United States Post Office taking suggestions...

[tharpdevenport]

Another government financial blunder is taking a step in an interesting direction:

The USPS is taking suggestions from the general public on how to cut costs so they can save themselves

(random news LINK)


Off the top of my head I don't have one.

I recall hearing a month or so ago they were thinking about cutting a delivery day, which was being speculated as Tuesday (and UPS wanting to cut Wednesday -- or maybe that was the other way around), but now they are talking about cutting Saturday. That's help, but I Googled and found they are:

The U.S. Post Office is on track this year for an operating lossof between 6 billion and 12 billion, a debt surpassing $10 billion and a $1 billion cash shortfall.

So cutting a day won't solve their problems.

 

[Cornholio]

they could stop delivering all that junk mail that everyone just throws away anyway. they'd be hauling a lot less weight in their vehicles which would save on fuel costs.

cutting a day would help too.

then there's the obvious:

cut salaries.

 

[Lindley]

Raise the postage rate for mass-mailed material, or anything marked "Current Resident".

 

[Mr. B]

Junk mail used to keep them afloat... not so much anymore. The decline in first class mail usage is killing them.

 

[scottydog]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

 

[propita]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

That would up costs on what I buy on ebay.

As it is, I'm doing more e-paying than I thought I'd do. I still want the paper bills sent to me though.

 

[Smiley]

There's no easy solution that everyone will like. The USPS has to cut expenses, cut services, raise rates, or some combination of the three.

If a billionaire like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett wants to make a donation to the cause, I'm sure the government would accept it.

 

[scottydog]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

That would up costs on what I buy on ebay.

As it is, I'm doing more e-paying than I thought I'd do. I still want the paper bills sent to me though.

I'm not so sure you're right. Competition would likely keep prices down.

 

[Crash]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

Private entities aren't going to deliver your mail for 44 cents, I guarantee that. Not to everyone in the entire country.

Frankly, the Postal Service is a necessary expense, but cutting Saturdays isn't a bad idea. Still, anyone who expects the service to break even in an era where the volume of mail has dropped is, quite frankly, not thinking straight.

 

[clint g]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

Private entities aren't going to deliver your mail for 44 cents, I guarantee that. Not to everyone in the entire country.

Frankly, the Postal Service is a necessary expense, but cutting Saturdays isn't a bad idea. Still, anyone who expects the service to break even in an era where the volume of mail has dropped is, quite frankly, not thinking straight.

Plus it would take an amendment to the Constitution. Not an easy thing to do.

One possible solution (thought it would be unpopular) is to limit deliveries to one or two days a week. All other days you would need to go to the post office to pick up your mail

 

[Crash]

Plus it would take an amendment to the Constitution. Not an easy thing to do.

I don't think UPS or Fedex would be all that willing to take on the job, either. It would involve a massive expansion in their infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. On top of that they'd have to keep costs down.

The people who think the USPS is going anywhere are really just nuts.

 

[scottydog]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

Private entities aren't going to deliver your mail for 44 cents, I guarantee that. Not to everyone in the entire country.....

...anyone who expects the service to break even in an era where the volume of mail has dropped is, quite frankly, not thinking straight.

And since it can't break even, and is running in the red, you're dreaming if you think that letter you mail costs you 44 cents. The taxes we pay make up the difference.

Let the private sector, which is always more efficient than the government, handle the mail.

 

[Crash]

And since it can't break even, and is running in the red, you're dreaming if you think that letter you mail costs you 44 cents. The taxes we pay make up the difference.

Let the private sector, which is always more efficient than the government, handle the mail.

You do realize that rural delivery has been subsidized since the beginning, don't you? I guarantee that you would pay far more in delivery services to a private entity given that they'll be spreading costs around.

The private sector doesn't even want it, and for good reason. There's no profit in delivering mail, not at the volume the USPS deals in, and certainly not to Bumfuck, Idaho.

Edited to add: I forgot to lat this out. The USPS hasn't taken a dime of tax payer dollars since 1982. So, yes, that letter you send does, indeed, cost you forty-four cents.

 

[scottydog]

And since it can't break even, and is running in the red, you're dreaming if you think that letter you mail costs you 44 cents. The taxes we pay make up the difference.

Let the private sector, which is always more efficient than the government, handle the mail.

You do realize that rural delivery has been subsidized since the beginning, don't you? I guarantee that you would pay far more in delivery services to a private entity given that they'll be spreading costs around.

The private sector doesn't even want it, and for good reason. There's no profit in delivering mail, not at the volume the USPS deals in, and certainly not to Bumfuck, Idaho.

I'm still waiting for your solution to the problem, other than letting the government continue to bleed billions of dollars so that the residents of Bumfuck, Idaho can still get cheap mail.

