When are they going 2 realize the paradigm shift?


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. Postal Service reported a $3.8 billion loss in the 2009 fiscal year, despite $10 billion in cost-cutting measures.

During the year ended Sept. 30, the cash-strapped agency cut 40,000 jobs, but still employs over 712,000 people. Those cuts, combined with reduced overtime hours and lower transportation-related costs, shaved $6 billion in expenses.
http://money.cnn.com/2009.../index.htm
[Edited 11/17/09 12:06pm]

Graycap23 said:

scary part to me, is the fact that the usps would have lost 13.8 billion had they not made the cuts. fact of life that the internet/email has killed traditional letter writing, bill paying etc

Most of my fam works for the USPS and my aunt was just forced into retirement after 33 years 2 months ago. But it was to be expected with the advent of UPS, Fedex, online bill payment and e-mail. Snail mail don't stand a chance.

SCNDLS said:

my folks (who grew up in the 30's) told me they used to get mail 2 or 3 times a day

BlackAdder7 said:

I remember writing letters to my relatives all the time and I even had tons of pen pals all over the world. I used to LOVE buying pretty stationary. Makes me think of Beaches how the girls kept in touch for almost 2 decades by mail. That shit sure won't happen today. Letters are much more personal than e-mails IMO.

*wondering if Fury wrote a snail mail letter to SNDLS it might lead to more success*

BlackAdder7 said:

You know you're going on my list for that.

SCNDLS said:

Is that list written on pretty stationary?

Nothinbutjoy said:

**scndls adds NBJ to the list of mofos due for slashed tires**

SCNDLS said:

And just think - pretty soon they'll be handling your health care!

my postal worker brother in law says parcel postage is at an all time high thanks to eBay and he is busier than ever, but regular and business mail is on the way to extinction, thanks to email.

Genesia said:

Actually, in spite of what the Republicans, Fox News, and all of the conservative think tanks have been preaching for the last 25 years, U.S. government-run health care (Medicare, Medicaid, VA) is probably run more efficiently and gives better value for the dollar than any of the private and for-profit health plans. The major crisis with Medicare is that the trust fund which pays for all of the care has been raided to pay for other government expenses (Iraq War, tax cuts for the rich, subsidies to big oil), and also because within the next 15 to 20 years there will be more recipients receiving Medicare benefits than there will be people paying into the system, thereby bankrupting the Medicare system (unless taxes are raised to cover the shortfall).

ZombieKitten said:

That's pretty much true here in the USA as well, but it's mostly used to send packages when time is not of the immediate essence; otherwise most people use UPS or FedEx.

But regular first class postage (snail) mail is becoming an oxymoron, since people can get in touch with each other thru email, social networking (Myspace, Facebook, Twitter) for personal reasons, and for business purposes everything is being done via secure electronic transfer like banking, claims processing, etc.

well...get ready for a single postage stamp to cost you $1.00.

728huey said:

I was thinking the other day, some eBay stores are crazy to use UPS sometimes, as in the case of a plain cotton T-shirt, that costs $18, delivery to Australia is $36 with UPS but if they sent it normal mail (takes about a week and a half to arrive, which is still reasonable) and would only cost $3.50

I have a couple of family members that work at different post offices in Texas. Both of them have worked for the Post Office for over 30 years. When you ask them what they do, they can never give you an answer.

I have been to the post office where one of my cousins works near Downtown Dallas and most of the people there have bad attitudes and constantly piss customers off and make them NOT want to ship their packages and letters. I've actually heard people say that they are going to FedEx or UPS to send something because they hate the people at the post office. That could be part of the reason they are losing so much money.

daPrettyman said:

Yeah, I think the Post Office is the government agency that is most responsible for perpetuating the "government workers are lazy" stereotype. I can tell you that I used to work for the government and at my performance review I got above average ratings for all my key responsibilites. So I asked my supervisor how that would translate to a salary increase and she said, "It doesn't." At that moment it clicked as to why government employees do the bare minimum - there is no incentive to do more than that because you won't get a step increase (e.g. raise) anyway. Prior to that I had busted my ass, stayed late, etc. to do the best job I could, after that meeting I was like, "Fuck it. Why should I make myself crazy with this bullshit when I'm only getting stressed and sick because of it?" I resigned shortly thereafter and now work somewhere where they value and acknowlege my hard work both verbally and financially.

jone70 said:

Good 4 u. U r so right about the government. They treat people and employees like crap.

Genesia said:

Considering that the USPS gives the best value in the entire country, that's OK with me.

Where else can you send something clear across the country for less than $0.50?

daPrettyman said:

My experience is the exact opposite. The workers at the post office on El Camino Real in Houston, Texas are all great. Friendly and very, very helpful.

All the postal carriers in my neighborhood are very nice, too.

RodeoSchro said:

I've never had any bad experiences with my local PO or carriers. DP, now you know thangs gon' be different at the Main post office in downtown Dallas. I wouldn't say that armpit of a joint is the standard.

I still do my bills by mail. I like a paper trail & don't trust any other method of record keeping. It's just too easy for something to get fucked up.

SCNDLS said:

I know. I go there only because they are open late (used to be 24 hours, but now they close at 10 or so). That was the main reason for going there. What really tripped me out was when I used to work in Grapevine and went to the post office at the airport, a lot of the same people that worked there did double duty at the downtown Dallas post office.

Now, the post offices in other parts of town seem to be ok..overall, but I think most postal workers (in general) are typical government employees and need a good kick in the ass.

I pay my bills online,but I still mail in my CC payments,and if I make any sales on Ebay I ship those to.

EmeraldSkies said:

I do everything online. I hate buying stamps and licking envelopes.

daPrettyman said:

I haven't licked an envelope in many years, just dip my finger in water

daPrettyman said:

Main isn't open 24 hrs anymore???

SCNDLS said:

aww...that's sad! i still love to send out hand written notes/letters, and do so all of the time. e-mail is fine, and social networks are fine, but there's still nothing like getting a hand written card from someone.

kimrachell said:

CalhounSq said: