Does the Postal Service need an overhaul?

[riverc0il]

Wow. I just read through that article and can honestly say that I am astounded. I like the quote on junk mail... the letter carrier doesn't like that term and favors "job security". That is a tough job mentally doing something that most people resent (delivering junk mail, that is). Also interesting reading that the head marketing guy for USPS is trying to get banks not to go online and suggests that their charging $5 a month for delivery is an example of excessive profit gouging. Sounds like reasonable cost control and moving customers to a superior product and making those that stick with the expensive system pay for it but keep it free for most people. How does that guy live with himself trying to slow down innovation, push more paper (hello going green!), and deliver more junk mail no one wants.

One thing that I was not aware of is that mail delivery was not always free. Home delivery started as a pay service that only slowly expanded to free service, first to major cities only. So there is no history that started with the founding of the country of having free mail delivery as a right. I am forced to pay for my PO because they won't deliver to my condo while my neighbors across the street get free delivery.... I have to go to town and pay for a box. Call my pissed off about that issue.

This quote is pretty amazing:

The USPS, however, still seems to be in denial. "The postal service is already carrying more junk than first class," says postal consultant Campbell. "Pretty soon it's going to be a government-run advertising mail delivery service. Does that make any sense? It doesn't make any sense."

 

[Geoff]

Junk mail subsidizes first class mail. Cities and dense-pack suburbs subsidize rural mail delivery. The affluent can get by without the post office. Everything is online and you can use FEDEX or UPS on those rare instances where you need to mail something and it won't kill you. I don't think the same is true for the poor and working poor who can't afford a broadband connection and have no choice but to use snail mail to deal with life. I think the Post Office, more or less as-is, is good social policy.

I also think that post office employees are pretty far down the food chain feel any need to rail against their union or their compensation package. The pay scale tops out at around $60K for a mail carrier. If you log 20 or 30 years delivering the mail in a high cost of living area, I don't think that's wildly out of line.

 

[deadheadskier]

really?

because I don't think 30 year veteran cashiers at Grocery Stores in high income areas top out at 60K. Half that would be my guess. Does the skill required to deliver a piece of paper really warrant that kind of paycheck?

If you're coming from the stand point that almost all people who work 30 years for a certain company in a high cost of living area deserve 60K a year, then I understand your position. I just don't see the skill required to deliver mail as being worthy of a 60K salary, plus excellent vacation, retirement and health benefits.

 

[riverc0il]

There is a reason why USPS positions are so widely sought after requiring a test and a long waiting list. The benefits and pay for these positions are so wildly out of line with the job they perform. The two most visible positions are clerks and delivery. Clerks are basically very specialized retail cashiers that requires higher than standard knowledge and memorization (though service skills are almost always lacking compared to any other retail establishment I have ever been in by a wide margin). Delivery personnel need to be able to walk long distances on an established route under heavy load, read numbers, and pepper spray dogs. It is tough work, both positions for sure. But the compensation is double to triple what comparable work in the private sector would offer and the benefits are amongst the best around. I find $60k a year to deliver the mail to be absolutely absurd.

 

[deadheadskier]

Actually a UPS driver can make a similar wage. My cousin drives the Brown van in the NH seacoast area. Pulls in upper 50s with better benefits (zero cost to him, his wife and child) and a better retirement package than any company I've worked for. He's only been at it for about 8 years as well; not 20-30.

Now, UPS involves driving and much heavier lifting, but it's still the same basic work task.

 

[riverc0il]

I think Brown is substantially more difficult. I can't even imagine driving around one of those trucks, especially in the city. I hold UPS drivers in very high regard. They work their pants off, to the driving thing, are always timely, and have great customer rapport. In my job, we rely heavily on shipping companies. I've worked with many different UPS drivers and they have all been phenomenal professionals. My company switched to FedEx a few years back to save money. There is a reason FedEx is cheaper. I think the demands and requirements of a UPS Delivery position are far and above that of a USPS delivery walker. But that is just my arm chair analysis.

 

[deadheadskier]

Interesting. Our company switched from UPS to Fedex a couple of years ago. From our end it's better for one key reason; with Fedex you can get in touch with a driver through their dispatch. This is pretty important with perishable products if the driver shows up early. So, with Fedex we have the ability to tell them to go back. UPS dispatch has zero contact with their drivers. So, if there's a problem they have to redeliver the next day. Not a good situation with perishables.

