What's really amazing is that the post office does so well, considering the circumstances.

How do you manage to deliver to every door in America, 6 days a week, for the pennies they charge for their services... especially considering what gas now costs?

No private business in America could manage to pull that kind of service off when charging so little and stay in business for as long as the post office has been in business!

... and they do it still, even with massively reduced revenues due to e-mail and other parcel delivery services!

They only lost 8.5 billion dollars last year? How many other companies can do that several years in a row? They've lost money for the last four years and they're just now making cuts. These cuts are only going to save $750 million. It doesn't take a genius to see that if their cuts are successful, they're only going to be in the hole fiscal year 2011 about $7.5 billion if it doesn't get worse. Only the government can operate like this.

John, you shouldn't call people morons if you don't know what you're talking about.

The Postal Service is an independent agency of the U.S. government.

That does not make them a private entity. They are owned by the federal government, and even though they have operated on their own revenues in the past, the shortfall today will be made up by us. Technology has caught up with the Pony Express, and it's time for them to tighten their belt. How about no more junk mail, and deliveries 2-3 days per week. It's going to take something drastic like a partnership with either FedEx or UPS to save this one.

And as much as you would like for it to be, this is not Sara Palin or the Tea Party's fault.

Junk mail is the only place they are actually making any money.

Junk Mail pays a big share of the expenses.. Also, UPS and FEDEX drop a lot of packages at the Post Office to be delivered.

I didn't realize this about Junk Mail. I was just hoping to get rid of it. I took my mailbox down and go to the UPS store now just so I don't get any.

They just need to restructure and pay them more like private sector jobs. Nobody should make 40-50K to say next then type in some info and print out a sticker, take money and give change...more like $10-$14 hr

@ ben, they make up the revenue by increasing postage and other things, they don't get tax payer money. yes they have lost money for years but they have equity and keep raising rates to try to control the loss.

That’s less than 3 people per facility with only 7500 jobs gone. (2000 Post Offices + 7 District Offices/buildings). Now where will the rest of the people be going? They can go to the Post Office in the next town and have double the people sorting junk mail.

The post office could cut back on the number of days they deliver. I think people could learn to live with 4 or 5 days of delivery.

If you have a business and you can't manage it, you need to turn it over to someone who can. There isn't any reason the post office be profitable (and not give it back to the government) or at least break even if managed correctly.

Yes you can bet that none of the cuts will be in Washington. They don't need all the people they have there. If everyone else can be cut so can 20 per cent of the Washington folks.

Well, well, well. The full-time know-nothing bitchers are at it again. These are the same people who wouldn't walk a letter across the street for forty-four cents, much less cart it to East Armpit or West Ankle for that price. Postal carriers go everywhere in the U.S. - north, south, east, and west and they really do not stop for rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

These dimbulb bitchers have no idea that carriers tote junk mail to keep the service afloat. They don't know that the postal service cannot unilaterally raise rates. They do not know that the postal service cannot unilaterally drop delivery days. They are completely unaware that fuel prices rise for the postal service just like everyone else.

But by god, close their post office and they'll cry like babies. Deliver their mail a day later than they think it should be and they'll whine like banshees.

The post office is still one of the best deals going. I have used the postal service for my business for years; for billing, for package delivery, and we've maintained a box. Our deliveries have been successful more than 99% of the time. They deliver anywhere. Neither UPS nor FedEx can say that.

Sure there's a bad carrier here and there, and like so many bureaucracies they have some worthless managers. In the main? They're darned good, and now is a fine time for me to say: Thank you very much for your excellent service.

David: My carrier gives me excellent delivery service. However, you and I both know that the post office is top heavy when it comes to salaries. They need to trim the fat. Everyone else is having to scale back. The government needs to do the same.

Please don't give me the crap that the Post Office isn't the government. In a round about way it is.

My wife who is a rural carrier does not make $60k a year (pays for her own gas and repairs minus the few dollars they allow). The trouble with the USPS is not the every day person delivering your mail, it is the enormous salaries paid to the upper management that rival those of Wall Street. Far too many chiefs running around being paid far to much.

who cares david...there overpaid and are not breaking even as they should. they are supposed to be revenue neutral but are losing billions.

It's time to restructure...sure they on the most part are good workers, some bad like any other job...but i see good workers making my shakes at steak n shake...so what...people should work hard no matter what the job is

time to restructure. they should reduce pay and not fire and close so people can take care of themselves and family

Not saying they are not overpaid for the hours they work, I work close to 70 hours a week to make $60k. But the enormous salaries paid to upper management along with their bonuses and expenses kill the USPS, throw in the fact that they are required to fund their retirement and medical expenses every year, unlike any other business.

Let us not forget Unions. But to say UPS and FedEx could do it for less is insane. My neighbor is a UPS driver (ever hear of the teamsters). USPS has to deliver to every door for pennies.

In many rural areas the post office is well used. In our town we have post office boxes and no home delivery in a 3 mile radius. The town is not 3 miles wide. most do not have internet or if they do it is dial up. We mostly pay our bills by postal service and I am ok with that. I hope they don't close ours and put my neighbors out of work.

It is time to drop the 6 day a week delivery. There are times that I don't even check my box every day. I even think that dropping mail delivery to 4 days a week would work. Wasn't there a big push, recently, to remove one day a week? So do it!

And it's past time to get rid of the high salaries from the upper dogs too! Perhaps that's where the job cuts should start!

How many other companies can do that several years in a row?

A whole heck of a lot, actually. Before the bailout, GM was losing close to 2 billion a month, and had been doing so for several years.

Okay all you genius's! I have been working for the postal service for over 20 years and I barely make over 50k and I hold one of the higher paying positions! Speaking without knowing is really ignorant!

So, FYI - the average postal worker does NOT make 60k!

Another little bit of info for you know it alls - while you are home in your beds and partying with your friends and families on the weekends, we postal workers are out there working 24/7 to get your mail to you!

Thank you David :))

Yeah, you're right David. Don't change a thing.

If we want to see some real improvement; lets repeal some laws so that any business can deliver any object to any address including whatever is currently defined as "first class mail".

This would lower the price of "first class mail" and improve mail service so that more "first class mail" would be sent. Jobs would be created to compensate for the federal mail carriers being laid off. The new jobs might not pay as much, but they would pay better than unemployment.

There is no reason to continue to criminally prosecute people for delivering first class mail in competition with the federal post office.

How many other companies can do that several years in a row?

Actually if we would give them 850 billion dollars they could continue to operate like this for the next 100 years. But unfortunately for them, this will not happen since USPS is not to-big-to-fail!

Many years ago my father-in-law went to the Post Office to buy stamps. They were then 25 cents. He asked for 8 stamps. The clerk wrote down 25 cents eight times on a piece of paper and added it up. 'Nuff said?

And your point is?...

His point is that anyone should be able to do that in their head.

If you open a business and you lose money, you go out of business. Just because it is the post office does not mean it should keep running in the red year after year.