I think that in the event of the Post Office's demise -- which I wish would happen but probably never will -- some private company would fill the void. The service would probably be better and cheaper for most people, although I acknowledge that Bumfuck residents would pay more, just as they pay more to fly out of Bumfuck airport compared to a major city. Pricing would be based on supply and demand, with all the advantages and disadvantages inherent in such a free market.

 

[Crash]

I'm still waiting for your solution to the problem, other than letting the government continue to bleed billions of dollars so that the residents of Bumfuck, Idaho can still get cheap mail.

Except their not bleeding billions of dollars out of the government, as I pointed out in my previous post. The last infusion of cash into the postal service was thirty years ago.

I think that in the event of the Post Office's demise -- which I wish would happen but probably never will -- some private company would fill the void. The service would probably be better and cheaper for most people, although I acknowledge that Bumfuck residents would pay more, just as they pay more to fly out of Bumfuck airport compared to a major city. Pricing would be based on supply and demand, with all the advantages and disadvantages inherent in such a free market.

No private company wants it. No private company can do it. Even Fedex and UPS piggyback on USPS's ground delivery service.

 

[Trekker4747]

The solution is easy. The U.S. post office should cease to exist. Let private companies such as UPS or FedEx deliver the mail.

That would up costs on what I buy on ebay.

As it is, I'm doing more e-paying than I thought I'd do. I still want the paper bills sent to me though.

I'm not so sure you're right. Competition would likely keep prices down.

It only costs 40-something cents to mail a letter, how much cheaper can it be? And I don't think getting rid of "junk mail" well help matters -though it'd be great to get rid of it- since those bulk mailings are likely keeping stamps and other mailings so cheap. What can the USPS do to cut costs? I think the idea of stopping Saturday deliveries is worth while. Other than that they're just going to have to accept the change of times. People don't need mail as much as they can with automatic/electronic bill-pay and eMail.

Oh! Oh!

What they need is some-kind-of mail-based game! I'm thinking something like Farmville only with mail!

 

[Cornholio]

Plus it would take an amendment to the Constitution.

why?

 

[tharpdevenport]

Okay, I got some ideas:


1. There will be no cut day -- let's face it, this would hurt the Post Office in the long run, and on a nearly 24/7 society, we need the mail. But I suggest something very similar: no regular mail delivery on Saturday. Instead, only packages will be delivered. This will result in less than half the delivery staff being present. Tow or three guys and postal trucks, just delivering packages.


2. Replace half the postal standard small vehicles with new solar powered one -- no gas. They will in time pay for themselves. And once passed a saving mark, some more new ones can be purchased each year until the remaining vehicles are replaced.


3. A cut in pay. Not much. Maybe just 0.50 to a dollar an hour. Working it out that way for salaried employees, too.


4. Improve delivery and gurantee it. No more charging us for a fucking 3 Day delivery, and the item arriving one week later -- this kills future purchases of that option because people have had such bad expierences. And for FUCK'S SAKE, it you FAIL at it and lose the mail, don't fucking CHARGE people to fill out a lost mail form; you folks ever had to pay for that? IT's pricey for a form, and you get NOWHERE. Filled out two of those and NEVER heard back from the USPS.

5. The USPS buildings should similarly be covered with movable solar panels. I say "movable", as opposed to "fixed", that way they can be taken in at night, thus avoiding unecessary potential damage over night and limit weather damage. Some postal employees get in before light anyway -- they can be charged with putting them back out.
A strange idea: build future buildings next to lakes, that way there is a light breeze coming of the lake and can cool the building off, reducing colling costs, and put a wind tourbine in the lake, so it can blow a slightly higher breeze that way. Prevailing winds, of course.


6. You know those self check out lines at Wal-Mart? Self usable line at USPS's where you can make your own money orders and put in an order to get a package being held; someone in the back gets a pop up on their computer, they get the package based on the info you entered, and brings it to you, thus eliminating a manned register, and eliminating a postal employees leaving their register to go get a package -- slowing the line down. Maybe a small "convinience fee" change be charged, like 0.10 each person. Not enough to complain about fully, but enough to ad up over every location and bring a profit after paying for the units.


Just initial ideas.

 

[clint g]

Plus it would take an amendment to the Constitution.

why?

The running and maintenance of a postal service is written in the constitution, along with the running and maintenance of a military

 

[Cornholio]

Plus it would take an amendment to the Constitution.

why?

The running and maintenance of a postal service is written in the constitution, along with the running and maintenance of a military

didn't the USPS become a non-government entity back in the early 80's?

the simple solution to their problem is to cut salaries. years ago I worked for a company that was having financial difficulties and everyone had to take a 10% pay cut. why the hell can't the USPS do this?