The USPS

[MU82]

I've long been impressed by the service that USPS provides -- delivery to most addresses in the country -- for a relatively low price. And I remain so. Yes, I know it's gotten more expensive, but hand delivering an envelope to pretty much any location in the country for $0.73? Are you freaking kidding me? It really is kind of amazing to me. Room for improvement? Absolutely. But still amazing.

That said, I recently had a situation where it took 21 days for a letter to be delivered to an address about eight miles away.

I agree with every word of this.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

So, you're good with the USPS, where fees go up 2-3x yearly and employees can't read an address and pass a drug test...during the hiring process, hey?

My grandfather was a mailman.  He could read,  as far as I know didn't do drugs and he was a veteran who served our country you a$$hat.

I'm with Still on this one. Paying .73 to get a letter hand delivered anywhere in the country is incredible value. Are there improvements that could be made? Absolutely.  Are there very legitimate reasons why those improvements aren't happening? Also absolutely

[4everwarriors]

So, I'm an ass hole because I criticize today's USPS for what it is? Good to know, hey?

[Hards Alumni]

So, I'm an ass hole because I criticize today's USPS for what it is? Good to know, hey?

No, there are many other reasons.

[wadesworld]

Need to keep those USPS workers out of Mequon.

[cheebs09]

I remember last presidential election we got mail many hours later each day and the main reason was sorting through all the political fliers.

[jficke13]

This thread's bait.

[Skatastrophy]

I get mail 3 times a week now. Dejoy is gutting the USPS, I don't get why he hasn't been replaced.

[Pakuni]

So, I'm an ass hole because I criticize today's USPS for what it is? Good to know, hey?

Pretty far down the list, tbh.

[StillAWarrior]

Paying .73 to get a letter hand delivered anywhere in the country is incredible value.

Full disclosure: I had to use google to find out what a stamp costs. If I'd been forced to guess, I probably would have guessed about $0.80. Years ago my mother-in-law bought a ridiculous number of "forever" stamps and we still have a sizable stock. We send letters so infrequently, I imagine they'll last for years.

[Jockey]

Full disclosure: I had to use google to find out what a stamp costs. If I'd been forced to guess, I probably would have guessed about $0.80. Years ago my mother-in-law bought a ridiculous number of "forever" stamps and we still have a sizable stock. We send letters so infrequently, I imagine they'll last for years.

Because I sell a lot of individual cards, I purchase rolls is stamps - they cost about $35 per hundred, so 35 cents apiece makes it easy to offer free shipping which is a huge advantage.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

So, I'm an ass hole because I criticize today's USPS for what it is? Good to know, hey?

Read what you wrote again and report back.

[Jay Bee]

I like it when my mailman comes early (pawz). Current guy is usually dropping off his load by 11a, which is great. I believe he may smoke a little weed, but bruh gets the job done

Ps - fed govt does almost everything inefficiently and not well. USPS just another example

[lawdog77]

I like it when my mailman comes early (pawz). Current guy is usually dropping off his load by 11a, which is great. I believe he may smoke a little weed, but bruh gets the job done

Ps - fed govt does almost everything inefficiently and not well. USPS just another example

The USPS is actually pretty efficient compared to other governmental agencies. 146 billion mail items per year. Very low percentage are actually lost.

[Viper]

No.  The government isn't a business and shouldn't be run like one.

there are governmental entities that might benefit from being managed like a private business, i.e. USPS. Ironically, govt as a whole over employs while the USPS is in many regions understaffed.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

there are governmental entities that might benefit from being managed like a private business, i.e. USPS.

So what exactly would you do to run the USPS like a private business?  This isn't meant as criticism - I just don't know what that looks like. Because a company like UPS or FedEx can focus entirely on high margin services (package delivery, etc.) while the USPS is mandated to deliver anything to anywhere.

