'...the best reason for ending the postal monopoly: to make home package delivery cheaper. ... it's no secret that UPS and FedEx hate delivering to our homes, because of the time it takes to get out of the truck and ring the bell. The penalty is staggering - residential deliveries often cost 10 to 20 percent more than those for businesses. Allowing these package humpers to carry first- and third-class mail would make this "suburban tax" disappear.'
Wired
31 comments:
Yeah OK!!????What happends to your mail or deliveries when Bobs Mail delivery Service or Franks Speedy delivery goes bust? Yeah I want some private company to forward my mail or packages to me when I move across town or even across country. This guy that wrote the article must be a REPUBLICAN. Thats all they preach. privatize, privatize, privatize. They are full of hot air and want your job given to some fish eater or camel rider, but they run and hide when their job is in jeoparty
I can just see the logistics nightmare if the monopoly were abolished.
GREAT SCOTT! WHAT HAS THIS GUY BEEN SMOKIN? LOL
With the amount of "junk mail" I recieve now, I could just imagine how big my mail box would have to be to accept all the ads from the private companies that would spring up everywhere. Giving more than one company access to my mailbox would not solve anything.
Did this idiot writer ever hear of Congress? It almost takes an act of Congress to close one little country post office.
Another ignorant article where the author has not researched his subject in the least!
What an idiot....how many e-mails would be written if we had to pay 37 cents per? Ok, how's about 20 cents? 10? A nickle? A penny? How many "junk" letters would you NOT get if these mailers had to pay more than 10 to 15 cents? Hey, just offer UPS and FedEx ALL the Parcel Post and maybe they'll understand how FREAKIN' MUCH work we do at our "over-paid" jobs!!!
postal workers sure are afraid of losing their jobs.
I'm not afraid of losin my job, if I do, the federal govt, by law , must retrain me at the gov'ts expense.
That means I can go to school and finish my degree for FREE!!!!!!!!!!! at uncle sams expence!!!!!
Do I want 6 different private companies delivering my mail? Do I want that many private carriers crossing my lawn? How do I know which company is responsible for delivering which letter, and who do I contact if I have a complaint? If I go on vacation, or if I want my mail forwarded, must I contact several different private companies? Sounds like a big headache to me!
the writer of the article crawled on his knees to his supervisor and couldn't wait for the pat on the head and his at a boy!!!
Privatize the Postal Service, we hear it over and over again. Is it because of our rates? No, we generally when compared to our competitors have lower rates, especially on international mail and packages under one pound that is not zone rated and books. Is it because we charge to foward mail? No, fowarding the mail is free of charge. Is it because of the profits we make? We are a NON profit organization. Is it because of our service to the public? No, our service rating with the public is very high.
Lets see why they want to privatize us.. POLITICS.. We are a GOVERNMENT agency, and the REPUBS do not like that. They do not like any organized labor, especially the Postal Service. They think we are all over paid for what we do, even though our salaries are LOWER than the folks at UPS or FedEX. And what the hell is this crap about the "suburban tax"? Since when does anyone get "taxed" for mail delievery in ANY WAY? What a bunch of B*ll Sh*t!
I would suggest you send this idiot a response as his email address is available at the end of the story. Tell him the other side of the story about what "Universal" mail delivery means.
Here is his name, Andy Kessler and his email, akessler@velcap.com , tell him what you think..
The sad thing is nobody is going to know how well the Postal Service was for them until they dismantle us and cause all of the nightmares with delivery. No one is going to think about all of the details with doing this, just as long as a government agency is dismantled.
Reading that article put a happy tear in this retired UPSer's eye. How wonderful. I hope this hatred of the USPS grows into a burning flame and all your business belongs to us.
Abolish the First Class mononpoly:
Let Fedex, UPS and others deliver FCM to our mailboxes.
Expecting an important letter?
Never got it?
Did UPS or Fedex or Sunshine Fastmail get the letter from the sender?
Did one of the above steal the letter to make the other look bad?
Once the mailman comes, I know I got "today's" mail.
If USPS comes at 1pm, UPS comes at 6pm. Sunshine FM comes at 10pm, when do I know I got ALL of Today's mail?
How many delivery services do I want going into my mailbox when all I hear lately is news about identity theft?
Leave FCM with the post office. They have their own law inforcement (postal inspectors) and there's less to worry about this way.
Article writer is way out of line.
He/She doesnt know what they are talking about.
WIRED MAGAZINE is a USPS periodical class mailing- I wonder what company (UPS? DHL? FedEx?) the writer expects to deliver subscriber copies of WIRED to any and every address in the country for $.30 a copy each month? And just above his story trashing the USPS- WIRED is offering subscriptions to the magazine via USPS delivery! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. WIRED Magazine could not exist without the excellent service and pricing the USPS provides to Periodical mailers.
A NYC publisher.
