A friend of ours on the other side of the state (1 1/2 hr. drive) sent us some photographs on Feb 14 and they showed up yesterday. 50 days, that has to be some sort of a record.
USPS story
- Thread starter nekvermont
- Start date
you got off easy, if was the Amish it would have been 60 days, or the Mormons about every 6 months or better yet, Latter day Saints about once a year....lol
BB57
Bearcat
I’m less concerned about the outliers than I am the average.
In August 2020, I had a first class letter take 27 days to get from SD to NC. Since it involved an estate it was time sensitive. In general I’d found getting letters back and forth between those two states had increased from an average of 5 days to an average of 23.
That was a direct result of the DeJoy post office removing and then destroying high speed sorting machines.
Consequently I no longer send anything important First Class and instead send anything important at least Priority Mail. That means I am now paying about $8 rather than $0.58. Thank you Mr. Trump.
The problem we have with the post office is a couple decades of defunding the post office, as well as requiring the USPS to pre-fund retirement medical benefits under a 2006 law. No business anywhere pre funds medical benefits it won’t have to pay for decades.
The justification is that the post office should be self supporting and if not turn a profit, at least break even. That justification is followed by politically motivated comments that the postal service should be privatized since private companies can provide a service more efficiently than government.
Unfortunately there are two problems with that argument.
First, it ignores the over arching Constitutional intent of having a US postal Service. It’s not specified how that must be accomplished, but it very clear that there must be an efficient postal service available to all citizens.
For example, Pre DeJpy post office, I could send a letter first Class from the small town of Bath NC to a ranch 20 miles from the wide spot in the road town of White Owl SD for the cost of a first class stamp and get it there in 5 days. I could also send it via UPS (DeJoy‘s major conflict of interest) or Fed Ex for $18-$21 and get it there in the same period of time.
Neither Fed Ex or UPS will ever have an office in either of those small towns, so the level of service will be far less than the UPS, but most people don’t think about it enough to see how a private carrier works to make money.
UPS will never provide low cost letter delivery anywhere, let alone to remote areas, because the cost of doing so is high. If they want to make mney, or even break even, service gets cut significantly and or the costs to customers will go away up.m
The only way to sell that privatized service to the public is to keep under funding the post office until it’s service and costs are so bad that it makes privatization look like a viable option. Then once it’s done and the USPS has been totally dismantled, it won’t be cost effective to bring it back even though a privatized postal system charge far more for mail service.
——
Looking at it differently, if you have ever been to a large but very rural state, you’ll find electric lines that run for miles off a power line along a road to serve a single customer. That service is only provided because it was national initiative to provide rural electric power as a public utility.
Our public utilities are run as just that - an essential utility, put in place with ample government subsidies. In addition, rates are normally controlled by state public utilities commissions that also ensure that services are provided to the entire area covered by a utility company.
Our US Postal System needs to be managed the same way - as a utility and a public service - one specified in the Constitution - and not as a for profit enterprise.
In August 2020, I had a first class letter take 27 days to get from SD to NC. Since it involved an estate it was time sensitive. In general I’d found getting letters back and forth between those two states had increased from an average of 5 days to an average of 23.
That was a direct result of the DeJoy post office removing and then destroying high speed sorting machines.
Consequently I no longer send anything important First Class and instead send anything important at least Priority Mail. That means I am now paying about $8 rather than $0.58. Thank you Mr. Trump.
The problem we have with the post office is a couple decades of defunding the post office, as well as requiring the USPS to pre-fund retirement medical benefits under a 2006 law. No business anywhere pre funds medical benefits it won’t have to pay for decades.
The justification is that the post office should be self supporting and if not turn a profit, at least break even. That justification is followed by politically motivated comments that the postal service should be privatized since private companies can provide a service more efficiently than government.
Unfortunately there are two problems with that argument.
First, it ignores the over arching Constitutional intent of having a US postal Service. It’s not specified how that must be accomplished, but it very clear that there must be an efficient postal service available to all citizens.
For example, Pre DeJpy post office, I could send a letter first Class from the small town of Bath NC to a ranch 20 miles from the wide spot in the road town of White Owl SD for the cost of a first class stamp and get it there in 5 days. I could also send it via UPS (DeJoy‘s major conflict of interest) or Fed Ex for $18-$21 and get it there in the same period of time.
