operate also happen to be the ones who decide if there's mail on Saturdays.
Right there is your answer as to whether it'll ever happen. I can't imagine there's a congress member who's willing to vote that they don't get mail on Saturday.
I'll put ten bucks on Saturday mail staying just the way it is.

Personally, less bills coming in on Saturday means less headaches for the weekend. I agree with several posters' opinions in this thread.
Mainly:
1. General cuts in federal spending are paramount at the moment, we are going broke faster than a crack addict.
2. Why in the hell Government agencies get free postage is beyond me. Congressional Members send out hundreds of thousands if not millions of pieces of Junk mail requesting donations or support on our dime. That needs to go.
3. It is still a very cost effective way of shipping items but the service is generally worse than most other companies who have a vested interest in return customers.

However, that being said the 3 Billion that would save the USPS by cutting saturday mail is a drop in the bucket. From what I have read the USPS is running a 7+ billion dollar short fall this year. So clearly there is more that needs to be done.

[CigarNut]

I'm not happy about losing Saturday delivery and I certainly have my compliants about the USPS, but if you look at the shear volume of mail (letters, packages) that they move, I think the prices and service are pretty good.

Could they be better you bet? Could UPS or FedEx do a better job? Maybe, but the fact is UPS, FedEx and others are not allowed to compete with the USPS for letters.

Instead of griping about the loss of Saturday delivery, higher costs of USPS, or poor service from the USPS you should gripe at your congressional representatives and your senators. Get the government out of the mail delivery service. Allow the USPS to operate the same as any public corporation (sell stock, even) and allow full competition.

The government could even get out of the postage stamp business (most people pay cash for mail these days), but that is a rant for another time.

** End of Rant **

[CasaDooley]

I like USPS. Click -N- Ship online, free boxes (they will even deliver them to your house), fairly inexpensive, delivery conformation and for me have always proved to be faster then UPS or FedEx. I'll miss Saturday deliveries, but I can live with that.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by CasaDooley

I like USPS. Click -N- Ship online, free boxes (they will even deliver them to your house), fairly inexpensive, delivery conformation and for me have always proved to be faster then UPS or FedEx. I'll miss Saturday deliveries, but I can live with that.

I am quite happy with the service of the USMail. Sure I have had my problems with lost packages and late deliveries, but dropping Saturday deliveries is hardly the end of the world.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by bobarian

I am quite happy with the service of the USMail. Sure I have had my problems with lost packages and late deliveries, but dropping Saturday deliveries is hardly the end of the world.

[drob]

Originally Posted by bobarian

but dropping Saturday deliveries is hardly the end of the world.

Except to the thousands (we're talking 5 digits) who will become unemployed.

[CasaDooley]

Originally Posted by drob

Except to the thousands (we're talking 5 digits) who will become unemployed.

I believe Bob was referring to, as I was, those of us that look forward to Saturday deliveries of "certain items". I am sure all of us hate to see anyone lose their jobs or suffer a reduction of income due to budget cuts.

[etznova]

Originally Posted by CasaDooley

I like USPS. Click -N- Ship online, free boxes (they will even deliver them to your house), fairly inexpensive, delivery conformation and for me have always proved to be faster then UPS or FedEx. I'll miss Saturday deliveries, but I can live with that.

Its funny you say that because the USPS is UPS's largest customer how else do you think your overnight and two day letters and packages get accross the country. the USPS doen't have planes so thats why they use UPS. So just a little fyi those that avoid UPS and go with USPS are more than likely still using UPS.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by CasaDooley

I like USPS. Click -N- Ship online, free boxes (they will even deliver them to your house), fairly inexpensive, delivery conformation and for me have always proved to be faster then UPS or FedEx. I'll miss Saturday deliveries, but I can live with that.

Originally Posted by bobarian

I am quite happy with the service of the USMail. Sure I have had my problems with lost packages and late deliveries, but dropping Saturday deliveries is hardly the end of the world.

I'm with the two wise men above.