Make it profitable or let someone run it who can. If it requires an act of Congress, do it and quit talking about it.

@Brandon.....you are about as smart as a box of rocks. You need to read an article not just spout off about something you obviously do not understand. But of course you have to make it a political thing, which again you are showing that rock mentality [lets not forget you liked yourself also].....who controls congress?

As for the postal service, I remember when it was only 5 days a week. I agree, go back to that. It would be a great start. Also, look into streamlining the system. Everytime I go to the Post Office there is a long line for some of the simplist stuff. Install some electronic systems [automate] so I can weigh, pay, and print myself. If the PO makes it easier and quicker to pay, send/ship they can grab more of the market share again. Of course you have to have people that have the intelligence and morivation to pursure such an upgrade!

For the carriers, I think they do a great job!

The cutting of jobs works on the opposite of the trickle down theory, they start from the bottom up, how can you get any sort of efficiency cutting the people that actually do the work, well I guess that can be seen as the norm in this country ... The fat get fatter and well you know what I mean ... Oh this is really smart they are going to save 750 million by these cuts, so instead of losing 8.5 billion they will only lose 7.75 billion so how is this supposed to work, must be the new math ...???

It is their own fault, it's the year 2011, the technological revolution started in the 80's, the post office didn't change with the times and now they are obsolete, simple as that.

All the crap I've heard posted here is just political cry-babying, why can't you go to the post office and send a signed, return receipt requested email? Why does UPS and Fed-Ex have package tracking on their website and the post office doesn't?

All the advances in the way people communicate have changed the world, but it didn't put a dent in the way the post office runs, they don't care, year after year they just fell further and further behind the times.

They could have ruled worldwide communication in a hundred different ways, instead they are as old and obsolete as the dinosaurs.

Fed-Ex is okay, UPS is okay, so why hasn't the post office changed with the times??? If the post office had done the right thing UPS and Fed-Ex wouldn't even exist, those companies became popular because the post office sucked and had bad service, so what did they do? Did they start changing once they had competition and model themselves after better companies? NOPE...

It's all their own fault, they did it to themselves, they could have been huge by now instead they are going under.

Technology revolutionized the world in the last 30 years, the post office is like a time warp, and any advancements that they have made came a day late and a dollar short, they missed the boat on every trend.

Why are people still driving around in trucks delivering paper mail when the world has gone paperless? Sure we need some carriers, but the world changed and they didn't.

So guess what? Out with the old and in with the new.

All you people blaming Obama, and Liberals and the Fed Government and bla bla bla are all crybaby's, all of you missed the boat on technology trends too, your just as obsolete as the post office.

oldnewgrad,RN: People born before 1945 should NOT have to pay big taxes because they already have done their share. If they have pensions, they have EARNED THEM. As for medical coverage...hell, if most doctors can't fix it with a pill, they let them die. As for home ownership...again they paid for it....and most at 8% interest or more. The elderly deserve a break. And the closer I get there, the more breaks I want them to have.

You can track a parcel at the post office its called click and ship its easy and you can also print your mailing label from the comfort of your home and the carrier will even pick up your outgoing package.I mail all the time across country and it takes 2 days for a flat rate priority parcel to go from wash state to florida all for under 15.00 The postal service does a great job and they need responsible employees to deliver your checks and packages. You get what you pay for and I think that if you dont have employees that are paid fairly you are asking for trouble.

So your a teapartier oldnewgrad RN. Cause you answered that one?

Actually most of the Automation is already starting to take place for the USPS they have self serve stations at some Offices. With a scale you pay by Credit card or Debit. and print your own label. Based on the Weight and size of the package.

You can also weigh your packages and print from home already. Just get your measurements and weight right so the postage is correct or it'll come back. And it actually comes out to be cheaper to just print it at home.

If we get a republican in office in 2012 the middle class is for sure Gone for good. Time to vote with your wallet in mind. Who is really for the middle class? Hope we get a Real 3rd choice other than Dem or Repub.

Yes, lowertaxes: there are some who knew that this (and what you suggest) must come to pass. It had to happen; too bad it has taken so long and is not finished yet.

Some of you here should have had a chance to ask J. Paul Getty (first billionaire in this nation). To him the U.S. Postal service was "the most worthless operation on the earth". (I have pretty much agreed for a long time.)

Oh, joeyfromcali; wait until you see that sorry excuse for automation start to disappear from your local post offices like it has in so many other places!

Ben-1671313
His point is that anyone should be able to do that in their head.

Really? Then why I see bunch of asses on the street in business suits who can't figure out what 2+2 equals to without some super-duper app on their iPhone? Or it's just a fashion statement – I have an iPhone!
Frankly I don't care how any clerk calculates total – as long as I am not overcharged, I am OK.

Additionally, the problem addressed in this article has nothing to do with politicians nor high political offices. I disdain politicians too; and you have to recognize where the majority vote still goes - to those who do not vote at all. (That did not include me.)

However, we still need to remember where politicians come from; the people.

From all the little people out there who think they are something, or are supposed to be something, or think that someone or everyone else is supposed to think that they are something, and they are totally unable to give a care about anybody else! It is really that simple.

It's what we do, dude

"Junk mail is the only place they are actually making any money."

I know dozens of postal workers and they say junk mail is a losing proposition.

It is bulky, most has no value, is subsidized by all other mail.

The only people who want that crap are idiots.

Mrs. Georgia Peech: You hit it right on the mark at comment #1.10. In your second paragraph you made an excellent point and showed great wisdom (that of course "very few" have the guts to listen to, or will ever hear).

Amazing how uneducated many of the posters on here are.

FIRST: Median National 1st Year pay of a Postal Worker (All types) is $40,976. (Payscale.com) That means HALF make less/HALF Make more ,his includes ALL workers, from carriers and clerks to maintenance workers, to Computer Programmers, Pilots...Not just your average starting clerk. It includes markets from 'Tiny Town Iowa' to New York City obviously very different cost of living, and I am sure the number of workers in the larger cities with higher cost of living are proportionate, just like the population so more would live in those areas.
Inflation has not kept up with income as the Postal Service has not been allowed to raise rates or cut back on service such as Saturday Delivery.

Our postal rates are by far some of the lowest in the world. IF the postal service had been allowed to raise rates we would have ranked near the bottom compared to countries in Europe, the average there WOULD have been almost 50% higher, but they were not allowed to increase the rates so right now only Slovenia and Malta have lower rates. Of course these are tiny countries where a letter would travel only short distances (Malta only has 1400 Miles of road in total, Slovenia even less) so costs would be much lower.

Postal rates in the US (Inflation adjusted are lower than they were at almost anytime in the past 100 years, Only during the Depression and 1950s early 60s were they lower. I would call that controlling costs.

You can now print your own stamps at home--very convenient, you can buy them through the mail. Unfortunately the efficiencies gained by this have been lost due to the Bush instituted requirement that all packages over 12oz (?) be taken to the post office in person or picked up to avoid mail bombs, etc.