Neither Fed Ex or UPS will ever have an office in either of those small towns, so the level of service will be far less than the UPS, but most people don’t think about it enough to see how a private carrier works to make money.
UPS will never provide low cost letter delivery anywhere, let alone to remote areas, because the cost of doing so is high. If they want to make mney, or even break even, service gets cut significantly and or the costs to customers will go away up.m
The only way to sell that privatized service to the public is to keep under funding the post office until it’s service and costs are so bad that it makes privatization look like a viable option. Then once it’s done and the USPS has been totally dismantled, it won’t be cost effective to bring it back even though a privatized postal system charge far more for mail service.
——
Looking at it differently, if you have ever been to a large but very rural state, you’ll find electric lines that run for miles off a power line along a road to serve a single customer. That service is only provided because it was national initiative to provide rural electric power as a public utility.
Our public utilities are run as just that - an essential utility, put in place with ample government subsidies. In addition, rates are normally controlled by state public utilities commissions that also ensure that services are provided to the entire area covered by a utility company.
Our US Postal System needs to be managed the same way - as a utility and a public service - one specified in the Constitution - and not as a for profit enterprise.
Montelores
Buckeye
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,345
I'm no expert on this topic, but it seems that this CNN article contradicts a more than a few of your assumptions, as well as adding context to the "removal" of high-speed sorting machines.
Many postal service employees confirmed that the removal of outdated machines was routine, but raised concerns of doing so in an election year where millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail.
The numbers in the court papers, provided by USPS official Jason DeChambeau, show this is the most machines removed since fiscal year 2016. The Postal Service removed an average of approximately 388 machines from facilities per year from 2015 through 2019.
Written testimony submitted as part of a lawsuit about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's policy changes and potential disruption to election mail stated that the Postal Service has removed and/or replaced unnecessary or outdated mail processing equipment from facilities for years, and that it was common practice. In fiscal year 2016, USPS removed more than 1,100 machines from across the country.
The decision to remove these machines was made before DeJoy started his post in June, during a significant mail decrease due to coronavirus, DeChambeau said in the written testimony.
He said the machine removals stopped on August 18 at the direction of DeJoy, who has come under fire for changes he made to the postal service that have caused massive delays in mail service ahead of the election.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/usps-removed-711-sorting-machines/index.html
I have found that all sorts of important documents can now be sent and even legally signed through electronic media, such as Docusign.
The world is changing, paper is no longer always necessary when electrons are available.
Monty
Many postal service employees confirmed that the removal of outdated machines was routine, but raised concerns of doing so in an election year where millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail.
The numbers in the court papers, provided by USPS official Jason DeChambeau, show this is the most machines removed since fiscal year 2016. The Postal Service removed an average of approximately 388 machines from facilities per year from 2015 through 2019.
Written testimony submitted as part of a lawsuit about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's policy changes and potential disruption to election mail stated that the Postal Service has removed and/or replaced unnecessary or outdated mail processing equipment from facilities for years, and that it was common practice. In fiscal year 2016, USPS removed more than 1,100 machines from across the country.
The decision to remove these machines was made before DeJoy started his post in June, during a significant mail decrease due to coronavirus, DeChambeau said in the written testimony.
He said the machine removals stopped on August 18 at the direction of DeJoy, who has come under fire for changes he made to the postal service that have caused massive delays in mail service ahead of the election.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/usps-removed-711-sorting-machines/index.html
I have found that all sorts of important documents can now be sent and even legally signed through electronic media, such as Docusign.
The world is changing, paper is no longer always necessary when electrons are available.
Monty
I'm a 3rd generation Post Office/USPS employee with combined careers of GrandDad, Dad, and myself spanning over 100 years of service. We saw the changes from delivery by horse and wagon to automated sorting machines handling tens of thousand of letters per hour. Not everything that has happened during those years is/was good but the commitment to 'universal service' survives. That requirement is the primary reason FedEx and UPS can be profitable--they aren't required by law to provide regular service to every address in the USA like USPS.
