Love my PO too.

Peace.

it's where you go to chat with your neighbors. Our postmaster is extremely helpful, too. We have a PO box as our address, so I don't know where we would get our mail without the P.O.

....we lived in an area that was then still rather rural (not so much now) and we actually had General Delivery, meaning we didn't have home delivery and had to actually pick up the mail at the post office.

Every Saturday I would go with my dad on errands, and one of our stops was the post office, where we'd walk in, mail letters and pick up our mail. And I remember knowing our postmasters on a first name basis and having friendly conversations with them.

Funny thing was this was only about 25-30 years ago, yet it seems like something you'd hear about pre WWII.

Gainesville in the early 60s, the big open-air processing room behind the counter was staffed with postal workers wearing .38s. Now, even that building is gone.

Postal service is much imroved, now, IMO.

the two main post offices in town have hugely long lines and maybe three reps during the lunch hour. the smaller one outside of town is better, but terribly inconvenient.

I've had good experiences at the post office and bad experiences. Mostly it's been middle of the road. I'd bet most people would say the same thing.

"Private sector" doesn't mean "better service" or "faster service" or "cheaper service." It just means "for profit."

Beats me how anyone could argue -- or believe -- that private enterprise is by definition better than public sector. It really just gets down to individual employee attitudes, and management style of supervisors, just like with any company anywhere, ever.

=================

gone to hell. Frig for profit.

lucky to have two..and a lot of times only one.

If I have to go to a DMV, I go to the less populated areas. Two hour wait at the DMV in the city turns to 1/2 hour in the suburbs/rural areas.

The same with voting, long lines inside the cities, in and out in the suburbs.

My local post office is down to 1 person at times. They are friendly people but they've been cut to the bone so the line can get long if even one person calls in sick.

Our DMV at the County Seat never is busy when I go there. Usually no line, and you walk up to the counter and there is a stool for you to sit on. One of the two little old ladies will ask if you'd like a cup of coffee or an iced tea, and then ask what was your business.

The PO is a little more crowded. Usually 2 or 3 clerks all the time. Maybe 4 or 5 people in line, usually in and out in a couple of minutes.

One of the advantages of small town life in Texas.

closes for lunch.

out here our little rural PO is only open during a few hours. Not a problem at all. It is scheduled to be closed but has been saved so far. I am not sure what we will do without it.

The other day I had a package to mail and was in town. We went to 3 different PO outlets and not a single one of them would mail a package. THIS has never happened to me before. I ended up using UPS, I did not want to but at least I was able to mail my package without driving for several more miles looking for a PO that accepted packages.

I never knew this as a problem before.

I hate using UPS or FedEx.

Who once said "Nobody goes there anymore because it's always to crowded"?

Save the USPS!

I always considered the office of Postmaster General to be one of the highest honors I ever received.

Today it seems the level of service one can get in a branch post office depends on the characteristics of the particular facility. Some are swamped with customers and understaffed. It's like any other essentially franchise operation. You may get a good burger and good service at one Jack In The Box, and die of food poisoning from another.

There will always be a need to ship physical letters and goods. Competition among the USPS and common carriers is good for all.

I kinda like that concept.

=======================

When I got my Johnny Cash commemoratives in the mail. How I haven't had any problems with the USPS that I can recall.

is still the envy of the world

and I am there most days of the week.

sometimes the lines are longer than others, but never that long.

parcel services only would make it hard for me to stay in business because of they are more expensive and harder to access where I live.

service make it work.

FedEx and UPS rates would simply put us out.

It's a shame what's being done to the post office for those less-competitive companies' benefit.

The line was long, but the counter was fully staffed. Everyone was in a pretty good mood, but one jerk had to say something about the long lines. I turned around, gave him a big smile & said, "Fed Ex is just up the street that way & PostNet is up the street the other way." He mumbled something but stayed in line.

Our PO is wonderful as well. The employees have worked there for years & are friendly & helpful.

Plus, I love stamps.

Just this morning I was looking at prices to send one of those cardboard envelopes one state over by Monday, and FEDEX is about $16, whereas USPS is only $5. I believe it's cheaper to ship larger items via FEDEX/UPS though, but I may be wrong.

And I love, love, love it. Hadnt used USPS in years until recently when I had to start sending paperwork and checks (which I also just re-started using). The 24/7 thing is awesome.