 

[riverc0il]

Interesting. Our company switched from UPS to Fedex a couple of years ago. From our end it's better for one key reason; with Fedex you can get in touch with a driver through their dispatch. This is pretty important with perishable products if the driver shows up early. So, with Fedex we have the ability to tell them to go back. UPS dispatch has zero contact with their drivers. So, if there's a problem they have to redeliver the next day. Not a good situation with perishables.

That dispatch has come in handy for us many times... drivers late, drivers not showing up, problems with drivers, drivers switching their routes with other drivers and then having problems making schedules, etc. Never need dispatch with UPS because they are like clockwork and never ever miss. But I can see that with your situation that it would be important to contact with drivers through dispatch.

 

[Glenn]

The Saturday delivery seems like a no brainer. To me, 3 days a week makes the most sense. If you need something "now"....have it FexEx'd.

Maybe the cost of mail should be based on the destination; kinda like UPS and FedEx do. If you're mailing something across town, it would be less vs sending it across the country.

I found it interesting that other countries have moved away from the post "office"...and moved those operations to other, private stores.

 

[deadheadskier]

That dispatch has come in handy for us many times... drivers late, drivers not showing up, problems with drivers, drivers switching their routes with other drivers and then having problems making schedules, etc. Never need dispatch with UPS because they are like clockwork and never ever miss. But I can see that with your situation that it would be important to contact with drivers through dispatch.

The problem I run into with UPS is that you can make a note, "business doesn't open until 2" and if it's more convenient for their route, they'll show up at 9AM despite the note. Depending on the location, they may or may not be able to just leave the product without signature. A part of the Brown Truck driver's pay is based on efficiency. They are naturally going to take the fastest route for this reason. Probably best for driver and customer with 99% of businesses. Mine would be the exception where the businesses all tend to open after noon and the product absolutely has to be delivered that day or its ruined.

 

[Cannonball]

They could cut back mail service to once per week. Then the trash guys could deliver mail when they come pick up the trash. Think of all the fuel and labor you'd save.

Plus if you time it right, you can just take the mail from them and throw it straight into the trash truck since that's what most of it is anyway.

 

[deadheadskier]

That's actually a brilliant idea Cannonball. :lol:

 

[from_the_NEK]

You don't recycle your junk mail?

 

[Cannonball]

You don't recycle your junk mail?

Good point...that's what I meant.. Have TRASH guys deliver the mail, then throw it in the RECYCLING truck. In my neighborhood they come one right after the other.

 

[bvibert]

Good point...that's what I meant.. Have TRASH guys deliver the mail, then throw it in the RECYCLING truck. In my neighborhood they come one right after the other.

Could you have the trash guys just deliver the mail to the recycling bin instead of the mailbox? Seems even more efficient that way.

 

[Edd]

I say keep raising stamp prices until it gets cost prohibitive for businesses and organizations NOT to go electronic. That will also cut back on the junk mail issue as well.

I am not huge on the whole "outsource everything" band wagon. But if USPS is not profitable, there is no reason we should have to pay to subsidize an outdated and antiquated system, especially when other services like UPS and FedEx could take over those services. Prices would likely go up. But those that won't move electronic should pay for their vices.

Fully agree. Stamps are too cheap. There is no reason the USPS should lose money. The only thing I use the mail for is to pay my rent, and I resent even that.

 

[Cannonball]

As far as I'm concerned mail is almost obsolete.

Not 'almost'. This winter I moved away from my primary home for 6 months. I put a hold on my mail. I didn't forward anything or notify anyone not to send me things. The place I lived at for the winter had no USPS mailing address. During that time I made a bunch of online purchases and had them sent UPS or FedEx. No problem. When I got home after 6 months I picked up a huge pile of held mail......of which I kept exactly ZERO pieces. 100% junk mail in a six month pile! Obsolete.

Huh, writing this makes me realize that I can't remember the last time I went out to my mailbox. It's probably overflowing with a week's worth of Chem Lawn fliers and magazines I never subscribed to.

 

[Glenn]

Here's another USPS rant: Why does their tracking system stink? How come you can only "track" a package after it's been delivered? "Oh look! The product I unboxed and started using yesterday was indeed delivered...yesterday!"

 

[bvibert]

I'm thinking the carriers don't have any sort of wireless connection to update the status. It probably gets done in batches once they're done for the day. That doesn't explain why they can't tell you where a package is as it goes through different sorting centers.