What you call 'junk' mail is what has kept that down, mostly as it is usually presorted and even sorted by carrier in order. However Third Class Mail has been dropping for years as catalogues have gone online and companies use Email to keep in touch with their customers. So your 'junk' mail subsidy has been dropping.

Be very thankful for what you have, you will regret losing it.

federal express pays well, so the post office being replaced with private ownership may not cost good paying jobs. federal express is hiring all the time, could wind up being more efficient, resulting in more jobs. the post office often hires vets, I dont really buy the its a morons low paying monkeys job crap. on top of that they drive around with backwards cars with drivers buzzing their tower constantly. im sure its more dangerous than most assume, they deserve to be paid well. the problem is no private business could take losses like that, so its not working, like most things the government does. multitools are jacks of all trades master of none, to compete and thrive you need to be the cream of the crop, survival of the fittest. how is the government going to be the cream of the crop at everything? thats why socialism, communism always fails. eventually you run out of other peoples money.

The postal service is the best large operation I know of. When you consider all they do and the price they do it for they are hard to beat. I have used the postal service as an individual and as a direct mail advertiser and personally I think they are great.

All postal employees pay is bloated...needs to be brought to down to earth pay.. to pay someone 40-50k to type in some info and print out a sticker and scan it and take payment is nuts.

Yes, I agree that layers of management are ruining the school system. Just go to any central office of any school system and get a load of the bozos running things, and you'll see the problem with education. Fire most of these "administrators," hire more teachers, and empower them to do the job they do best, without all the anal-retentive micromanagement from politicians and administrators.

As for the post office, it's a strange hybrid. I mean, it's government controlled, but receives no money from tax dollars. I suppose a way to start economizing is to avoid duplication of services, as in too many branches too close together.

Mrs. Georgia Peech If a business needs it's mail more then what the post office delivers it, all they have to do is rent a PO Box and go pick it up.

V1140

Really? Then why I see bunch of asses on the street

It's ridiculous that I have to explain this, but your attempt to make a sentence may indicate why you don't know that 4 .25 cent stamps equal $1.00 therefore 8 would equal $2.00. It's pretty basic math, but maybe they don't teach this in school anymore. If this requires the use of your I phone for a lot of you then we are in a lot of trouble. I guarantee you there are a lot of people laughing at this statement over in China right now because there's one thing they know how to do very well, and that is multiply.

V1140........................Was that you?

What's really amazing is that the post office does so well, considering the circumstances.How do you manage to deliver to every door in America, 6 days a week, for the pennies they charge for their services... especially considering what gas now costs?

They are not doing so well that's whty postage goes up every six months.

Maybe they could cut costs by not producing stamps with Islamic messages on them. Everyone I know rejects those stamps at the post office. Stick to ONE domestic stamp and shave off all of the associated expenses.

Sorry to hear that about your husband and what's worse is if they stop Sat delivery, he may lose his job too. I don't understand why the PO is not allowed to keep profits when they are technically an independent company of the Gov't. In my opinion, if a company is independent then they own themselves and should be allowed to keep any profits they make.

The US Postal Service is as bad as the airline I worked for when they decided to close down 3 offices in one year and put out thousands of workers.

The Postal Service, which delivers about 40 percent of the world's mail, does not receive tax revenue. They don't get to keep profits but yet they are an independent company of the gov't and have to give the monety to them but yet the gov't won't give the Postal Service any money to stay alive.

I wish your husband and you all the best!

I don't think that the general public knows that the US post office is the ONLY company IN THE WORLD that is forced to pre-fund retirement funds to the tune of 1 BILLION dollars a year. That my friends is why they are not profitable. Without the pre fund requirement, the post office would make a 300k to 1million dollar a year profit!!!

Then they do not need retirement funds. Normal humans in the private sector do not have this why the hell should they especially if they cannot afford it.the CEOs are playing for a bailout. They get paid before anyone else so yeah..they really dont give a half pass about it.

Same issue as any other governmentesque entity.

That's right, Mark, why does any American worker need a retirement. Whose pocket are you in. Or are you one of these posters who hates it if anybody have worked for years to make something for themselves.

Lets privatize everything and see what will happen when the Wall Street thieves take over. Everyone but them will lose.

Look what happened. Gee, all who lost out, I don't think they belonged to an union or was employed by the government.

The Post Office has to "zero" their books out every year. Any "profits" gets paid out as a bonus to the Post Masters Generals

If the supervisor is playing computer game than he must be using a non postal computer. While working in the IT department I know that the games are blocked by a firewall.

Gee MF, if they don't prepay their retirement funds they can run a Ponzi scam like Social Security, is that what you're saying? And then what, they'll dump it onto the taxpayers?

The prepay option sounds pretty good to me; pay as you go. Keeps them from giving more away to the unions that taxpayers will have to make up in the future.

I have to give kudos to my mail carrier. The mail is here by 9:30 six days a week. My carrier is very friendly. I won't complain about the cost of a stamp, or their overnight delivery price. UPS and FEDEX have out priced themselves for me.

My postal carrier even purchases stamps for some of our community residence that are on fixed incomes. She always tells them she has a few extra stamps she doesn't need.

Oh boy the teabaggers are going to gripe about the pensions even though postal workers do not get any social security. So strange hearing a bunch of old farts griping about pensions. Of course they would never hire anyone over 45 at their business either.

Wow big surprise, it's not the post offices fault for not moving into the 21st century, it's the Federal Governments fault, everything is the Federal Governments fault, Right?

So that means UPS and Fex-Ex's success is because of the Fed Government, Right?

So out of the Three big guys two are doing great and one sucks, I say two out of three ain't bad there Federal Government, good job!!!

Just Another Government funded waste of money! What, they only lose BILLIONS yearly and their offering employees early retirements..What a FRIGGIN JOKE..How could a private company that lost billions every year survive 'never mind offer retirement benefits"?

When these Government funded Unions and post offices etc are gone, maybe our tax rates will decline?...We'll find out just how many jobs OBAMA can create, without all the tarp money to pass out, and the unions disolved..This will be a JOKE!!!!

Amazing how people have turned this into political party attack. What do the Republicans, the teaparty or Obama have to do with this?

I guess ignorance is bliss.

DJ-867199

"99% of all businesses and government organizations are top heavy with "management" like GM, course people will blame it on the rank and file worker."

Private business can do what it wants and answers to shareholders.

Government does what it wants and answers to no one. If it goes broke, it just taxes more. The left seem to be fine with this formula, except for the wealthy left. They want to blame all except themselves. Look at Pelosi and her investment banker husband. Don't forget Kerry and the Heinse fortune - weathiest dem in congress. Shall I go on? The left will continue to deny the truth because they want to believe fairy tales.

