USPS should just die already

[rudeguy]

I am horrified at the way in which some U.S. folks hate public services like the USPS and praise private initiatives like FedEx and UPS. No matter how slow the USPS is, it's a vital service for the country. You're way too quick to want to dismantle it.

Boggles the mind, really...

Because if something sucks, we say it sucks? Instead of pretending everything is ok?

Soviet Russia misses you.

 

[steppinthrax]

I am horrified at the way in which some U.S. folks hate public services like the USPS and praise private initiatives like FedEx and UPS. No matter how slow the USPS is, it's a vital service for the country. You're way too quick to want to dismantle it.

Boggles the mind, really...

Although I don't totally agree with being negative on public service. Public service is immune to competition. Therefore they can run it any which way they want being as slow and offering the most shitty service possible.

Case-in-point: Motor vehicle administration: They are the only administration authorized to register/title vehicles. Known for being shitty and providing shity service. I guarantee you if it was privatized you will see massive improvements. There basically would be not building it would all be done online!!!!! It's all political. The shitty state gov workers need their mediocre jobs.

 

[steppinthrax]

This article describes what would happen if the USPS dies.....

http://www.citywatchla.com/8box-left/8575-if-the-u-s-postal-service-goes-here-s-what-goes-with-it

 

[eng2d2]

Although I don't totally agree with being negative on public service. Public service is immune to competition. Therefore they can run it any which way they want being as slow and offering the most shitty service possible.

Case-in-point: Motor vehicle administration: They are the only administration authorized to register/title vehicles. Known for being shitty and providing shity service. I guarantee you if it was privatized you will see massive improvements. There basically would be not building it would all be done online!!!!! It's all political. The shitty state gov workers need their mediocre jobs.

That was the old days. Nowadays they are not immune to competition. Thats why their price point is really good

 

[steppinthrax]

That was the old days. Nowadays they are not immune to competition. Thats why their price point is really good

They are not immune to competition due to one reason

The Internet

What used to go through the USPS now goes through 1's and 0's. They are essentially being CUT OUT. They built an infrastructure on the notion that the pop of the US will keep increasing and nothing is going to stop the mail systems.... As a result they deliver less and less and less and have less of a purpose.

 

[Engineer]

Again, good luck in the Constitutional amendment thing and getting rid of the USPS. Try mailing a letter with UPS or Fedex to any of the 50 states for under $0.50 and see how that goes (yes, I know much of letters have been replaced with e-mial, etc).

 

[ElFenix]

YEP,

I believe an act of Congress keeps USPS afloat, however if it were to go away USPS and FedEx will capitalize on this. They will likely try to provide a service for small parcels. They will also charge MONTHLY to deliver these simple envelopes etc...

You will find innovative features. Example, there was a small company a few years ago that offered a service to forward all your junk mail to them. They would in turn scan it into a flatbed and email it to you. You could access all your junk mail through a account portal.

This of course threatened the USPS, they took the business into a room and told them to stop what they were doing!!!!!!!

congress is trying to kill the USPS. not in an overt fashion, mind you, but it is.

 

[Engineer]

congress is trying to kill the USPS. not in an overt fashion, mind you, but it is.

Yea, 75 years of prefunded pension requirements will do that for you.

 

[LTC8K6]

Recently I sent a Priority Mail package to Texas. It went from here to Philly to a sort facility in Nashua, NH. Then finally to Houston and then the destination. A thousand miles in the wrong direction? WTF?

A fellow in Western PA sent me payment for an item. He sent me the tracking number so the next day I sent the item as I knew him from the board where I had sold the item. He received the item in two days, it took six for me to receive the payment. And my package had first gone to Philly again.

Finally, I sent a package to a gent in the UK. Went from here to Philly right? Hell no, it went to Chicago first, then to London! At least they didn't lose it.

Those packages went via the most efficient routes, despite it seeming odd to you.

There are only 5 USPS international hubs, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco, for example. You may think it was more efficient to go through New york, but there are dozens of reasons why it might be better to go through Chicago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service#Sorting_and_delivery_process

People always seem to think their letter or package alone should determine the route taken by the truck or plane full of mail. :biggrin:

 

[eng2d2]

They are not immune to competition due to one reason

The Internet

What used to go through the USPS now goes through 1's and 0's. They are essentially being CUT OUT. They built an infrastructure on the notion that the pop of the US will keep increasing and nothing is going to stop the mail systems.... As a result they deliver less and less and less and have less of a purpose.

Actually the bulk of their business in the past comes from bulk mailing. Thejunk mail you get.

 

[LTC8K6]

Again, good luck in the Constitutional amendment thing and getting rid of the USPS. Try mailing a letter with UPS or Fedex to any of the 50 states for under $0.50 and see how that goes (yes, I know much of letters have been replaced with e-mial, etc).

UPS and Fedex and DHL carry a lot of stuff for the USPS anyway.

 

[mmntech]

They are not immune to competition due to one reason

The Internet

What used to go through the USPS now goes through 1's and 0's. They are essentially being CUT OUT. They built an infrastructure on the notion that the pop of the US will keep increasing and nothing is going to stop the mail systems.... As a result they deliver less and less and less and have less of a purpose.

