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U.S. Stamps going up, again.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern California
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If the USPS gets their way, first-class stamps are going to to go up to 46 cents. They're also wanting to axe Saturday service, reduce post office hours of operation, and close about 700 post offices around the country.
Good think I stocked up on those Forever stamps.
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
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I don't even know the price of postage stamps anymore.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status:
Offline
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Me either. If it weren't for ordering stuff from Amazon, I don't know that I'd be aware people even mailed stuff any more.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Cooperstown '09
Status:
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
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Originally Posted by -Q-
Me either. If it weren't for ordering stuff from Amazon, I don't know that I'd be aware people even mailed stuff any more.
Not surprisingly, those most vocally against the proposed increase are direct-mail marketers and charities.
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"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
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I'll be ticked if Saturday service gets axed.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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I'd rather they deliver mail once a week to save postage costs. Need something there by a particular day? Pay separately for express.
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"One ticket to Washington, please. I have a date with destiny."
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Status:
Offline
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Sweet, let's close the Post Office on the one day that normal working hour types can actually make it to the Post Office.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern California
Status:
Offline
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Well, maybe they should cut down on staffing. I used to work at a mailing center and I can't tell you the amount of times there would be 10+ people just sitting around for something to do.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Brien
Well, maybe they should cut down on staffing. I used to work at a mailing center and I can't tell you the amount of times there would be 10+ people just sitting around for something to do.
I'm sick of waiting in line because only one or two of the four counters is open. Thank goodness for the APC, I use it whenever possible.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Brien
Well, maybe they should cut down on staffing. I used to work at a mailing center and I can't tell you the amount of times there would be 10+ people just sitting around for something to do.
They've already cut down on staffing a ton.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: BFE
Status:
Offline
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Try this: raise co-pays and health costs for all employees and retirees instead of raising stamps.
The Post Office is run like any gov't business: piss poor with an endless amount of cash to burn
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I'm a bird. I am the 1% (of pets).
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Eriamjh
Try this: raise co-pays and health costs for all employees and retirees instead of raising stamps.
The Post Office is run like any gov't business: piss poor with an endless amount of cash to burn
Because private companies never lose money or raise prices.
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Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
June 2001: 132,047,000 employed
June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status:
Offline
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They should keep Saturday delivery. Axe Thursday delivery instead.
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Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
June 2001: 132,047,000 employed
June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
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Posting Junkie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Status:
Offline
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Close about half the post offices, increase customer service staffing at the rest to reasonable levels.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by sek929
Sweet, let's close the Post Office on the one day that normal working hour types can actually make it to the Post Office.
I don't think they said they'd close the post offices on Saturday, just discontinue Saturday delivery. That's like a 12% reduction in work hours-and thus payroll-for letter carriers, and all the sort and bag folks in the back.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
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I like getting mail on Saturdays, and since I'm mailing fewer letters/bills, I can't complain about rate increase too much. Evite and Billpay are your friends.
As for reducing staff, whenever I do go inside and can't use the APC machines, the lines for the counter are really long and usually only 2 out of 4 are staffed.
The folks there were really nice and helpful when we were clueless about our kids passport applications. We forgot one kid's original birth certificate and thus had to spend TWO saturday mornings at the post office.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
Offline
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USPS is the only place you can send a package on Saturday that doesn't cost 10x more than Monday-Friday. I hope they keep Saturday delivery, I'd hate to have to start using UPS or FedEx.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: May 2001
Status:
Offline
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The worst times to go to the Post Office.
1. Lunch time
2. Around 5PM
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Bush Tax Cuts == Job Killer
June 2001: 132,047,000 employed
June 2003: 129,839,000 employed
2.21 million jobs were LOST after 2 years of Bush Tax Cuts.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Status:
Offline
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I have to give marginal credit where it's due to the Post Office administrators, who at the very least don't completely ignore their budget deficits.
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"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." TJ
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: inside 128, north of 90
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by hyteckit
The worst times to go to the Post Office.
1. Lunch time
2. Around 5PM
And Saturday morning.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Bang! Bang!
Status:
Offline
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If you ask my carrier "how's it going", 1 in 10 times you can expect a rant about how ****ed up the post office is.
I have to admit, he makes it sound really ****ed up.
It's impossible for me to avoid, because he parks and sorts mail right outside my door. Of course, the switch to making him sort in the field is one of his bigger rants.
He's really nice though. I don't want it to seem like he's all postal-like.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Isle of Manhattan
Status:
Offline
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I'm going to buy up those Forever stamps.
But damn, the PO is the bane of my existence for far too many reasons to mention.
