OLD SCHOOL DELIVERY

Postal Service Will Stop Saturday Mail

Long-anticipated move aimed at trimming costs

Feb 6, 2013 by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

Waiting urgently for a check or other piece of mail to arrive? Don't expect it over the weekend, now that U.S. Postal Service is stopping delivering mail on Saturdays.

AP reports the the cut, beginning in August, will mean a cost saving of about $2 billion annually. With email and other forms of digital communication having long supplanted old-school mail, it's an idea that's been bandied about for years.

It's actually surprising the move took as long as it did. Maine's congressional delegation had long raised concern about such a move, since paper mills are such a heavy industry in the Pine Tree State.

But the move isn't all bad. The post office will continue delivering packages six days a week. In fact, the move accentuates one of the agency's strong points - package delivery has increased by 14 percent since 2010.

Via AP, and Politix analysis.

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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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The only issue is that sometimes Sat. is the only day I can get to the P.O. without having to leave work early during the week.
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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HMMM.....your PO box is not "available" to you 24/7 in an unlocked part of the post office. My post office in this little town has an unlocked PO box separate from the regular post office....jus wondering!
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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@stepped_in_it I should have been a little more clear. I occasionally sell things on ebay and I need the office area open to mail packages. Sorry for the confusion. But yes, the PO boxes are accessible from the front. Perhaps the PO could make exceptions for Dec. as many folks are trying to mail packages. Perhaps this just applies to Sat. deliveries. I'll have to look for more info.
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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@stepped_in_it The little clip of info. politix gave didn't cover everything. I checked for more details and found that the offices currently open on Sat. will remain open. Shouldn't be an issue at all.

I wish Topix would sometimes post more info to analyze. They sometimes simply give small snipets of information.
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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@Medicinebow I think the article said package deliveries would be the exception! As for the post office being open to accept packages on Saturday....don't know. I too do some Ebay selling. I have gone to using UPS due to it's better tracking methods and like any good merchant, have passed that cost off to my customers! Haven't had any complaints, as most want to be able to track their package and the USPS falls far short on that service.
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Post @stepped_in_it
Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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@Medicinebow Yep, their lack of info allows the low informational to rant and rave while us researchers look for the whole story! Shall we say "adds to the spice" of the comments?
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Feb '13

MarkJM

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This should've happened years ago. Anyways, I look forward to it. One less day of junk as far as I'm concerned...
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Feb '13

PayThatCEO

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Should have been done long ago.
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Feb '13

ctc

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Unless they reduce their postal rates by 16.5%......this is a screw over.
Where else can you shrink your product or service by 1/6 and the lemmings praise you??
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Feb '13

Clarke12

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this reduction will push more people to UPS and FedEx, which will continue the downward spiral for USPS. there needs to be a comparable cut in cost as they continue to cut service.
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Feb '13

Thunderchicken

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I think if they'd get out of the parcel end of the business and concentrated on flat mail, they’d do themselves well.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@Thunderchicken They pretty much have a monopoly on flat mail. The only reason they have stayed relevant is because of the parcel end of the business since the advent of junk email.
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Post @AceLuby
Feb '13

DerivePI

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@AceLuby - their monopoly is due to their sole use of the US mailbox in front of nearly everyone's residence. It is illegal to place mail in people's mailboxes unless it has paid postage on it. On the other hand, they are legally obligated to deliver mail to everyone using the same rate per package. If you want to send a letter to your neighbor you need a first class stamp. If you want to send a letter to Chicken, Alaska - one first class stamp.
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Feb '13

AceLuby

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@DerivePI I understand 'why' they have a monopoly, that wasn't the point.
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Feb '13

CaryNickel

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Just in the last six weeks, UPS has smashed my stuff twice, been late with my stuff by several days 3 or 4 times, and FedEx can't find my house..which has been sitting in the same place for 30 years that I know of, and they've been here many times before. That just happened today and they will try a re-deliver tomorrow IF they can find the house then. In the meantime, I've had a few things delivered in the mail and they've been quick, and the stuff wasn't damaged. The article says the postal service has seen an increase in package delivery service over the years, and I can see why. UPS and FedEx are dropping the ball.
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Post @CaryNickel
Feb '13