E-Billing will be the final nail in the coffin. Even a lot of publishing companies are delivering magazines on their own without going through the post office. Only thing I ever get is bills and junk. Maybe a few cards at birthdays and Christmas.

Postal service is being scaled back considerably here, as Canada Post is bleeding money. Posties are being eliminated through attrition (retirement) with no new hires. Door-to-door is being replaced with community boxes. I think they're only going to deliver three days a week now too. I could be wrong about that last one.

 

[steppinthrax]

E-Billing will be the final nail in the coffin. Even a lot of publishing companies are delivering magazines on their own without going through the post office. Only thing I ever get is bills and junk. Maybe a few cards at birthdays and Christmas.

Postal service is being scaled back considerably here, as Canada Post is bleeding money. Posties are being eliminated through attrition (retirement) with no new hires. Door-to-door is being replaced with community boxes. I think they're only going to deliver three days a week now too. I could be wrong about that last one.

The only bill I pay through my two mortgages (two houses), electric bill, car insurance and every other bill I have is the Condo Associ for my other rental property. Yep the E-billing is killing them.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Because if something sucks, we say it sucks? Instead of pretending everything is ok?

Soviet Russia misses you.

Your username defines you in more ways than you can imagine, and establishes the limits to your intelligence.

 

[Genx87]

Again, good luck in the Constitutional amendment thing and getting rid of the USPS. Try mailing a letter with UPS or Fedex to any of the 50 states for under $0.50 and see how that goes (yes, I know much of letters have been replaced with e-mial, etc).

First class mail was given monopoly status to USPS. Fedex or UPS couldnt take that mail to the mailbox if they wanted(and I am not sure they want to).

 

[TwiceOver]

I prefer FedEx, but lately USPS has been the better buy.

 

[ElFenix]

Yea, 75 years of prefunded pension requirements will do that for you.

it's not just that, though. it takes an act of congress for the USPS to change its buiness model. so, unlike UPS, it couldn't get into logistics. it couldn't get into secure and confirmed email solutions. it can't change its pricing with any sort of ease. it can't close or move locations. USPS has been trying to close a couple branches in houston for years now.

 

[Grooveriding]

This post is inane. National mail delivery services are vital, you do not want it to get in the hands of private industry because you'll be getting bent over on pricing and wind up with less service.

USPS sounds just like Canada Post; a hell of a lot cheaper to ship with and a less robust tracking system with packages that sometimes don't make it on time.

If you want real time tracking and guaranteed delivery dates that are always kept then use UPS or Fedex. There is a reason a package that you can ship with USPS will only cost you $30 compared to $150 with UPS. Expecting the same quality of service as the $150 delivery fee for the $30 fee is ridiculous.

 

[steppinthrax]

it's not just that, though. it takes an act of congress for the USPS to change its buiness model. so, unlike UPS, it couldn't get into logistics. it couldn't get into secure and confirmed email solutions. it can't change its pricing with any sort of ease. it can't close or move locations. USPS has been trying to close a couple branches in houston for years now.

They don't have to get rid of it "per-se". They just do whatever they can do to force it into a grinding halt. And example was when Bush forced them the pre-fund retirement.

 

[slag]

I don't like being told something has shipped just because somebody printed a label.

Totally agree. The item hasn't shipped until it passes through usps, ups, fedex doors and is loaded on the truck. Then it has shipped.

 

[Humpy]

I keep the recycle bin right next to the mail box. I jokingly asked the mailman if he would just put it right in the bin for me. He mad. Mumbled something about mailboxes only, which gave me a pretty good idea of just cutting a slot and getting one of those US Mail stickers for the bin.

If I could ensure everything I order online was sent to me through UPS/FedEx I would just yank the mailbox and put it in the pile with the phone line, answering machine, cable TV, and all the other crap I no longer use.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

This post is inane. National mail delivery services are vital, you do not want it to get in the hands of private industry because you'll be getting bent over on pricing and wind up with less service.

USPS sounds just like Canada Post; a hell of a lot cheaper to ship with and a less robust tracking system with packages that sometimes don't make it on time.

If you want real time tracking and guaranteed delivery dates that are always kept then use UPS or Fedex. There is a reason a package that you can ship with USPS will only cost you $30 compared to $150 with UPS. Expecting the same quality of service as the $150 delivery fee for the $30 fee is ridiculous.

You're using reason and critical thinking in a troll thread...

 

[zinfamous]

Their delivery service is still probably the best in the world.

Everything else about their organization, yeah...pretty much sucks.

 

[zinfamous]

Because if something sucks, we say it sucks? Instead of pretending everything is ok?

Soviet Russia misses you.

You say it sucks because you like perspective on other similar services. USPS is truly phenomenal compared to almost any national delivery service.

And, as others have said, allowing this service to be fully privatized is one of the worst ideas possible.

 

[cronos]

I love USPS. Because of USPS when I ordered my Amazon package on Friday evening, I get it on Sunday :wub: