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DVD rentals costly to Postal Service
The Washington Times ^ | 11-29-07 | Jim McElhatton

Posted on 11/29/2007 12:02:29 PM PST by JZelle

click here to read article


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To: JZelle

Sounds like a business opportunity to me. I think even I could probably design, build, and ship “DVD Sorters” to the USPS for about half of that $20-million.


41 posted on 11/29/2007 12:27:18 PM PST by conservativeharleyguy (Technically, we are all Republicans.)
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To: PAR35
That option is already available. Don't want to pay 17 cents more at the post office? Just take it to UPS or FedEx and let the private carrier handle it.

Not really. The USPS by law has a monopoly on first class mail delivery. I have no doubt that Fed Ex and UPS could easily do 1st class cheaper and faster than USPS, provided they had the economic incentives to make the appropriate capital investments. But their current systems, and the government mandated monopoly on 1st Class mail, wouldn't allow them to do the same service at a competitive price.

42 posted on 11/29/2007 12:27:47 PM PST by FateAmenableToChange
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To: Slapshot68
SansDisk has an USB do-dad that lets you take downloaded movies to your TV.

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1383)-SanDisk_Sansa_TakeTV_Video_Player.aspx

43 posted on 11/29/2007 12:27:54 PM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: JZelle
Meanwhile they have no problem shipping all sort of weird flyers and junk mail for bulk rate.

You'd think they could sort those netflix packages in their sleep. Like letters to the IRS on April 15.
44 posted on 11/29/2007 12:28:33 PM PST by Question Liberal Authority (Al Gore and Osama Bin Laden have the same position on global warming, for the exact same reason.)
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To: MrB
Sounds like someone needs to upgrade their equipment to satisfy the needs of their customers...

No, in this case they just need to properly define what gets charged extra for not being machine sortable, and DVD rental companies will use better materials for their mailing envelopes because that costs less than the 17 cents the post office would charge them per item.

In this case simply push the costs back to the customer and the customer will fix the problem with the envelopes they are using.

45 posted on 11/29/2007 12:29:43 PM PST by untrained skeptic
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To: kc8ukw
Private carriers are forced to charge more than the postal service on many small packages by law.

And what 'law' would that be? You can give me the section, paragraph and clause, and I can look at the wording here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title39/title39.html

46 posted on 11/29/2007 12:29:59 PM PST by PAR35
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To: Scarchin
Excellent idea. Even better is for those who believe they can do it cheaper and maintain the delivery schedule Net flicks needs should start their own business.
47 posted on 11/29/2007 12:30:39 PM PST by ASA Vet
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

Hey now that’s really cool...thanks for the link.


48 posted on 11/29/2007 12:31:18 PM PST by Slapshot68
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To: Slapshot68

It’s plastic, just throw it in the furnace.


49 posted on 11/29/2007 12:34:41 PM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Badeye
They are touchy about anyone noting they suck at their job, thats for sure.

My uncle retired from the post office after well over 30 years last year. He was fairly high ranking. He was loved by those above him, and hated by the shop stewards and union goons. He knew their contracts better than they did and would bust them on any and all attempts to circumvent or abuse aspects of them. They also hated him because his areas always had the lowest overtime expense in the country. When an overtime problem appeared somewhere he would come in and fix it. They hated him.

He was about the most anti-union, anti-government guy in a high up, union, government job.

He also enjoyed jerking around customers who warranted jerking around.

My cousin, his son, is a totally slack off postal carrier. I bitch about not getting my mail when there is a car within 10 fee of my mailbox, such as on a saturday when company is over. He says, "well, we don't have to deliver if there is a car there." Fed Ex would deliver is they had to park a quarter mile away and walk I tell him. He responds, well pay their prices. I tell him, I do because even at that price you won't guarantee next day delivery.

50 posted on 11/29/2007 12:34:42 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: JZelle
Oh boo hoo. Cry me a river post office. Sorting mail is just so beneath the post office now, even though IT'S YOUR JOB! And why should we prepare for a fee hike? do we ever get a fee decrease when the post office adds more mechanization to save labor costs?
51 posted on 11/29/2007 12:36:16 PM PST by Nathan Zachary
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To: TankerKC; N3WBI3
The USPS as dysfunctional as it may be is one thing that the Govt should operate... I just dont like the idea of mail service ending because of an enron type scandal within some private company in charge of mail.

As long as the company doesn't hire Paul Krugman as a top advisor it should do fine.

52 posted on 11/29/2007 12:36:19 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: JZelle

As a former employee of the Post Office, I can tell you that this is totally their fault. The equipment they use in many cases is so antiquated that when a machine breaks, they simply archive the unit for parts and decrease capacity. I worked for months on a manual labelling machine, while in plain sight I could see the a poster advertising the machine that was supposed to do my job automatically.


53 posted on 11/29/2007 12:37:15 PM PST by domenad (In all things, in all ways, at all times, let honor guide me.)
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To: Slapshot68
"Well they’ll have to find a way for me to burn the movie myself because I’m not going to watch a movie at my computer as is the case now with Netflix’s internet rental service."

upgrade your pc, add a dvd burner.

54 posted on 11/29/2007 12:38:56 PM PST by Nathan Zachary
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To: Slapshot68

That’s why my next PC build will be in a case like this:

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15739

Just looks like any other AV component...
(There are other brands besides Antec, this was just a convenient link)


55 posted on 11/29/2007 12:39:00 PM PST by No.6 (www.fourthfightergroup.com)
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To: JZelle

I call BS. On a 60 minutes program, netflix has its’ own sorting machines and system, equal to USPS. They ship such a massive volume, they have to use their own system or they can’t meet the customer expectation. Sounds like a puff piece to justify a postal rate increase. A**holes. Just tell us the truth: that they can’t run an organization within budget.


56 posted on 11/29/2007 12:39:10 PM PST by Clock King (Bring the noise!)
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To: JZelle
The problem is return envelopes for some DVD rental mailings have a "floppy edge" that can jam sorting machines and cause "missorts," according to inspectors.

Where I work, when a machine doesn't behave, we redesign it, especially if we know things are only going to get worse.

57 posted on 11/29/2007 12:42:48 PM PST by 50sDad (Liberals: Never Happy, Never Grateful, Never Right.)
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To: untrained skeptic
Netflix could strike a deal with the Postal "service" and tell 'em they can reduce their costs handling Netflix envelopes in by three-quarters, saving 'em $15M, even though next year's business will surely increase.

In exchange for $5M, Netflix can switch to a more machine-friendly envelope and save the PO most of their Netflix handling expenses, While covering Netflix's design, conversion and material costs for the next couple of years.

If the PO doesn't go for it, tell 'em to pound sand.

HF

58 posted on 11/29/2007 12:43:28 PM PST by holden
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To: Clock King

I think you’re partially right. The problem is how does the movie get TO Netflix and Blockbuster after you have watched it. Notice the entire article revolves around the return aspect of the cycle.


59 posted on 11/29/2007 12:45:03 PM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: JZelle

OK USPS you win.

No more DVD’s through the mail - we will just download the content.

Instead of adapting to the business enviornment by purchasing equipment to deal with your customers needs, raise the rates and drive them elsewhere.

Genius.

I can’t wait until the government handles my healthcare.


60 posted on 11/29/2007 12:45:11 PM PST by NY.SS-Bar9 (DR #1692)
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