USPS going down

[amagab]

If this is a sign of the USPS downsizing then I'm not liking it one bit. Last time I checked, it was about 10 miles from Honolulu to Kaneohe. Why would it take 4 days to deliver a package? FAIL!!!

[integlspwr]

If this is a sign of the USPS downsizing then I'm not liking it one bit. Last time I checked, it was about 10 miles from Honolulu to Kaneohe. Why would it take 4 days to deliver a package? FAIL!!!

depends what type of service was used.

parcel post? First Class, Priority ?

[amagab]

It was parcel post to which I acknowledge it takes a bit longer. I guess the screen shot didn't show but it only took two days from Kentucky to Honolulu and then four days from Honolulu to Kaneohe. Very strange don't you agree?

And this is not the first time so it's not a fluke.

[joshuatree]

It was parcel post to which I acknowledge it takes a bit longer. I guess the screen shot didn't show but it only took two days from Kentucky to Honolulu and then four days from Honolulu to Kaneohe. Very strange don't you agree?

And this is not the first time so it's not a fluke.

Parcel post is stated as 2-8 days for delivery. So as long as they haven't exceeded their time commitment, it's really not a failure on their behalf. I can see it being frustrating that you can track the package and it shows already arriving in Honolulu 4 days ago but I guess if one had no visibility into their internal logistics, then 6 days to deliver wouldn't be strange at all right? Otherwise, no one would pay for priority mail service.

[Ron Whitfield]

Island mail service sucks!

[Leo Lakio]

...and if they are talking "business days" for delivery, that leaves out 1/8. But still...

[D'Alani]

...and if they are talking "business days" for delivery, that leaves out 1/8. But still...

I'm sure it meant 2-8 business days as in M-F. not as in the dates 2-8.

[Leo Lakio]

I'm sure it meant 2-8 business days as in M-F. not as in the dates 2-8.

You are correct, good sir - I wasn't sure if USPS counted Saturdays as a "business day," and they do not. So it means the package arrived Honolulu Thursday morning, sat there Thu & Fri, and went out for delivery Monday. That does fit within their guidelines for Parcel Post; you pay a lower price for shipping, you get lower-priority service. Sorry, amagab, but it appears that's their standard even without downsizing. Kinda makes you wish you had the option to drive townside and pick it up yourself, yeah?

[joshuatree]

You are correct, good sir - I wasn't sure if USPS counted Saturdays as a "business day," and they do not. So it means the package arrived Honolulu Thursday morning, sat there Thu & Fri, and went out for delivery Monday. That does fit within their guidelines for Parcel Post; you pay a lower price for shipping, you get lower-priority service. Sorry, amagab, but it appears that's their standard even without downsizing. Kinda makes you wish you had the option to drive townside and pick it up yourself, yeah?

Sorry about the confusion, I should have wrote "2 to 8 business days" in my original reply.

As for the option to pickup, I think that is only available when three attempts to deliver have failed and then they leave a pickup slip.

I don't have any connections to the USPS but I honestly think they are one of the better govt agencies out there. If they could cherry pick their routes like UPS and FedEx does and they could reorganize their pension benefits, they are absolutely profitable. Unless one has some sort of discount hookup to UPS or FedEx, USPS pricing is always cheaper.

[Amati]

Unless one has some sort of discount hookup to UPS or FedEx, USPS pricing is always cheaper.

I believe that anyone can set up a FedEx account (I don't know about UPS). For me, I use FedEx whenever possible if sending packages. I've yet to have a delivery problem with them, but I can provide a list of problems with USPS. My experience is that FedEx prices are less expensive than USPS (when considering shipping + insurance), except for the cheaper "slow boat" option that is available with USPS.

Oh, and it makes a difference with FedEx if you deal with them directly, or if you use a third party (like a mail-box-service-type-store). Adding in a third party cranks up the price.

[TATTRAT]

just a small example of the gross inadequacies of the USPS. . .and no, it(the downsizing) hasn't hit the 808 yet

[Ron Whitfield]

Even tho we grumble, there is nobody that can fullfill it's immense duties yet, by far. These screams heard for abolishing/privatizing it are insane, used often by those who wish to further marginalize citizens and the country for partisan political gains.

[helen]

Why would it take 4 days to deliver a package? FAIL!!!

Why are equating a delay of a few days as a fail? To me a fail would be either they lost the package or the package arrived in a banged up shape (all of the insides is broken, pieces missing, etc).

[joshuatree]

I believe that anyone can set up a FedEx account (I don't know about UPS). For me, I use FedEx whenever possible if sending packages. I've yet to have a delivery problem with them, but I can provide a list of problems with USPS. My experience is that FedEx prices are less expensive than USPS (when considering shipping + insurance), except for the cheaper "slow boat" option that is available with USPS.

Oh, and it makes a difference with FedEx if you deal with them directly, or if you use a third party (like a mail-box-service-type-store). Adding in a third party cranks up the price.

Yes, I think anyone can set up a FedEx account but I think discounts only apply when you are shipping a certain level of packages monthly. I was able to get discounts at FedEx via my company's account when I was working there.

My reference to USPS in terms of pricing advantage is for the casual shipper. Actually, even with the USPS, one can get discounts as a business shipper.

[Amati]

Yes, I think anyone can set up a FedEx account but I think discounts only apply when you are shipping a certain level of packages monthly.

You got me wondering, so I called FedEx. Everyone who has an account gets "some kind of a discount". That include people like me who just have a personal account, as well as those with a business account. I suppose those who ship a large volume get a much larger discount of course.

I think to set up an account I did it online, and they needed a charge card to tie into the account. And, it took a couple of days to process.

[TATTRAT]

Even tho we grumble, there is nobody that can fullfill it's immense duties yet, by far. These screams heard for abolishing/privatizing it are insane, used often by those who wish to further marginalize citizens and the country for partisan political gains.

Yeah, because UPS, FedEX, have had a shitty track record, and don't know what they are doing.

The USPS has been at a financial loss for years. If the country wants to save money, and start to get back on track, the USPS may be just the tippity tip of the iceberg, but they are still a govt agency that needs some serious overhaul.

[Honoruru]

As much as I lament USPS service, I would hate to see it go.

In 2010, I had three mis-deliveries by USPS, all of them delivered to my various neighbors. One of my packages was finally delivered (after being sent to the wrong address twice) six months later. One of those three deliveries was my Kindle, which was returned to me by my neighbor. I'm glad that my neighbors are honest. Since then, all of my Amazon orders are sent to my work place.

Still, if USPS would go down, what a mess that would be, as well as expensive!

[Ron Whitfield]

Yeah, because UPS, FedEX, have had a shitty track record, and don't know what they are doing.

Yes, they need a lot of work, but will any private agency get mail to the most rural areas, or service in all weather, or handle the volume beyond what they already have, just to mention a few important points? You gotta retort better than that, Tats.

[TuNnL]

The USPS has been at a financial loss for years. If the country wants to save money, and start to get back on track, the USPS may be just the tippity tip of the iceberg, but they are still a govt agency that needs some serious overhaul.

Not that I don’t agree that the United States Postal Service needs to downsize, but whether or not that will save our country any money is questionable. In case you were unaware, Tatt, USPS has been a self-sufficient agency since the 1980s, so even if you completely shut it down tomorrow, I don’t know that a single tax dollar would be saved. Not to mention, the USPS is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the U.S. Constitution. Even Ron Paul would disapprove.

[joshuatree]

You got me wondering, so I called FedEx. Everyone who has an account gets "some kind of a discount". That include people like me who just have a personal account, as well as those with a business account. I suppose those who ship a large volume get a much larger discount of course.

I think to set up an account I did it online, and they needed a charge card to tie into the account. And, it took a couple of days to process.

Thanks for the update, learn something new everyday. I guess by having your CC and giving you a discount, they can lock you in as a loyal customer.

Not that I don’t agree that the United States Postal Service needs to downsize, but whether or not that will save our country any money is questionable. In case you were unaware, Tatt, USPS has been a self-sufficient agency since the 1980s, so even if you completely shut it down tomorrow, I don’t know that a single tax dollar would be saved. Not to mention, the USPS is one of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the U.S. Constitution. Even Ron Paul would disapprove.

Also agree that the USPS needs revamping but I do think the USPS takes more flack than they deserve. If the USPS didn't have the obligation of having to serve many unprofitable rural routes and have more independent flexibilty with delivery commitments such as their current proposal to go from 6 day mail delivery to 5 day, they would be profitable. Of course, they do have a problem with their pension obligation and that's what is killing them. If the USPS could declare bankruptcy, maybe they can renegotiate and restructure pensions? I know that's a touchy subject but the old school pensions are not sustainable.

For the most part, the USPS is self funded as it receives no taxpayer dollars. However, the current caveat is that due to pension obligations and the continuing drop in mail volume, the USPS has been running a deficit the last few years and has drawn upon a line of credit from the feds to cover the deficit so there is some truth to them using taxpayer dollars recently. But I still don't count that against them because of their hands being tied in being required to serve unprofitable routes. If UPS and FedEx had to work with the same parameters, I am inclined to believe you will see their rates go much higher and/or their service level drops.

I've tried to see if I could mail a simple letter via FedEx from LA to Honolulu and it didn't seem to give me the choice of Express Saver. 2 Day service quotes me ~$42 for a 0.12lb letter. ~$39 if mailed to a non-residential address. A regular 1st class USPS letter is $0.44, soon to be $0.45, regardless of business or residential address.

[lensperson]

The role of the post office may shrink from public view.
The postal service , along with the navy had some of the earliest intelligence operations within the the nation.
No way they are going away.

See venona

[TuNnL]

Even for the U.S. Congress, the USPS apparently wasn’t a top priority. Well, I guess with their laissez-faire attitude, we can’t blame Mr. Donohue for taking the only action he could under the circumstances. Better a slower postal system then a bankrupt non-existent one.


Postal Service moves ahead with closing mail-sorting hubs, though closures will move slowly
By Lisa Rein, Published: May 18

The U.S. Postal Service, facing mounting losses, said Thursday that it is moving ahead with plans to close hundreds of mail-sorting hubs and cannot wait for Congress to pass legislation to help it out of its financial hole.

But the closing of 232 processing centers will be phased in over three years instead of at the faster pace postal officials had announced in the fall. About 13,000 jobs will be lost from the closures, mostly through attrition, officials said.

[Walkoff Balk]

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/post...ruin-1C8146115

46 cents for a stamp isn't enough.

[amagab]

Personally, I can now do without USPS. I used to need it for First Class mail but now I don't even send that through USPS. Parcels can be shipped by other means. Bills, thank you cards, invitations, post cards....all done online. And that is why USPS is suffering. It has nothing to do with UPS or FedEx. USPS is suffering because people are paying their bills online.

Congress should really step on it and squash the Saturday delivery. That is a total luxury we can do without. Also, if I happen to need to use USPS to send something, I wouldn't mind the First Class rate being $1. It's ridiculous that they increase it a penny or two each time. Just make a big darn increase and be done.

[Walkoff Balk]

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...l?id=189995211

How about the people who want to go to the post office on Saturday rather than the weekday?