USPS should just die already

[CPA]

Will Fedex ship a letter for 50 cents?

50 cents at the cost of billions a year of losses. If the USPS didn't get taxpayer funding, then I wonder how much a letter would actually cost. 50 cents doesn't tell the whole story.

 

[IronWing]

50 cents at the cost of billions a year of losses. If the USPS didn't get taxpayer funding, then I wonder how much a letter would actually cost. 50 cents doesn't tell the whole story.

Why should the postal service not lose money? The idea that the postal service needs to break even or make money is a modern contrivance. Does the navy make money?

 

[who?]

The Post Office was converted into the Postal Service after an illegal strike. In exchange for the mandate to be self supporting the postal workers get to have unions and negotiated contracts.

 

[compcons]

So we now say its the postal service's fault you get junk mail? Retarded.

Also, think of all the companies that will go under and people who will lose their jobs if the USPS goes away. No one will pay premium prices to mass mail crap out to you. So the companies that produce it and those who handle the logistics will simply fail. Let's not forgot all the small businesses that will die off by cause they can't afford shipping. This with make a minimum wage hike look like a drop in the bucket.

 

[Ichinisan]

Why should the postal service not lose money? The idea that the postal service needs to break even or make money is a modern contrivance. Does the navy make money?

I wish it behaved more like a business.

I was in line at the post office today behind a guy who liked to grumble a lot about it. There were only two employees at the counter, where there were enough stations for 6-8 employees. Every 60 seconds or so, a different employee would walk past the whole line asking if anyone was picking up packages, renewing passports, etc (basically to get you out of a line you don't need to be in). As frequently as they were coming out, they should only ask at the end of the line. Never saw a single person respond to the questions and get out of the line.

Those 3-4 employees that kept coming out and asking really should have been working at the damn counter so the line would move faster. Waste of manpower resources.

On top of that, it's always a race to get to the post office before they close at noon on Saturday. That's why there was such a line. Does that make sense? The day when more people are off work and able to go to the PO is the day they close early. A typical business wouldn't operate that way -- closing and turning away business on what would be their busiest day. The PO isn't open at all on Sunday.

Why is it run that way?!

 

[rudeguy]

Will Fedex ship a letter for 50 cents?

No but I can email one for free.

Next stupid question?

 

[IronWing]

No but I can email one for free.

Next stupid question?

I'm not sure here. Are you going to offer any other pointless observations?

 

[rudeguy]

I'm not sure here. Are you going to offer any other pointless observations?

Yes.

Their little trucks are stupid looking.

 

[Engineer]

Why are you using the Postal Service if you hate it so much? Take your business elsewhere and quit complaining about it. Choose Fedex or UPS when you get your stuff shipped and pony up the money to do so. It will help you sleep at night, apparently.

 

[rudeguy]

Why are you using the Postal Service if you hate it so much? Take your business elsewhere and quit complaining about it. Choose Fedex or UPS when you get your stuff shipped and pony up the money to do so. It will help you sleep at night, apparently.

I was the recipient not the shipper. I didn't have a choice.

 

[Twista]

What about mine? Im still waiting for this package

EDIT: I gave up on this package about 1 week ago. Ended up ordering from Amazon with Prime and got it shipped overnight fedex air for $8. I also called USPS and put in a claim and was told USPS will call me back in 24 hours with details on my package and still haven't received a call back. Its been 1 week since i called them.

 

[Engineer]

I was the recipient not the shipper. I didn't have a choice.

Then purchase from places that offer more shipping choices then. Spend more and quit complaining.

I've had no issues whatsoever with the postal service and enjoy paying lower prices.

Also, for those that mentioned Amazon Prime....it's funny that Amazon now uses the USPS to deliver prime packages on the weekend, including Sundays (I just saw a truck today delivering an Amazon Prime package to my neighbors house). Funny how that works.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

Then purchase from places that offer more shipping choices then. Spend more and quit complaining.

I've had no issues whatsoever with the postal service and enjoy paying lower prices.

Also, for those that mentioned Amazon Prime....it's funny that Amazon now uses the USPS to deliver prime packages on the weekend, including Sundays (I just saw a truck today delivering an Amazon Prime package to my neighbors house). Funny how that works.

Just another positive for USPS...I have had zero late deliveries with Amazon Prime using USPS vs UPS. USPS comes through even with the crappy weather we've been having in New England (within reason) - UPS almost always gives a delivery exception. This was most obvious on an order placed with 2 items, both leaving Illinois (different warehouses I guess) to Boston, MA...USPS arrived on schedule, UPS was a day late.

