Posted on 02/06/2013 7:47:33 AM PST by re_tail20
Apparently trying an end-run around an unaccommodating Congress, the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service says it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to disburse packages six days a week. In an announcement scheduled for later Wednesday, the service is expected to say the Saturday mail cutback would begin in August and could save $2 billion annually.
The move accentuates one of the agency's strong points — package delivery has increased by 14 percent since 2010, officials say, while the delivery of letters and other mail has declined with the increasing use of email and other Internet services.
Under the new plan, mail would be delivered to homes and businesses only from Monday through Friday, but would still be delivered to post office boxes on Saturdays. Post offices now open on Saturdays would remain open on Saturdays.
Over the past several years, the Postal Service has advocated shifting to a five-day delivery schedule for mail and packages — and it repeatedly but unsuccessfully appealed to Congress to approve the move. Though an independent agency, the service gets no tax dollars for its day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control.
It was not immediately clear how the service could eliminate Saturday mail without congressional approval.
But the agency clearly thinks it has a majority of the American public on its side regarding the change.
Material prepared for the Wednesday press conference by Patrick R. Donahoe, postmaster general and CEO, says Postal Service market research and other research has indicated that nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the switch to five-day delivery as a way for the Postal Service to reduce costs.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Not complaining. 90% of my mail is bills. Now I can look forward to not having to get out my checkbook on both Saturday and Sunday.
Seriously, the PO should be privatized. Suggest an IPO spinoff and getting rid of the unions.
It should cut delivery to 3x a week, then once a week, and ultimately cease operations.
Prediction:
In the near future we will be hearing about the hardship this will place on minorities(large make up of USPS employees per reports)in regard to meeting their financial obligations such as mortgages,car payments etc.This will be stated as being due to overtime being slashed.
As most responcible people know an individual should not base there lifestyle and big ticket items on OT income levels only base pay.
This will become everyone elses problem IMOP
99 percent of mine is junk mail. I did recieve 4 .22 LR 10 round magazines yesterday so it’s not all bad.
All we REALLY need is for Congress to repeal the Post Office monopoly on letter mail.
And watch FedEx, UPS, and DHL move in to the space with better service and lower costs. . .
As for the postal union workers ?? Too bad, so sad. . .
Phooey!
And without Congressional approval, too! Phooey again!!!!
Time to look at those pension packages.
Ok, so the first class mail that we should have received on Friday but now get on Saturday will come on Tuesday, because no one gets first class mail on Mondays.
eye roll
(Good thing most of the companies I do business with know what a computer is for)
I do think that email has cut way into the post office profits.
I can’t remember the last time I sent a handwritten letter......or received one, for that matter.
Back in the day the US mail was the primary way of communicating over distances. A long distance telephone call could cost an hour’s pay for three minutes but a letter or post card only cost a few cents. Up until 1968 it cost only 5 cents to mail a letter first class.
Up until 1912 the Post Office delivered mail seven days a week and up until the 1960’s or so they delivered mail twice a day in most cities and towns.
It was very common to hear people say something like this:
“Nothing in the mail this morning - maybe it will be in the afternoon mail.”
....instead of getting rid of all the affirmative action hires, the friends of politicians, the ADA hires, the unions.
You are correct. Most businesses use the internet, it is more cost effective.
There are still laws on the books that force some items to be delivered by first class mail.
If that were changed so UPS or FEDX could deliver those, the USPS would be reduced to nothing very quickly or compete on the open market effectively.
The last piece of snail mail you received was probably the last time your "mail" contained anything of substance. /sarc
Jeez they are really stuck on stupid. If cutting one is the answer, how about cutting Monday instead of the one day a week that working folks can get to the dang post office.
Will reducing the service lead to reduction in workforce. Better step up security with an eye on the ex workers going POSTAL?
Post Offices will still be open on Saturday and people with a P.O. Box will still receive delivery.
THe old model of business for the PO had most of the profits coming from 1st class mail. With computers (email, ftp, etc.) no need for that anymore. The PO is trying to drive a Model T on the Interstate. Dissolve and privatize.
Better mail those letters by Tuesday kiddies or you might be SOOL.
Good, now cut residential delivery to 3X a week and fire half the workers and make business delivery 5x a week.
All I get are bills and junk mail anyways.
UPS and Fedex deliver most of the crap i order online anyways.
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