Thread: The *&%$@# USPS fails again.

Sometimes the choice is not ours.But I like your suggestion.

Originally Posted by Wirm

Sometimes the choice is not ours.But I like your suggestion.

Nah, it always is. When one agrees to part with their your money it means they are content with what they're supposed to get in exchange for it. If shipping by USPS is unacceptable to me I simply won't buy from entities that refuse to use an alternative to my liking.

Originally Posted by Splashone

To get UPS or Fedex to do the job the USPS does with the crazy rural routes, every house, every day...you would pay far more than their current rates! I read somewhere that a first class #10 business envelope, 1 oz would cost about $5...

But USPS has monopoly on first class mail. Even with USPS if you ship that same business envelope as package it'll cost you about $5 or more.
UPS and Fedex compete with USPS in the packaging services so those rates are not that far off from each other, but usually you need volume discount to make UPS/Fedex cheaper.

Usually it's the rural customers who insist on USPS for the simple economic reason that they essentially get free money at the expense of the urban customers. But back in late 18th century government control over postal service was deemed important enough to put it in the constitution and it's stuck so far.

Originally Posted by gugi

But USPS has monopoly on first class mail. Even with USPS if you ship that same business envelope as package it'll cost you about $5 or more.
UPS and Fedex compete with USPS in the packaging services so those rates are not that far off from each other, but usually you need volume discount to make UPS/Fedex cheaper.

Usually it's the rural customers who insist on USPS for the simple economic reason that they essentially get free money at the expense of the urban customers. But back in late 18th century government control over postal service was deemed important enough to put it in the constitution and it's stuck so far.

Granted but conditions are not such that there must be a monopoly like with the electric/cable/gas etc. The Gugi mail service could start up tomorrow! As to rates, "Not far off" is a vague margin. If I check rate for packages and envelopes sent through premium services by the available carriers, there is a difference of 50-100+% to use a carrier other than the USPS. I call that more than "not far off." I can send a razor to Roy insured for $15 or so through USPS. UPS and Fedex are near $30 for the same service.

Keep in mind USPS has contracts with the other private carriers for transporting mail from city to city. That USPS priority 2 day was probably in the custody of Fedex most of the time. Also both Fedex and UPS and DHL have services where the actual item is delivered by USPS and Fedex home delivery is delivered by a contractor with their employees making not much more than minimum wage.