No more Saturday delivery

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 11:54 am

Postal service says it's gone as of next August.

Can't see that it will bother me, but I'm sure we'll

hear some grumbles.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:18 pm

They should have done this a long time ago. Especially since they have been losing so much money for so long.

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:58 pm

I agree, but still, it's kind of sad. Yet another thing I've 'known'

all my life is going away!

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:08 pm

valerie;1419278 wrote: Postal service says it's gone as of next August.

Can't see that it will bother me, but I'm sure we'll

hear some grumbles.

It would bother many working families quite a lot. How do you get recorded deliveries etc. if they no longer deliver on at least one non-working day?

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:13 pm

"The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail on Saturdays, but will continue to deliver packages six days a week, the USPS announced at a news conference this morning........................post offices that open on Saturdays will continue to do so................."

U.S. Postal Service to End Saturday Mail Delivery - ABC News

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 1:23 pm

AnneBoleyn;1419292 wrote: "The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail on Saturdays, but will continue to deliver packages six days a week, the USPS announced at a news conference this morning........................post offices that open on Saturdays will continue to do so................."

U.S. Postal Service to End Saturday Mail Delivery - ABC News

OK, that would work.

One of the ways our Post Office reduced costs whilst keeping rural post offices open was by allowing a PO counter to be embedded within the village grocers etc. They pay for the trade that's done without being responsible for the building upkeep and staff costs (I'm sure that there's an element of "rent" in there to cover the floorspace used but it is still far cheaper than running a single purpose outlet).

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:00 pm

We have village post offices inside stores too.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:43 pm

We can thank congress for this measure. In 2006 they passed a law saying that the Postal Service had to pay in advance for 75 years of pensions for current and future employees. No other government agency or private company has ever been forced to pay up front for the pensions of employees that they haven't even hired yet. I'm sure that the lobbyists for FedEx and UPS were thrilled to see their payoffs to congress have this result.

Mister E · Post by **Mister E** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:17 pm

Well I for one am not happy about it. It's just ridiculous. Stupid government has to ruin everything.

Ed.

tude dog · Post by **tude dog** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 4:17 pm

Wandrin;1419316 wrote: We can thank congress for this measure. In 2006 they passed a law saying that the Postal Service had to pay in advance for 75 years of pensions for current and future employees. No other government agency or private company has ever been forced to pay up front for the pensions of employees that they haven't even hired yet. I'm sure that the lobbyists for FedEx and UPS were thrilled to see their payoffs to congress have this result.

My local postmaster explained that not only to me , but our congressman in an open meeting. I like my congressman. In this case, in a diplomatic way, ain't squat he can do about it.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:43 pm

Why not just raise the price of a stamp to $1 and be done with it?

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:48 pm

Because if we raise it to $1. next year it will be a buck fifty! Have patience!

Eris · Post by **Eris** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:57 pm

along-for-the-ride;1419340 wrote: Why not just raise the price of a stamp to $1 and be done with it?
They make the same amount of money on a stamp they don't sell for 45 cents as one they don't sell for a dollar.

tude dog · Post by **tude dog** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:35 pm

along-for-the-ride;1419340 wrote: Why not just raise the price of a stamp to $1 and be done with it?

Done with the Post Office you mean.

Saint_ · Post by **Saint_** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 7:13 pm

I'm sad because Saturday is the only time I'm home and out in the yard. I usually got to speak to my mail person, Mary Jane, on that day. Now I'll never (or rarely) see her....:yh_sad

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:10 am

i'm of a generation to not ever know of weekend delivery .... so I don't understand.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:08 am

The time for gov't postal is over. FedEx and UPS could compete and destroy USPS, but they're prevented by federal law from delivering letters & other small mail, and from charging less than the post office for delivering packages.

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:51 am

I'll miss Saturday delivery but it's a concession of sorts. The USPS had done a study of our small rural post office last fall and held a meeting with residents one afternoon to discuss its future in the area. We were given a questionnaire to fill out with our preferences and about a month later they came back with the agreement to keep the post office open but reduce its window hours by a few hours a day. It's open during the core of the day but not quite as early or as late.

