So the Post Office Whipped UPS and FedEx in terms of delivering packages for Christmas 2013

[malaise]

So much for trying to destroy the Post Office for the 'privatize goons'.

Delish! I'm lovin' it!!!

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.
Bravo Post Office Workers!!! We've got your backs!!

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/12/26/ups-fedex-ruin-christmas-prove-republicans-wrong-killing-post-office.html
<snip>
People across the country got a look at what package delivery will look like if the Postal Service is privatized after both UPS and FedEx ruined Christmas by being unable to delivery holiday packages on time.

UPS admitted that some children would not receive their Christmas gifts on time because their system could not keep up with demand, “We understand the importance of your holiday shipments. However, the volume of air packages in our system exceeded the capacity of our network.” A spokesperson for Fed Ex said, “We’re sorry that there could be delays and we’re contacting affected customers who have shipments available for pickup.” Fed Ex’s solution was to make customers who paid for Christmas delivery go to their local Fed Ex store and pick up their packages on Christmas Day. If you didn’t have a local Fed Ex store, you were out of luck.

Things were so bad at Fed Ex that local depots were overwhelmed with packages to the point where they didn’t attempt to make deliveries. The AP confirmed that the delivery issues impacted Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.
----------------------
Send this to everyone who promotes the privatization of the postal services

[daleanime]

1. K&R....

[kelliekat44]

111. I was just about to post something about this when I saw this post.

I mailed 7 packages by USPS and all of them arrived within three days from MD to CA. I have always thought that the USPS was the most bang for the buck for consumers since I can remember.

[kelliekat44]

113. You must study and learn the REAL reason that the RW would like to destroy the USPS. It's still

about racism as well as making business for their corporate buddies. For years, the Federal government and especially the USPS was the premier equal employment opportunity employer in the USA. During the early 50s and right after WWII, many black returning soldiers could find no decent paying jobs anywhere except within the Federal government. For many well educated black men, the only good jobs for them were within the Federal government...and most especially in the post office. Unionized and working for fair wages and good benefits, black heads of households were able to provide a decent standard of living for their families, pay for higher education and and put a little aside for their future. For years, black men with PhDs and Masters degrees wither worked as cab drivers or within the post offices in major cities including D.C. Naturally, the ignorant and the bigots or more precisely the ignorant bigots found this good fortune of minority men to be a huge problem and used this as a basis for smearing the Fed government and any unionized workforce that provided good wages and benefits to blacks and women. The stereotype of the "lazy, black government worker" predated the "welfare queen" by at least two decades. And you know the rest of the story...the attacks continue especially since so many educated minorities and women once found good paying jobs and benefits within the Federal government and later within state governments. Thus you have the never-ending attack on public sector workers at the local, state, and Federal levels...from trash collectors (since gone the way of private contractors and huge increases in costs to municipalities) to postmen and women.

Just a brief summary...but study more about the issue to find out the untold story.

[merrily]

162. Sadly, it's not only Republicans who want to privatize the Post Office.

I know you used the term "RW," and not Republican. I agree with that. I think people who favor privatization of previously public functions are RW.

I just wanted it to be clear for anyone reading this that it's not only Republicans who have been wanting to privatize the Post Office.

[malaise]

191. Very interesting

Thanks for this

[kelliekat44]

193. History is a lesson few learn. nt

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. They always do. It one of the biggest reasons the parasites want to destroy it.

Like Medicare, it's a (quasi) government program that delivers better results for a fraction of the cost.

[malaise]

3. Better results for a fraction of the cost

A perfect line.
Happy Holidays Egalitarian Thug

[Egalitarian Thug]

21. Thank you very much. I hope your celebrations are are so good

they require minor recovery, and that we all have a far better next year.

[malaise]

23. Back at you

We had a lovely dinner yesterday - good friends, good food and all the drinks people wanted.
And yes may we all have a better 2014!! Solidarity for all workers - everywhere.

[madinmaryland]

146. Except when it takes the USPS two weeks to deliver a package. But no one will talk about that here

for fear of getting banned.

[nikto]

149. That's YOUR experience, definitely not mine

I guess the USPS serves my area better than yours.

Why is that?

[madinmaryland]

155. It has been my experience over the last 30 years that service really sucks from

all of the delivery services USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc. Most delivery personnel from the USPS that we have are barely civil at all, with an exception going to our current mail delivery person.

Both USPS and UPS have horrible coordination issues between their delivery personnel and the depot personnel.

[nikto]

158. I agree with this, for sure...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9184878




Your heart is clearly in the right place.

Don't let a few exceptions distract you from the fact
of Privatization being a bad thing, most of the time.

[madinmaryland]

159. I am glad that you know how to use the "search" feature on DU.

You still seem to be implying that I want the USPS privatized. What I want is the onerous rules that require the USPS to pay for 75 years of each employee's retirement program in advance. That is why the USPS is floundering, yet no one comments about this here. It has become a bash the employees of UPS and FedEx which is now bothering me.

[nikto]

174. No, you are on the right side...

You're one of the good guys.
Peace.

[merrily]

161. Definitely not my experience.

[BobUp]

192. Banned for

having a dissenting viewpoint?

why?

I hope people realize the FEDEX has a contract with USPS, and when you purchase something one day before the holiday that there's virtually no chance items will be delivered the next day.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-23/fedex-to-fly-mail-for-postal-service-for-10-5-billion.html

If people want their merchandise delivered the next day, choose a reputable expediter like DHL, Tri-State, or some outfit that guarantees next day delivery. Even USPS's Express Mail doesn't guarantee overnight service.

How much more does it cost than cheap express mail or FEDEX? If you have to ask, you cannot afford it.

Best thing to do if people want their gifts delivered on time, is to order well in advance of a holiday. If anyone ordered anything online or over the phone, and the seller claimed items are shipped via FEDEX, there's a good chance your package was handed off to USPS to deliver.

[Doremus]

225. I call BS.

Especially if said package was shipped via Priority. I've been shipping for 20 years for my business, to the tune of over $25k annually. Thousands upon thousands of packages. I don't remember the last time a Priority package took longer than 7 days to arrive. The one I'm thinking of was misrouted through several states until it finally found its way.

Now if you eschewed Priority in favor of the cheaper Parcel Select, then a 2-wk transit time isn't unheard of. Parcel Select packages get transported when there's space available. As with most everything else, you get what you pay for.

[madinmaryland]

227. It was Priority and was stuck in Cincinnati for over a week.

I typically send stuff at work thru either UPS or FedEx because that is who they have the account(s) with, so I am not very familiar with the USPS delivery services. It was my wife that sent it.

[Doremus]

233. Ho hum.

One package out of millions gets waylaid for a week and you're bent out of shape over it?

Oh the horror! LOL

Obviously you're ignoring the fact that USPS outperformed both FedEx and UPS this holiday season in order to make your point. Too funny.

[elleng]

4. Yes, its great news for those opposed to the

'privatize' b.s.