I quit the Postal Service in 1994 after 10 years and have made made way, quite successfully, in the news business since.
The Wired commentary is one of those "Pie-in-the-sky" "wouldn't it be nice" screeds that pretends that all problems are solvable if you just fire all those overpaid workers. The truth is that the business-financed right wing in this country sees government employment as one of the last vestiges of the post-World War II middle class that needs to be wiped out.
Phase one was sending manufacturing overseas and importing their goods back into the country. Phase two was importing cheaper labor from overseas for those jobs that can't be done overseas (though that's changing. Ten years from now, most phone customer service jobs will probably be in India or the Philippines.
Phase three are the government jobs. Just make it look more "efficient" to provide government services through private vendors (read: political donors: see Florida, where I live) and you have a prescription for that dream of the wealthy: No more middle class!
Florida has privatized a lot of its government services, but they're no more efficient than they were before. Indeed, getting a replacement drivers license in some counties can take hours if you go to the office and take a number. I renewed mine and changed my address after my recent move to the west coast of Florida, and got three different licenses, and the last two had instructions to destroy the previous one because of mistakes.
Going after the Postal Service is simply an effort to find a way to ruin the lives of 800,000 people who are working (some harder than others, I will admit), getting health and pension benefits, and living a middle-class life.
The service I've gotten has always been excellent, both at home and at the post office. I use e-mail a lot but still mail in checks for bills because I worry about security online, and have never had a problem.
As for whether the "suburban tax" would go away, who's to say that the replacement for the USPS would necessarily be cheaper or better at doing what USPS does?
And would UPS and FedEx be able to handle the staggering load of first class and advertising mail that their vehicles and workers would have to deal with?
I don't accept the argument that the Postal Service doesn't pay taxes. How many sports teams pay taxes? How many corporations pay taxes? Indeed, in Tampa the government wants to pay the hockey team and it hasn't played a single second of hockey.
The Postal Service is far from perfect, but believe me, having worked in the private sector since leaving USPS, there isn't much perfection there. We have our share of lazy, underproductive people who hide behind others' work. At newspapers, I've seen people sit at their desks and do nothing for hours.
Long live the USPS. We, the postal customers, need it even in this electronic age, and will still need it 50 years from now, I believe.
Wow! What a dope! Kessler has not only failed to properly research his diatribe but he makes laughable assumptions about how the private sector would handle delivery. His implied claim that UPS and FedEx would drop their residential rates 10-20% is as laughable as it is clueless.
See that's the same problem I have with the shipping industry.
Why can't "WE" as consumer's be offered services "by ALL companies" so we Can CHOOSE whom we want to handle our parcels!
UPS whines about our Manopoly on First Class Mail ! What do you think they do, when they sign clients up to use "ONLY" Them Exclusively !!!!
We have the right to select our auto's,Refrigerators,doctor's, Lawyers, but "NOT OUR SHIPPING COMPANIES" ????
EVERYONE Enjoys saving a BUCK!!!!!
"PEOPLE HAVE BECOME TOO LAZY" to shop around, because they been "Buffalowed into Believing one, the other or the third company (UPS,FedEx, or DHL)have reliable Services.
Wake Up American's Ship Via one of the oldest, most reliable Services offered!!!!!
Or you "May" be picking up all your mailings Miles away in time. And that includes any shipments that come to USPS Via the other Three.
Do YOU See Greyhound Buses running into any Small towns anymore????
I deleiver for the USPS and I too have lots of problems with this writers work. Where is the integrity of the story? Did you ever research what you wrote? If you did it did not show or you talked to people at UPS and FedEx only! I speak with a UPS driver almost daily as we bump into each other. When he has 160 deliveries he is out for hours beyond an 8 hour day and when I say 160 delieveries I mean 160 pieces. On the other hand, most letter carriers have 400 to 1300 possible deliveries a day with multiple pieces and vehicles equiped for that type of delivery. Does (or can) UPS and FedEX do the same and 10-20% cheaper? You do the math....new vehicles, carriers and tools???
As others have said, just someone blowing smoke and getting paid to do it.
HEY, Andy Kessler! Try mailing your package via the internet or better yet try UPS or Fex Ex and see what it cost you. Or better yet to can walk it to where it needs to get too!
11:18- Great post.
Bush wants to privatize social Security. So why not the USPS? Hey. it's all about the money in private hands! Piss off, Bush!!
Hmm,
Everyone worries about security & their privacy.
But this guy wants anyone whom hasn't a care in the world about you information-or probably don't even qualify for security reasons. Or a company that don't give a Rat's Pa-toot about you items(like UPS) doesn't!!! throwing valued items on a porch, or deck, just don't cut it, in my world.
Or... could possibly be in business a year, until he realizes there's NO MONEY In this operation.
Or the price of fuel has risen above there figured allowances, and closes shop on a whim because they can't pay next months fuel bill?
