Wasn't sure if it belonged in politics but...
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/united-states-postal-service-to-announce-major-cuts-monday (http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/united-states-postal-service-to-announce-major-cuts-monday)
QuoteWASHINGTON (AP) -- The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service said Monday it is seeking to move quickly to close 252 mail processing centers and slow first-class delivery next spring, citing steadily declining mail volume.
Tulsa's processing center would most likely go away. Sad for those who would lose their jobs. Not shocked that USPS has to take a huge cut in expense.
Anyone going to have issues with slower snail mail here?
Quote from: Townsend on December 05, 2011, 12:28:14 PM
Anyone going to have issues with slower snail mail here?
Not really. But I'm Bixby. I will be interested in seeing if this thinning has a significant impact on service. If not, I will question the need to have had the larger work force.
I wish they would have at least tried eliminating Saturday delivery before taking this measure.
Quote from: Townsend on December 05, 2011, 12:28:14 PM
Anyone going to have issues with slower snail mail here?
I might need to pay my bills a day or two earlier to make sure they get to their destination on time. No, I'm not using (nor going to use) electronic bill paying.
Bixby to Bixby has been 2 days since I can remember. Stick a birthday card to someone in the family (same house) in the mailbox in the front yard for pick up and it would return 2 days later. It went to Bixby, Tulsa for sorting, back to Bixby for delivery, then delivered.
The only way I see it affecting me is my side business as I ship a lot of parts via priority mail. Curious how much the PO spends on Priority and Express mail supplies. Granted, that's one of their advantages, providing shipping supplies gratis but I suspect a lot of people would still use their shipping services out of convenience and competitive pricing.
I'm good for about 10 oz of junk mail a day. Haven't owned a check book in years. Pay everything online. My wife writes lots of thank-you cards, but beyond that, my mailbox is simply another receptacle to receive advertisements. Mail typically goes from mailbox, to bin in garage, to curb.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 05, 2011, 03:01:21 PM
I'm good for about 10 oz of junk mail a day. Haven't owned a check book in years. Pay everything online. My wife writes lots of thank-you cards, but beyond that, my mailbox is simply another receptacle to receive advertisements. Mail typically goes from mailbox, to bin in garage, to curb.
Get exactly one bill in the mail; CoT. Wish they would get with the times and go paperless like so many others have.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 05, 2011, 02:58:36 PM
The only way I see it affecting me is my side business as I ship a lot of parts via priority mail. Curious how much the PO spends on Priority and Express mail supplies. Granted, that's one of their advantages, providing shipping supplies gratis but I suspect a lot of people would still use their shipping services out of convenience and competitive pricing.
Do you have to exsanguinate the parts first before shipping?
Quote from: Conan71 on December 05, 2011, 02:58:36 PM
The only way I see it affecting me is my side business as I ship a lot of parts via priority mail. Curious how much the PO spends on Priority and Express mail supplies. Granted, that's one of their advantages, providing shipping supplies gratis but I suspect a lot of people would still use their shipping services out of convenience and competitive pricing.
Shipped anything UPS or Fed-X lately? It's about $10 for a small package compared to about $5 for USPS Priority.
Quote from: Hoss on December 05, 2011, 03:02:51 PM
Get exactly one bill in the mail; CoT. Wish they would get with the times and go paperless like so many others have.
So you are going to require everyone to have a computer?
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 05, 2011, 03:11:18 PM
So you are going to require everyone to have a computer?
Not at all. Other utilities do this (offer the option of going paperless). Why CoT doesn't is beyond me. Methinks you are picking an argument for the sake of picking one.
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 05, 2011, 03:08:21 PM
Shipped anything UPS or Fed-X lately? It's about $10 for a small package compared to about $5 for USPS Priority.
That was my point. Pretty hard to beat USPS on shipments under about 10 lbs. UPS is great for odd size items and ultra-heavy which won't fit in a flat rate box.
Quote from: Hoss on December 05, 2011, 03:14:39 PM
Not at all. Other utilities do this (offer the option of going paperless). Why CoT doesn't is beyond me. Methinks you are picking an argument for the sake of picking one.
Option to go paperless would be OK with me for those that want it.
Edit:
You didn't originally say "option". I am currently unhappy with AT&T Mobility because they won't send check images back to my bank. My contract has expired so I am on month to month and thinking about finding another service if I can find one that will return check images. I use my phone about 10 minutes a month.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 05, 2011, 03:21:01 PM
That was my point. Pretty hard to beat USPS on shipments under about 10 lbs. UPS is great for odd size items and ultra-heavy which won't fit in a flat rate box.
USPS is actually OK for somewhat bigger stuff. I send some things to my brother at an APO.
Quote from: Conan71 on December 05, 2011, 03:21:01 PM
That was my point. Pretty hard to beat USPS on shipments under about 10 lbs. UPS is great for odd size items and ultra-heavy which won't fit in a flat rate box.
I believe that USPS outsources the shipping of larger items to FedEx.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 05, 2011, 03:35:42 PM
I believe that USPS outsources the shipping of larger items to FedEx.
I have heard that they outsource too. I don't remember if it's UPS or FedEx or both.
Quote from: Gaspar on December 05, 2011, 03:35:42 PM
I believe that USPS outsources the shipping of larger items to FedEx.
Fed Ex uses USPS for rural deliveries and deliveries to otherwise isolated locales.
http://www.fedex.com/us/smart-post/outbound.html
USPS uses Fed Ex flights to transport larger packages overseas.
http://news.van.fedex.com/node/14453
Also, via wikipedia: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FedEx)
Quote
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, FedEx Corp is the 21st largest campaign contributor in the United States. The company has donated over $21 million since 1990, 45% of which went to Democrats and 55% to Republicans. Strong ties to the White House and members of Congress allow access to international trade and tax cut rebates as well as the rules of the business practices of the United States Postal Service. In 2001, FedEx sealed a $9 billion deal with the USPS to transport all of the post office's overnight and express deliveries.[18]
In 2005, FedEx was among 53 entities that contributed the maximum of $250,000 to sponsor the second inauguration of President George W. Bush.[19][20][21]
During the first three months of 2010, FedEx spent nearly $4.9 million lobbying the federal government (UPS, FedEx's main competitor, spent $1.6 million on lobbying over the same period), a 4% increase from the $4.7 million spent during the last quarter of 2009, but more than twice what it spent on lobbying during the first quarter of 2009.[22]
Quote from: Red Arrow on December 05, 2011, 03:25:38 PM
USPS is actually OK for somewhat bigger stuff. I send some things to my brother at an APO.
They have odd nuances. For APO addresses, FAIK, USPS is the best, if not, only way to go. They don't charge a dimensional weight on foreign shipments though they do have a maximum dimension you can ship Priority overseas (I think it's length + width + girth cannot exceed 108"). They do charge dimensional weight on domestic shipments over certain sizes, just like UPS. Not sure if FedX Ground has a dim weight rule as I never use them for ground shipping.
If FedEx and UPS merge, would they be called FedUp?
And none of this essential service reduction would be necessary if USPS was treated like every other private company in the US. Instead, they're subsidizing FERS to the tune of billions of dollars a year and still get (politically) attacked from all sides. It was nice of Congress to think ahead for once. Unfortunately, they forgot that thinking ahead does not mean "don't ever think about this again."
It ain't the unions that are blowing up the Post Office, it's Congress.
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 06:50:28 PM
And none of this essential service reduction would be necessary if USPS was treated like every other private company in the US. Instead, they're subsidizing FERS to the tune of billions of dollars a year and still get (politically) attacked from all sides. It was nice of Congress to think ahead for once. Unfortunately, they forgot that thinking ahead does not mean "don't ever think about this again."
It ain't the unions that are blowing up the Post Office, it's Congress generous pension plans the private sector only dreams about.
FIFY.
(Like you knew I couldn't resist)
That some people have gotten screwed out of promised pay is not a reason to screw other people. As I said, the problem isn't the pensions themselves. USPS has been forced to over fund their pension obligations by law. Even with the presently depressed mail volume, they'd be profitable if they were funding the pension plan as every other company (that has a pension plan, anyway) gets to.