[CasaDooley]

Originally Posted by etznova

Its funny you say that because the USPS is UPS's largest customer how else do you think your overnight and two day letters and packages get accross the country. the USPS doen't have planes so thats why they use UPS. So just a little fyi those that avoid UPS and go with USPS are more than likely still using UPS.

PM sent

Originally Posted by CigarNut

Could they be better you bet? Could UPS or FedEx do a better job? Maybe, but the fact is UPS, FedEx and others are not allowed to compete with the USPS for letters.

Could UPS or FedEx do a better job with letters and junk mail? I'm not so sure about that. In fact, Im no economist but maybe it's the mail and junk mail that is killing the USPS. it seems to me it's a lot more cost effective to deliver one package to one address that cost $14.00 to ship, than 30 letters to 15 different addresses for about the same price (at the cost of a 44 cent stamp)

[captain53]

It will not save a dime as they will simply piss it off some other way but I could care less about Saturday delivery. 80% of the mail I get is junk that goes to the grinder unopened and the balance is mostly bills which I don't want to see on Saturday anyway.

Help us all by making the junk mail the same price as 1st class. I don't know about everyone else but I get no less than 12 or 15 "postcard" type advertisements a week in addition to all the 3rd class envelopes all of which go in the grinder unread.

[Wharf Rat]

Originally Posted by Christoff

Personally, less bills coming in on Saturday means less headaches for the weekend. I agree with several posters' opinions in this thread.
Mainly:
1. General cuts in federal spending are paramount at the moment, we are going broke faster than a crack addict.

Its not Federal spending... Check Shilala's post. They're controlled but not supported by Washington.

But, they are rotten marketers. Saturday delivery is their only unique service. Take that away and they've got nada.

[ucla695]

Originally Posted by shilala

The USPS is a private corporation. Actually, it's a public corporation. Or neither. It's the only entity that operates the way they are forced to operate (that I know of), and it's way screwed up. But it works.
The goverment does not own them, but they are forced to operate by guidelines that are set by the government.
They take those guidelines and do the best they can to not turn a profit. For many, many years they operated in the black, mainly because of their volume. That surplus kept rate hikes from happening. With the advent of email, they've taken huge shortages in volume and have really wrestled to stay solvent. The rise in fuel costs put a beating on them, too.
Problem is, when they need a rate hike, they have to go to Congress to get it approved. Usually it's too late, because they have to operate to a non-profit budget, and they're always heavily in the red before they can get a rate increase passed. Then they need another rate increase by the time the last one passes.
The good thing about this structure is that the same congress who dictates the crappy rules to which they operate also happen to be the ones who decide if there's mail on Saturdays.
Right there is your answer as to whether it'll ever happen. I can't imagine there's a congress member who's willing to vote that they don't get mail on Saturday.
I'll put ten bucks on Saturday mail staying just the way it is.

Antiquated business model. I can't imagine that Congress will take away their own free postage either. Kinda like voting to give yourself a pay cut...hardly ever happens.....especially in D.C.

[e-man67]

I had several small issues but all got taken care of in the end with USPS...I just don't wanna see folks losing jobs.

[markem]

I've heard that bulk mailings and other services to companies subsidize the rest of the operations. Anyone know how true this is? Based on my mailbox, there are many less mass mailings and catalogs being sent around in the past 2 years, which could help explain the large shortfall.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by markem

I've heard that bulk mailings and other services to companies subsidize the rest of the operations. Anyone know how true this is? Based on my mailbox, there are many less mass mailings and catalogs being sent around in the past 2 years, which could help explain the large shortfall.

You also have a good percentage of people paying bills through the web nowadays too, which I am sure hurts the bottom line for them also.
I can't wait until we have portals like the Jetsons so when we order cigars on the web , they show up roughly 30 seconds later. I would be so broke if it worked that way. Would smoking your sticks as soon as they arrive than be referred to ROOTP?(Right Out Of The Portal) (insert banned smiley)