Or close this door.
Then open up under another Name in a month or Two!
Building contractors-Do this ALL the time!!
Now were does your mail go then people...returned for a extra fee,or a shredder...or in dumpster to the land fill?
Where "all you data" from various accounts, bank statement, or a Check you possible had expected to arrrive soon, is free for the asking!
People Wake up, there was a Reason why Postal Employee's are sworn to a Oath to protect YOUR property & privacy!
I know we have some bad apples in the basket from time to time.
But the Postal Inspectors do a pretty good job weeding out those whom choose this path due to greed, or a chemical dependence on the outside.
So if you think idenitity thief is bad Now, YOU JUST grab you hat in the future if this is enacted!!!!!!!!!
Research the Canada Mail system.,YOU want to pick up your mail at a Porn shop.
Or pay fifty cents each letter which they have been charging from about 2001.
They Close shop @ 6:pm on the DOT friday night and don't open until Monday.
Mail forwarding is $45 dollars for Ninety days.
Do you See USPS doing this,NO!
-Because that is included in the price of the stamp YOU pay for, mail forwarding to you new address.
Sometimes the grass smells nicer on the other side of the fence.
YOU'll learn what's there, if you take a peek over it once in a while!!!!
Maybe YOU ought to check the Prices of all three first YOU idiot !
See who's the cheaper???
It's NOT UPS or FedEx, or DHL BELIEVE ME!
You nust sit on your brains, because they haven't been functioning too well " I Read"!!!
Retired UPS person,
YOU Have the same logistical problems as anyone else!
Your former Company just presents it with a nice LIE !!!
Anyone can tell a new born child "blue is Green" until someone else with knowledge teaches them the real Facts!
One cannot live it the dark all there lives like you did!!!
This idiot must own UPS stock. Privatize the USPS? How smart! Imagine wanting to mail a letter to Podunk, Utah. Whose stamp do you put on it? What corner mailbox do you deposit the letter in? What rate chart do you use? Is there an office or phone number to go to if you need questions anwered? Do they even deliver there? What happens if your package is damaged or missing? Are there security measures to prevent identity theft? The fact is no company will provide universal service including UPS because they wouldnt make a profit unless they charge 40% more than USPS does. Ask UPS to deliver a package on a weekend and see what it cost you. Try almost $100. Wake up and smell what you've been shoveling.
yeah...I'm an independent contractor for both ups and fed ex and I'll tell you this residential deliveries are a massive pain in the ass, firstly every single residential delivery is sittin on there computer tracking there beany baby or marvel comic or whatever junk they've bought from the time they hang up the phone till the time I get to there door. Your phoning me every day "is it in? is it in?" and berating me when it isn't like I have some control over it. Then when I go to take it out guess what? you guys aren't home because no ones home during the day..so I either get yelled at for coming during the day when your at work or I have to wait until after 4pm to start my deliveries which turns into a 14 hour day. And then guess what? your pissed because I'm coming so late or because you have to pay taxes that you thought you so cleverly avoided by buyin out of state over the internet. You see commercial customers create business for me everyday...and mulitple parcels they are my bread and butter...then some chump spends 10 bucks to "ship economy" to his door and is pissed because I don't drop everything and spill my coffee all over myself scrambling to my vehicle to hand deliver this precious cargo. And then god forbid the retard on ebay who's shippin your 14 dollar piece of crap doesn't package it properly because its my fault if you get it alittle dinged, even though the actual parcel isn't damaged...it looks damaged...you know the box, Can I open it?, no? why not? I demand you let me open it... meanwhile while I'm sittin there debating the same dumb shit debate I always have to debate about why you can't open it until you sign for it, because UPS and FED EX need to know the parcel was delivered "Untampered" with you, times tickin by and no one else is gettin there delivery and while there waiting because of you and the next guy and the next guy... there bloggin sites like this bitchin I'm takin to long...I'd gladly give up residential deliveries...let the post office have it, but then thats why they go fuckin nuts and kill every body, its not the business' drivin em nuts its joe and jane bitch bag sixpack and there suckin selfish bunkery.
To the obviously Postal employee blogs, who don't think they work for the government and oh yea, the TAXPAYER, you obviously don't know the case that went before the SUPREME COURT! between the USPS and Flamingo Industries, I can't wait for postal service reform, it WILL COME, AND YOU WON'T STOP IT!!AND THE REASON IT IS ON IT'S WAY IS BECAUSE OF BIG MOUTH, ARROGANT, SNIVELING POSTAL EMPLOYEES LIKE YOURSELF. We are't going to pay to have the losers in the postal service retire on our money!!!! And we won't be retraining you in another job either, just wait and see. You should realize that these blogs are read by all, and even those WHO DO DICTATE POLICY IN HIGH PLACES. LOTS OF LUCK FOOL.
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