In 2009, I felt it was in my best interest to accept a fairly attractive retirement offer as USPS desired to separate all remaining Civil Service employees. In other words, I bailed out while I still had a parachute or as Dad once said "If you're going to jump ship, do it in shallow water close to shore".
In 2009, I felt it was in my best interest to accept a fairly attractive retirement offer as USPS desired to separate all remaining Civil Service employees. In other words, I bailed out while I still had a parachute or as Dad once said "If you're going to jump ship, do it in shallow water close to shore".
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
BB57 said "Thank you Mr. Trump."
Please tell me how he, in four years, while correcting a plethora of other errors in our government,
could correct more than 100 years of error in the post office, WHILE doing every thing else he did.
Please tell me how he, in four years, while correcting a plethora of other errors in our government,
could correct more than 100 years of error in the post office, WHILE doing every thing else he did.
ronto
Hunter
Maybe I'm lucky but I never had a problem with the USPS. The employees at my local Post Office are very friendly and professional.
p
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Simmonsburg
Single-Sixer
USPS never fails to disappoint you, Be glad it finally came through.
They have misplaced countless of my mails.
They have misplaced countless of my mails.
I bet if they let Amazon handle the US mail, it would be delivered more efficiently.
But yes I know, it would cost more. Which would bother people only in the beginning. Perhaps those with Prime memberships could get a discount.
I know it would be faster, and more efficient to privatize the Post Office. Much like the private prison systems in the different states. I believe some states have privatized the license plate system too, but don’t quote me on that.
But yes I know, it would cost more. Which would bother people only in the beginning. Perhaps those with Prime memberships could get a discount.
I know it would be faster, and more efficient to privatize the Post Office. Much like the private prison systems in the different states. I believe some states have privatized the license plate system too, but don’t quote me on that.
Montelores
Buckeye
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,345
I bet if they let Amazon handle the US mail, it would be delivered more efficiently...
Yes.
Because the lack of accountability in many government organizations would not survive the scrutiny of the private sector.
Once the "thumb" of the federal government goes on the scale of an organization (including the contractors, friends, brothers-in-law, etc., and other beneficiaries of government largesse) goes on the scale, distortion of the market is inevitable.
The true challenge is to restrict government operations to government operations.
Congress is the greatest obstacle to this.
Monty
Yes.
Because the lack of accountability in many government organizations would not survive the scrutiny of the private sector.
Once the "thumb" of the federal government goes on the scale of an organization (including the contractors, friends, brothers-in-law, etc., and other beneficiaries of government largesse) goes on the scale, distortion of the market is inevitable.
The true challenge is to restrict government operations to government operations.
Congress is the greatest obstacle to this.
Monty
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
Hi,
I hear these grand accolades all the time. They remind me I have quite a few of my grandfather's traits. He was from Missouri:
SHOW me!
As a former postal employee, once under the government agency, the Post Office Department, later under the illegitimate child that is the USPS, I have a few first hand experiences that color my view of the whole system. Some here have similar experiences, with Mobuck's mirroring those of a number of my coworkers when Civil Service retirement was being shown the door. And Monty's mention of Congressional interference is spot on.
Discussions of most of them may belong in the Political section, if not some back alley. But for here in the Lounge, "Dejoy must go!" is probably pushing it.
Rick C
A solution is on the way . . . raise the postage prices.
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...-usps-new-prices-for-2022.htm?ftag=MSFd61514f
WASHINGTON, DC — Today the United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes to take effect July 10, 2022. The new prices, if favorably reviewed, include a two-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 58 cents to 60 cents.
The proposed prices, approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, would raise First-Class Mail prices approximately 6.5 percent which is lower than the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual inflation rate of 7.9 percent as of the end of February. The price changes reflect a judicious implementation of the Postal Service's pricing authority provided by the Postal Regulatory Commission.
That should do it.
Just my two cents' worth.
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/nat...-usps-new-prices-for-2022.htm?ftag=MSFd61514f
WASHINGTON, DC — Today the United States Postal Service filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) of price changes to take effect July 10, 2022. The new prices, if favorably reviewed, include a two-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 58 cents to 60 cents.