[malaise]

6. Operating on the cheap to make more money means not enough trucks

and not enough staff.
I'm lovin' it. Looks like Scumbaugh's friends declared the war on Christmas
Meanwhile
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/12/24/post-office-workers-brave-cold-to-deliver-christmas-gifts-on-time/
<snip>


CBS 2?s Mai Martinez has a look at some of the workers making Christmas deliveries today.

With the Christmas clock winding down, there’s no time to spare and U.S. Postal Service workers are working hard to make sure letters and packages arrive at their Christmas destinations in time for Christmas.

“That’s the most important thing seeing the joy and the satisfaction of our customers,” said letter carrier James Hundley.

And Postal workers aren’t the only ones busy making those last minute Christmas deliveries. A spokesperson for FedEx says by the end of today, their workers will have delivered about 275 million packages this holiday season.

UPS workers are also in the mix, delivering an estimated 132-million packages in the past week alone.

But the U.S. postal service has them both beat.

“We estimated that we would be handling about 420 million packages this holiday season,” said Mark Reynolds of the U.S. Postal Service.

And that takes some planning.



Bravo USPS workers

[Egalitarian Thug]

12. The USPS is an astonishing large system, brilliant. Literally, the envy of the world,

Last edited Thu Dec 26, 2013, 08:19 PM - Edit history (1)

not that you'll ever hear it said here. It has some big problems, all of which are rooted in politics and would be easily solved by eliminating Congressional meddling and political appointees.

It provides living wages and career stability (although that's been changed of late thanks to republicans and the G$ administration) for all of its employees, delivers superior, universal service, and does it all cheaper than any private company can compete with.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

72. That isn't even hyperbole, the USPS is the envy of the world

Most postal services, even in large western countries barely function.

[One_Life_To_Give]

201. As good as it is

At the end of the day when Silicon Valley needs a Package delivered to Wall street before 10AM there are only a handful of operations with that specialty. Just as trains and ships are among the most efficient carriers, they aren't first choice to deliver your personal groceries.

[AlbertCat]

218. when Silicon Valley needs a Package delivered to Wall street before 10AM

Sounds more like someone in scheduling in Silicon Valley has a problem.... not any delivery service.

[JimDandy]

81. The USPS was closed most of Sat and all of Sun, Dec 21st and 22nd.

That made it so that many people HAD to use UPS or FedEx, which then overwhelmed their system. On the biggest mailing days of the year, the USPS is not even being competitive! Those of us who don't want our beloved mail system to be privatized do want them to act like a business and please us customers, so that they are not.

[elleng]

83. 'Closed?'

Didn't go, but substation here usually open 'til 5 Saturday. And offices may be 'closed,' but they're doing their jobs during that time.

Sounds like people ordered on-line at unexpected rates for UPS and FedEx prior to the weekend (I think) and they couldn't keep up with what should have been, imo, expected.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. That is exactly what happened

and yes, the plants were processing stuff

[JimDandy]

91. They closed at 1 pm Sat, Dec 21st

while both FedEx and UPS stayed open. A package I had mailed by USPS 3-day priority mail on Dec 9th from BestBuy.com didn't arrive until Dec 15th! They were already overwhelmed that early in the month, but, because they weren't open nearly the number of hours and days as their competitors were, their mail volumes were lower, and their delays weren't making the news.

[bluestate10]

123. My Post Office was open until 5pm the Saturday before Christmas. nt

[JimDandy]

148. I'm seeing others say that too.

Hmm. I live in a Denver suburb. I thought a P.O. in a large metropolitan area would have been one of the ones open for extended hours. Couldn't believe it when I got down there and it wasn't. Glad yours was.

[ellie]

170. I live in Lone Tree

The Lone Tree post office was open until 4 last Saturday. It is a satellite office like a gift store with a post office in it.

[GobBluth]

139. I'm a rural carrier

Your package DID get priority, because of the huge volume increase it did not make it in three days. We never guarantee that 2/3 day priority. Most days of the year that's what it will take. All we guarantee is that a priority package gets preference over standard. During Christmas, unless you send it express, count on longer shipping time.

And use UPS all you want, we will probably end up delivering them anyways. I'm a sub and spent 2 weeks just delivering parcels. 1/3 (more like half most days) were originally shipped UPS. How's THAT business model working out for you? You spend more only to have the cheaper (and in my experience more consistent) company deliver it anyways.

I would have LOVED to be able to have taken pictures of my office the last month. You would have realized how wrong your entire statement was. Unlike UPS, USPS WAS delivering expresses on Christmas.

Ok. End of rant. Sorry. Please look at www.usps.com and check out their click and ship. Every morning I get a list off all the packages I need to pick up on the route I am working that day. No need for you to even worry about hours of operation. Someone will come and pick it up FOR you at no extra charge.

[JimDandy]

222. Thanks for your good info.

Going to check out the click and ship on the web site you gave.

I don't use UPS or FedEx. As I said, I support the USPS because they usually provide excellent service for a good price and family members have worked for them in the past.

I do have a right to complain when they don't provide the service that we paid them for, though, just like I would if it were any other business. I know about the conundrum of their "priority service does not mean guaranteed service". To me it is immoral, though, for the USPS to continue to sell a service at a time when they know they cannot provide it. I'd be willing to bet that they reach a point where the percentage of priority vs standard is so high that it makes the "priority gets preference" argument truly meaningless. I wasn't expecting that point to have already been breached by Dec 9th, though.

I provided a 24 hr turn-around service in a business I owned years ago. If the customer didn't receive the service within that time frame (that happened only a few times in 5 years) we didn't charge them... period.

[pnwmom]

154. Better than staying open and pretending they could deliver packages

on time, when they couldn't.

But my P.O. was open till 5 on Saturday. And my sister's had Sunday deliveries.

[bluestate10]

119. The packages that Fedex and UPS couldn't deliver were likely shipped out on Saturday.

So, the two private companies started with the same constraints as the USPS.

[bluestate10]

117. Selected US Post Offices were open across the country on the Saturday and Sunday

before Christmas to allow package delivery by Christmas Eve. The fact is, that the packages that FedEx and UPS couldn't deliver were in the very same class as packages that the USPS took for shipment on the Saturday before Christmas. The simple fact is, that given the same parameters, the USPS delivered, FedEx and UPS didn't.

[nadinbrzezinski]

121. And just to back up what you said

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Area-Post-Offices-to-Open-Sunday-Ahead-of-Busiest-Day-of-the-Year-235802691.html

http://baskingridge.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/basking-ridge-post-office-to-be-open-for-package-pickup-this-sunday-and-next

http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/doc52ad127097df1475700993.txt

I mean, there is a "scandal" the media refuses to cover, and the trucks you saw were delivering for Amazon, but this poster has been called on the BS already.

[bluestate10]

124. I got a USPS packaged delivered to my home on the Sunday before Christmas.

I wanted to ask the mail person why he was working, but it was clear that he was busy, so I took the package. The USPS seems to have done a better job of logistics than the private companies.

[nadinbrzezinski]

125. Some areas, so our poster was right to a point, implemented Sunday deliverty

before the holidays, but it was hardly national. This came out after doing some research, but it was not because they were late or anything like that. So my calling him on the BS was partially correct.

Nationally they have implemented Sunday delivery under contract with Amazon Prime, to be first rolled out in Los Angeles.

[Glassunion]

5. I do not feel that the USPS should be privatized.

However, how exactly did the USPS whip FedEx and UPS?

The article makes a statement ("but the United States Postal Service was able to deliver in time for Christmas&quot , however there was nothing to back it up.

[malaise]

7. Read the new link

and it was also on M$NBComcast a while ago.

[Glassunion]

8. Thanks!

I hate articles that make a claim without one word to back it up.

They should not have had to work on Christmas. But kudos to them none the less.

[anasv]

9. I'll back it up.

I mailed a package USPS on Friday across the country and it got delivered on Monday.

Meanwhile UPS and FedEx were failing to deliver stuff mailed 1-2 weeks prior.

[wryter2000]

11. Welcome to DU

[hack89]

18. Do you know that UPS or FEDEX may have flown that package?

The USPS contracts out to private companies all long distance mail hauling - they do not own fleets of trucks or cargo planes.

[Sanity Claws]

24. So?

The point is that USPS was prepared, even had contracts with private companies to make things happen.
FedEx and USPS were not prepared.

[hack89]

34. Or UPS gave priority to USPS mail

The USPS can't move mail at all without private companies - it is not a case of being prepared, it is how they operate every day. I suspect that their contracts require UPS/FEDEX to give priority to USPS mail - the USPS mail was merely displacing other mail.

[Sanity Claws]

44. Having the proper contracts in place is part of being prepared

Both sides negotiated these contracts. USPS negotiated for priority and paid for it.

It proves my point.

[GoCubsGo]

106. More likely, it was Delta or United...

...or some other commercial airline. They carry the US Mail all the time. Every time I fly, I see the mail being loaded into the cargo hold of the plane I'm on. That being said, yes, they contract out their long distance hauling, and a huge portion of it, if not all of it, goes to commercial airlines.

[bluestate10]

126. I am amazed by the number of republican talking points that are being conjured up to

explain away why the USPS beating the private shippers. The USPS has it own fleet of planes and shipping trucks.

[hack89]

129. No they don't

they contract out all their long distant mail and package hauling.

[bluestate10]

140. You are attempting to conflate the issue. The USPS uses it's own planes and

CONTRACT shippers that are controlled by the USPS to ship virtually all of it's packages. The USPS controls the shipping logistics of those shippers. The USPS does ship some mail by commercial airlines but handles destination logistics, that is efficient since shipments can be as frequent as two to three times per day between cities. BTW, FedEx and UPS use commercial airlines to ship many of their priority packages. Have you tracked a package via UPS or FedEx websites? You should try doing so, it will prove to be educational.

[Igel]

165. The USPS uses FedEx.

http://investorplace.com/2013/04/fedex-wins-new-7-year-contract-with-usps/

They do not control the logistics. However, their contract may be "savvy" in the sense that by expanding days of operation they overloaded FedEx's logistics ability. If so, then FedEx did the honorable (and possibly contractually obligatory) thing by privileging the USPS while their own network was clogged. Probably won't happen again. And, yes, that last sentence was ambiguous.

This isn't new, even if the contract in place now is new.

Given that part of the FedEx delivery system is the USPS, I also have to wonder if part of the problem wasn't a backlog in having the USPS accept packages for delivery, favoring its own "in-house" packages before a contractor. That, however, would be mean spirited to suggest, and is borderline to even mention, in the absence of any actual evidence.

Doesn't stop a lot of people.

[anasv]

234. I believe that's not correct

The post office lady gave me a choice of shipping methods. The one I chose she described as the post office handles it themselves, the other was as using other carriers.

[hack89]

235. The USPS contracts out all air shipments

The do not own a fleet of cargo aircraft. Emery air services handles the bulk of it but UPS and FEDEX both have USPS contracts.

[malaise]

22. My sister mailed a package from Miami to a friend in Baltimore on Tuesday

December 10. My friend received it two days later - and brought it for me on the 17th.

I always use the Post Office.

[JimDandy]

88. I got terrible results from USPS as early as Dec 9th

A package was sent to me from BestBuy.com, 3 day priority mail, on Dec 9th. It arrive 6 days later on 15 Dec. I don't know if USPS was so backed up because of their own operations or the operations of their private contractors. Whatever the reason, they were not delivering anywhere near their promised (and paid for) time frames either.

[sarge43]

13. FWIW

We ordered two items a week ago. One to be delived by USPS, the other by UPS. USPS tracking promised arrival 24 Dec and it showed up Tuesday. UPS tracking, arrival Monday, 23 Dec. Still waiting for it.

[Glassunion]

15. The OP link another article that backed up the statement.

The original article just made a blanket statement, however did not back it up.

The new article they linked had a ton of info.

[hack89]

16. I suspect their contracts with UPS, FEDEX and other carriers require them to give priority

To USPS mail. The USPS contracts out all long distance mail hauling to private companies.

[LanternWaste]

74. Merely a suspicion/guess on your part?

Merely a suspicion/guess on your part?

[hack89]

103. Not that big of a deal

just pointing out that the USPS does not own fleets of trucks and planes and is absolutely dependent on private contractors to move the mail. UPS and FEDEX are two of.those contractors. My only point.

[annabanana]

10. LOVES me some USPS

That Ben Franklin guy had a pretty good idea there...

[malaise]

41. He sure did

Happy Holidays

[hack89]

14. The USPS depends on private companies like UPS and FEDEX to move mail long distances

The USPS does not have fleets of long distance trucks or cargo planes - those services are all contracted out to private firms. UPS and FEDEX move huge amounts of USPS mail.

[A HERETIC I AM]

30. Not as much as you think.

I am currently working as a seasonal driver for one of the largest US Mail contractors in the country. I just got back from a trip up to Ohio and then to Pennsylvania. Of the three large Network Distribution Centers ("NDC's) that I visited, starting here in Jacksonville, not a single FedEx or UPS trailer could be seen. In fact, from what I have seen, those two firms move very little if any US Mail.

There are dozens of contractors like the one I am currently working for in this country. The trailers are fairly easy to spot, once you know what to look for, but suffice to say, many have the words "US Mail Contractor" on their tractors.

Damned little mail is moved between cities and NDC's by US Postal Service employees. They handle intra-city movements and local deliveries, but your Christmas package from your house to your Aunt Millie across the country got there because of drivers like me.

[hack89]

35. Thank you for your hard work. Nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. I appreciate that. Just so you and any other readers are aware, that trip left on Xmas eve.

Myself and a co-driver, he having a family, left Jax at 9:00 PM Christmas Eve. All day Christmas day on the road and returned here today at 2:00PM.

And we weren't the only ones, not by a long shot. Thousands of other drivers nationwide were doing similar duty.

FWIW, the USPS must have been doing something right, because we hauled an empty trailer from Ohio to PA, only to find out there was nothing to load from PA to Jax, so we pulled that same empty back down here.