"after ... Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, (which mandated $5.5 billion per year to be paid into an account to pre-fund retiree health-care, 75 years into the future, a requirement unique among organizations and businesses in the U.S.), revenue dropped sharply"

it's got a tapeworm in it

this is actually how neolibs operate, from 80s Argentina to 90s Britain and US: if a government program is succeeding financially, it's either sold off or torpedoed and then declared unseaworthy and disbanded

I can understand how it would affect the bottom line but not the revenue.

If expenses are increased then there will be less money available for other uses such as providing services, keeping locations open, new product/service development, marketing, etc.

Also prices may have to be raised in order to meet these additional expenses. Higher prices means less demand.

This is all due to poison pill that Darrell Issa put in. This would be a disaster and you can bet that you'll pay a lot more for postage. The post office is not allowed to make a profit- just to meet operating costs.

I retired a couple of years ago (disability) after 17 years of service. I miss the job and the people, but I feel.sorry for my friends I left behind. Management has gotten really ugly, always pushing carriers to move faster and take more work. Without getting in an accident.

Please, call your representatives and ask them to support the Post Office.

they don't even bother to leave slips telling you to pick up at the post office. There's always a long line of folks without slips, but who had to wherewithal to get the tracking numbers from the shippers. But things are so messed up, they don't even go by the tracking numbers. If you give them your address and show ID, they just go in the back and search for your packages.

My local post office is terrible. Even with just 5 people in line, you can wait up to 30 minutes to get to a window (this is a personal experience).

They 'disappear'. It's the weirdest thing. There will be two windows open, they'll help a couple of people, and then POOF! They run offta the back somewhere and return 5-10 minutes later. They seem absolutely miserable, unfriendly, unhelpful and occasionally venture into rude.

When I lived in a larger city in a different part of the country, this wasn't the case. Count your blessings.

Kuddos to USPS!

and a shout out to the mailmen (haven't had a female). They are the friendliest and nicest guys around. In this neighborhood, they watch out for you and your property. If something looks out of place, be sure there will be a ring of the door bell to tell you about it. Privatizing the postal service is not the answer. Rewriting the law that says that they have to fund retirement accounts for 75 yrs is the problem. No other government entity has to do that, why should the postal service? That's the only thing wrong with the service.

good experiences don't necessarily mean good business. You could go to a car wash and have 15 people polishing your car for $4.00. That would be a fantastic customer experience but that car wash will be out of business in a month, because their expenses exceed their income.

I was there to mail a graduation gift and a dad's day card.

The line wasn't that long, but it was VERY slow.

It all worked out though, because I got the card there and called
my dad to get the zip code and we had a nice conversation while
I waited. It was about that Larson book Thunderstruck, on Crippen
and Marconi, which I had given him for his bday. That was nice.

I mail packages to troops overseas and let me tell you, it is a wonder they are able to staff as well as they do - for example, I will go there at 3 PM on a Thursday and there's no one there so I think I will always come on that day at that time - but the next time, there's a long line....it is a wonder they ever know how many people to staff....I agree about the competence and courtesy

great people who really care. They have always helped my family and business in any way they can without ever asking for anything more than postage.

The Post Office is government done right.

Every day, six days a week, somebody comes to my door (in some locations that's literally to my door, otherwise its to my mailbox), picks up the letter I wrote the day before, and within 2-3 days, that letter is hand-delivered to any location in the United States. And they do it for just $0.46.

That's not fucking possible, is it? Forty-six cents?!

I get a pizza delivered from two miles away and it costs me two or three bucks, plus a tip for the driver.

The unmanageable problem is congressional oversight/sabotage. Read up on it here: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/03/04/how-the-postal-service-is-being-gutted.aspx

The long lines meant, at least, that a lot of people were trying to use it.

I think there were 2 or 3 people ahead of me, and several more people behind me, and it still moved at a brisk pace.

It means at least a dozen people ahead of me and as many behind -- that is, a line stretching all the way through the front part of the PO , through the door, and into the area with the mailboxes.

And it often means no empty spots in the parking lot.

I love the post office - it remains one of the most efficient institutions on the planet.

The staff in my local Post Office always offers to help me with any mail project that I may have, and have often given me good advice as to ways to ship my packages better. The local letter carrier is also on the ball, and does an excellent job for our route. There is NO way that any private company could ever provide better service at a better price. The only reason that the thieves in DC want to gut the post Office is to give that business to their masters for pennies on the dollar. In my book, the Post Office is doing a fine job.

communicate. Those can be recorded and stored.

They're the best!

Very few people pay bills by checks in the mail anymore, they pay online. Online payments are easier, faster, and more secure. Even junk mail is dropping off, in favor of spam.

Companies prefer to send ebills, and try to get customers to sign up for ebilling instead of a paper bill. (I get almost all of my bills by ebill.)