The proposed prices, approved by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, would raise First-Class Mail prices approximately 6.5 percent which is lower than the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual inflation rate of 7.9 percent as of the end of February. The price changes reflect a judicious implementation of the Postal Service's pricing authority provided by the Postal Regulatory Commission.
That should do it.
Just my two cents' worth.
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montana outfitters
Single-Sixer
IT DOES NOT TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO SEE THAT EVERY TIME THE RATES GO UP THE SERVICE GOES DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE POST MASTER GENERAL MAKES OVER $400K AND HIS DRIVER MAKES ALMOST $70K SO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR COST OF LIVING RISES AND DUE TO THE FACT THEY HAVE US BY THE BALLS IT IS NEVER GOING TO END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pat-inCO
Hawkeye
Re: Price increase
I have four items I need to pay each month, two that are twice a year and one that is yearly.
I now have the four for each month set up via electronic transfer. That saves me over $2 month.
I purchased a BUNCH of "forever" stamps after the last increase, that will handle my three per
year for the rest of my life (got 60 stamps left and I doubt I'll last 20 years).
You do what you can.
I have four items I need to pay each month, two that are twice a year and one that is yearly.
I now have the four for each month set up via electronic transfer. That saves me over $2 month.
I purchased a BUNCH of "forever" stamps after the last increase, that will handle my three per
year for the rest of my life (got 60 stamps left and I doubt I'll last 20 years).
You do what you can.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
A solution is on the way . . . raise the postage prices.
That should do it.
Just my two cents' worth.
Hi,
You got the first half of the two part "Dejoy equation": raise prices.
Part two: slow down service. They're on that one like white on rice already.
Rick C
Got ya beat. How about 78 days for a large envelope sent registered with a signature required that contained legal papers and a large cashier's check?
I get a chuckle from some of these posts and become quite irritated that some are so confused about how important USPS is to many Americans. I hope those who have nothing good to say will try to understand that for some folks, that mail carrier is the ONLY contact they have with the outside world. Just knowing that the mail carrier is going to drive past their house at a certain time gives them some sense of security. Just seeing a real human who is out in whatever Mother Nature can concoct for the sole purpose of providing mail service gives those people a feeling of gratitude.
My Dad and Grand Father were often the only human their customers saw for weeks on end. Before you spout a bunch of bad mouth, think about how much someone else benefits from something that most take for granted.
Oh, how about the farmer whose tractor ran over him and the Rural Mail Carrier was the one who saved his life. How important is that service for him?
My Dad and Grand Father were often the only human their customers saw for weeks on end. Before you spout a bunch of bad mouth, think about how much someone else benefits from something that most take for granted.
Oh, how about the farmer whose tractor ran over him and the Rural Mail Carrier was the one who saved his life. How important is that service for him?
I can't believe how many people want to Rosie O'Donnell and moan about the post office. Yes, they may be inefficient at times but so are UPS and Fedex. Considering the USPS has to deliver mail to any address anywhere in the US, $0.60 is pretty dang cheap. I have my own business and I ship fairly regularly. Priority mail is almost always cheaper and more reliable than UPS or Fedex. I have had way more issues with Fedex and UPS leaving my packages at my (open!) gate, just laying on the side of my driveway, than I have ever had with USPS. Yeah, they lose stuff sometimes. Yes, sometimes they cram stuff in the mailbox that shouldn't be crammed in there. But overall they do a pretty dang good job. Try sending a letter by UPS or Fedex and offer them 60 cents for it and see how far that gets you.
Amazon & other big companies als o ship UPS & FEDEX. You may have noticed that with some of those shipments part of the shipping is done by USPS & part by UPS (delivered to my mailbox). I've tracked Amazon shipments from USPS & it showed it was transferred to USPS & vice versa.
I worked for a air cargo carried contracted to FEDEX. iI saw USPS mail & packages being loaded on FEDEX & UPS aircraft. Deals were made. None of them work for free.
For awhile, FEDEX had drop boxes in front of Post Offices.