Everything that had to be moved had already been moved for that route. But it will pick right back up again, I'm sure. The guy I drove with does that route twice a week, and he told me he has never been empty on two of the 3 legs in the 3 and a half years he has been making this trip.

[Egalitarian Thug]

82. Would you rather stay where you are, or would you rather be a USPS employee, if that were possible?

[A HERETIC I AM]

96. At this point in my life....

(mid fifties) I just want to make a living!

While working in a center has its appeal - home every night, steady paycheck, etc. - I've been a truck driver for so long I don't think I could handle seeing the same four walls every day!

This company I'm with is a union shop, so if I am able to stay on after the season, I can be a Teamster again. Being a driver and a Teamster in the South East is very rare indeed.

If they don't keep me on, it's back to Car Haul, most likely.

But this is good pay (union scale) and one tenth the physical labor car hauling is.

I would have loved to have been able to get on with the Post Office in the past, but I think these days it is pretty tough just to get your foot in the door.

[Egalitarian Thug]

172. I meant as a driver. I assumed that you like your job, I just wanted to know whether or not

you would prefer to do it as a USPS employee with all that brings.

[A HERETIC I AM]

175. Looking at the USPW union website ....

Tells me they aren't happy with the idea that contractors move so much mail. With that in mind then yes, I'd rather work for the USPS as a driver.

As far as benefits go, I think the Teamsters is comparable.

[Egalitarian Thug]

176. My little sister worked for them, it's a good gig.

Decent pay, pretty good benefits, and there has to be a whole bunch of good reasons to push you out.

[GobBluth]

142. It works both ways

I'm a rural carrier and spent a LOT of overtime this month delivering "the last mile" (hahaha sometimes 15) for UPS.

[Hissyspit]

17. I noticed that.

Last edited Thu Dec 26, 2013, 09:03 PM - Edit history (1)

But what are we going to do about it? Bush-era oppressive budgetary law still applies, and is still working hard to destroy USPS.

[DinahMoeHum]

19. Heh heh. Gotta love the karmic justice in this.

[malaise]

31. Big time

Happy Holidays

[frogmarch]

20. Yeah? Fuck them.

I sent my sister in Hawaii a gift on December 10th and she still hasn't rec'd it. I sent it First Class. The package I sent her Priority with FRAGILE in red ink on all sides, on the same day got there in about 5 days - broken.

I've had packages I've sent never arrive and birthday cards arrive with the envelopes ripped open, apparently to get at whatever cash I might have sent in it.

[RC]

60. I've sent stuff to Hawaii.

They usually get it in a week or less. And this was from North Dakota.
Leading up to Christmas time, is can take only two days. What usually happens, mail piles up in California, till they have a plane load. Which is why is takes a week during most of the year.
But with more people shipping stuff leading up to Christmas, they fill the planes up faster. Hence the shorter turnaround.

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. Funny that you mention that

Last edited Thu Dec 26, 2013, 08:47 PM - Edit history (1)

I have sent multiple items to family on Maui and I have yet to hear a peep of an issue. OTOH, when I used UPS to ship from Honolulu to Maui, there were issues. For fucks sake, that was one Island over. Did I mention it was more expensive than the contents? Of course this was in the bad old days before the Postal Service got into shipping packages in any major way.

As to the envelopes, talk to the super, they might be having, believe it or not, an issue with the machine that processes first class mail at one of the plants. If they hear about it, they can fix it. Oh and likely it is a small issue. But the other thing we do, since hubby works at the plant, is we not only close the envelope, we put scotch tape on it. It helps.

Oh and one last thing, hubby suggests if you suspect robbery, you talk to the cops, in this case the Postal Inspector. If somebody is doing that, we are talking a major felony.

[SharonAnn]

95. We just had one of those robberies here, in my community last week.

Mail from more than 100 mailboxes was stolen, all the mail was opened. The thieves were apparently looking for gift cards and checks they could cash.

A neighbor saw them driving through the neighborhood and stopping at mailboxes where they seemed to be taking things out. He phoned the Sheriff's office, got their license number and followed them so that he could tell the Sheriff's Deputy exactly where they were. They were apprehended (red-handed) with a car full of opened mail, many of which had the contents taken out. They are now facing Federal charges. While it certainly messed up some people's Christmas, at least we know what happened and that they were caught.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. Yes, it is a federal felony

though these boy scouts were not postal workers. From the details you posted they were not, but they somehow got a master key.

Crime in the postal service is very low, after all it is a federal felony, regardless of the amount, one with at least ten years per incident. At a private shipper you need to hit the 400 bucks wicket for it to be prosecuted as a state offense.

So those thieves are looking at a LOOONGGGG time behind bars.

[Octafish]

25. Mid-Michigan ice storm slowed USPS down, a bit.

But, they came through.

[malaise]

29. They usually do

saw your comment about corporate dems on the other thread - 100% correct

Happy Holidays

[fadedrose]

26. anytime I order anything

from books to vitamins to appliance parts, etc., I always request the US Post Office, USPS, and am never disappointed.

Things arrive fast and in good shape.

Good job Postal Workers! ! !

[Enthusiast]

46. Me too! +1 a whole bunch!

[totodeinhere]

120. Is it possible when ordering on Amazon to request the USPS?

My experience with them is that I have to accept whomever Amazon selects to deliver the package. Am I missing something? Does Amazon have a mechanism which allows the customer to select the shipper of their choice? I tried to Google that question and came up empty. Thanks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

122. Yes, I do it regularly

[totodeinhere]

127. Thanks. Can you tell me how to do that? I don't see that option listed on

their site. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place.

[nadinbrzezinski]

128. When I finish placing an order and pick shipping

if you are going to use one click, you have to set that first.

Oh and if you join Prime, guess who has the contract? USPS

[totodeinhere]

133. Thanks but I'm still confused. The only option I see is choosing shipping speed, not the

specific carrier that does the shipping. I used to have Prime but I cancelled it because too often where I live it took longer than the promised two days. But then again if I recall the shipper usually was UPS, not USPS.

[nadinbrzezinski]

134. I have no idea, my shipments as standard shipping

always come in as USPS.

If you are in the sticks it makes no sense for UPS since USPS does the last mile delivery. I live in a large city, and I always get it through the mail.

I would have to place an order to check this... myself

Found the answer.

Here.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201118510

Since we usually buy from Amazon and not the sellers.

[totodeinhere]

136. I have fired off an email to Amazon and will post their answer

when it comes.

[zappaman]

219. You can't pick a specific carrier.

Whoever is telling you that has no clue.
As a prime member, I have got packages from USPS, FEDEX, UPS and another delivery service that I can't remember the name of.
It seems random, but likely depends on the item.

[totodeinhere]

232. Thanks. That's what I thought as well. n/t

[fadedrose]

163. I always find a spot where I can add it ....S

Sometimes you can use a Contact linke or Help liink.

I've ordered books and household items and got them through the post office.

[Stargazer09]

27. They even delivered a package on Sunday

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a package delivered by the USPS on a Sunday.

[JimDandy]

94. USPS was delivering on Sunday because packages were already days late

by the second week in December.

