How Stupid Are They?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

So you make it sound like it's perfectly OK for any government program or entity to lose money. The new norm. Bullshit!!!
The post office should be profitable, and if they were charging Amazon and E-bay the same shipping rates, (or very competitive with) FedEx or UPS, they'd be a lot closer to the goal. It sounds like they have given those shippers such great rates that it threatens their own One Package Size/One package rate.

I don't know what the deal is with the PO and Amazon (or eBay? That one is odd - discount is pretty much the same as you get if you go on-line with the PO yourself with your own account), but I've never gotten anything from Amazon that was delivered by the PO. Everything has been UPS.

The 1st rate price is still way low........

The USPS delivers large, lightweight Amazon packages to Tucson residents.

Not to me in VA. All 3 trucks are on the street here...... Yet I do know that elsewhere UPS does drop off to the USPS for final delivery.

Ok, so what happens if USPS charges UPS the full load and UPS just walks away? You end up paying more from UPS, USPS loses that income, and USPS rates go up. Who wins? Not the US customer, that's for sure. But then we always lose. So, how much more are you willing to pay for USPS mail?

[healey36]

I can't remember the last time I got a house delivery from UPS...a high percentage of their "last-mile" activity is delivered here via USPS. Same with DHL...significant amount goes to the local PO for home delivery. Haven't ordered anything via FedEx in a long time. I see Big Brown run up and down my street all day long but they never stop at my place. Occasionally see them at one of my neighbor's.

For what it's worth I still think $.49 is a good deal for first class letter anywhere in the US (but then they tell me I'm a dinosaur).

Congressional interference, IMHO, drives unprofitable operations at both USPS and AMTRAK. I think management understands what needs to be done but congressmen intervene whenever it might affect their district(s).

Healey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I see Big Brown run up and down my street all day long but they never stop at my place.

It's all part of the vast Illuminati deliver service conspiracy

For what it's worth I still think $.49 is a good deal for first class letter anywhere in the US (but then they tell me I'm a dinosaur).

It's a bargain - check what the rates are in other countries for service over the distance we can get for $.49 - yet every time it gets increased youd' think the world was coming to the end.

Congressional interference, IMHO, drives unprofitable operations at both USPS and AMTRAK. I think management understands what needs to be done but congressmen intervene whenever it might affect their district(s).

"Congressional interference" is an understatement.

[Mitch]

I can't remember the last time I got a house delivery from UPS...a high percentage of their "last-mile" activity is delivered here via USPS.

I've ordered parts for boat motors from a Marine Co. in Delaware that uses USPS for any and everything excluding heavy weight and what won't fit in the box, and I think it gets here faster than UPS.

Congressional interference, IMHO, drives unprofitable operations at both USPS and AMTRAK. I think management understands what needs to be done but congressmen intervene whenever it might affect their district(s).
Healey

I'll agree with that point. Special interests and politicians are NOT strange bedfellows.

[healey36]

Congressional interference, IMHO, drives unprofitable operations at both USPS and AMTRAK. I think management understands what needs to be done but congressmen intervene whenever it might affect their district(s).
Healey

I'll agree with that point. Special interests and politicians are NOT strange bedfellows.

The under-funded letter-carrier pension obligation continues to be a problem as well, although from what I've read that has been significantly reduced. I used to think that the letter-carrier union was overwhelmingly culpable in the whole issue of USPS insolvency, and they certainly are to great extent, however even those guys, when pressed, will agree with the steps needed to right the ship.

I'd be interested to see an estimate of the unfunded/under-funded federal employee pension and retiree healthcare obligation...that must be a staggering sum.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Congressional interference, IMHO, drives unprofitable operations at both USPS and AMTRAK. I think management understands what needs to be done but congressmen intervene whenever it might affect their district(s).
Healey

I'll agree with that point. Special interests and politicians are NOT strange bedfellows.

The under-funded letter-carrier pension obligation continues to be a problem as well, although from what I've read that has been significantly reduced. I used to think that the letter-carrier union was overwhelmingly culpable in the whole issue of USPS insolvency, and they certainly are to great extent, however even those guys, when pressed, will agree with the steps needed to right the ship.

Eventually reality does filter through....

I'd be interested to see an estimate of the unfunded/under-funded federal employee pension and retiree healthcare obligation...that must be a staggering sum.

That may be decreasing since the Fed employee system went to FERS in 1984 where the employees are responsible for their own pension, while the numbers of those in the earlier system pre-84 are steadily declining.....

