[Lokibob]

You obviously are not a user of the USPS.

I sell things on ebay, and can tell you that the USPS provides a superb service for the shipper of 10 lb and under items.

I have used UPS, FedEx, and DHL and none of them can match the service and price of the USPS.

As for the coupons etc, they hardly handle them, forcing the sender to sort according to address. They only charge for the delivery of them, and they charge well.

Let me give you an example of how the USPS works. They have delivery confirmation service (package tracking). If you bring a package into them and request DC, they charge 45 cents for the clerk to put the bar code sticker on the package and scan it. I, on the other hand, print the DC bar code on my label from my computer and it is automatically entered in the USPS data base. If it is on a package, it is free, if on an envelope, it costs 12 cents (they still have to handle envelopes manually).

FedEx charges $1.25 for the same service over the counter, or $1.75 home pickup fee (but DC is free).

My mailman visits my house every day, even if I don't have a package.

BTW, UPS has a minimum 8 lb rate for packages, which means that if my package is 2 lbs, I get charged for 8.

2 annoyances, APO packages require my taking the package physically to the P.O. because of the customs stickers, which leads to the 2nd annoyance, long lines. I only physically go to the P.O. once a week and know by experience to be there when the door opens or about 2 in the afternoon.

[Sterm26]

Fedex, UPS, and DHL will provide tracking for no charge, pickup until delivery. USPS charges extra for tracking, which is usually a day behind and gives no usueful info. To ship a package, the Post Office would be my last choice.

[ClaireSolt]

Are you aware of the fact that USPS negotiates contracts with express mail carriers that include the stipulation that they must charge higher prices in order to get the work? Price fixing like this would be prosecuted against any biz, but the government does it.

[armchairman]

I sell things on eBay and use USPS Media Mail which is the best deal in town. If the USPS went public and sold stock I'd buy it.
Question LokiBob- What program do you use to print your CD barcodes? Do you use any other programs to help you sell on eBay?

[Balding_Eagle]

FedEx charges $1.25 for the same service over the counter, or $1.75 home pickup fee (but DC is free).

My mailman visits my house every day, even if I don't have a package.

The USPS teamed with FedEx to provide this new service you are describing. It is good service, excellant service. But, for what it's worth, that all came from FedEx.

[giotto]

I have been selling on eBay for a little more than a year. Before that, my impression of USPS was that it was hopelessly inefficient. But after a year of superb service by the post office, I am totally impressed. Priority Mail provides cheap, reliable shipping in 2-3 days from west coast to east coast. UPS and FedEx take 5, cost more and do not deliver on Saturday. Also, UPS and FedEx have become more and more flakey.

It's my theory that eBay and other online commerce have been partly responsible for USPS' improvement. Let's hope it stays this good.

[toddlintown]

In addition to what you've noted, the USPS must deliver mail and packages where no other company will go. UPS and DHL and all the others cherry pick where they will deliver, all in the name of profitability.

The USPS does not have that luxury.