Late Monday, the U.S. Postal Service reported that it lost $3.8 billion in the 2009 fiscal year. As you might guess, people just aren't using "snail mail" like they used to. The suggestion to shave some more off their costs? Cut Saturday service. That would save an estimated $3.5 billion per year. I think this is a pretty reasonable idea.
These days, few people sending letters or packages through USPS care too much about timely delivery. If they did, they could still use UPS or FedEx. Instead, postal service could just act as a cheaper alternative -- with no Saturday service. I think, personally, I could live with that. And I suspect businesses could too. After all, Saturday isn't a business day anyway.
The biggest problem I could see would be for those who pay their bills via USPS. An extra day for payments in-transit could translate to more late fees. Of course, this problem should take care of itself before too long -- once people realize that Saturday service has ended, and they need to mail their checks a day earlier. It's consumers' responsibility to understand how to get their bills in on-time, even if the mail service changes its policies. Besides, with each day that passes more and more Americans are choosing online or phone-based payment options, rather than rely on the mail.
A much smaller worry: I wonder, though, how Netflix or other such delivery services that utilize USPS would feel about this change. As a Netflix customer myself, I admit that I wouldn't be thrilled with having one less day per week to mail or receive movies. But given their new on-demand service that I can access through my Blu-ray player, I think I could supplement any lack of mailed movies through that option.
Bottom line: it seems that technology will increasingly take the place of postal service in the years to come. This time around, Saturday service may be eliminated. But give it a few more years, and we might see Monday-Wednesday-Friday service. One day, USPS may be eliminated entirely.
It would probably only add two more days (on in and one out) to the mail time. As long as Congress mandates maybe a slightly longer payment window from the time I get a bill to the time it's due, I'd be for dropping Saturday mail service. But hey, keep open some post offices for over the counter services so working folks can buy stamps, etc.
Congress has to approve this. It seems that most congressmen think that there's a magic money tree somewhere that will eventually bear fruit - so they don't allow agencies to take any cost saving measures that inconvenience any of their constituents in the least.
PS: Yes i know that USPS is "independent", however this move does require congressional approval.
But then I wouldn't get Netflix deliveries on Saturdays!
What else is the mail for?
Actually if you want timely delivery you better use USPS. I've use UPS and they take forever...must be the non Saturday delivery.. "These days, few people sending letters or packages through USPS"...hmmm must be because you don't actually work for them as the reason you don't see how much is being mailed...Don't use lower volume for saying this as you would have to say the same for both ups and FedEx...as they have seen a drop in their volume as well..so much for the FACTS...And for the "Saturday isn't a business day anyway." well maybe not for lazy people like you...but some business's are....so don't speak for them!!!!
The US government just doesn't need to be operating a mail monopoly any more than it needs to be running its own airline, supermarket chain, etc.
Exit the industry and let the private parcel deliverers have at the low-end market. They would do the job much more efficiently and cheaply (and politely) than the government does.
The free market might not be best for all tasks... but this is one where it clearly would do a better job.
nonsense. private parcel services rely on the usps for a good deal of rural delivery, and some residential delivery, too. moreover, the usps provides local pickup in your zipcode, as opposed to some distribution center in the shit side of town with terrible operating hours (and no weekends). moreover, ups employees are largely represented by the teamsters, an organization that the libertarians know and love so well.
moreover, usps offers flat rate services with 2-3 day delivery (saturdays counted). their standard rates are typically cheaper, as well. think about it, why would the usps lose tons money while fedex and ups are merely treading water? (hint: they offer lower rates for more services). trust me, the private parcel services have no desire to get into the business of regular mail.
the principal advantage afforded by private carriers is that they deliver packages directly to your business office. hey, that's great! but it's not the only thing.
if the USPS dies, so does UPS and FedEx, because people like low prices.
Eliminating the Postal Service would require a constitutional amendment as the establishment of a Postal Service is explicitly called for. The reason is some of those mentioned above; to ensure that mail delivery does occur to remote locations. People in LA, New York, etc. have choices on their service - people in Lake of the Isles Minnesota don't.
There is nothing, incidentally, from currently stopping the UPS and Fed Ex's of the world from entering the low end market. They choose not to. I also find it interesting to note that UPS and Fed Ex (along with Googleearth, Mapquest, etc.) are freely using one of the most valuable tools the USPS has provided; the zip code system.
Joel is 100% right. If USPS goes, prices will raise substantially.
The USPS is doomed by a failed business model. They have been stealing from us for years. No, not larceny, but the misappropriation of funds derived from letter mail to pay for junk mail, newspapers, and magazines. These bulk mailers have been getting an almost free ride.
Bulk mail was once important. With the Internet today, these mass mailings already have replacements in the wings. Junk email, newspapers, magazines etc on-line. It won't be long before a PC with Internet connection will be a guaranteed right. Ugh!
USPS is fighting back. They have come up with a way to ship packages that is better than it was. The only concern is for the safety of your package. UPS and Fedex have invetsigative arms that are quite tough on lost packages and they have a good computer system to keep track of packages. With USPS - not so much. USPS looses way too many packages and magazines.
They have tightened up, but they need to continue working on that and raise bulk mail rates to where they should be. Reducing services to customers because they are giving away free services to bulk mailers is just plain dumb.
I am a rural customer and must pick up my mail at the post office. Anything that won't fit in the box requires me to visit the post-mistress. Because I also work out of town the only day I can do that (without taking an hours vacation) is Saturday.
i live in brooklyn in a building without a doorman and neighbors who work. if i get something via USPS, then i also need to go to the post office on saturday. i'm cool with stopping USPS delivery on saturdays, but the post offices need to remain open.
HI,
I dont think this guy Daniel Indiviglio knows what it is like to live in the REAL world but USPS is by far the cheaper alternate of UPS and Defunk Fedex. USPS is the only way we can survive. UPS and FedEx prices are so much more in cost business and everyday people would suffer. Saturday shipping is the only benefit to use Priority Mail service which would deliver on saturdays for the small business and ebay seller or at that any online site. So Mr. Daniel Indiviglio think before you speak comming from a must of been wealthy family. Anyway, We need saturday delivery so I would not suggest.
Cheers!