[rogruth]

Mitch,

With Tongue in Cheek, You saying to let all these workers go so they can get unemployment?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

... Yet I do know that elsewhere UPS does drop off to the USPS for final delivery.

I have seen that happen right in front of me as I have walked behind our local Post Office and noted UPS trucks off-loading (or was it on-loading?) at the rear loading dock.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

... Yet I do know that elsewhere UPS does drop off to the USPS for final delivery.

I have seen that happen right in front of me as I have walked behind our local Post Office and noted UPS trucks off-loading (or was it on-loading?) at the rear loading dock.

Yes, same except that they park out front of the PO at no parking or standing sign in the painted off section so that they can block moving traffic from seeing the pedestrians walking in to the PO.

[Tom Dempsey]

It's all part of the vast Illuminati deliver service conspiracy

Well, I am listening and promise to bring all these concerns up at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the TriLateral Commission.

[Mitch]

Mitch,

With Tongue in Cheek, You saying to let all these workers go so they can get unemployment?

Not hardly. What I'm sayin' is for government to get smaller. To streamline and become more efficient. To become more competitive in their jobs, (even though they have no competition). And haven't you heard? Unemployment is now low, and will go lower as more and more jobs are created. And it wouldn't be such a big deal to lose a low level government job, considerin' that companies are hiring and the best ones provide healthcare and 401Ks with anywhere from a 3% to 7% company match. That's free money. And the returns on IRAs and 401Ks is certainly much better than the 1% lifetime gain on SSI.

[robert.]

Mitch you make it sound so good. Most new jobs are not that good. Today’s companies charge for health insurance. At 3-7 percent yes it is free money. $156-374 a year. You need to but a $100 in a week to see a free $374. Most companies don’t hire full timers. Most give you 38 hrs. My wife drives a school bus for 23 an hour. She part time with no benefits. Not even a chance to buy in. I do believe companies are hiring. I also think that they are in the driver’s seat.

[webenda]

For what it's worth I still think $.49 is a good deal for first class letter anywhere in the US (but then they tell me I'm a dinosaur).

It's a bargain - check what the rates are in other countries for service over the distance we can get for $.49 - yet every time it gets increased youd' think the world was coming to the end.

The world ends January 21, 2018 when the USPS rate for a 1 once letter changes to $0.50.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Mitch you make it sound so good. Most new jobs are not that good. Today’s companies charge for health insurance. At 3-7 percent yes it is free money. $156-374 a year. You need to but a $100 in a week to see a free $374. Most companies don’t hire full timers. Most give you 38 hrs. My wife drives a school bus for 23 an hour. She part time with no benefits. Not even a chance to buy in. I do believe companies are hiring. I also think that they are in the driver’s seat.

Lot of truth there - jobs, but not full time ones are happening so companies can skirt covering benefits.

Unemployment has been going down for the past 8 years.....

2009 9.9%
2010 9.3%
2011 8.5%
2012 7.9%
2013 6.7%
2014 5.6%
2015 5.0%
2016 4.7%
2017 4.1%

And it wouldn't be such a big deal to lose a low level government job, considerin' that companies are hiring and the best ones provide healthcare and 401Ks with anywhere from a 3% to 7% company match.

I don't know what the "best ones" are but I'm betting that they call for advanced degrees in stuff like engineering areas, biotech, and IT.

And the returns on IRAs and 401Ks is certainly much better than the 1% lifetime gain on SSI.

[/quote]

Returns are highly variable depending on what they are invested in and the guarantees are zero. You can do well, but you need to be hands-on, do your homework, and understand the market.

[Mitch]

$0.50 won't kill ya to mail a letter, considerin' almost nobody writes anymore, what with e-mail, all the social media stuff, and cell phone plans that are linked so you can call from Pittsburgh to Springfield, Mo. for free as long as both phones are Verizon. And most folks pay their bills on line, no need for a remittance. Hell, if it wasn't for the junk mail, the Post Office might have folded long ago.

Robert, most of that 38 hours per week and part time stuff was the result of the mandates and outrageous healthcare rates under the Affordable Care Act. Companies were forced to carry insurance for their employees if they had less than 50 full time employees or they'd be fined, so they ushered in the part time workers. If, (if ever and when), Congress can come up with a healthcare plan that actually DOES lower costs coupled with lower business tax rates, maybe the workers will get a much better shake. I know I've paid the equivalent of 40% toward my company health insurance for the past 13 years, which now costs me $140 every two weeks with a $2500 deductible.