USPS proposing to cut Saturday deliveries

[e-man67]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/02/news...dex.htm?hpt=T2

than sucks...

[elderboy02]

I like getting stuff on Saturdays.

[kenstogie]

Does this mean no delivery's of Cigars on Saturday??

[e-man67]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

Does this mean no delivery's of Cigars on Saturday??

Of anything....

[NCRadioMan]

They talk about it every few years. This time, looks like they may do it.


http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...highlight=USPS

[GreekGodX]

I heard something about this before. Definitely sucks but makes sense financially for the PO.

[elderboy02]

Screw the USPS. When I buy stuff online and have the option to choose between USPS and UPS/Fedex, I pick USPS b/c of the Saturday delivery. If they eliminate Sat delivery, I will support UPS/FedEx b/c they actually let you track items.

[e-man67]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Screw the USPS. When I buy stuff online and have the option to choose between USPS and UPS/Fedex, I pick USPS b/c of the Saturday delivery. If they eliminate Sat delivery, I will support UPS/FedEx b/c they actually let you track items.

Shut up Dan!

[Razorhog]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Screw the USPS. When I buy stuff online and have the option to choose between USPS and UPS/Fedex, I pick USPS b/c of the Saturday delivery. If they eliminate Sat delivery, I will support UPS/FedEx b/c they actually let you track items.

I think it's pathetic that the USPS continually takes a loss. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised because it is run by the government. But damn, someone needs to whip it into shape. (I support the USPS and have relatives who work for them. Still find it pathetic.)

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by Razorhog

I think it's pathetic that the USPS continually takes a loss. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised because it is run by the government. But damn, someone needs to whip it into shape. (I support the USPS and have relatives who work for them. Still find it pathetic.)

THAT folks is what happens when you have too much regulations. Any business, if they are to survive, MUST have the flexibility to change their business model as the years and times change. UPS does it, FEDEX does it, the number one rule of business is innovate and change, or DIE. Only problem is, the USPS is burdened with too much red tape that prevents it from changing very easily. Thus you get exactly what you have here.

[kenstogie]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Screw the USPS. When I buy stuff online and have the option to choose between USPS and UPS/Fedex, I pick USPS b/c of the Saturday delivery. If they eliminate Sat delivery, I will support UPS/FedEx b/c they actually let you track items.

Gotta agree with Dan on this one.

[Mikes]

Originally Posted by elderboy02

Screw the USPS. When I buy stuff online and have the option to choose between USPS and UPS/Fedex, I pick USPS b/c of the Saturday delivery. If they eliminate Sat delivery, I will support UPS/FedEx b/c they actually let you track items.

AMEN! I don't know how the USPS stays afloat with the crap ass service they provide. At least when I go into a UPS or Fed Ex store I am treated in a courteous manner by someone who cares and is not just counting the days till they retire and draw a pension. I can care less about Saturday delivery, and can't wait to see what they decide to 'cut' next year when this doesn't work and or what kinda hand out they get to stay open.

[Kreth]

I'll expect to see a 16% reduction in fees to reflect the reduction in service.
Posted via Mobile Device

[GreekGodX]

I pick USPS because they are cheaper for the most part. This Saturday delivery loss doesn't bother me.

[ucla695]

I'll still use the USPS, but someone has to go in there and trim the fat to whip it back into fiscal shape.

[chenvt]

Originally Posted by ucla695

I'll still use the USPS, but someone has to go in there and trim the fat to whip it back into fiscal shape.

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.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

I heard something about this before. Definitely sucks but makes sense financially for the PO.

It's no biggie to me. If it saves money, then go for it. I wish the rest of the Federal gov't would try to make some cuts.

[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 **