Funny how money is better funneled into the CEO's pocket rather than employee retirement. Most of us find it hard to argue that somebody who has worked at a company long enough to get their pension vested is a deadbeat who doesn't deserve what they get, but the CEO who sticks around for 5 years running his pump and dump scheme deserves a golden parachute. (I'm generalizing, not speaking of USPS in particular)
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 07:11:43 PM
That some people have gotten screwed out of promised pay is not a reason to screw other people. As I said, the problem isn't the pensions themselves. USPS has been forced to over fund their pension obligations by law. Even with the presently depressed mail volume, they'd be profitable if they were funding the pension plan as every other company (that has a pension plan, anyway) gets to.
Funny how money is better funneled into the CEO's pocket rather than employee retirement. Most of us find it hard to argue that somebody who has worked at a company long enough to get their pension vested is a deadbeat who doesn't deserve what they get, but the CEO who sticks around for 5 years running his pump and dump scheme deserves a golden parachute. (I'm generalizing, not speaking of USPS in particular)
But what about the poor CEO's? You don't want them to have to drive Chevrolets and vacation in Branson like a commoner, do you? So mean spirited....
Quote from: Conan71 on December 05, 2011, 07:13:59 PM
But what about the poor CEO's? You don't want them to have to drive Chevrolets and vacation in Branson like a commoner, do you? So mean spirited....
I think they'll be fine with only one house in the Hamptons, one Manhattan penthouse, a single private island, and two supercars. You don't have to have 5 of everything, you know. ;)
Quote from: nathanm on December 05, 2011, 07:34:23 PM
I think they'll be fine with only one house in the Hamptons, one Manhattan penthouse, a single private island, and two supercars. You don't have to have 5 of everything, you know. ;)
What? No yacht and jet airplane? Imagine the embarrassment.
A little more on the weird pension-funding requirements that the USPS -- and only the USPS -- are subject to.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/unions-rally-to-reform-postal-service-without-cutting-jobs/
"The postmaster general is being entirely disingenuous about this," Clark said.
Instead, Clark cites 2006 legislation that requires the Postal Service to pre-fund health care benefits for future retirees as the problem. Under that law, the Postal Service must acquire funds for 75 years worth of retirees' benefits over a 10-year span.
The union wants Congress to allow the Postal Service to recalculate the amount it should pay for pensions and reallocate the excess funds paid in years past towards the future health benefits.
CNBC tweet:
"The USPS Has Agreed To Delay The Closing Or Consolidation of Any Post Office Or Mail Processing Facility until May 2012."
Quote from: Townsend on December 13, 2011, 02:28:12 PM"The USPS Has Agreed To Delay The Closing Or Consolidation of Tulsa Mail Processing Facility until Feb 2013."
fixed for recency.
Your junk mail will not decrease due to this closing...it will only arrive 2-5 days later than it normally would.
You're all being horswaggled if you think that "going green" is more efficient/economical.
It costs a biller 75 cents to mail you a bill, and recieve/process your payment by mail. Plus the 45 cent stamp you licked to send in your payement, = grand total $1.20.
If you opt to go paperless...then it costs the biller somewhere beteween $3 and $5 to send/receive/process the same bill....and that is a conservative estimate.
You think the biller is eating that cost for your convenience? I think you already know the answer.
Why it cost more and where is the money going? Merchant Service fees. i.e. Visa, MC, Amex, Discover.
If you haven't already noticed, most billers are charging you a "convenience fee" to go paperless.
If they are not, then you are paying for it by other means, i.e. higher prices
This is contradictory to claims of estimation by the bodies pushing this closure that "mailers are offering 'convenience fees' to receive a paper bill"
The only mailers offering such, are the credit card companies, and Flo from Progressive.
And can you mutherluving imagine...they are incentivizing you to move to the method of payment that will make them
not $0.20 per item, but $5.00 per item?
Don't be hornswaggled.
Additionally:
Tulsa P&DC consistently ranks, nationally in the top 5 for efficiency and productivity. While OKC consistenly ranks nationally in the bottom 5 for efficiency and productivity.