[Viper]

Because I sell a lot of individual cards, I purchase rolls is stamps - they cost about $35 per hundred, so 35 cents apiece makes it easy to offer free shipping which is a huge advantage.

…so, discounted buying bulk? USPS stamps? If that’s true no wonder the USPS is bleeding out.

[Jay Bee]

Because I sell a lot of individual cards, I purchase rolls is stamps - they cost about $35 per hundred, so 35 cents apiece makes it easy to offer free shipping which is a huge advantage.

What kind of cards are these?  Very odd

[Viper]

So what exactly would you do to run the USPS like a private business?  This isn't meant as criticism - I just don't know what that looks like. Because a company like UPS or FedEx can focus entirely on high margin services (package delivery, etc.) while the USPS is mandated to deliver anything to anywhere.

my neighbor works for the USPS Milwaukee airport location. I remember him saying there’s just less mail, but staffing, or proper staffing,  hasn’t reflected this. The USPS has been hammered on fuel costs. (keep in mind we went from energy independence to not. Fuel prices way up). This has hurt the USPS more-so than private business because, as you say, a UPS or FedEx isn’t bogged down delivering a single post card.  Back to staffing, I recall my neighbor said properly allocated personnel is critical…many areas have dead weight while others actually need staff. Thus, tremendous inefficiency around personnel. Offer transfers, or severance. Modernized fleet (it’s being done…but at too slow a pace) in the name of fuel efficiency but also maintenance cost reduction. More robust region adjusted delivery…is done in some parts of the country (limited), but expanding this out would help with the balance sheet. Sub-contracted delivery service…benefits savings alone bring about huge savings to USPS. There are independent mail haulers of bulk mail, but I’m talking door-to-door. Probably other ways to make the USPS more cost efficient that have to do with tech, but I remember the points mentioned. (Nice guy, btw. Won’t hold his Badger loyalty against him)

[jesmu84]

"went from energy independence to not"

Can you explain this?

[wadesworld]

(Nice guy, btw. Won’t hold his Badger loyalty against him)

WTF?  When did you become so soft?  Better dead than RED!

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

my neighbor works for the USPS Milwaukee airport location. I remember him saying there’s just less mail, but staffing, or proper staffing,  hasn’t reflected this. The USPS has been hammered on fuel costs. (keep in mind we went from energy independence to not. Fuel prices way up). This has hurt the USPS more-so than private business because, as you say, a UPS or FedEx isn’t bogged down delivering a single post card.  Back to staffing, I recall my neighbor said properly allocated personnel is critical…many areas have dead weight while others actually need staff. Thus, tremendous inefficiency around personnel. Offer transfers, or severance. Modernized fleet (it’s being done…but at too slow a pace) in the name of fuel efficiency but also maintenance cost reduction. More robust region adjusted delivery…is done in some parts of the country (limited), but expanding this out would help with the balance sheet. Sub-contracted delivery service…benefits savings alone bring about huge savings to USPS. There are independent mail haulers of bulk mail, but I’m talking door-to-door. Probably other ways to make the USPS more cost efficient that have to do with tech, but I remember the points mentioned. (Nice guy, btw. Won’t hold his Badger loyalty against him)

Thank you for your response. I just don't have a good indication of their personnel issues.

But you realize we pump oil more than any other country ever has in the history of the world right? We are a net energy exporter.

[lawdog77]

"went from energy independence to not"

Can you explain this?

Depends on how you define independent.  If one means we export more energy than we import, we are. If one means we do not import, then we are not. We haven't been independent in that sense in a looong time.

[Hards Alumni]

Depends on how you define independent.  If one means we export more energy than we import, we are. If one means we do not import, then we are not. We haven't been independent in that sense in a looong time.

Because not all oil is created equally.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Modernized fleet (it’s being done…but at too slow a pace) in the name of fuel efficiency but also maintenance cost reduction.

The current trucks date to 1987 and finally the new ones will even have AC
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62187981/usps-new-mail-truck-debut/