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"Faster, faster! 'Till the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death." - HST
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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They should offer a premium service where they root out all junk mail before it gets to you. This idea is worth it for the corporate backlash alone. Also, this means I would get close to no mail.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
They should offer a premium service where they root out all junk mail before it gets to you. This idea is worth it for the corporate backlash alone. Also, this means I would get close to no mail.
This would be spectacular. Especially during election season.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
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My nearest post office is a district hub, and while it can get pretty backed up at times (they also do passport applications), I seldom have much of a wait to get served for things that need service. The package/mail hold pickup window is completely separate from the front counter, which helps a lot. I send most of my packages by Priority Mail, and I can make the labels and pay for them online, so all I need to do is to drop them off.
But there are a bunch of POs near me. There's one in a flower shop up the road a ways. There are a total of 5 less than 5 miles from my house, and three of 'em handle passport applications. Not too bad in terms of availability.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ghporter
I send most of my packages by Priority Mail, and I can make the labels and pay for them online, so all I need to do is to drop them off.
I'm the same way. It's a problem, though, when I'm using non-USPS packaging that they have for sale, because that means that I HAVE to wait in line, even if I've pre-paid for postage.
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Professional Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Status:
Offline
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All glory to the hypnotoad.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by jokell82
I can't believe that people actually want Saturday delivery. It's completely useless and unnecessary IMO. Want to keep the post offices open? Fine. But I can't see any reason that Saturday delivery of standard mail needs to continue.
Easy - I order something awesome online. If I can choose between getting it at 11AM on Saturday and having the rest of the weekend to play with it or getting it on Monday morning, when I'll have to wait all week for the next weekend, the choice is clear. I couldn't care less about getting bills, junk mail, or wedding invitations a couple days later, though.
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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I'd rather ditch Wednesdays, a la shitty banks.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2003
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by jokell82
It is nice to get mail on Saturday, but I agree that it is not necessary.
Forever stamps might not be good investment, but if you have stamps that are left over when the new rate comes into play it is much more convenient to continue using your same stamps than to have to go buy $0.02 stamps to go along with your old ones. If you buy any stamps, buy the forever version. But don't stock up on them to save money.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by torsoboy
It is nice to get mail on Saturday, but I agree that it is not necessary.
What day couldn't you say that about?
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Laminar
What day couldn't you say that about?
Any day I get a bill.
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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Wow, Leno quality humor there.
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Atlanta, GA
Status:
Offline
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So's your face.
Better?
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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Professional Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by Laminar
What day couldn't you say that about?
Monday through Friday.
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All glory to the hypnotoad.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
Status:
Offline
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"It's nice to get mail on Wednesday, but it's not necessary."
I just did it.
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Games Meister
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Eternity
Status:
Offline
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Rochester, NY
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by jokell82
I didn't know that the USPS can't increase prices faster than the rate of inflation. No wonder they're losing money.
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
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The problem isn't rates, it's structure and economy. The USPS IS a business (unlike DoD), and it can and should be run like one. But manpower in the Post Office is structured on an archaic, though quite competitive system. And the structure of the PO system is outdated, though they're improving that slowly. By embracing modern distribution, much of the PO's problems could be minimized. But I think that there is a specific and essential feature of the postal system that must be maintained, whether it's solvent or not: security. We trust the postal system to securely deliver materials that have to be delivered, without loss. We need that.
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Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Rochester, NY
Status:
Offline
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More than just that, we rely on the Post Office to deliver to every address in the US, even the inconvenient ones, for the same rates. It was important enough that the Constitution specifically empowers the government to run a Post Office. If it ever went bankrupt, the Constitution says we'd need another one.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Dec 1999
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by The Final Dakar
Meh, I've heard better.
That's what she said.
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"…I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than
you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods,
you will understand why I dismiss yours." - Stephen F. Roberts
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Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2000
Location: I've moved so many times; I forgot.
Status:
Offline
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Originally Posted by ghporter
We trust the postal system to securely deliver materials that have to be delivered, without loss. We need that.
I don't trust them to send spit. I had a letter mailed to me on the 1st of this month and it's still not here...despite the fact it was mailed from a city that is only a 3-4 hour drive away. I'm beyond pissed. They've taken their sweet time before, but nothing like this.
Upon complaining to one of my coworkers today, he told me about a package that he once received over two years late.
Yet despite all this, junk mail shows up in my box like clockwork and they'll do nothing to stop it.
#$#@ the USPS.
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"My friend, there are two kinds of people in this world:
those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig."
-Clint in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
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