Does anyone still use the post office for anything important? Isn’t practically all business communication these days by FEDEX, DHL or the other couriers — or email?
It’s time to realize that the postal service is an anachronism that has pretty much outlived it’s utility and downsize it to realistic projections.
It should probably be privatized.
Yes, some people do use the post office. We have an internet book business and our best shipping rates come through the USPS. We used to do a high volume through eBay and shipping was all through the post office. This would be terrible for us. I do some online bill paying, but not everything. I depend on the mail for quite a bit in our lives.
You'd be surprised. Millions of eBay sellers, Amazon book sellers, and other small online sellers, use USPS First Class Parcel rates, Media Mail, and Priority Mail Flat Rate. They depend on these sales for much and, in many cases, all of their income. UPS and FedEx are much too expensive for parcels of 2 lb or less. Close the Post Office and you will add not only the postal workers, but also these sellers, to the growing list of unemployed.
Actually I still use it to receive and pay bills. (Old habits die hard!) And the various governments harass me for money using US Mail, and expect (mostly) to be paid or responded to by mail.
ML/NJ
I can't speak for important, but I can tell you that if you go to one of the few post offices which keeps Saturday hours (usually something pretty meager like 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), you will see lines stretching to the front door.
>Does anyone still use the post office for anything important? Isn’t practically all business communication these days by FEDEX, DHL or the other couriers — or email?<
Sigh, we have said this before...
Unless you do NOT own an Ebay or Amazon sellers account, USPS is the ONLY way to go.
Sacrilege? It’s Fedex and UPS who are the rip-offs. A simple 1 pound box to Europe and Asia/Japan costs more than $40 while USPS Express Mail/priority will only cost with tracking and insurance costs $14. Yes, I know. they are union but their packaging system is the most affordable.
The rest of the mailing stuff, we couldn’t care about, and that I agree with you.
Servicemen/Servicewomen and their families use USPS to mail parcels back and forth. Not sure whether the other services can mail to APO's. The shipping rates for DHL make it impossible for the military personel to utilize it.
I use the postal service daily. I like it. Many other people do also. It is a great service, and if the union is busted, it would be a good thing. Merit and talent would rise to the top.
I have watched great postal employees and I have watched terrible and rules driven employees at the PO. Perhaps it should be franchised?