[nadinbrzezinski]

105. Nope, they were delivering under contract for Amazon

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/11/11/amazon-sunday-delivery-usps/3479055/

By the way I get it, you had issues with USPS, about 1% of mail has issues, far higher with the two private contractors. But if you feel this way, use UPS next year.

[JimDandy]

108. Nope, the postal worker apologized for being days late

and said they were delivering on Sunday to catch up. My package was from BestBuy.com and none of the other priority packages my family received late through USPS were from Amazon either.

ETA: We will still use USPS because family members worked for them over the years. They just have to do a better job, just like UPS and FedEx do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

110. Well, given that my husband currently works at the plant

and worked over time, and no, they were not delivering for anything but Amazon Prime. Mind you if I take this with a large boulder of this stuff.



Not a grain mind you, a large piece of it.

[JimDandy]

114. Wow - Well, you don't get to practically call me a liar and then not be put on ignore...

Would have sent you a photo for proof, but really not interested, after such an unnecessarily abrasive encounter, so... buh by.

[nadinbrzezinski]

116. And I will do you the courtesy none of these folks who

I have put on ignore, I will mutually ignore you too.

[valerief]

28. I've always been a big post office fan. I never understood people's complaints about it. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. Because the only interaction they typically have with the Post Office is either their....

home route delivery person or the person behind the counter at the retail side of their local Post Office.

If they could see what I've seen over the last couple weeks, inside the big distribution/sorting centers, it would change their minds.

[malaise]

33. It's amazing when you think about it

Post Offices are really efficient.

[valerief]

36. Ha! I wish the Post Office was our healthcare single payer!!!! nt

[summerschild]

59. If they could go inside a large processing plant, they would think

every letter that arrived at their mail box was a complete miracle!

The volume is incredible.

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. Funny that you mention that

hubby works at a plant. In spite of the best efforts by management, it is a miracle!!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

71. Most every NDC uses an "Annex" building to handle much of the extra Christmas volume

They will lease a large warehouse with 20 or more dock-level doors for semi trailers and handle a large amount of the parcel post volume through those.

Yup, the volume is truly staggering.

[malaise]

38. Joy Reid wants to know why ReTHUGs aren't attacking UPS and Fedex

since they failed to deliver - just like the Obamacare website. She's sitting in for Ed Shultz

Happy Holidays

[Go Vols]

37. I ordered nearly all of Christmas

from ebay,all came USPS.Surprised me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. Ebay has a preferred shipper contract with them

It was one of the first big shipper contracts the USPS got when they started to push packages.

[Cha]

39. I love the USPS so great news! I got packages

from both USPS and Fed Ex on time out here on the Island so I'm glad FedEx wasn't having difficulty with that situation('cause mine was a laptop!).

That sounds awful for the people in the states affected!

[Contrary1]

40. Clearly this is something cooked up by the Obama administration...

They only included California, Nevada, and Virginia to fool the Republics.

[Jacoby365]

42. I'm not so sure.

I shipped a package to New York from California via the Post Office on Dec. 9th. Tracking still shows it as being in California, but nobody knows where the package actually is. I also shipped a package on Dec. 13th via the Post Office to Massachusetts, and tracking shows the package was accepted, and is "in transit", with no other tracking updates. Nobody has any idea where that package is, either.

[JimDandy]

93. Same USPS horror stories in our family - they just aren't making the news. n/t

[jeff47]

135. I have plenty of similar stories from FedEx and UPS packages. (nt)

[Enthusiast]

45. K&R! We love the USPS!

It's in the constitution.

[malaise]

51. Bwaaaaaaaaaah UPS' disaster leads ABC international news

Nightmare after Christmas is the headline - UPS and Fedex are under the kosh!!

The Christmas Eve dinner lobster arrived today

[TwilightGardener]

47. I mailed my Christmas boxes, everything reached their destinations in time.

Suck it, UPS.

[OnyxCollie]

48. I saw a USPS truck delivering mail last Sunday.

I felt bad for them.

[Morwen_Madrigal]

49. XMas delivery

So UPS didn't deliver my Yule prezzie on the 24th. There were many snow outages during this period.

Amazon did give me a $20 credit for the future and my Goddess statue came in today.

As I watch the weather I see where delays were to be expected. No one can control the weather.

I personally have no problem with the delay.

Now I must decide which text on ancient Celtic culture that I will order.

Life has interesting balances.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Both shippers admit they were overwhelmed and it was NOT weather related

Sorry.

[Hestia]

231. Merry Meet Morwen (though I am not Wiccan). Welcome to DU

I'm Ceremonial/Hermetic Simple Country Pagan

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. Some of it, all three were late

if you happened to be where a storm grounded planes. (Both FedEx and UPS fly the US Mail under contract. The Postal Service has never owned planes of their own). Otherwise, yup.

I know we got the package from Dickies, but next time I need pants, either I buy them locally, or will demand Dickies uses the USPS.

[Baitball Blogger]

52. Which explains why the lazy delivery guy at UPS dropped off a package INFRONT of

my daughter's apartment building. The guy who took the items was kind enough to leave the packaging behind to let her know it had been delivered.

[spanone]

55. fookin' A and a merry christmas to malaise!!!!!

[malaise]

56. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaah - perfect response

Love you bro

Happy Holidays

[spanone]

58. U2 ma'am

[KatyaR]

57. I'm not making excuses, but there are 3 definite reasons for these delays:

1) The shopping season was 1 week shorter because Thanksgiving was so late this year;
2) You have to factor in the weather, it was bad in a lot of places.
3) I heard today that, in the last week, over 1 million customers signed up for Amazon Prime. That means free shipping for 1 million more customers.

I think it was just a bad deal all around, but I would surely understand if my packages were late--I wouldn't like it, but I'd understand. Of course, I don't have kids or anyone else to buy gifts for, either.

[malaise]

61. If it were the post office not one of those three excuses would have been acceptable

Just saying.

Government agencies are not allowed excuses...ask Obamacare website folks.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Muddle this one fora second

who do you think the USPS contracts for Air Mail? I mean, they do not own one plane, not even a Cessna. If you said UPS and FedEx you'd be right.

So the USPS got that delivered even though they essentially use the same air fleet, as well as private carriers like American and Southwest and the rest of them. Nope, I would say it was on the ground operations where the private sector fell squarely on it's ass. I wonder what where the stats for those packages that they turned over to the USPS for last mile delivery? I am betting even those were mostly under the tree.

If this was the USPS people would be screaming, SEE GUBMINT DON"T WORK, PRIVATIZE THE BUMS!!!!

[uponit7771]

185. +1

[elehhhhna]

90. #3 is the deal -

retailers "promising" delivery within a week of the holiday, lol

[ProSense]

62. The Post Office rocks!

That is all!

[muntrv]

63. But...but gubmint don't work! ClusterFox nooze says so!

[malaise]

203. ClusterFox is always wrong

Happy Holidays muntrv

[TroglodyteScholar]

65. No.

USPS took forever, too. High volume, bad weather...govt agencies aren't immune to those things.