So yeh, seems like a smart move to close Tulsa and move it to OKC.
Quote from: TheMindWillNotLetGo on March 31, 2012, 02:42:35 AM
fixed for recency.
Your junk mail will not decrease due to this closing...it will only arrive 2-5 days later than it normally would.
You're all being horswaggled if you think that "going green" is more efficient/economical.
It costs a biller 75 cents to mail you a bill, and recieve/process your payment by mail. Plus the 45 cent stamp you licked to send in your payement, = grand total $1.20.
If you opt to go paperless...then it costs the biller somewhere beteween $3 and $5 to send/receive/process the same bill....and that is a conservative estimate.
You think the biller is eating that cost for your convenience? I think you already know the answer.
Why it cost more and where is the money going? Merchant Service fees. i.e. Visa, MC, Amex, Discover.
If you haven't already noticed, most billers are charging you a "convenience fee" to go paperless.
If they are not, then you are paying for it by other means, i.e. higher prices
This is contradictory to claims of estimation by the bodies pushing this closure that "mailers are offering 'convenience fees' to receive a paper bill"
The only mailers offering such, are the credit card companies, and Flo from Progressive.
And can you mutherluving imagine...they are incentivizing you to move to the method of payment that will make them not $0.20 per item, but $5.00 per item?
Don't be hornswaggled.
Additionally:
Tulsa P&DC consistently ranks, nationally in the top 5 for efficiency and productivity. While OKC consistenly ranks nationally in the bottom 5 for efficiency and productivity.
So yeh, seems like a smart move to close Tulsa and move it to OKC.
No one ever said the USPS was smart. I worked for a company for almost 9 years who did bulk mail. USPS tried to spirit me away to work for them after I aced my civil service exam (which wasn't really all that difficult to do). After I heard horror stories from other postal workers, I said no thanks.
Quote from: Hoss on March 31, 2012, 08:33:03 AMNo one ever said the USPS was smart. I worked for a company for almost 9 years who did bulk mail. USPS tried to spirit me away to work for them after I aced my civil service exam (which wasn't really all that difficult to do). After I heard horror stories from other postal workers, I said no thanks.
My last line there was meant to be sardonic...I suppose either way, there is some talk of conspiracy around this, if you're into that kind of thing.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G using Tapatalk
Quote from: TheMindWillNotLetGo on March 31, 2012, 01:14:29 PM
My last line there was meant to be sardonic.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G using Tapatalk
I know it was. I know several friends that would have been affected by the P & D Ctr closing. I guess really all they are doing is delaying the inevitable.
And there is not a one of my payees that charges me a 'convenience fee' for going paperless. At least, it's not itemized as a convenience fee. Doesn't mean they don't recoup it some way.
Quote from: Hoss on March 31, 2012, 01:19:02 PM
I know it was. I know several friends that would have been affected by the P & D Ctr closing. I guess really all they are doing is delaying the inevitable.
And there is not a one of my payees that charges me a 'convenience fee' for going paperless. At least, it's not itemized as a convenience fee. Doesn't mean they don't recoup it some way.
yeh..as said...you're paying for it one way or another. Sand Springs charges 3$ iirc for utility customers to pay online. Claremore utilities gets billed 5$ a pop, not sure if they've implimented the convenience fee yet. Every utility I've spoken to in the last year either currently is or in the process of implimentation.
Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G using Tapatalk
This is for those that sympathize with Republicans and whine about the USPS.
Ed's right, the dims are pu$$ies....
60 House Bills to Name Post Offices, Zero To Fix Mail Service
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/60-house-bills-to-name-post-offices-zero-to-fix-mail-service/ (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/60-house-bills-to-name-post-offices-zero-to-fix-mail-service/)
QuoteIn the 18 months the 112th Congress has been sworn in, the House has introduced 60 bills to rename post offices. Thirty-eight have passed the House and 26 have become law. During those 18 months, the House has produced 151 laws, 17 percent of which have been to rename post offices, according to Congressional Democrats.