Both Post Office and UPS hub are within 1 mile of my house (and of each other), so its not like they had to come from 30 miles away in the snow.

 

[Engineer]

Just another positive for USPS...I have had zero late deliveries with Amazon Prime using USPS vs UPS. USPS comes through even with the crappy weather we've been having in New England (within reason) - UPS almost always gives a delivery exception. This was most obvious on an order placed with 2 items, both leaving Illinois (different warehouses I guess) to Boston, MA...USPS arrived on schedule, UPS was a day late.

Both Post Office and UPS hub are within 1 mile of my house (and of each other), so its not like they had to come from 30 miles away in the snow.

I'm generally not going to say that USPS is better than UPS but I know during the snow storm of 3 weeks ago, my UPS packages were delayed by one week (because the driver said that they were 100,000 packages behind and any 2 day/next day air packages took priority of packages sitting in trucks) while the postal packages were delayed by two days. Generally, however, UPS beats USPS in many services, but at a cost. I'm willing to take a little lower service level for a significant cost savings.

 

[BUTCH1]

I like them too, cheap and convenient. Never had problem with them thus far

Yea, it's a lot better to pay $1.95 for that odd small part than the standard $6-8.50 when UPS or Fed-ex gets involved.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I'm generally not going to say that USPS is better than UPS but I know during the snow storm of 3 weeks ago, my UPS packages were delayed by one week (because the driver said that they were 100,000 packages behind and any 2 day/next day air packages took priority of packages sitting in trucks) while the postal packages were delayed by two days. Generally, however, UPS beats USPS in many services, but at a cost. I'm willing to take a little lower service level for a significant cost savings.

For clarification, I was talking specifically for Amazon Prime, and as a recipient (not shipper). USPS has my stuff showing up on time more consistently than UPS. That cost is transparent to me, other than Prime annual fee.

I don't have enough experience as a shipper to speak to the fee vs. service provided by any shipping company, I just don't ship much, if at all.

 

[Engineer]

For clarification, I was talking specifically for Amazon Prime, and as a recipient (not shipper). USPS has my stuff showing up on time more consistently than UPS. That cost is transparent to me, other than Prime annual fee.

I don't have enough experience as a shipper to speak to the fee vs. service provided by any shipping company, I just don't ship much, if at all.

I don't ship much of anything either. I just like the choice of shipping a few cables from Monoprice at $3.75 USPS vs $7.75 UPS. I have a CHOICE...which the OP wants to get rid of. Decrease competition and watch prices skyrocket.

 

[OutHouse]

Fedex was backed up as well due to weather

 

[frowertr]

Using USPS is like playing with fire. Those who continue to praise it just haven't gotten burned yet. Bust rest assured, you will. They are terrible. I make sure to avoid them like the plague when buying items online.

Over the years I have lost count how many times they have screwed me. Lost packages, damaged packages, packages left in the rain, packages delivered to the wrong address (even though I have been at my current address for 30 years the idiots still cant find it sometimes), insufficient tracking information, etc... I mean the list of errors is comedic at this point.

They are truly a terrible entity.

 

[Engineer]

Using USPS is like playing with fire. Those who continue to praise it just haven't gotten burned yet. Bust rest assured, you will.

I guess we will see. I'm 46 and haven't been burned yet. At least you're willing to take your business elsewhere. Others seem to bitch about it yet continue to use it.

 

[who?]

Yes.

Their little trucks are stupid looking.

They may be stupid looking but they cost under 33 cents per mile to operate.

 

[FelixDeCat]

I love the USPS despite all its flaws.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

USPS does a pretty good job. They do an excellent job compared to DHL or OnTrac. Mostly, I think people are addicted to trackers and updates. The same people who get upset at poor tracking probably think the update bar animations in Windows mean something.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I don't ship much of anything either. I just like the choice of shipping a few cables from Monoprice at $3.75 USPS vs $7.75 UPS. I have a CHOICE...which the OP wants to get rid of. Decrease competition and watch prices skyrocket.

I agree.

Removing the USPS as an option would be bad. There are probably a hundred things they could do better - but I haven't been burned by them.

 

[asheehanjr]

Don't feel bad. Having the same issue here. Ordered something on the 3rd. Said it departed from Orlando Florida on the 4rth and didn't get an update till today around 2:45pm EST. It took 3 days to get an update. I did the samething called the number was on hold for 20minutes they said it was due to Storm Thor and how it affected flights and stuff. Ill get it Monday hopefully but, you are not alone.