All of that is business that the USPS loses.

Usually they are cheaper and just as quick.

I have a PO Box and try to get my parcels to come to there. I hat it when UPS or FedEx leaves a shipment on our front porch. That is an invitation for someone to steal the parcel.

with no end in sight.

Parcel service helps but they cannot compete with UPS or Fedex - they can't control their costs likes a private business can.

For a different perspective: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/03/04/how-the-postal-service-is-being-gutted.aspx

the long term problem is still less revenue and increased expenses.

Now your link's solution is a large increase in postage rates - perhaps that will work. It will be hard to get through congress.

The bottom line is that the PO has unique issues that will make any fix very hard - there are too many people that have a say on the matter and finding any kind of consensus will be very hard. It makes no difference to me - I don't mail letters or bills

And its also often faster. I have bought and sold a good bit of stuff via E-Bay over the years and when its available always ask sellers to use the US Mail and its the only way I will send anything of a size and weight they will handle. I am well aware of the 100 inch rule.

more than 5 minutes, and usually don't have to wait at all.

I agree, what's not to like?

They keep hiring independent carriers that do such a poor job most of us in the rural routes have bought a PO box in town. Our counter folks go the extra mile but recently the PO box service has been a mess. It was explained to me the problem is the main sort center in Lexington.

Even mail sent out or in with any form of tracking has been more miss than hit. So unfortunately if I have to make sure it arrives on time I'm stuck with Fed Ex.

All that said my local small town branch does their union, the USPS and the federal employee image proud. Very proud.

If you don't want to wait in line, are- most of the larger post offices, have a self service kiosk, where you can send a package or letter, even certified of uninsured and buy stamps. It does require a credit card and has a minimum purchase of $!.

You can also go to www.USPS.com and look for click-n-ship. You can print your own postage and schedule a pick up with your carrier.

Please call your representatives. It would be really bad for everyone if the Republicans destroy this wonderful institution.

Simple as that.

It's dying because it's being murdered.

is just more of the privatize everything movement operating at every level.

Last week I wanted to send a CD of country songs to my niece in the UK. I went to the local shipping store where they advertise UPS, FedEx, DHL The young woman in charge of overseas shipping asked what I was sending, and I held up the CD. She said "Prices to send anything overseas START at $100.00" I was shocked and said "But it is just a CD" Makes no difference. So, I went to the Post Office where I had picked up the shipping box for free, it cost $9.45 to mail it. It arrived in one week. Privatizing the post office will be VERY lucrative for someone. I wonder if Cheney has stock in one of these companies? I read that he has $80 Million invested in private prisons, and we all know how well those are working out, now don't we?

The last package that I sent via UPS cost me more than the contents was worth...

Welcome to DU, Scarsdale! It's great to have you with us!

with the wrong passport papers filled out. The lady there was very nice. She gave me the right forms and had everything set for me in 15 minutes.

It's four weeks later. I just received my new passport in the mail. They even sent back my old passport book. I'm very grateful to that woman in the post office. I wouldn't have got that mess sorted out if not for her. She was very professional. People forget, we use the post office for other things than mail.

I don't want our local post offices to close. What about little tiny rural towns that are not profitable? I can't imagine UPS and FedEx servicing them properly.

with a living wage, benefits and a pension, you know, a "taker." (Just in case: )

And, btw, my experiences at the post office have been very similar to yours.

...it's because these privatization fucks have their heads in a noose. I occasionally run into long lines, but they always move quickly. The longest wait was about 5 minutes, and that was during the Xmas holiday rush. The people at the counter were not at all unpleasant. I wouldn't blame them if they were, given that those assholes are trying to run them out of their jobs, and bad-mouthing them to no end. But, they aren't, much to their great credit. The whole thing disgusts me to no end.

always a line on weekends, the only time I can ever get there. disorganized instructions for lines. surly workers. unehlpful mgmt for complaints.

i support the post office and don't want to see it overtaken by private services, but they're going to have to do better.

...I wonder what percentage of their business is generated by eBay sellers? I bet it's significant.

"Well, the USPS can deliver an envelope across the US for 46 cents. It costs a hospital five bucks to deliver a one-cent ibuprofen across a hospital room to my mouth. I gotta go with USPS."

there are NEVER more than 2 clerks working. Doesn't matter what day or time. You ALWAYS have to stand and wait forever.

,,,and we both celebrated the fact that Saturday deliveries will continue.

For me, still the best deal for two bits, and the NSA doesn't get to read my letters!