Nothing in the article even implies that USPS performed better during the holidays. Where did you get that?

[JimDandy]

100. Exactly. Their performance was equally as poor as UPS and FedEx,

judging from family accounts, but it's going unreported. 6 days for USPS to deliver a 3-day priority mail package to me is not good service, but they did deliver it on a Sunday, so it could have been worse.

[uponit7771]

187. It was linked later

[malaise]

229. Shhhhhhhhhhhh!

Bravo USPS!!

[bucolic_frolic]

67. THE USPS WAS VERY FAST THIS SEASON

Lines were not long for the most part, no announcements and worries
about the Dec 10 crunch day, my packages were ALL delivered within
5 business days if not 3-4, the workers were FAST and courteous, and
from what I saw the public responded in kind. Every package had a
tracking number, every Priority carries insurance.

Could it be they've drop dead fixed the USPS??

Of course rates go up again Jan 26!

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. Rates for first class mail, that IMO should be at least a buck

so there. At 49 cents it is still a major bargain

And no, the USPS has made packages a priority, for a couple of years now.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

68. FedEx is suffering from some self-inflicted wounds at the moment

They acted on apocalyptic economic assumptions and withdrew a huge number of aircraft, meanwhile they're only slowly taking delivery of new 767's and buying used 757's on a piecemeal basis and have deferred delivery of their 777's.

They're short the equivalent of about forty widebodies capacity at the moment.

[Capt.Rocky300]

78. Just curious, what's your source for this info?

Thanks.

[idendoit]

69. USPS always delivers!

I want to send a Holiday *HUG* to all my union Sisters & Brothers who get the mail where it needs to go. And as a poster said earlier, it is our constitutional right to receive postal service.

[mountain grammy]

73. Sent big package to grandkids in Delaware USPS

$20, mailed on Friday 12/20, arrived Tues. AM 12/24! I know people still waiting for UPS who paid twice as much. Best bang for the buck is always the Postal Service.

The right wing lunatics need to read the constitution. No dissention on establishing a federal post office.

[malaise]

181. Yes indeed

Nice post

Happy Holidays mountain grammy

[mountain grammy]

199. Thanks, malaise. Happy Holidays to you too!

[Liberal_in_LA]

76. post office delivered on sunday. i saw their trucks in my neighborhood

[glowing]

77. Post office was overwhelmed too. Most of our priority pkgs were late..

Like a week long and one arrived today, 8 days late and a day after Xmas.. And this was the one that my mom spent first clas postage on because she wanted it here before Xmas.

They were all overwhelmed. Face it, this time of year, people prefer ordering online. They needed to hire people for the season and not try to save a couple of bucks. That greed the CEO's have, screwed the pooch for many people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. The post office hires temp workers every year for the crunch

And I wonder if your packages were held by both UPS and FedEx, who incidentally have the contract to fly first class mail for the USPS. The USPS does not own one plane. They also use, in case you wonder, the passenger fleet under contract.

[glowing]

86. It would be really great if they did buy their own fleets and hire long distance truckers,

then, they probably wouldn't have delays from private contractors and people who work directly for the Gov would be better paid, with a Union, and would be large enough to tell congress what to do, rather than the other way around!

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. The no planes decision was taken decades ago

as to truckers, I think they use long distance through the teamsters. They use city drivers between plants though.

The calculus was a cost benefit analysis.

[A HERETIC I AM]

101. Not all the long distance contractors are Unionized.

The company I am presently working with is, but not all of them are.

FWIW, to say "they use long distance through the teamsters" is slightly misleading. The Post Office doesn't contract directly with the Teamsters Union to move mail. They contract with trucking firms who may or may not have a unionized workforce.

[nadinbrzezinski]

102. I am thinking of USPS employees here, not contractors

who are part of the teamsters union.

To clarify the guys and gals driving the USPS trucks.

[A HERETIC I AM]

115. Well, you said "I think they use long distance through the teamsters"

The overwhelming majority of intercity and interstate mail movement is done via companies that are contract mail haulers, like the one I am with.

While there certainly is mail moved by US Post Office owned equipment, most of that is VERY short haul, as in from a distribution center to the area post offices.

Trucks that typically look like this;


The trucks and trailers that move mail between cities look like this;


Or this;


Neither tractor nor trailer in the two above are owned by the US Postal Service.

It was my understanding that Postal Workers were members of the American Postal Workers Union which is NOT the Teamsters, but it is AFL-CIO affiliated.

[nadinbrzezinski]

118. There are several unions within the USPS

the guys delivering your mail are not part of the same union as the guys processing the mail, or the guys driving the trucks.

That cluster started in the 1930s, and imho it should be ONE SINGLE union, not the smattering of them.

[glowing]

138. Thank you, I have learned yet another item on DU. Wouldn't get these lessons via media or at a

school... Probably would have to search out a bunch of different "google" options if I were to look. I love that about DU. Now, I'm more informed than before and could have a better conversation with anyone about the Post Office (and to think, my own Grandmother retired as a Post Master General for our small town years ago... and I'm learning more now than I ever did playing around in the back of the office).

[nadinbrzezinski]

141. Well, he was management!!! Just a joke

remember, the postmaster general is an elected position in many towns.

Here are your mail handlers (Plant mail processing)

http://www.npmhu.org/

Letter carriers

http://www.nalc.org/

Maintenance and a few other folks

http://www.apwu.org/about/history.htm

And I am sure I am missing a couple.

But here is one problem, the mail handlers will work the equipment that process your mail, but under no circumstances can they maintain it. See how that could be a problem? Turf and all that.

[glowing]

143. She was all in one, very small town, so she was the only one in the building to staff it.. LOL

and it wasn't an elected position... just a default title that did give her a very nice retirement package at the age of 62, and we got our Grandma for more time before having to head out into the real world.. Which we appreciated and still love the memories we have of that time with her today.

[nadinbrzezinski]

144. Rural stations are a whole different ball of wax

Sorry.

But in case you wonder, there is a union for rural letter carriers too, I believe. Yup

https://www.nrlca.org/PublicPages/Home.aspx

[Chuuku Davis]

79. Where does it say

Post Office Whipped UPS and FedEx?

All three failed in ways

[johnnyreb]

85. Wtf! Rec button only works once #!^*%

[Uncle Joe]

89. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, malaise.

[TRoN33]

92. K&R +1,000!

This sure speak the volume!

[Ilsa]

98. And for significantly less.

FedEx did manage a two day delivery from Dell that arrived 12/23, making my teenager very happy on Christmas morning!

But I mailed all of my packages through USPS. Lots of cards, too.

[Zorra]

99. Thanks, malaise! I love my little PO, and always use it instead of USPS or fedex whenever possible.

[malaise]

196. You're welcome

Happy Holidays

[seattledo]

104. This is ridiculous

People are arguing which of the bad choices is the least worst. Instead of applauding a WalMart-style race to the bottom, we should instead demand corporations start giving us the service we are paying for. It is theft.

