Post Office Placing Cuts to Slow First Class Delivery

You can check out the Yahoo article here:

Postal cuts to slow delivery of first-class mail - Yahoo! News

[jeffweico]

I have to say, I have no objection.

The postal service has to deal with reaility. One day first class mail delivery and Saturday delivery are NICE, but hardly necessary. At a time when everyone has to cut back to get by, the postal service cannot be exempt from this.

Of course, there is an American love affair with the USPS, and it is steeped in nostalgia. People bemoan the death of letter-writing and Hollywood tells nice stories about the days when the mail was the primary method of communications.

But, let's face it. If you could go back to the 1800's and offer people the internet for their communications, they would dump the postal service in a heartbeat.

In that article, one pharmacy owner, who sells to people in rural areas via the US mail complained that a 2 day delay would mean he would have to choose more expensive shipping options and his customers would have to pay more. Ummm.... How about shipping 2 days earlier??? JUST A THOUGHT!!! Of course, that is no good, because then we cannot create a $2,000,000,000 per year subsidy to maintain the status quo.

Sorry, but people can adjust. And if they can't, then they can pay a bit more for faster service.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

[boszika]

Somehow I agree with you,jeff.
People are moaning for higher fees and slower service everywhere but if there is a will,there is a way.
And USPS most definitely doesnt know how to cut the right services or how to manage their branches.
For example:Busy days are Monday and Saturday.Only 2 clerks behind the window.(If I'm lucky,usually it is only one). Mid week when there is hardly one person in the post office,the windows are full with clerks,5 or 6.
How can something be this obvious,yet overlooked?

[Artann]

cuz Post Office employees ppl that weren't able to get a job elsewhere!

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by boszika

Somehow I agree with you,jeff.
People are moaning for higher fees and slower service everywhere but if there is a will,there is a way.
And USPS most definitely doesnt know how to cut the right services or how to manage their branches.
For example:Busy days are Monday and Saturday.Only 2 clerks behind the window.(If I'm lucky,usually it is only one). Mid week when there is hardly one person in the post office,the windows are full with clerks,5 or 6.
How can something be this obvious,yet overlooked?

Managers hands are tied. As they gain seniority, they can refuse to work weekends.

And, I hate to say it because I do NOT hate USPS employees, but many of them are grossly overpaid. The clerks who have been there for 15-20 years can make more than $70,000 per year. That is an AWFUL LOT of money for sitting behind a counter selling stamps and answering questions. Teachers, nurses and police don't get money like that and their jobs are much more demanding.

[pod]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

Sorry, but people can adjust. And if they can't, then they can pay a bit more for faster service.

I kind of wish that was true Jeff. As it stands people seem to somehow think ordering stuff online just takes a couple days. I have no idea how or why they think that. I have a US PO box I use from time to time and from Vegas to California takes 3 or 4 days. And that's close

Now for me shipping From Canada to the US its already miserable slow. Without exaggeration at least 20% of my customers email 5 days later pissing and moaning

So called expedited from Can to the US is supposed to be 5-8 days. Its always 11 or 12. Add 3 more days and I'm screwed

If people were ok with 7-9 days, this would not at all mater. On my site it says 7-9 business days 3 places at checkout. Impossible to miss. Again confirmed with an email. Thats 4 chances to see time. And still 1 in 5 freaks out

I use express [ems] when its a rush. Takes 4 days for rush... They slow that down....

[FandangoKango]

If you have been working for 20 years or more I think you earned 70k around there nomatter what the job is unless you don't do a good job. This is the usa and stuff is expensive and living off paycheck to paycheck does not cut it.

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by pod

I kind of wish that was true Jeff. As it stands people seem to somehow think ordering stuff online just takes a couple days. I have no idea how or why they think that. I have a US PO box I use from time to time and from Vegas to California takes 3 or 4 days. And that's close

Now for me shipping From Canada to the US its already miserable slow. Without exaggeration at least 20% of my customers email 5 days later pissing and moaning

So called expedited from Can to the US is supposed to be 5-8 days. Its always 11 or 12. Add 3 more days and I'm screwed

If people were ok with 7-9 days, this would not at all mater. On my site it says 7-9 business days 3 places at checkout. Impossible to miss. Again confirmed with an email. Thats 4 chances to see time. And still 1 in 5 freaks out

I use express [ems] when its a rush. Takes 4 days for rush... They slow that down....

I admit, I hadn't thought about this on an international level. But Canada is right on the border. Maybe US and Canadian Customs could do something to lessen the time packages sit waiting to be cleared???

I'm not sure what the answer is, but there has to be SOME other way of handlng this. What Pod is describing is riduculous to begin with - it should NOT take that long in the first place.

Granted, I am in the middle of the USA so I probably have an advantage here, but virtually ALL of my US customers get their packages within 3 days, many the next day. For all of the b****ing people do about the postal service, they are incredibly reliable.

Hopefully, as the volume of international mail increases, the entire process will become more efficient. Ar least in the free world. When dealing with some of the nuttier countries that consider a picture of a woman's feet wearing socks to be pornographic, nothing will help.

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by FandangoKango

If you have been working for 20 years or more I think you earned 70k around there nomatter what the job is unless you don't do a good job. This is the usa and stuff is expensive and living off paycheck to paycheck does not cut it.

I agree with you. I'm in the 99% myself. But the fact is that most people, even with 20 years on the job, don't make that kind of money unless they manage people or have a specialized skill. I'm not saying it is right, but reality is reality.

I don't begrudge people who are paid well if they do a decent job. Not even if they are billionaires. Warren Buffet deserves every single penny he has made, and the truth is, Bill Gates probably does as well. On the lower end, a great many people - if life were fair - deserve to make more money than they do.

