tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post4432178961724668800..comments2024-03-27T15:44:43.564-08:00Comments on What Do I Know?: What's Going to Happen When the Post Office Dies?Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-62146239797208151152011-10-22T17:56:51.634-08:002011-10-22T17:56:51.634-08:00ever tried living on 2 days a week paycheck?ever tried living on 2 days a week paycheck?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-42400948640454397842011-01-23T14:49:16.996-09:002011-01-23T14:49:16.996-09:00After returning from a 3-day trip to find a pile o...After returning from a 3-day trip to find a pile of bills, junk-mail, and one magazine in my post box... I had another thought on this subject.<br /><br />For each of those three days, the USPS diligently visited my mailbox, at no cost to me, despite me being out of town. They did the same numerous times last year, despite my dozen similar multi-day trips, plus 6 of the 7 days when I when away for a full week.<br /><br />Which for me begot the question, do I really need mail service 6 days a week? Could I live with 3? Or 2?<br /><br />I can't imagine any common scenarios where my life would change if my mail was only delivered on Mondays and Thursdays. Anything of more urgency, and people send me letters via FedEx.<br /><br />So how's this for a solution to keeping the USPS in business. Drop home delivery to 2 days per week for free. Anyone who'd like more frequent service can pay $15/month.<br /><br />$15/month is less than the weekly service to pick up trash and recycling. It's less than the monthly standard Netflix service (which is my biggest use of USPS these days).<br /><br />That should fix the USPS funding gap for a few decades, until paper-based mail is completely archaic and unecessary.Lunarmobiscuithttp://twitter.com/lunarmobiscuitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-78185870168154674252011-01-18T20:42:36.505-09:002011-01-18T20:42:36.505-09:00I hand write about six letters a month-- I watch t...I hand write about six letters a month-- I watch the USPS shut down services and I cringe because I love letter writing as an art. Sadly, it will probably go the way of the carrier pigeon. I think that FEDEX and some of those places will replace it at a higher expense. How much am I willing to spend to send my letters?Tea N. Crumpethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16399889311375477109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-48616250357574648952011-01-18T16:26:16.085-09:002011-01-18T16:26:16.085-09:00If you look back at the 19th century, mail deliver...If you look back at the 19th century, mail delivery (in cities) was not daily, but several times per day. I've seen it described as up to 5 times per day.<br /><br />And that was before anyone had invented the junk-mail flyer, and when Sears was one of the new catalogs. You posit express service once subsidizing daily delivery, but today it's junk-mail that pays most of the USPS bills.<br /><br />My expectation is that we'll see USPS drop Saturday, then drop Tuesday and Thursday, and eventually drop home delivery altogether.<br /><br />The only change I can imagine to change that path is to find the next "junk-mail" cash cow. Perhaps the next "Netflix", but with a product that can't easily be sent over the Internet.Lunarmobiscuithttp://twitter.com/lunarmobiscuitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-11183339961367573182011-01-18T13:25:30.035-09:002011-01-18T13:25:30.035-09:00Anon 10:51am - Yes it's Russian Jack Station o...Anon 10:51am - Yes it's Russian Jack Station on Northway. And they used have good service. <br /><br />Anon 11:33 thanks for your contribution explaining things. I'll put the Local Clerks Union on my todo list.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-80086457480976207282011-01-18T11:33:31.827-09:002011-01-18T11:33:31.827-09:00The reason the service is declining is because hig...The reason the service is declining is because high level management is trying to kill the USPS. The objective is full privatization. They are not replacing people who retire. They are shutting early on Saturday. The biggest profit day. Management is extremely top heavy.<br /><br />Perhaps if you interview a member of the Local Clerk's Union you will understand the situation better. You may also be interested to know that FEDX uses the USPS to deliver a large portion of their packages. <br />Peace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-63064338451292609632011-01-18T10:51:48.685-09:002011-01-18T10:51:48.685-09:00That looks like the Northway PO. They have some go...That looks like the Northway PO. They have some good people but several retired year before last and they were not replaced. Even during Christmas it was not unusual to have only 1 clerk. Sometimes I feel sorry for the clerks having to put up with people that are not prepared when they arrive and have to be instructed in how to mail things.<br />I'm afraid it is only going to get worseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com