Not a single bill has come to the House floor aimed at reforming a Postal Service, which is bleeding billions of dollars because of Congressional mandates.
Today the United States Postal Service will default on a Congressional mandate to pay $5.5 billion to "prefund" health benefits for future retirees. On Friday, the House of Representatives will leave town for a five-week summer vacation. There is no plan to take up postal reform before that summer recess.
The Postal Service has attempted to enact an array of cost-cutting measures to pull itself out of a $22.5 billion budget shortfall. Over the past five years USPS has cut more than 110,000 employees. The mail service, which takes no taxpayer money but is regulated by Congress, has announced plans to close or consolidate 230 mail processing centers, cutting 13,000 jobs and saving an estimated $1.2 billion annually.
The service attempted to close 3,700 post offices under a plan announced last year, but after public outcry decided to cut operating hours to between two and six hours per day at 13,000 locations. USPS claims that move will save $500 million per year.
One of the largest cost-saving measures would be ending Saturday mail delivery, a move the Postal Service says will save $3.1 billion a year. But USPS can't cut delivery without Congressional approval, and partisan disagreements over whether Congress should take control of USPS's operations until it is solvent again or if it should leave the decision making to the postmaster general have halted any action on Capitol Hill.
USPS claims that if Congress does not act, the mail service will default not only on the $5.5 billion payment due today, but also on another $5.6 billion payment for future retiree's benefit due September 30.
The Postal Service has pleaded with Congress for years to end the requirement that it pre-fund its retiree's health benefits. But many lawmakers claim that because USPS has such a massive workforce – there are 614,000 Postal Service employees—if it does not pre-fund retirement benefits, it will not be able to pay them in the future.
And as long as these disagreements persist, it looks like naming post offices is the closest Congress will get to passing postal reform.
Glad to see those Republicans so focused on job-creation and fiscal responsibility!
Quote from: Conan71 on August 01, 2012, 10:47:33 AM
Glad to see those Republicans so focused on job-creation and fiscal responsibility!
You beat me to the punch!
The last line is hilarious. Apparently the choice is either, "we won't be able to pay for your retirement sometime in the future or you're out of a job...now." These guys aren't thinking clearly.
Quote from: AquaMan on August 01, 2012, 12:46:53 PM
The last line is hilarious. Apparently the choice is either, "we won't be able to pay for your retirement sometime in the future or you're out of a job...now." These guys aren't thinking clearly.
"You're out of a job AND pension, but the good news is we will gladly name the post office you worked in for 30 years after you."
I don't get why its so hard to grasp.
The US does NOT NEED a federal run postal system, private business would and could do this just as well. Its the unions, former employees and others who are so dead set on keeping this out of date, poorly run institution going. What company do you know would STILL BE in business after not paying a five billion dollar bill? NONE! Its insane to the normal thinking human being!
Quote from: zstyles on August 02, 2012, 11:46:04 AM
I don't get why its so hard to grasp.
The US does NOT NEED a federal run postal system, private business would and could do this just as well. Its the unions, former employees and others who are so dead set on keeping this out of date, poorly run institution going. What company do you know would STILL BE in business after not paying a five billion dollar bill? NONE! Its insane to the normal thinking human being!
It's a public service. Do you think Fed-X or UPS would deliver a letter anywhere in the USA for less than $1.00? I had some gaskets shipped from Newton, KS by UPS Ground in something the size of a CD mailer. Shipping and "handling" was about $14. for two gaskets worth about $7. each. The next year I had them sent USPS Priority mail for about $7. which still included the "handling".
Get rid of the USPS and only the rich will be able to send anything anywhere.
Quote from: zstyles on August 02, 2012, 11:46:04 AM
What company do you know would STILL BE in business after not paying a five billion dollar bill?
It ain't a "5 billion dollar bill," for one thing. It's a prepayment of retirement benefits far in excess of what is required of any private company (75 years worth of benefits to be prepaid in 10 years). Not retirement benefits that are going to be paid out any time soon, mind you, just indefinite future retirement benefits. You can thank the outgoing Congressional Republicans for that one.
