1. I have no problem with the cost of a First Class stamp. To send a letter across the country for 46 cents is a bargain in my book. Even if the price increases just about every year, it's still a bargain. Of course, many now use e-mail since we can be more likely to know it actually reaches the other party than we can by regular mail. And it takes seconds instead of two or three or sometimes 5 days.
2. The postal service does a splendid job in getting all those junk mailers to your mailbox on time. You know, those crappy newspaper-like pieces of junk that you either have to trash or recycle. The bulk mailers dream because they get reduced rates while your postage stamp keeps rising in cost. The postal service says bulk mailers keep them in business. So, if that's true, and most of us dislike the seemingly tons of crap mail we get monthly, maybe this dissolution issue isn't that bad after all.
3. The costs keep rising on Priority Mail packages, yet I get more misdirected packages than ever. Recently, I have had packages make it all the way across the United States to California, only to end up being sent to cities east of where they should have gone, when the address is clear on the package. That's incompetent #1. I know the routes are sorted by Incompetent #2 at the next post office but really, the mail person who puts it on the truck for delivery can't read and see it's the wrong city, so they carry it around all day? That's Incompetent #3. Then, they simply show no delivery update late at night, no transfer to the right post office by the next morning, nothing. So who knows where the package is now! When will the package arrive? Who knows. A day late, two days? Good question.
4. Example: Package shipped from Santa Ana to San Diego. Gets sent from Santa Ana to another post office north of there and then to Santa Clarita. Goes through Santa Clarita apparently twice and finally comes back south after two additional days. This should have been a one day shipment that took four days. More incompetence, but the Postal Service can blame it on either automated handling or incompetence. Guess which one they will choose?
5. I shipped a large envelope to New Hampshire and it went round and round at the same post office, coming up on the tracking system for 5 days as processed and then processed again and again. Finally after several phone calls (The offices neatly hide their numbers so you have to call an 800 number to be placed in touch) they were able to release it from its' carousel prison and the recipient got it over a week late. Great service.
6. When our usual carrier, who is excellent, is not on duty, the route is split among a group of other carriers to handle. Thus outgoing packages sit in the heat for ten hours awaiting pickup, since it seems the team of 6 extra carriers can't do what one carrier usually does, pick up by noon every day. Add some extra work to their schedule and the whole system breaks down, mail is picked up at least 6 hours later than usual. I wonder what the Easter candy looks like after that extra heat soak?
7. There are commercials on television sponsored by the National Letter Carriers about not letting the Postal Service stop Saturday delivery. A bit self-serving, don't you think? Same with businesses. Maybe if there was some efficiency in mail services and delivery, the Postal Service wouldn't be in the shape it is? Maybe if they didn't piss off those who ship regularly with them, and make us want to ship with another source, they could also improve their revenue stream?
8. The Postal Service whines about going bankrupt. Just like the automakers did, they want a bailout. But, don't expect any bailout of the Postal Service to ever be paid back. Because it will always be a losing proposition. The USPS couldn't possibly raise rates enough to keep themselves afloat, as businesses will continue to turn to lower cost shippers such as FedEx and UPS, among others. Businesses whine over possible lack of 6 day delivery but they could do fine in most cases with four days. Let them pay for special services such as 5 or 6 day delivery. Cut residential delivery to 3 days a week. Billions could be saved right there with little inconvenience to consumers.We don't need junk mail and magazines daily and most people now do their banking on line. Federal checks now require direct deposit, so no whining from federal benefits recipients about their checks being late either.
9. Rates charged are exorbitant for larger packages, forcing loyal customers to other services for many shipments. As an example, I shipped three boxes to Pennsylvania and Oklahoma and compared rates for three day delivery between my home ZIP code for USPS, FedEx and USPS for each piece. For three day service to Oklahoma, the USPS wanted $47.29 for one 12 lb box and FedEx charged $22.00. The second package the USPS wanted $28.84 Parcel Post, FedEx Ground shipped for $10.00. The third box, USPS wanted $20.20 Parcel Post and FedEx Ground shipped for $10.23. Less than half the price and arrived on time. Why pay over $50 more for USPS service?
I support the USPS and have for years. But it's growing tiresome having shipments misrouted and the same old lame excuses. The local post office apologizes but they usually are the scapegoat for a much bigger problem. Incompetency all along the line. Failure to force workers to perform. Those that do good work seem to be vilified and those that don't slide their way to a nice retirement.
I worked for the postal service 50 years ago. It was a wasteful service back then and I can only imagine how much that wastefulness has multiplied over all these years. If it is even anything like it was back then, no bailout will help, this year or any other. They are driving a vehicle that is far overdue for the crusher and the unions, I would guess, are driving it into the jaws of the shredder at breakneck speed. Unlike the automakers, the postal service has little new to offer or sell, no new glitzy models, no new speeds to thrill, not even a new found competence to razzle dazzle the old customers. Just the same old promise to deliver in rain, sleet, maybe in snow, and if the carrier can find the right house, or if the mail isn't misdirected. Quasi-governmental never works.
Just as a point...here;'s a recent timeline of mishandling.....
Priority Mail®
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Delivery status not updated
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March 27, 2013, 10:49 pm
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Expected Delivery By:
March 27, 2013
USPS Tracking / Delivery Confirmation™
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Out for Delivery
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March 27, 2013, 8:49 am
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EL CAJON, CA 92020
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Sorting Complete
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March 27, 2013, 8:39 am
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EL CAJON, CA 92020
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Arrival at Post Office
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March 27, 2013, 5:26 am
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EL CAJON, CA 92020
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Depart USPS Sort Facility
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March 27, 2013
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SAN DIEGO, CA 92199
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Processed through USPS Sort Facility
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March 27, 2013, 12:31 am
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SAN DIEGO, CA 92199
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Depart USPS Sort Facility
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March 26, 2013
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OPA LOCKA, FL 33054
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Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility
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March 26, 2013, 3:32 am
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OPA LOCKA, FL 33054
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Dispatched to Sort Facility
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March 25, 2013, 6:22 pm
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MIAMI, FL 33193
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Acceptance
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March 25, 2013, 1:27 pm
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MIAMI, FL 33193
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Electronic Shipping Info Received
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