Speaking of that, I once used (or tried to use) the automated Priority Mail machine to mail some legal documents in oversized envelopes.
I had already addressed them in the traditional manner, and paid for the stamp, when out prints this 4"x6" sticker, with mostly white space, that I could not fit anywhere on the face of my envelope without covering the address and having to rewrite it somewhere on the edge of the envelope.
I then found out that the machine DID ask me to make sure that I had space for that absurdly large sticker, but I had missed it, assuming that the POST OFFICE (who ostensibly has some experience with stamps, envelopes, etc) would make "stamps" that will actually fit on the majority of envelopes on which they will be placed.
Yeah that’s one of the annoying things of the APC, the default label is insanely huge, so 99% of the people should push the “no I want the sane label” button, though the first time out many (including myself) don’t bother to read the dimensions and get stuck with the pyscho label which is almost useless on packages small enough to put in the drop shoot. I don’t know why they don’t default to the small actually useful label, while I think the USPS does a better job than generally credited I’ll certainly never say they’re without sin.
I had the same problem the first time I used it. I can't for the life of me figure out WHY, if they can print a perfectly serviceable small stamp, the default position is to waste paper printing a huge one that won't fit onto the envelope.
As for the USPS going extinct, here's a quote (from memory) that fits, from Danny DeVito in the movie, "Other People's Money":
"I do know that the surest way to go out of business is to keep getting an ever-increasing share of a constantly shrinking market. At one time, there must've been dozens of companies in America making buggy whips. I'll bet the last one left made the best g*ddam buggy whip you ever saw."