Had they closed it, they weren't going to have another post office deliver our mail. We would have had to pick it up somewhere. That would get old!

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:37 am

tabby;1419375 wrote: I'll miss Saturday delivery but it's a concession of sorts. The USPS had done a study of our small rural post office last fall and held a meeting with residents one afternoon to discuss its future in the area. We were given a questionnaire to fill out with our preferences and about a month later they came back with the agreement to keep the post office open but reduce its window hours by a few hours a day. It's open during the core of the day but not quite as early or as late.

Had they closed it, they weren't going to have another post office deliver our mail. We would have had to pick it up somewhere. That would get old!

Whereas if they would eliminate the prohibitions, one of the package carriers could pick up the slack and make the deliveries to your door at the same price per package or less. Heck, since they're in competition with each other, they might make domicile to domicile letters free and pass the cost to the advertisers that send those irritating flyers.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:38 am

I won't miss it a bit. I quit opening on Saturday years ago. I paid employees time and a half and got about half the productivity as a weekday.

As more things go electronic I could see the Post Office going to about three days a week. Maybe they should now. What would be the problem with Monday, Wednesday and Friday deliveries of regular mail?

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:05 am

Accountable;1419379 wrote: Whereas if they would eliminate the prohibitions, one of the package carriers could pick up the slack and make the deliveries to your door at the same price per package or less. Heck, since they're in competition with each other, they might make domicile to domicile letters free and pass the cost to the advertisers that send those irritating flyers.

they are picking up the newspaper inserts in your area soon also. they came in and offered to deliver to all homes, dirt cheap. another nail in the the coffin of local newpapers.

funny thing is that it is illegal for us to put a newspaper into a mailbox, but it is not illegal for them to do it themselves.

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:12 am

Accountable;1419379 wrote: Whereas if they would eliminate the prohibitions, one of the package carriers could pick up the slack and make the deliveries to your door at the same price per package or less. Heck, since they're in competition with each other, they might make domicile to domicile letters free and pass the cost to the advertisers that send those irritating flyers.

That would work. As it is now, UPS leaves their packages at the post office here and the mail carrier delivers both the UPS and USPS packages. I don't know what the exact arrangements are between the two or even if it's just a local agreement or widespread.

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:16 am

YZGI;1419380 wrote: What would be the problem with Monday, Wednesday and Friday deliveries of regular mail?

Wouldn't it just backlog and require overtime or extra help? I know after a long weekend or holiday, the following day is a heavy mail day.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:23 am

tabby;1419389 wrote: Wouldn't it just backlog and require overtime or extra help? I know after a long weekend or holiday, the following day is a heavy mail day.

I'm sure it would be a burden on some businesses, others would adapt.

tabby · Post by **tabby** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:42 am

YZGI;1419392 wrote: I'm sure it would be a burden on some businesses, others would adapt.

I meant for the post office itself, not its customers.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:47 am

tabby;1419396 wrote: I meant for the post office itself, not its customers.

I'm sure there would be obstacles for all involved. The goal is to make the USPS profitable. There will very well be some adaptability required.

I'm assuming losing billions of dollars a year is not acceptable any more.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:51 am

flopstock;1419383 wrote: they are picking up the newspaper inserts in your area soon also. they came in and offered to deliver to all homes, dirt cheap. another nail in the the coffin of local newpapers.

funny thing is that it is illegal for us to put a newspaper into a mailbox, but it is not illegal for them to do it themselves.We already receive them twice every week. Coupons & everything. Odd thing, our local paper just resurrected the free Saturday version, complete with inserts. It started landing in my driveway 2 weeks ago. They haven't published it for 20 years. Why restart a free paper now?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:56 am

tabby;1419389 wrote: Wouldn't it just backlog and require overtime or extra help? I know after a long weekend or holiday, the following day is a heavy mail day.
Maybe, but holiday floods are very predictable. They could easily adjust and go to daily deliveries during those times. They have warehouse people working 7 days a week moving and sorting. That probably won't stop. I know my mailbox will easily hold a week's worth of junk mail. All my bills are electronic.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 12:37 pm

Accountable;1419400 wrote: We already receive them twice every week. Coupons & everything. Odd thing, our local paper just resurrected the free Saturday version, complete with inserts. It started landing in my driveway 2 weeks ago. They haven't published it for 20 years. Why restart a free paper now?