So many comments! Some correct, Many many incorrect. From oldnewgrad "Oh boy the teabaggers are going to gripe about the pensions even though postal workers do not get any social security" WRONG the hires for the past 20 plus years are FERS NOT Civil Service. That is why my husband does not receive SS with his retirement from the PO and I do receive SS. SS is not my only retirement source from the PO. I, like everyone else who is FERS could opt to have up to 10 percent of my salary deposited into the TSP, much like a 401K. The PO would match up-to the first 5 percent. Those who do not contribute do not draw at retirement.

Barbara Bursell who stated "My husband is a "sub", he works when they need him, usually one or two days a week. Makes much less than a full time carrier and has no benefits" Some "subs" do have better benefits than others. A "subs" starting salary is higher than a starting "regular" carrier on a rural route. The subs do not have the paid holidays and other "negotiated" benefits of the regular carrier. Every rural carrier "sub" is aware of this and we all started that way. City carrier "subs" are covered by a different contract and do have some benefits of annual leave based on hour worked as well as sick leave. Maybe the rural carrier "sub" job isn't a good fit for your husband or the dozens of others who do not like the lack of benefits. Many private companies do not offer any different.

All mail routes are not the same. Some are city, some rural, some highway contract and some starr routes. Bottom line, the job of each is to deliver the mail to the customer. That said there are enormouses differences in services provided to customers based on the typr of mail route they reside on. Rural carriers sell stamps, mail packages, accept certified and registered to mail for the customer. Rural also accepts money for money orders purchases and mail the money order for the customer. City delivery does not include these services. For NORM903 statement of ". What do the carriers do any different from the paperboys that used to deliver my morning paper?" Your paperboy do any of these things? Also, in bad weather would it be acceptable for your carriers to take some mail (probably not yours because the paperboy does not check for correct address or name) put it in a bag and sling it somewhere on your driveway. That would have made my job much easier in bad weather and faster without having to put the mail in correct order and verify when I got to you driveway!

As for profits. Check on the internet about how many "good ideas" had been implemented over the years just to fail. There has been so much money wasted on technology that has not worked it is sickening. One of the most hysterical things I heard from a previous PostMaster General was their refusal to accept correspondence not sent by USPS. All well and good and sounds great for a sound bite. Why then, would this same previous Postmaster General, order the new machinery from a foreign company? Talk about a condradiction! Are we in the USA at 100% employment rate? Haha, at least the competitors were from US companies.

If you would like to read an article that may explain some of the confusing salary info type in Postmaster General Salary and see what you find. Tried to put in a link but it did not show up.

Get the correct information. Ask questions about the top 12 and let's see what happens after that.

oldnewgrad,RN

the teabaggers are going to gripe about the pensions even though postal workers do not get any social security.

They are in the Federal Employee Retirement System. Why should they get SS?

Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. Civil Service employees (hired before 1983) do not not pay SS. They also don't receive SS. Federal Employee Retirement System DOES pay SS. Why should they get SS? BECAUSE THEY PAY INTO IT!

Australia gave up Sat. delivery YEARS ago! BTW, my sister just waltzed in to AustraliaPost a yr. ago & got a job. Apparently at leas one 1st. World country can run it's mail service in the black!

Queen Dee~ Obviously you don't know what you are talking about. Yes, they do pay into it but its under the Federal Employee Retirement System and that is for the employees that were hired after 1987.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5080122_postal-worker-retirement-benefits.html

Free huh?? How much do you pay for your internet service?? Or your cell phone service??

verno. well said. John, can't believe you think it is free. My internet bill is probably thirty bucks. I don't ever remember going thru that many stamps in a month. Wake up....

My internet free. I use wifi and connect to local business internet services. Works great and it is fast. 750 minutes of long distance service for me is $25.00 a month. I don't think anyone escapes not having to pay for phone service.

I love how people say email is free... how much do you spend a month for your internet connection?

not for long

Let’s see – sending an envelope via FedEx to Alaska or even the state next door from somewhere like Arizona, and paying God knows how much, or paying 44 cents sending it via the Post Office. Let’s just “privatize” the Post Office and hand it to a “privatized” company like FedEx and then we’ll have to listen to you neo anti-Government morons whining about how expensive it is to send anything!

My internet, tv, and phone services are free because i work for Comcast but i prefer sending my bills in the mail with checks. Being a repair tech executive i do not trust the internet with bill paying and really dislike auto deduction. I was happy with how it was, just a shame our top minds in the U.S. can't figure out a better solution.

Internet can be had for under 6 bucks a month from every major internet carrier if you take the lowest package they offer..they do not advertize it because it does not make them money.

I laugh at you guys..you are posting on here via internet and complaining about paying internet...how did you post on here? If yoa re not paying for it then you are at workin fing off..just like these malooks about to lose their jobs..you will be next.

If I had to pay 30 cents every time I sent an E-mail, it would cost me over a hundred dollars a month. E-mail may not be free, but it is far cheaper than first class mail.

@Greg in CA

Your employer is providing your internet, tv, and phone service as a benefit of employment. You receive that in lieu of pay, which is a good deal for you (value not taxed) and for Comcast (little extra cost but they can deduct full retail value from their taxable income, like other bennies provided.)

It is not free - you work for it.

Internet for under $6.00 per month, right Mark? Perhaps you would be so kind as to provide the names here of those ISP's you claim provide such low cost service? Since you state these ISP's do not advertise the fact because it makes them no money, I checked with 3 major Internet service providers via phone. Not a single one had Internet service for a monthly cost anywhere close to what you stated! The lowest monthly rate I found was for $19.99 per month (among the 3 major ISP's I checked with). Nor were there even any "special deals" being offered at a $6.00 per month or less rate either.

You think its free? Wait till they knock out the postal service then watch what they make you pay for your internet

I would like to know how you read your email. Last I checked, you need a computer to get email. How much does your computer cost?

In my SoCal area, Time Warner and Comcast divvied up territories that are exclusive - helps to do away with that nasty price competition - sucks for the consumer.
So with house phone/tv/internet - about $157 a month.
It's about the same for the cell phone (with one data plan). Bummer.

It is funny that the postal service won't accept about half of the packages I want to send, because they are politically incorrect.

UPS and Fedex won't send any of them, because they can't trust their own employees.

So where does that leave us?

If you you go to USPS.com , you will see all the products the Postal Service now offers. You may be pleasantly surprised

I am a clerk at the post office. We used to sell pictures and large framed stamp collections and teddy bears but the average person doesn't buy those things. Also we sold phone cards and I never sold a single one. Most people come in for stamps or to mail their packages. I also agree with those that believe we are top heavy. And a lot of people do not realize that if we stop delivering on Saturdays that every one in six carriers are going to lose their jobs. We have carriers that their whole job is to fill in for other carriers days off. The Post Office is in a frustrating place, and it has been there for many years. There are so many upper managers that get paid six figures a year while it is the clerks and carriers that usually get blamed for everything.

