Posted on 10/17/2019 10:02:27 AM PDT by re_tail20
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors has reached a quorum for the first time since 2014. Finally, USPS can take much-needed action to stem multi-billion-dollar annual losses, which threatens the very future of USPS mail delivery.
However, the board shouldn’t seek more revenue by forcing USPS to raise rates on its package delivery customers. If done, this could cripple the growing e-commerce sector and probably wouldn’t actually bring in more revenue. In other words, USPS should consider more innovative methods so it can meet the many challenges that lie ahead.
In thinking and writing about postal issues for more than 20 years, I’ve come to conclude that right now the key to postal reform is getting the postal service to focus time, attention, and resources on using its ubiquitous national network for final mile delivery of mail and packages.
In case you aren’t aware, the financial state of USPS is dire. For fiscal year (FY) 2018, USPS operating revenues of $70.8 billion couldn’t cover its $74.7 billion in expenses, so it ran a $3.9 billion deficit. The USPS FY 2019 deficit is on track to reach $8 billion. Since the board’s last quorum, USPS has bled $30 billion. USPS hasn’t broken even since 2006.
Revenues and volume for first-class mail continue to fall because most Americans pay bills electronically rather than putting checks in the mail. Ditto for marketing mail and periodicals; we read more and see ads more online. The only USPS bright spot is its package delivery service, which raked in $21.5 billion in 2018, up from $19.5 billion in 2017 and $17.4 billion in 2016. Package delivery revenues will soon surpass USPS revenues from first-class mail, its now-anemic, former cash cow.
This good news is the result of booming e-commerce. Amazon leads the way in...
(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...
The postal service is a jobs program for minorities. And the minority in question is well aware of that unstated function. Those that have been handed jobs and promotions due to their minority status take advantage of their employer at every turn.
It’s a mess.
Stop shipping mail from China free of charge. Cut off that route for drug smuggling. Inspect 100% of mail from overseas and charge for the inspection.
give a 5-year notice, Quitting Business.
This is just me of course - but I still don’t mind sending my bills and mail out the old-fashioned way. It’s kinda interesting to go to the post office (when the line if not too frickin’ long) and buy one of the new commemorative stamps.
I don’t mind paying electronically. I’ve done it a few times when it’s too close to the bill due date and my payment won’t get there in time. But I prefer using stamps.
The USPS should stay open because you “enjoy” the experience.
Commemorative of collectors stems can be sold online by the mint.
We have two posts offices in Downtown Oceanside 8 blocks from each other. i don’t enjoy going to either one.
“The USPS should stay open because you “enjoy” the experience.”
Hardly.
I don’t enjoy the experience. I just prefer to use stamps.
I buy a lot from Amazon, and I don't know how many times that the packages go UPS to get to my city, then is handed over to USPS for 'last mile' delivery.
I even get USPS package delivery on Sundays, when normal mail is not delivered.
Something's gotta give.
under the new paradigm, UPS, Fed-Ex, or other will be glad to sell you stars and collectors can design them online and sell them. They will have no currency except as collector items.
You can still send letters through a delivery system once a week to relatives and friends and lovers.
cut deliveries to two days a week. Announce you are going out of business in 5 years and sell off the post offices. Delivery services operating in a state must go to a house or place of business at least once a week, IF called to do so. This will allow every resident to send letters who whatever.
We don’t need door service 6 days a week. ion my city we have tow operating post office es pithing 8 blocks of each other. Ads can come online, if I register for them bills online.
Workers will have 5 years to retrain or retire.
OK because you prefer it.
………….feel free to correct me, but I have not had US Mail delivered in a year and don’t miss it. I get all my needed mail via email. Once I discovered that 90% of US Mail is junk that goes in the trash it became clear that the taxpayer is maintaining this multi billion dollar loser for advertisers, unions, minorities of all stripes and politicians.
Please don’t tell me Social Security Checks for poor people. They required me to provide an account to wire the money to each month. So, SS doesn’t even use the USPO. Receiving SS checks electronically has worked flawlessly for years.
Bottom line, CLOSE the Post Office. We don’t need it.
There is a very small post office near my home.
It gets relatively little use. It has repeatedly
appeared on lists of post office locations that the
USPS would like to close.
Every time that happens people get their knickers in a twist and start writing letters to their Congressman and he raises hell and that office comes off the list.
USPS will NEVER break even because it is subject to too many political influences (unions, members of Congress, bulk mail companies with lobbyists, etc.). All of that effectively prevents it from being run like a business.
The last few years my post office experience has been to feel sorry for the poor clerk behind the counter.
Generally only one on duty, running like a headless chicken.
I hope the post office is able to keep going for a long time to come.
No way in Hell I will ever do electronic banking again. Way too easy for hackers to raid your bank account.
That happened to me just before Christmas last year.
Bank contacted me about a security breach and the thieves made off with over 8 grand from my checking account.
Needless to say I shut off electric banking and had to wait over 3 weeks for the bank to complete their “investigation” to get my money back.
I always have and always will pay my Bill’s by mail.
Electronic bank at your own risk, the hackers WILL RAID your account at some point.
Hhmmmm...we’ve been electronic banking for 30 years...are you sure some “acquaintance” didn’t get hold of your info?
We need some fags on stamps.
How much non-junk mail d people actually receive in a week? Reduce residential mail delivery to 2x/week. No Saturday mail, it’s not a business day. Offer business rates for off-day delivery.
……..this is why all conservatives nationwide need to start raising hell to CLOSE not just the USPS but many other “Federal Agencies” that are not needed with the goal being that maybe by the time Trump serves his last day in January 2025 enough inertia will have built up to close at least one agency.
Nope, I’m in NH and the money was stolen out of banks in Texas and Georgia as determined by my bank.
They had no explanation as to how the thieves were able to get money from there branches down there.
They said the thieves got into the account electronically and raised the daily limit to a max of $5 grand then proceeded to pull the money out over a weekend.
I had no clue until Monday morning when I was contacted by the bank.
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