[JimDandy]

109. Exactly - accountability for all - government or private enterprise. n/t

[freshwest]

215. Demand from corporations? They have stockholders to pay. They are their owners and demand a return.

If consumers or workers demand better treatment they are the ones who 'race to the bottom' by moving to states with low minimum wages, use prison labor or move abroad. Right now they are using lobbyists to get Congress to screw the last vestige of a socialized universal service that provides for the country's people, not profits for a few.

And the 'starve the beast' crowd has made almost certain that the government, which was put in place to regulate them for the good of the people and not rip them off, has less power to stop them.

Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. ~ Thomas Jefferson

They are not the people's friends, even some non-profits extract funds and take public assets to give to private groups. This is constant pattern since Nixon started his 'government should be run like a business, and private business does it better' mantra.

To answer that, I would give the examples of Blackwater and these alternative mail carriers, who have raced to the bottom in wages and working conditions. The corporations hate those union postal workers with good wages, pensions and benefits, but won't allow unions and the same for their own workers.

They are the race to the bottom shills, who will never stop doing it. After all, it's their business model. As far as theft is concerned, the free market steals lives. Slavery was and is a part of the free market today. And their heirarchy has one purpose, to funnel the money to the few that own shares or the CEOs.

It doesn't make them evil. Their function is not the same as an institution run for the good of all.

Please don't take offense at my tone, I am not criticizing your general meaning, I just think the problem is bigger than the one think. I may be not speaking to the exact things you are concerned about. Peace.

[Helen Highwater]

107. I have no "dog in the fight" as they say, but my experience is that they all are

good at times and horrible at other times. We got a delivery at 10 pm Tuesday (christmas eve) night from UPS and it wasn't even an 'urgent' package. They have always given us good service and so has Fedex and USPS (we ALWAYS give our mail carrier a nice gift for the holidays because he is so conscientious). I think all in all, none of them are any 'better' than the others. (It is kind a running joke around here that if you want to test a product for protection against destruction, put it in the mail...but I never noticed any difference between them.)

Our usual UPS driver is the steward of their local union but he's pretty loyal to the company, for what it's worth.

[ohheckyeah]

112. I have to admit that UPS did

a pretty good job for me during Christmas but USPS did even better. It managed to get 3 jars of apple butter from Virginia to Minnesota without breaking them and delivered on time.

FedEx bites. Those jackasses left a computer monitor on the ground IN FRONT of my garage door - which I back out of. I called and told them how unacceptable and stupid it was. Had I backed out that morning I would have run over the monitor.

The mail man delivers my stuff to my front door even though my house sits on a hill. We gave him a Christmas card with money to thank him for a job well done....he was stunned.

[Scuba]

130. Maybe this new stamp will help ...

[JimDandy]

160. Ha! That would be appropriate. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

131. Another K&R

Great post!!!

[malaise]

182. Thanks Omaha Steve

one of the great union men on DU
Happy Holidays bro.

[Omaha Steve]

188. Same to you

[bluestate10]

132. The great thing about this OP is the number of questionable "democrats" it is exposing.

I am somewhat amused by some posters mouthing republican talking points that UPS and FedEx had so much more volume than the USPS that the private shippers got overwhelmed. How about getting their asses kicked by an organization that had better logistics.

[malaise]

190. Isn't that the truth

Looks like the privatization posse is better organized on MBs than UPS or Fedex
Happy Holidays

[WinkyDink]

137. YESSS! This is a fab development for the AWESOME UNITED STATE POST OFFICE PEEPS!

Go, USPS! Go, USPS! I'll be buying a raft of "Forever" stamps tomorrow!

[malaise]

221. It is great news

GO USPS!!! Bravo Postal workers!!!

Happy Holidays!

[madinmaryland]

145. To be fair, my wife sent a package to Sarasota, FL twelve days ago through the USPS

and it finally arrived today at 2pm. It was lost in Cincinnati for at least a week. She had paid for tracking. Things like this reinforce the reputation of the USPS.

So I suppose that I should send this to everyone who is bashing the other delivery services.

No. I don't play that way.

[nadinbrzezinski]

147. Here is a piece of statistic for you

yes, the USPS at times goofs. It is about 1% of all packages and letters sent. (It sucks when it happens to you). The other two shippers also have that problem, and it is higher.

Was it Express? They will gladly reimburse you

https://www.usps.com/customer-service/refunds-and-returns-policies.htm

[madinmaryland]

150. You cite something from the USPS to support your claim? As a journalist, I would have thought you

would actually be able to cite something independent. I assume that either FedEx or UPS would be able to cite similar statistics of their service.

[nadinbrzezinski]

152. Neither publishes them except for investors

but it is a known issue, that it is higher.

And nice for you to place the trope. So was it express? They will reimburse.

If not, well, it happens.

By the way, if the USPS went away, these problems will multiply by orders of magnitude and I do hope you live in a large city, or at least a medium town. If you live up in the sticks, no USPS, no last mile, no service.

Oh and your evidence to the lack of capacity is exactly this story.

[malaise]

184. As a good friend likes to say

Correct is right

[nikto]

153. Your example clearly PROVES AYN RAND RIGHT FOR ALL TIME!!

You are sooooo right.

Privatize the PO, Public Schools, your mom's SS, Medicare, and everything in sight.

It's the only way to preserve America's precious bodily fluids.



Ayn Rand is the new Jesus.

[madinmaryland]

157. Oh, FFS, where did I say that. I was just joining in with another anecdotal story.

Maybe if Rand Paul and Cliff Claven weren't so busy trying to eviscerate every government program we would not be in this predicament.

Back at you:

[nikto]

173. Good 4 You.

I just don't like any attacks on the U.S.P.O.

They aren't perfect, but they're better than a private monopoly would be.

Their enemies don't need any help.

[AllyCat]

151. All my USPS packages made it on time.

One thing from Fed ex STILL not here (ordered and shipped the 17th). Inexpensive, pleasant workers . Never waited more than 5 min to send anything. Let me pay with a personal check.

[nikto]

156. Similar to my experience

US P.O. ROCKS!!!!

[malaise]

230. I always use the Post Office

We have no money to waste and they are very efficient

[ErikJ]

164. Note: Fed Ex is non-union, UPS is unionized.

[matt819]

166. Anecdotal reporting is hogwash

I like the post office. I also like UPS and FedEx. I use all three.

All three have delays. The difference is that UPS actually tells you what's going on, and they do a remarkable job. I had a package going out to a customer, and the train the package was on was derailed. They kept me informed the whole time, and the package was only two days late.

This year, I sent a package to a customer in the south, and the only tracking information was that it had left a location in Maryland. No word of it, but lots of BS excuses, until it turned up a week later. Not one word from the Postal Service, much less an apology or a refund (though I will be requesting one).

No one's perfect.

[shanti]

167. And let's not forget

that UPS/FedX charge more to ship packages as well. I had about four packages to mail last week. Started at UPS Store as it was closer, but when I asked the clerk if USPS was cheaper, he said yes. I said thank you, and took my packages to the post office instead, and it was cheaper and faster!

[CoffeeCat]

168. We sent packages via UPS...

...and we were aghast at the horrible service and their business practices.