Actually, the Post Office does sell prepaid phone cards and greeting cards. They also sell quite a few other things. They are only allowed by the government to sell certain things. The Government does not give them any money and will not allow them to change without an act of Congress, and people can't figure out why they are in the hole! There are many offices that are slow, but in most its not simply selling a stamp and punching a zip code into the computer. The mail has to be sorted and boxed, there are numerous other duties prople don't realize. I have worked for the USPS for 13 years and I do NOT make $50,000 per year! I agree they are top heavy and thibgs need to change, but consider how many miles and customers USPS serves. Fed Ex or UPS does not deliver to each home on a daily basis, they probably wouldn't be interested in doing so either unless the prices were considerably higher. What a normal person considers junk mail is a huge money maker for USPS. Every occupation has sub-standard employees not only USPS. I live near the Canadian border and we have TONS of Canadians using our services, because it is considerably less expensive and way faster. Just keep in mind the employees of USPS are human too!!

And for the record, when you talk about unions, the unions are only there for the worker bees, who make much less than the supervisors and managers. And guess what...management isn't in the union and they never will be!!!! So yes, by all means, cut some of the upper crust off, but don't make the rest of us suffer.

I find it hard to believe that the postal service doesn't get enought biz. I use it constantly for eBay purchases and sales, Netflix rentals, plus many businesses still send envelopes, post cards, magazines, etc. There still is a need to move items from one location to the next. Yes UPS and FEDEX are out there, but they are much more expensive.

We do have greeting cards, and they barely sell. We did sell phone cards at one time, but they did not sell. People do not want that stuff from the post office.

They need to get rid of the top tier managers and maybe not promote so many. If one is not needed then you should have to wait for that spot to open not just give the raise.

But I don't want to lose my PO.

diane h-3230249

"If you you go to USPS.com , you will see all the products the Postal Service now offers. You may be pleasantly surprised"

If you you get a clue, the usps and rivals are so bigoted that you can't send anything that includes anything politically incorrect regardless of reason.

At least I can still get bullets for reloading by mail. When will the PC idiots ban that? When they think the criminals care to load own ammo?

It takes a literal ACT of Congress to curtail sat. delivery. and a independent government agency to allow a rate increase and they turned down the last one. The Post Office has been asking to drop sat. delivery for 2 years now. Not there fault that congress hasn't acted.

Diane Marche:

[Unions, tontosh, unions.]

Yes...PRIVATE SECTOR UNIONS...

Write your Congressman/woman - tell them you would gladly give up Saturday service to save 7,500 jobs... One of them may be your own!

It's not the unions that are stopping it, it's Congress.

They DON'T need to increase first class rates. There's hardly any of that left any more anyway, so what good would it do? What they need to do is increase second class rates. If business paid their fair share there wouldn't be a problem here. But instead they always try to balance their budget on the backs of the individual users of the mail system (probably because the individuals don't have lobbyists in DC), which does nothing but decrease their income as more and more individuals turn to other means of communication. But they never learn, which is why they are where they are now. No, they won't look the same in 10 years. In fact, they may not exist at all in 10 years unless they 1) allowed to keep their profits in good years, and 2) learn that increasing first class rates is not going to save them from anything, but only hasten their demise.

i'm a carpenter who has worked on post offices all over ohio...alot of the workers have bad attitudes and they are freaking lazy..,, but they are protected by their unions.. so they will continue to do the same.. they could be replaced by harder workng people with good work ethics...but they will file grievances until the system can't afford to operate anymore...someone needs to clean house on all the crybabies and let motivated individuals have a chance.

The post offices should quit Sat delivery asap. Then get rid of most of their several layers of overpaid mgrs.

Neither do I. They work 6 days a week, why not just 5? I am sure that most businesses and all of the private deliver wouldn't suffer. They would have more to do on Monday and our mailman usually is 2 to 3 hours later on Monday now.

I have worked for the post office for over 13 years. I used to love the job when I first started and slowly but surely it went downhill. Biggest problem is too much management and giving them bonuses for doing absolutely nothing! They come and go as they please, they leave the stations alone to run errands, go pick up their kids from school, take their parents to the doctor and then don't want to help the customers with their issues. They are always instructing the employees to "deal"with the complaints or "take a message" when they are sitting around doing nothing. A lot of the unqualified people in management got their by intimately knowing someone of the opposite sex who was in management. It's sad when you've got a manager who can't spell, write a letter, or even speak correct english! Sad, but the post office let's these people keep their positions know matter how bad they are. I'm guessing it's to save money on lawsuits from these managers as they could claim sexual harrassment and I'm sure they would let out a lot of secrets about all the mismanagment that the post office would not like aired. All I'm saying is I work there, I've seen it all and if the public knew what I know, I doubt they'd trust anything the postal service says. Listen to the people who actually work there, NOT, those who don't.

The early retirement buyout is only available to the lazy worthless etc. managers. I would agree that there is no need to increase first class postage. Second Class mail is magazines and periodicals. The REAL crime is in Third class "Junk Mail" I've seen presorted 3rd class mail from the local college for as little as $.08, yes eight cents!!! When the rest of us are paying almost 50 cents. Huge mailing houses are clogging up the flow of mail delivery, and pocketing a fortune sending out unwanted crap at below cost sweetheart deals!

I work for them also, have for about 5 years. I used to like it also, but not because of the management, but because of the customers. Some of them think they know it all and think we do nothing, unless you have walked or drove in these peoples shoes. Dont open your month and tell me how well I have it. The gas price hurt me alot and do not get more to drive my car. zmaybe, we can get away with 5 days who knows, but do not complain if we are late and you dont get it same time everyday.

I agree with you completely! I would also like to add that this problem is not just with the Postal Service. It is a part of every government office from the smallest "City" to the "Federal" level of Government. It even exists in the "For Profit" sector of business. The upper management have been getting the creme from the crop, from salaries to profit shares and bonuses, while the working-force has been handed pay cuts, lay-offs, and branch closings. It's time for a Revolution!

Tontosh, Diane and Mickey, it DOES take an ACT of Congress. If you think that Saturday delivery should be dropped, postage rates changed or the dead weight in the management department gotten rid of, write to your congressmen and women. They are the ones who are hurting the post office by not agreeing to the changes. Customers do not see all the work the clerks do besides the work that they do at the window or have any concept of how much the carriers have to do before they can even get out on the road. And to the lady that says her or her husbands manager plays video games, ours plays cribbage.

Because the raises in rates and one less day per week are grossly unjustified. As for the person who complains that customers don't see "all the work clerks do", bet me. I have stood in our post office and watched as a clerk would see one customer and put up her "closed" sign and stand there talking to another clerk for 5 minutes or so and then open her window and see ONE more customer before closing her window again. What's with that? Our PO has seven windows and there are usually 3-5 clerks working...but not all at the same time. One stupid moron huffed at a customer who walked to his window before being called up and told the customer to go back to the line and wait until called...then sat, in my presence, and stared at the customer for several minutes before calling him up. I was next and when the clerk called me up the first thing I said to him was that I was NOT in nursery school and didn't need his permission to do things. What lazy arrogance.

