The National Postal Forum is not USPS ~ and in some years UPS and FedEx have actually set up tradefair booths in the conference hall, as have equipment manufacturers (Noting that large mailing houses don't stick those cards, letters and SPRs together by hand these days).
So, raise your hands fellow posters ~ how many of you work for UPS or for countries with long term special contracts with that company? 1?
2?
Most likely all of you!
I’ve attended a few of these and they’re not “lavish” at all. We usually stayed at chain motels (the cheap paces filled up first) and ate mostly at the local dives. We had to pay an entrance fee and pay for our own hotel and meals and there were corporate sponsored/paid events like golf but to say it was lavish was be a major exaggeration.
I don’t think people understand how low key these things actually are. DMA and postal people are about as boring as they come. I tried to start a riot and nobody wanted to join.
Seriously, it was a great way to get familiar with the latest and greatest innovations and discuss the future with actual people that are most familiar with the industry.
But I can understand why people would prejudge, especially since the USPS is in such dire straits.