They've got their problems, but operational losses are not one of them, yet. If you think the private companies would do any better, you're sorely mistaken. It's easy to make money on the highest value mail pieces, especially when you don't even bother to serve half the country or more.
I pay 0 bills online. I only have one bill drafted out of my checking account. I buy a nine dollar book of stamps and still make all my utilities take the time to send a paid person to go pick up my check from a P.O. Box office and another paid person to apply my payment to my account.
Oh and it also requires another paid person to pick up my mail and take it to another paid person to sort it out and get it sent to another paid person to deliver it.
Aside from being kind of old fashion about it. My Dad also worked for the USPS and I have not had to much bad to say about how their system runs and works. Just doing my good old American part.
Quote from: DolfanBob on August 02, 2012, 03:09:29 PM
I pay 0 bills online. I only have one bill drafted out of my checking account. I buy a nine dollar book of stamps and still make all my utilities take the time to send a paid person to go pick up my check from a P.O. Box office and another paid person to apply my payment to my account.
Oh and it also requires another paid person to pick up my mail and take it to another paid person to sort it out and get it sent to another paid person to deliver it.
Aside from being kind of old fashion about it. My Dad also worked for the USPS and I have not had to much bad to say about how their system runs and works. Just doing my good old American part.
Wow!
What's a stamp?
Every day my mailbox fills up paper that I bring into the laundry room and run through the shredder. Sometimes my wife grabs a coupon or two, but that's about it. I've written one check in the last two months because one of my BBQ partners lives in the 19th century. I have had the same checkbook for at least two years now.
Eventually I may just forget how to use a pen!
Quote from: Gaspar on August 02, 2012, 03:34:07 PM
Wow!
What's a stamp?
Every day my mailbox fills up paper that I bring into the laundry room and run through the shredder. Sometimes my wife grabs a coupon or two, but that's about it. I've written one check in the last two months because one of my BBQ partners lives in the 19th century. I have had the same checkbook for at least two years now.
Eventually I may just forget how to use a pen!
What is this "pen" thing that you speak of?
Some things are just hard to let go of.
I was upset when they let Sarah go at the phone company, and upgraded my candlestick phone to this new fangled rotary jobbie. ;D
AP: US Postal Service to discontinue Saturday mail delivery beginning in August
http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/ap-us-postal-service-to-discontinue-saturday-mail-delivery-beginning-in-august (http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/ap-us-postal-service-to-discontinue-saturday-mail-delivery-beginning-in-august)
QuoteThe US Postal Service is scheduled to make a major announcement Wednesday and the Associated Press is reporting that the country's mail service will discontinue Saturday delivery beginning in August.
Cutting Saturday delivery is expected to save the mail service $2 billion a year.
The Postal Service has been struggling financially for several years and has made job cuts and closed facilities around the country.
A mail processing plant in Tulsa is slated for closure in 2014 as part of the cost-cutting measures.
A news conference is scheduled for 9 a.m.
Between that and the gigantic rate increase on foreign shipping rates, maybe the PO is serious about shoring up their financial losses. The increases have not been in place long enough to determine how much it may affect one of our businesses, but I'm sure it's making overseas buyers re-think their purchases on small items when a 1 oz first class parcel has gone from $3.00 to $6.61.
That's what they say. The USPS has been talking about scraping Saturday service for the past 25 years. Why not just have postal service 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday & Friday? I'd be fine with that.
Fixing the law requiring the USPS to overfund its pension plan would have saved them over twice as much as eliminating Saturday delivery.
This is fantastic news for UPS and FedEx, though. They're a lot more likely to get people to pay for their Saturday delivery rather than just ship with the post office instead.
Quote from: nathanm on February 06, 2013, 03:44:02 PM
Fixing the law requiring the USPS to overfund its pension plan would have saved them over twice as much as eliminating Saturday delivery.
This is fantastic news for UPS and FedEx, though. They're a lot more likely to get people to pay for their Saturday delivery rather than just ship with the post office instead.
The articles I've read however states that the USPS will still do package delivery on Saturday. Just not regular mail.
Didn't see that. Seems a little pointless.