I agree....let those junk mail idiots pay the same price the rest of us do. That would solve two problems...more money for the Post Office and less junk mail in my mailbox!!!!!

Unions protect the grunts of the post office, not the managers.

Build up the USA grunts. They are the ones who are making the country work.

To Kaiser Travis. You are extremely naive if you think that the union isn't stopping the elimination of Sat. deliveries.

Yes, tontosh, it is Congress that is delaying the elimination of Saturday delivery. As elected representatives, they avoid actions that could lose votes.

So this featherbedding goes on, far beyond its' usefulness. (I compare it to featherbedding, which was the practice of 5-man train crews. The fireman position was traditional, so it remained for many years after the boilers were removed from locomotives. For better and worse, trains now have 2-person crews, in order to survive financially.) Yes, one in six mail carrier positions will go away when Saturday delivery goes. There will be a small effect on the rest of the economy (it will hurt Netflix customers.) But consider the gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel that will not be consumed on Saturdays.

retired from USPS, 31 years

Leave the cushy and embrace the taxpayers. Ah, the cushy don't embrace anyone but selves. Want it all without earning.

Take my mail and shove up your hole.

I can deal with it without you.

I am a letter carrier for the USPS, and id be willing to bet that you have no idea what our retirement and healthcare options are. I pay into both of the systems, believe me they are not nearly as good as the public think they are.

sDean, agreed. They aren't that great.

Tim Mic, I hope you have a few million in the bank so you can pay for your heathcare and retirement Package. The postal workers are not on the same plan as the Congress.

The post office has to prepay into that fund by the billions each year and otherwise would have shown a profit for last year

postal workers are over paid!

If you have a retirement health care package or retirement package AT ALL...don't whine. Many companies are cutting them out entirely.

Besides banks how many other working people get all holidays off with pay?

I am sure this isn't considered a benefit.

Unless you are a full time employee, you do not get holidays off with pay. Furthermore, many employees work holidays and Sundays to keep the mail going. Many Postmasters work on Saturday for free (salaried) either because they have no help, or an employee is on leave.

disabilty leave know a lot of them 50k a year

Yeah, it pretty much sucks!

There are a lot of jobs that get paid for the major holidays! My job in the IT field pays more than what is being posted for postal workers, plus medical/dental, paid holidays, PTO, sick and vacation time and 401k with employer matching. Don't know where most of you work that you are praising/complaining about somebody making $50k a year with holidays and other benefits, but get over it! That is barely middle class in some areas and poverty in places like CA.

If you think it's a cushy job, just drive from mailbox to mailbox and stuff them with mail, you should try it sometime, especially in places where it snows! That is a very demanding job that most don't fully appreciate, until you get home from work and the mail isn't delivered yet, then you get all irate! More cutbacks will equal bigger routes and more delays and much longer days for those keep working.

Hey dip-@!$%# if you had a union you might get paid days off:

Hey Maze if he had a union his company might be downsizing, closing offices, etc. Does this sound familiar to you? That's right dip^&^%%$.

My sister works for the Post Office- After 20 years, she gets 4 weeks vacation. Big deal... After 20 years... my husband got 5 weeks vacation AND 10 personal days, a pension HE did NOT have to contribute to, and a MATCHED 401 k. Yeah.. the got it great at the Post Office.

@Nashville Bill, there are still DHL trucks going around in KC. Guess you didn't have enough business for them.

Postal: Thank the Stupid Republicpukes for the problems in this country..matter of fact blame all the idiots.Oh are you getting downsizes...I know when I worked for the PO there where 834000 people working now they say only have 540000 WOW thats a cut in itself. If they get rid of 50000 mangernment jobs they would save 3 billion.

I am part-time, I do not get paid for any holidays. I almost beg to work them so i can get the money. I can not afford the insurance because of being part-time.

You have no idea what you are talking about. I'm a postal employee, and our insurance is not great! Matter of fact, I chose not to take ours. My family uses my husbands insurance, who is not a government employee. To all of the people on here who are bashing the employees of the postal service, TRY IT! Go take the test and try to get hired, to find out that you have to work part time for 10 years WITH NO BENEFITS OR PAID TIME OFF, TO BE ON CALL ALL OF THE TIME.... I could go on! So you wish that you have paid days off??? Try it, I DARE YOU! Yes, some employees are bad seeds, but what company doesn't have them? Yes, we are top heavy, but I think that they are trying to fix that problem.

Unions force companies to choose between giving in to demands, going out of business or moving overseas. Our unemployment rate indicates too many companies have chosen the second two options.

When unions kill a company, they ruin things both for the unionized workers and for the non-union employees such as engineers, IT people, managers, etc. I lost a job because of the IAM union at Boeing going on strike.

FYI, I've worked for USPS for 13 years and I do NOT receive paid holidays! Only full-time career employees do and they are not as many as you think left!

I have had this argument many times with many idiots on this topic..I have been a letter carrier for 16 years. I have worked in snow so high I could barely walk but kept going. Heat so hot I thought I would melt or pass-out, pouring rain all day and dogs on the loose due to a customer that" oh my dog won't bite" yet rip holes in my bag. Yet everyday, day after day I show up as well as many more like me. If you have never done any of these things how can you possibly tell me how much I am worth? We are top heavy I agree but don't come out swing on the people who actually do the job..Swing on the people who think they know how to do mine sitting in and office..

Great answer. It is not the carrier or the clerk who have made the poor decisions. There are no bonuses for the employees you see on the front line as there are for those who make and implement how the PO will operate. Those who make those decisions have negotiated great deals for themselves. How?, they claim to be losing money. Where is the money for their "perks" coming from?

Thank you for the job you do Lizbeth. I wish I could have let those who complain try my job for a day or even a week.

One of the biggest jokes about the supposed salaries, what they added to fluff the amount that has nothing to do with the paycheck we receive.

If UPS an FedEx had to deliver mail instead of packages, they would also fail unless they charged 5 dollars for a letter. Let the free market try to run the post office and deliver letters and they would sink or you would be swearing at them for the amount you had to pay for postage.

verno,

True!

@LeftLeaningLisa: I suggest you mail all you letters through UPS from now on. You might come to appreciate what a massively good deal first class postage is. Whenever I go to mail something through UPS I almost fall over when they give me the price - and it seems to rise and rise and rise.

The post office is becoming obsolete. If you still want to use snail mail instead of email go right ahead. I use email, pay my bills on the computer or at the bill pay store. I write anybody worth writing by email. If you want to write in your own handwriting, write the letter and scan it and deliver it by email ! Save a tree ! It is that easy. I do not deal with companies that don't do business online. What is the point? Fed Ex is a good alternative and will become even more reasonable, I believe as business picks up due to post offices closing. The world goes on and will go on without the USPS.

Ever since I switched to sending and receiving packages by UPS, I have received my packages intact with no damaged goods for maybe a dollar extra. Likewise my packages have been received in a timely manner without damage. The more these alternatives are used, I believe, the more reasonable the prices will be.

