Comments on: Stamping Our Feet

By: SymbolicalHead

SymbolicalHead — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:55:00 +0000

FWIW, my mail is delivered by car and it still only shows up about half the time if it rains, and a third of the time if it snows/sleets.

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:12:32 +0000

I think too many people bash the USPS when in reality they have no idea how the mail operates or what the carrier has to endure. To lump all USPS employees in one basket is plain stupid because they are many of them who do quality work daily. it is a very difficult job that many wouldnt be able to endure over a week. its not the worker it is management. the country would not function without the USPS. You cant compare FedEx or UPS to the USPS because in my opinion its a major difference delivering a package and delivering over 13ft or letters, flats(bulk mail) and small parcels by foot. This happens it rain, sleet, snow, heat or any other adverse conditions. I think many should give the "Mailman" a break. Because many of YOU who posted comments couldnt withstand the job.

By: John Dewey

John Dewey — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:04:50 +0000

Chris: "I haven't heard about any problems where UPS or FedEx employees just don't deliver, deciding instead to collect all the packages at home."

I was a Fedex industrial engineer in 1986 when we introduced the hand held Supertracker. This bar code scanner allowed every shipment to be tracked at several points from origin to destination. From that point, it was not possible for a delivery courier's failure to be overlooked. I don't remember any intentional delivery failures prior to the Supertracker, but I'm sure some could have happened.

The important difference between USPS and FedEx is the culture, of course. I have known FedEx couriers who actually shed tears when they missed a handful of delivery commitments by just a few minutes. At least when I worked there, almost all the employees took their jobs very seriously. Can anyone make such a general claim about USPS employees?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:43:17 +0000

I haven't heard about any problems where UPS or FedEx employees just don't deliver, deciding instead to collect all the packages at home. Yet, every so often, some postal employee gets caught with a ton of mail at their home. It just happened again in NC:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1070767.html

(And, the USPS wasn't even responsible for the person getting caught!)

I doubt that opening up 1st class mail to competition would do much for prices — 42 cents is still pretty low. Instead, I suspect that the competition would be on service. And, on those grounds, the USPS will fail miserably.

By: John Dewey

John Dewey — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:06:19 +0000

Freedomlover: "With all bill paying going online, online magazines, and email I fail to see any purpose other then delivering packages."

Do you think we're anywhere near that point yet? Does the response rate for online magazine advertising and unsolicitated emails come close to that for printed magazines and direct mail? Also, I'm not sure if your generation differs from mine, but we seniors are not about to give up sending personal expressions - sympathy and birthday cards - by mail. Email is still too impersonal for us.

USPS revenue in 2007 totalled $75 billion. 70% of that revenue was standard and first-class letters and cards. Though we may criticize them and predict their demise, USPS is still thriving.