Montelores.. you hit it right on the head with your post. Government workers could never make it in the private sector. 30 years ago when in ILL had double digit unemployment I went to the Rockford IL unemployment office to sign up because of getting laid off. I had a view from the large waiting room of a customer service person desks. I watched a lady for over 3 hrs look at a blank computer screen. It was unbelievable.
I mentioned it to the her supervisor after I did all my unemployment paper work. He said he would look into it. He did look into it and my unemployment information some how got lost and I had to go back 3 weeks later and start the process all over. Not a coincidence . MD
I mentioned it to the her supervisor after I did all my unemployment paper work. He said he would look into it. He did look into it and my unemployment information some how got lost and I had to go back 3 weeks later and start the process all over. Not a coincidence . MD
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My experience with the USPS has been good, and I used to mail out a whole lot of packages in my business.
A few years ago I got a USPS MO for $900+ and mailed it on the spot at the PO to the gun dealer 80 miles away. I get an email that she hadn't received it. She was nice enough to give it another week. Nope. I think I had to wait 30 days to file a lost report, and it would be 60 days until the refund. In the meantime I sent her a bank check and all was good.
Almost one year to the day I got an email from her and she said my MO arrived and was post marked the day I said I mailed it. She asked me if I wanted her to mail it to me. Naaa, just toss it. What a great seller she was and still is.
A few years ago I got a USPS MO for $900+ and mailed it on the spot at the PO to the gun dealer 80 miles away. I get an email that she hadn't received it. She was nice enough to give it another week. Nope. I think I had to wait 30 days to file a lost report, and it would be 60 days until the refund. In the meantime I sent her a bank check and all was good.
Almost one year to the day I got an email from her and she said my MO arrived and was post marked the day I said I mailed it. She asked me if I wanted her to mail it to me. Naaa, just toss it. What a great seller she was and still is.
Montelores
Buckeye
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,345
Certainly not a criticism of anyone, but there are countless alternatives now to information and financial transfers available.
They are legal, approved, trackable, trustworthy, reliable.
And I am definitely NOT a cyber-fluent person...
If you're not sure about it, find a 15-year old and ask them...
Monty
P.S. Regarding the ability of "government" employees -
I believe that the competence of a bureaucracy is not defined so much by the ability of the individuals, but by the structure of the system.
If there's little to no accountability, then the operation will function at that level.
I personally believe that people are best served by asking them to give their best efforts.
They are legal, approved, trackable, trustworthy, reliable.
And I am definitely NOT a cyber-fluent person...
If you're not sure about it, find a 15-year old and ask them...
Monty
P.S. Regarding the ability of "government" employees -
I believe that the competence of a bureaucracy is not defined so much by the ability of the individuals, but by the structure of the system.
If there's little to no accountability, then the operation will function at that level.
I personally believe that people are best served by asking them to give their best efforts.
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Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
Y'all need to look into the HISTORY of Mail/Mail Delivery!
It originally started as a PRIVATE enterprise where you paid a person/company to deliver your message/letter/etc. That was MUCH MORE efficient and TRUSTWORTHY than the same 'government" service. However the governments undercut the price of the private systems and forced them out of business. I use to have some links about it, but that was years ago on old thing under the desk computer.
Government is NEVER as efficient as private but they got the politicians backing them.
It originally started as a PRIVATE enterprise where you paid a person/company to deliver your message/letter/etc. That was MUCH MORE efficient and TRUSTWORTHY than the same 'government" service. However the governments undercut the price of the private systems and forced them out of business. I use to have some links about it, but that was years ago on old thing under the desk computer.
Government is NEVER as efficient as private but they got the politicians backing them.
buckeyeshooter
Blackhawk
I had to send in my passport to get a social security card reissued when I retired. I sent it in December on the 29th and it was mailed back January 6th. US Postal Service delivered it on June 22nd.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
OH; I forgot !!
In the "old days" you had to hand carry your letter to the post office to mail it, no mail drop boxes and they CERTAINLY weren't going to come around and pick it up !! THAT was ANOTHER service of the PRIVATE mail companies performed.
In the "old days" you had to hand carry your letter to the post office to mail it, no mail drop boxes and they CERTAINLY weren't going to come around and pick it up !! THAT was ANOTHER service of the PRIVATE mail companies performed.