Both Fedex and UPS drop packages off daily in rural areas for the Post Office to do the final delivery because those areas are not profitable for private companies. Th USPS is mandated to deliver to every address, regardless of profitability. As for those that cry "Privatize", it has been shown that private business is not even interested in the Post Office because it is a Service, not a Business

I just laugh so hard. Do you people know what a Balikbayan Box is? Is is an unlimited weight box that is filled with whatever and sent ACROSS THE US, then ACROSS THE OCEAN, then ACROSS ANOTHER COUNTRY and arrives at the destination for 90 bucks. For what the Post office charges you could not get that same box onto a truck to anywhere for under 500 USD.

Don't tell me anything...I can tell you the issue. Salaries are a VERY small part of overhead of a business. Healthcare costs, retirement costs, and other assorted things NOT NEEDED being allowed to be presented as a "normalcy" are the issue. Get back to reality and get back to living within your means.

I_Fortuna-2367597
If you want to write in your own handwriting, write the letter and scan it and deliver it by email ! Save a tree ! It is that easy.

And where in this I save a tree?

Hey lowertaxes,

Speak for your own school system. Ours runs just fine.

Thanks for advice Mark-1219747!
Next time I'll need to send an invoice to my client I'll definitely use Balikbayan Box! I just need to ask them to relocate from Chicago to Philippines.

@V1140 - the scanning scheme saves the paper consumed by the envelope and stamp, as well as the energy burned to collect, sort, transport, resort, and deliver - and if you use the blank reverse of a junkmail letter to handwrite the message, then recycle it after scannage, part of a tree could thus be saved.

Take your package to UPS or Fed Ex. When you see how much they are going to charge you come on back to the Post Office. If the govt let us charge their prices none of this conversation would be taking place. When the price of gas goes up we can't place a surcharge on your package, they do! And there's a good chance that package you ship with UPS or Fed Ex will be delivered by the USPS. We deliver mail to every single address in the country 6 days a week.

"@V1140 - the scanning scheme saves the paper consumed by the envelope and stamp, as well as the energy burned to collect, sort, transport, resort, and deliver - and if you use the blank reverse of a junkmail letter to handwrite the message, then recycle it after scannage, part of a tree could thus be saved."

What? I was waiting for the suggestion to use it for toilet paper. You, are possessed.

May I suggest you recycle the petroleum based computer you are typing on?

cabinboyyo...That is not a nice thing to say..triple the reduce workforce would crush our mail service worse and more people would lose their jobs and the economy would be affected even worse than it already is.

If you think mail delivery sucks now, think about what it would be like if they tripled the reduction. How would you like someone to say that about who you work for and they did that and put you out of your job!

They need to get rid of management!!!!! Not workers.

They could eliminate alot of management jobs. I go to the post office where our mail comes from and 4 or 5 supervisors are setting at a desk talking. It makes no difference what time of day, they never know what is going on and there is never a post master there. They could eliminate all of these people.

So true. I work for the post office and there's waaaaaay too much management. All they do is sit on their butts all day, avoid customers, eat, and decide what they are going to spend those huge bonuses on that they get for doing NOTHING!! It's the carriers and the clerks who do all the work! They need to get rid of the excess management and cut the bonuses! HELLO - the post office is going broke - so why should ANYONE be getting bonuses????

Hey lowertaxes,

Speak for your own school system. Ours runs just fine.

mipak...maybe you should lose your job too!!! Obviously, your job is not working for the PS so you could care less about the guy that loses his job but you will care when those that are laid off, lose their job, house, family and put this economy in worse shape than it is. Who knows, maybe you will lose your job after all. Huh!!!

Melissa,

Spoken like a true socialist. You don't care that the business is bankrupt and will not be running next year without government assistance. You only care that you keep your job. They are losing their jobs because noone wants to fix the issue.

Or at least someone with an education. The post office makes all of its promotion decisions based on nepotism and ass-kissing. Education isn't valued at all. No one in management knows anything about running a business other than what they have been told within the system. Clerks and carriers are told exactly how to do their jobs not based on efficiency, but just so they can be disciplined if they do it a different way. The only way the post office makes any attempt to motivate their employees is through fear and intimidation. Innovation is definitely not encouraged.

Exactly Doc, they couldn't do it. They would have to charge 5 dollars or more, and then they still wouldn't do it.

and you have to pay extra for saturday delivery

UPS could get started in the letter-delivery business the same way that they got their foot in the package business door, if regulations (Private Express Statutes) permitted.

They started by skimming the cream - accepting packages ONLY from high-volume business shippers for business addresses that were ONLY in high density areas, where they already had delivery networks established. If they accepted a package that was outside the juicy profit area (or if a route had insufficient volume to make a profit, like one package) these outliers were just dropped into the mail. The mailpieces were a loss, but the cream was very tasty - enough profit to gradually expand the delivery and acceptance system into the present powerhouse. Anybody want to work split shifts at the sorting plant? Four hours ON, 4 OFF, 4 ON.

FedEx and UPS and the postal system utilize each other. FedEx helps in the overnight delivery and delivery period via air transport as well as USPS helps in some of the distribution of parcels for the UPS. Though one employee cannot work for both places at the same time they assist each other.

You're obviously an idiot :)

Junk mail consists of sales and advertisements. In turn these companies pay us. If advertisements don't get to our customers, we don't make money. We have quite a few companies that pay us for this service.

Excellent idea! I’ll check with my UPS and FedEx offices if they will deliver our invoices and bills via Facebook! Or even better – Tweeter!

what a dumb statement..... I still get paper bills, I like knowing that if my internet goes down or my computer malfunctions that I can still know how much I owe and can still send in my payment. The USPS is still an important part of our lives....

Chris1870022

You are so "not" informed...I hope your FB, cell phone and computer crash so you won't know when any of your bills are due and you have to pay late fees. we DO need the Postal Service--just not all the "management". They need to cut there (management)and then they would be just fine. You probably text while you are driving too if you are that dependent on technology. You are such an idiot when it comes to the workings of the Postal Service!! Don't bitch about a job until you have done it before.....try walking in the carriers shoes for just one day....I doubt you could handle it.

the reasons are legal... they need to notify the offices and persons who will lose thier jobs. Or do you think it would benefit you if you were one on the chopping block but the general public knew first would please you.

True, there are many notifications. Very few would involve layoffs. Full-time regular employees will not lose their jobs. Many could be relocated to another worksite within commuting distance. Part-time Flexible Schedule employees would be the same, but they could lose (or gain) assigned workhours. Cut-backs would be through attrition and retirement incentives.

Temporary Employees could lose their jobs, but they also could be reassigned.

really? I pay some of my bills online but a lot of the businesses charge a fee for doing it and it is a lot more than the cost of a stamp. You can bet that the banks will be charging for or adding additional costs to the bill pay systems attached to your checking accounts too. In the long run it will cost us all more.