Thunderchicken

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It wouldn't cause me any problems if they went to M-W-F delivery. All I get in the mail are bills and junk.
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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Me personally, I don't use the SNail mail service very much. Most of my dealings are auto deposit, auto withdrawal, pay by internet, bill by internet....etc. I have only one company I deal with (due to the great rates) for home owners ins that mails me a bill, once a year! I hope they will one day join the 21st century! Otherwise, it's all junk mail that I can't control like my e-mail spam! Now, that would be nice, junk mail you can delete long before walking out to the mail box! LOL
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Feb '13

Thegrif

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I believe there is more to it than just stopping. I believe they have some agreement with the gov't that says they will deliver 6 days a week.
Not sure though.
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Feb '13

tomincali

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i see this as more American job loss.
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Feb '13

SavageMazx

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About freakin time....
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Feb '13

Antony

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I would have rather seen them take Monday off. The only time I used USPS for packages was for the free Saturday shipping. Now I might as well use UPS for everything but a letter.

(I didn't mention Fedex on purpose. One too many bad dealings with them.)
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Feb '13

BelinKS

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The main post office where I live is already closed on Saturdays. This will just stop the mail being delivered to or taken to be delivered on Saturdays. The postal service had been in financial trouble for some time. I'll admit I am one of the people that have hurt it. I pay my bills online and use emails instead of letters. I only use the USPS to mail cards or to deliver packages. I like their "if it fits it ships" service. I do a lot of shopping online, but those packages are usually delivered by Federal Express or UPS.
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Feb '13

jamie91

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I wouldn't be effected if they made delivery once a week.
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Feb '13

SavageMazx

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Privatise the postal service and save us a bunch of wasted tax payer $$$.
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Feb '13

ConserveUSA

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That would be a great idea and cut wasteful spending.
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Feb '13

DrFunkenstein

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Yeah, I can't wait for Privatized Mail Service and paying $10 per stamp.
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Post @DrFunkenstein
Feb '13

SavageMazx

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@DrFunkenstein with post office losing 16 billion dollars last year, cutting Saturday will only save 2 billion. I would rather pay extra per stamp and not waste the 14 billion dollars. Plus it will cut down on junk mail I get.
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Post @SavageMazx
Feb '13

DrFunkenstein

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@SavageMazx Read the 2006 Postal Reform Act and understand why they are losing money. Before the Democrats took over Congress in 2007, the outgoing Republicans passed this wondrous piece of legislation designed to cause the Postal Service to become privatized. How? Well read the act and you'll see that the Postal Service is required to pay ahead on their retirement fund by 75 years(Yes, they have to fund the retirement funds of postal employees that aren't born yet) which is 100% of their financial losses. At the same time the Republicans have blocked all attempts to allow the Postal Service to raise stamp prices which would offset many of these deficits, only allowing a 1 cent rise last year when they need about a 7 cent raise. The postal service has been doing quite well, it's the handcuffs that the Republican bought off politicians that has caused the problem. If you think paying UPS or Fedex would be better then go to either of their websites and see how much it is to mail a letter with them, be shocked when you see that a letter that will arrive in 4-6 days will cost you $10-$15 dollars instead of a postal stamp letter that would arrive in 1-3 days Do not reply unless you read the act and can understand it, you will see that I state the facts and there is no spin at all to what I said.
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Post @DrFunkenstein
Feb '13
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Feb '13

jaybebo84

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This has been a long time coming...the USPS is a losing money due the increase in email usage throughout the United States...I would rather have someone send me an email than wait two or so days for a letter...not to mention, I can get my junk mail in my inbox and decide if I want to still get it or not...you cannot make that decision via USPS...
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Feb '13

ConserveUSA

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Matter of fact, I have ask the local USPS to help curb the junk mail I receive and they ignore it plus I do not know how many times I have reprimanded them about sending the wrong mail. As far as I am concern, they do not do their jobs right anyway.
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Post @ConserveUSA
Feb '13

ConserveUSA

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It is about time to cost wasteful spending.
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Feb '13

PNWest

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I don't see any comments from Neo on this thread so I'll have to say it. THIS MAKES ME SAD! I like Saturday mail delivery. I wish we had Sunday mail delivery. I know the times they are a changin' but still this does make me sad.
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Feb '13

Vance1

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Yep! The Over reaching Too Big to fail, Government never does anything well
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Feb '13

Keyjo

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Well, it is my understanding that this will save money without cutting any full time jobs. If this can be accomplished, it seems acceptable.
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Feb '13

UScentral

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The post office delivers on Saturday? When did they start doing that?
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