To try and keep the inserting business. Have to be able to offer up total market coverage.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:19 pm

I know I'll miss Saturday delivery

It's a matter of time and we'll have to adjust to a 3 day @ week delivery

by then it'll all be junk - I receive more junk mail now - our bills are electronic

so why in the heck would I miss Saturday? aaaaa I don't know ?? - habit

Patsy

tude dog · Post by **tude dog** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:30 pm

fuzzywuzzy · Post by **fuzzywuzzy** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:45 am

1st world country problems ...you must be all so strained. It must grind at your bones and pinch at your ears . hey go put some soldiers in the job so you'll get your deliveries hee hee hee heee heee . Christ I'm funny lol lol

Oldschoolguy · Post by **Oldschoolguy** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:53 am

The reason the USPS seems to be so far in the red is due to a pre-funding mandate imposed by Congress in 2006 that requires the USPS to pre-fund it's retiree's benefits 75 years in advance. No other company or corporation is required to do this. That combined with the fact that the USPS receives NO TAX DOLLARS as well as the recent "dip" in the economy is the true reason the USPS is in the shape it is in.

Also, the USPS has OVER PAYED nearly $80 BILLION to one retirement fund and almost another 8 to 9 Billion in another retirement program, CSRS and FERS. Congress has already dipped into these funds and will not pass legislation to allow the USPS to use IT'S OWN MONEY to balance the books.

Congress created this problem and only they can fix it.

Oldschoolguy · Post by **Oldschoolguy** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:17 am

Remember this is not to go into effect untill 8/13. It also very likely this is just a ploy to get Congress off their collective asses and do something to repeal the pre-funding mandate that is the true source of this problem. If enough constituents complain to their legislators that they want to keep 6 day delivery then maybe they will do the right thing and let the USPS use it OWN MONEY to balance it's books.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:05 pm

I take it that you want to keep 6 day delivery? Why?

Oldschoolguy · Post by **Oldschoolguy** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:33 pm

Well, for a lot of reasons. Mainly to keep jobs at the USPS. But, the math of this idea are just not well thought out by postal management. Just a typical knee jerk reaction. Or, to get Congress to act on this issue.

The mail is processed seven days a week. Mail is only delivered 6 days a week at this point. That means that typically Monday is the heaviest day of the week for most letter carriers as they have to deliver two days (or more) of mail in one day.

So, if you cut out a day of delivery, then it just piles up and has to be delivered by using large amounts of overtime premium. And the Monday after a holiday there would be three days mailt to be delivered in one day, which is very near impossible, even maximizing all the available overtime.

There is just no way that the USPS can make a profit at that rate. Which, as the USPS is a non-profit agency, should not be an issue.

And, most finance stations would still be open and staffed. Mail processing at a carrier station goes on six days a week. Most retail operations are open six days a week. Maintenance works six days a week, and most facilities in cities are open six days a week. Not to mention the box sections that have to be maintained six days a week.

So really all other postal operations would still be going on 6 or 7 days a week. Just that the letter carriers would only be running 5 days a week. Oh, except the ones that are still delivering parcels 6 days a week.

So, cutting out one day's delivery would actullay cost the service money...

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:41 pm

Oldschool

I thought of the job loss - Obama screams about our economy - but our Gov't will allow this decision. Your waiting for the Gov't.?

Found out today - you can't file your federal tax return until March 1 2013.

Gov't is still ironing out their new laws.....!!:yh_rotfl

so don't run out to get your taxes done - ahhhh you'll have time...!:yh_rotfl

and the job loss - & the ripple affect - ahhh not sure how we all adjust/ survive.

Patsy

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:56 pm

I would vote for an amendment releasing the Post Office from constitutional congressional control. We don't need a gov't postal service. Washington obviously agrees, since they don't fund it.

Oldschoolguy · Post by **Oldschoolguy** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:31 pm

Patsy Warnick;1419630 wrote: Oldschool

I thought of the job loss - Obama screams about our economy - but our Gov't will allow this decision. Your waiting for the Gov't.?

Found out today - you can't file your federal tax return until March 1 2013.

Gov't is still ironing out their new laws.....!!:yh_rotfl

so don't run out to get your taxes done - ahhhh you'll have time...!:yh_rotfl

and the job loss - & the ripple affect - ahhh not sure how we all adjust/ survive.

Patsy

I am not waiting for anything. If enough people care about 6 day delivery they CAN make a difference. Call, write, email or whatever your congress people or senators and object to 5 day delivery. That is what I meant about this being a ploy by postal mangement, i.e. the PMG, to get Congress moving on this issue. If it's not important to people then it will happen.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 2:48 pm

I get it..

re-read all your posts - you sound involved with the Post Office in some way?

I'm not sure if too many would rally & get involved ?

If corporation/ business pitch their views it could make a difference.?

It always comes down to money - didn't realize USPS can't use their own funds. interesting.

Patsy

Oldschoolguy · Post by **Oldschoolguy** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:26 pm

Yeah, guess I didn't hide that too well, think? 28 years in the USPS. (Just hoping they don't drive it off in the ditch before I get out.)

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 4:57 pm

I have a brother-in-law who is a retired letter carrier. I used to laugh at him in is pressed uniform and bus driver hat, but that was a hell of a lot more professional-looking than the slobs I see today.

Patsy Warnick · Post by **Patsy Warnick** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 5:51 pm

Oldschool

Knowing is a good thing - your full of all kinds of info relating to the thread subject.

I didn't realize the money issue..?

Not sure how this 1 day cut back affects you but, many sound as if they'll be over worked.

once over worked then comes sick leave and it snowballs

USPS will still be broke..?

Patsy

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 6:55 am

Postal Service loss narrows to $1.3 billion in October-December - Yahoo! Small Business Advisor

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:39 pm

Foolish bottom line

If capitalism is about delivering the best goods and services at the cheapest prices -- and not about plutocrats wringing profits from the rest of us -- then why is the USPS being forced to slowly kill itself?

The privatization of public assets is something we've seen over and over and it rarely, if ever, works for the public. The example of Chicago parking meters is just repeated time and again. With a strong profit motive, private companies are highly incentivized to cut service to the bone and raise revenues as fast as possible. That's not in the interest of good public service, where the origins of the post office are.

Congress created the post office as a cabinet-level office in 1792 under specific Constitutional authority. In the past, its expansion into other services was seen as desirable, for instance in banking, when Congress formed the Postal Savings System. From 1911 to 1967, citizens deposited money at the post office and received interest. In 1970, the post office became the quasi-independent U.S. Postal Service. This move was significant, since USPS became a legal monopoly and forced it to operate without subsidies (good!), which were 25% of the 1971 budget. It also allowed the USPS to act more business-like, to borrow and invest.

But now especially, Congress, backed by big money sponsors, refuses to let the USPS act as a business. There's no reason, apart from political will, that reasonable changes -- yes, including modest price increases -- couldn't sustain a public postal system even with its significant challenges.How the Postal Service Is Being Gutted

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:56 pm

If capitalism is about delivering the best goods and services at the cheapest prices -- and not about plutocrats wringing profits from the rest of us -- then why is the USPS being forced to slowly kill itself?Faulty premise make the rest of the argument moot. The USPS doesn't deliver the best goods & services at the cheapest prices. Federal law prohibits competition.

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:58 pm

That might be relevant if it were accurate. Read the piece, or don't, i couldn't care less.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 5:18 am

Ahso!;1422234 wrote: That might be relevant if it were accurate. Read the piece, or don't, i couldn't care less.
What's inaccurate? Federal law prohibits private enterprise from delivering letters without either paying the postal fee anyway or charging 6 times the postal rate.

39 USC § 601 - Letters carried out of the mail | Title 39 - Postal Service | U.S. Code | LII / Legal Information Institute

Ahso! · Post by **Ahso!** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:09 am

That legislation is addressed in the piece, but you'd have to read it to know that.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:13 pm

Ahso!;1422241 wrote: That legislation is addressed in the piece, but you'd have to read it to know that.

Well if you can't be arsed to express an opinion I guess I'll move on.