Goat Rancher Bob: don't worry about it, the PO will delivery to you no matter where you live...Even at the bottom of the Grand Caynon...lol

Goat Rancher, what are you using the P.O. for? UPS or Fed Ex can deliver your mail or perhaps you could use the library computers, but it seems you have your own. There are only some instances where snail mail is still useful. Most companies have toll free phone numbers, people use Paypal and almost anyone can get a debit card or pay as you credit card. Check the bill pay companies. You can pay your bills through them for a nominal fee.

Ya for a bigger fee like 9.95.....I don't know where you live but I can mail a letter from Pa to Calf. and they get it in three days or less. do that with UPS or fedex.

postal employees don't collect unemployment because they do not pay into it.

to US Citizen 1907047

What an idiot..........let's just add to government debt a little bit more.

Those employees have earned their retirement just like you probably did. Just try to get FedEX or UPS to deliver a letter for 47 cents. GOOD LUCK A letter can get from the West Coast to the East Coast in 3 days (regular mail). quit your bitchin'

@diane h Postal employees ARE eligible for unemployment if laid off. Their compensation would be paid by the state unemployment office, and billed to the Postal Service. If their employment and reason for removal meet the requirements in state unemployment law, they can receive benefits.

For the few states that charge an employee payroll tax for the unemployment fund, you are probably correct that Postal employees, like all Federal employees, are exempt from that tax and do not pay into the fund. Their unemployment compensation would be paid by the employer when needed.

I was witness at an appeal hearing for a Postal employee who was removed for cause - he claimed unemployment and appealed when denied. His case was considered by the Administrative Law Judge who heard testimony under oath, just as provided for any employee in our state (IN).

Because if you lay off you have to start with the workers with the lowerest # of years who are also your lowest paid and you still keep the top layer of higher paid workers.

What I have suggested many times in many different post offices is that the usps should be changed to "communications centers" with e-mail terminals, fax, copy, scan and even skype type video communications services. One clerk could oversee 30 or 40 customer terminals in a lobby. A unit could be provided for travelers to receive e-mails and print out attachments for a fee. A customer could go online for a pay per minute or hour fee. We need to save our postal service. It is the only "business" the constitution specifically allows and it is now "privitized"? These people need leadership.

What I have also suggested, but seems backwards to some, was for the Postal Service to lower the cost of postage. That would encourage more people to mail letters and such. When looking at sending a letter the major factors taken into consideration are the time it takes to get there and the cost incurred to send it. The ones mailing stuff have decided that those factors are within reason, however, more businesses are looking to cut costs and .44 per letter mailed is one way to do it. So, if they were to reduce the costs even back to .35 per 1st class letter, companies for one would send more letters again. If you think about the average business, they send on average, 800+ pieces of mail out in a month. Some are finding other ways to distribute their mail or just cutting back on the mail sent out. The company I work for, instead of mailing out all the paychecks and stubs, they have the employees go through the stacks and take theirs and then they only have to mail out the ones that aren't picked up. This has saved lots of money, especially since we get paid every week. We scan and email more documents that used to be mailed, too. I asked the office manager if we would send out more mail if the cost of postage went back down and was told absolutely! They would easily go back up to 1200+ pieces per month. Jobs and income would saved.

Funny how businesses like the USPS believe the only way to generate more funds is to raise prices, but sometimes you can generate more money by generating more volume.

I agree Jerry. When I get package through the commercial carriers, they are often crushed or damaged. Not through the post office. And yes, post office deliveries usually arrive faster. It's popular to complain about the post office as it's popular to complain about a lot of government services, but appreciating them when they are effective happens less often. So thanks USPD. I hope you'll be around a long time too.

Jerry - I work for neither the USPS nor UPS, but I can tell you that I have shipped with both over the last several years. UPS gets my packages to their locations quicker and better than USPS - hands down. I had $1,000 in shipping charges in the last 4 months, so this is real world experience! And I continue to use USPS for small parcels, because they are cheaper not better!

Do not put all of us postal employees together, I go above and beyond to deliver quality service to my customers on my route. Many packages that are shipped and delivered by the USPS are actually delayed in getting into the postal system because they are held at fedex facilities and not timely turned over to the post office for delivery.

Yes and Fedex has USPS deliver their packages for them too. I get small packages from the post office that were shipped by FedEx. Strange isn't it.

sDean, I agree with your statement and have already said I have a great carrier. As with most companies, the problem is with poor management and wasteful policies.

Socal Momma

UPS drops it at the front door, very windy day blew the package into corn field.And your point is?My package sat there for months until the farmer plowed it under.I want my postal service.I also had to send a package the other day and FEDX and UPS do not have delivery to address.What do you do,send a e-mail.

Our closest competitors, UPS and FedEx, pay us to deliver more than 400 million of their ground packages every year in residential areas and on Saturdays. In turn, we contract with UPS and FedEx for air transportation to take advantage of their comprehensive air networks.

The USPS leases space on Fed EX planes, in exchange, Fed Ex puts one of their boxes in front of a PO building. Both sides benefit.

yeah, i'm not a rocket scientist but even a 5th grader is smarter than this--yeah cut 9 billion and we got a plan!

Sounds like the government dealing with our deficit

guess you gotta start somewhere (even these savings are very difficult when Congress won't let the USPS close offices - article does not address that little snag).

This does seem to be a case of the fire hose on the over-heated nuclear reactor.

I know... I was laughing about that one too. Derrrrrrrrr

you can than the postal workers union for fighting the closures. they didn't want to lose the extra dues....

Yes they will bus people in from New York like they did in WI. They can tear up post offices in towns and that will help the post office make money. Post Offices are all owned by individuals or corporations not the federal government.

LMAo varmit you gullible putz bus in lmao yeah they bused in the palm trees in the background too. Can you say idiotic or just idjit?

Ray: I say both...People are so gullable they would believe anything a Republicpuke will tell them....Matter of fact anyone that stand on a pulpit and spew their hated the Masses will believe.

@varmit

Some postal facilities are leased and some are owned outright by USPS.

The USPS Leased Facilities Report is available online (under the Freedom of Information Act.) Anything not listed as leased is Postal-owned.

Real Estate Inventory USPS, end of 2010

Owned properties 8,621 interior square feet 198,081,325

Owned land in square feet 953,304,006

Leased properties 24,671 interior square feet 88,247,231

GSA/other government properties 328 interior square feet 2,300,477

Thanks Mailman8, curious why the owned properties have so much more sq footage than the leased and other properties do? Could be they have most of the distribution/sorting/handling equipment in them. I have worked for a company that handles lots of mail and packages, mostly interoffice stuff (Pitney Bowes) and was quite impressed with their equipment, figuring the USPS buildings must be even bigger with much more equipment.

I cant believe how many articles were written on this subject, the fact sadly is the U.S. Postal service has out lived itself. P.S. Maze you are an idiot...and more................'s