I didn't mean to imply that the postal clerk should be paid poorly. I was only trying to make a comparison between their job and others.

[pod]

Originally Posted by jeffweico

Maybe US and Canadian Customs could do something to lessen the time packages sit waiting to be cleared???

Surprising enough, rarely the issue at all. Its brutally incompetent Canada Post and USPS employees. I dont care if that offends anyone. I have mailed 1000s of packages and I know that its poor staff and poor work ethics that slow mail down on both sides by at least 40%

Both USPS and Canada Post think they are professional engineers or something that deserve 80k a year. They are glorified stock boys and paper boys. They get paid too well for a job that requires no skill

Originally Posted by jeffweico

it should NOT take that long in the first place.

Not all. Whenever I track a problem package its ALWAYS the same issue. Its floats around the depots in the same city. It stalls movement for no other reason then a "whatever" work attitude

You want to save the post? Sell it off. Burn the unions and let people that want/need jobs do the work. Mail would be twice as fast....

[yotano211]

My parents have worked for the Culinary Union in Las Vegas for close to 2 decades and I can tell you most of that pay scale comes from the unions demanding that level of pay plus all of the extra benefits that comes with it. I have a BA from a State College and I never got payed like that, even working for 3 years at a wall street investment bank (don't work there anymore).

Over the years Unions have become over bloated organizations that people pay into the system that not always protects their members. In good times when there is plenty of money they fight to get their member top raises and benefits but when things turn bad they fight like hell to keep that pay scale. They don't care is the company is heading towards bankruptcy. They just want to keep their members on the pay role. Unions were good back in the day but they have put themselves out of business or fashion when all the laws have slowly changed. And that is their main problem, they refuse to change with modern days or laws.

But I am happy that the Post Office is finally cutting services to survive. They have the cheapest shipping methods for most things for domestic and internationally.

[Burning]

Originally Posted by pod

I kind of wish that was true Jeff. As it stands people seem to somehow think ordering stuff online just takes a couple days. I have no idea how or why they think that. I have a US PO box I use from time to time and from Vegas to California takes 3 or 4 days. And that's close

Now for me shipping From Canada to the US its already miserable slow. Without exaggeration at least 20% of my customers email 5 days later pissing and moaning

So called expedited from Can to the US is supposed to be 5-8 days. Its always 11 or 12. Add 3 more days and I'm screwed

If people were ok with 7-9 days, this would not at all mater. On my site it says 7-9 business days 3 places at checkout. Impossible to miss. Again confirmed with an email. Thats 4 chances to see time. And still 1 in 5 freaks out

I use express [ems] when its a rush. Takes 4 days for rush... They slow that down....

I purchased an item from a local vendor (about two hours away from me), paid close to $10 in shipping. The package was supposed to arrive on the same day it was picked up. For two days straight, the package has been delayed..and it's just sitting in there distribution center. What a disappointment, I was in dire need of the package...but thanks to Canadapost, I have to wait THREE days to get a package located only two hours away. I could have gone there myself, and picked it up. Canadapost never deliver the package to my door, they ring the doorbell, wait 2 seconds, and run! Stupid overpaid Canadapost employees.

[pod]

I've never seen a delivery same day it was picked up with Canada Post. Even across the street. Do not believe such a service even exists.

I have dozens of "express" packages coming and going right now that sit in one depot or another for days. I know this time of year is crazy, but get some temp staff. Xmas is not a surprise... They piss and moan and go on strike because they dont make 80k and they dont even do a good job

I know personally 3 people that work for the post office and its been the same old story with them for 10 years. They feel entitled. They feel they do some extraordinary job that only special people can do. They work 5 hours, get paid 8 [unless they work more then 8, then they get overtime]. I've made it clear to them over the years not to bring up work around me. The guy that delivers my pizza does a better job and gets 1/3 the pay...

[Burning]

Originally Posted by pod

The guy that delivers my pizza does a better job and gets 1/3 the pay...

Pizza delivery guys usually get paid minimum wage, with no benefits. Canadapost employees get a minimum hourly pay of $18 an hour, with paid leave, and all these other benefits. As much as I hate Canadapost, there are little to no alternatives.

[KingRay]

Originally Posted by FandangoKango

If you have been working for 20 years or more I think you earned 70k around there nomatter what the job is unless you don't do a good job. This is the usa and stuff is expensive and living off paycheck to paycheck does not cut it.

Not even close really. That is a very good salary compared to most. Im in ks and know 2 chiropractors that make about that and they have been doing it for 13yrs now each. They also work for large companies as well so its not slow business or anything.

Even like automotive or aviation jobs, 70k is pretty high. Here in KS even say an engineer of 15yrs makes about 60-70k. manufacturing jobs is about 40-60 average even after 20yrs depending on where you work.

not exact but a good way to figure it is just 20 bucks an hr is about 40k per year. Just a quick way to see it sometimes.

[biggunn]

Originally Posted by Artann

cuz Post Office employees ppl that weren't able to get a job elsewhere!

That's BS. Postal employees are paid well above the average pay of their respective regions. Most postal employees are former employees of UPS, fedex, or DHL, etc.

[LoopHole]

Noooooooooo!!!!! All i ship with is first class mail! Im doomed!

[secret storm]

Will this cause customs to be on more backlog's? With usps shipping slower now?

[LoopHole]

Been a while since this went into effect but to be honest i see no difference in the speed of the shipping. I ship first class mail all the time and my packages get there in time just like they used to.

Also they lowered the cost of first class mail

[FandangoKango]

First class mail is cheaper? Stamp cost just went up! What you talking about?

Originally Posted by FandangoKango

First class mail is cheaper? Stamp cost just went up! What you talking about?

What do you mean by money, "men", and more money, don't you mean women?

[oge]

lol red you should know.....