Yes, we know that we were late sending packages out. We didn't expect them to arrive in time for Christmas. We showed up at a UPS place last Friday night. We were told that UPS picked up the last packages at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and that they would not be picking up on Saturday. Hello? No Saturday pick up, the Saturday before Christmas???

That didn't even make sense to me. So the packages wouldn't go out until Monday. We paid quite a bit (more than the post office charges) to send them. We should have just taken the packages to the Post Office on Saturday, but we didn't.

I'll never, ever use UPS again during the holidays. Why on earth they weren't picking up the Saturday before Christmas--is a bizarre mystery.

[freshwest]

169. Malaise, your 'Delish! I'm lovin' it!!!' is my feeling, too! Went to the P. O. today and said TY...

Also told everyone I knew about this story to brag on the Post Office...

And I'm not related to anyone, nor do I work for the Post Office. But I know a good thing when I see it like the P.O. It's universal service, paying a living wage for workers. Someone who comes to deliver the mail with a mission to provide service.

The United States Postal Service has no official creed or motto.An inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City reads:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

This phrase was a translation by Prof. George Herbert Palmer, Harvard University, from an ancient Greek work of Herodotus describing the Persian system of mounted postal carriers c. 500 B.C.E. The inscription was added to the building by William Mitchell Kendall of the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the building's architects. It derives from a quote from Herodotus' Histories, referring to the courier service of the ancient Persian Empire:

It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.
—Herodotus, Histories (8.98) (trans. A.D. Godley, 1924)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service_creed

The USPS should be expanded, not restricted to give corporations who are lobbying to take portions of its work for their profits.

The private corporations DO NOT believe in unversal service but increasing their profits only. They don't treat their workers right, they deny service and don't have as good a system as the USPS. But the USPS has been disrespected along with all of the Commons.

Never forget that privatization is economic apartheid. Nothing in this country should be run that way, not utiliities, health care, or anything else. No more socialized losses at public expense for private profit.

[malaise]

180. What a magnificent post

Happy Holidays freshwest

[Midnight Writer]

171. U. S. Postal Service makes profits for our government

The U. S. Postal Service doesn't accept a dime in tax dollars. Instead, they pay billions of dollars each year into the Federal Treasury. If those billions cause them to post an operating loss, the right-wing demands privatization.

Each year, the USPS provides decreased (and sometimes free) postage for franked mail from elected officials, (in fact, just this year, the Congress approved Christmas cards from Congress members to be sent free) periodicals and publications, non-profit organizations (including political mailings from 501-C organizations like Freedomworks and Citizens United), libraries, universities, free matter for the blind, and the military.

Each year, Congress is required to review these discounts and reimburse the USPS for their expenses.

Each year, Congress votes to not reimburse the USPS for any of these expenses, leaving the USPS to swallow the loss of billions of dollars in revenue.

In addition, the USPS has made billions of dollars of "overpayments" to the Civil Service Retirement Fund and the Federal Employees Retirement System, the same funds that Congress gets its pensions from.

Then there is the issue of the Federal Health Benefits Program, where again billions of dollars of annual overpayments fund the healthcare retirement benefits of Congress and other federal retirees.

USPS is required by law to deliver to millions of American addresses every single day, handling multiple times the pieces delivered by UPS and FedEx.

I wonder how the free market services like UPS and FedEx would do on this playing field?

[malaise]

183. Well said

Welcome to DU Midnight Writer
Happy Holidays

[joeglow3]

195. You are confusing profits with cash flows.

The retiree medical costs have been accrued. They ARE owed to the employee. Thus, any company in the US is required to debit an expense and credit a liability. The mandate you speak of is the funding of the plan, which is a debit to liability and a credit to cash.

Thus, even without the mandate to fund the plan, the liability would still be accrued, resulting in a massive lost.

All that said, where will the funding of the retiree medical costs come from? Without any retiree medical costs, the post office is slightly above break even. As those bills start to come due, where will the billions come from at that time.

[jeff47]

202. Little problem with your position

The retiree medical costs have been accrued. They ARE owed to the employee.

The law passed in the '00s requires the USPS to fund retiree costs for employees 70 years in advance.

So the USPS is paying for the retirement costs of employees who have not been born yet, much less hired by the USPS. It's difficult to claim they "ARE owed" to the egg and not-yet-made sperm that will one day become a USPS employee.

Without any retiree medical costs, the post office is slightly above break even.

Yes, $183 Million is "slightly" above break even.

[joeglow3]

204. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

The USPS had not previously funded ANY retiree medical costs. Thus, those collecting today have not had anything pre-funded.

Regardless, as a CPA, It is clear as day you do not understand the concept of accruing for expenses, versus making a cash payment, and the impact they have on an income statement.

If you are interested in understanding, let me know and I will try to explain in more detail.

[jeff47]

208. Why on Earth would I want you to "explain" it when you think $183M is "break even"?

Regardless, as a CPA,

If that were true, you'd think $183M is a wee bit more than "break even".

Now if you want to appear less utterly clueless, you might want to look into the law passed in 2006 which requires the USPS to pre-fund the next 70 years of retirement costs in 10 years. Since those retirement benefits are generally available at 65, it requires funding retirement benefits for people who will be born 5 years from now.

[joeglow3]

212. I will try again

$183M is great....so long as it Included an accrual for expenses incurred today(which would include future retiree medical costs for employees currently employed).

70 years of medical costs does NOT include those not born today. It includes costs for current employees that are 30 and will statistically live to 100. You really need to study some accounting and actuarial calculations. It will provide you a much greater understanding of the situation.

[jeff47]

214. And you'll fail again.

70 years of medical costs does NOT include those not born today.

Yes, it does. Go look at the law.

We are not talking about a rational accounting practice. We are talking about a law that was passed in an attempt to destroy the USPS.

That law requires funding the next 70 years of retirement costs in 10 years. Since those retirement benefits are available at about age 65, that law means funding retirement costs for people who aren't born yet and will not be employed by the USPS until about 23 years from now.

It is not funding the retirement benefits of current USPS employees. It is funding the benefits of all USPS employees, including the ones who will just be entering retirement 70 years from now.

You're also blithely ignoring the 10-year-window requirement.

You really need to study some accounting and actuarial calculations. It will provide you a much greater understanding of the situation.

You really need to actually read the law in question. It will provide you a much greater understanding of the situation. This is not a simple accounting situation.

[burrowowl]

178. Why are we not surprised!

[senseandsensibility]

179. K and R

The United States Government Post Office rules!

[PADemD]

186. Great service with USPS

My one Christmas package was sent from a small local PA post office to a small town in KY, and it arrived in two days.

An online retailer from whom I frequently purchase switched from Fed-Ex to the USPS. The delivery time from Oregon to PA went from 7-10 business days to 2 days.

[tecelote]

189. K&R

USPS is a great example of how government should work.

[malaise]

194. Even Morning Joe Scum is talking about this although

one of the idiot guests is saying this will teach children about waiting. Fugger didn't say that about Obamacare.

[JimDandy]

223. Ha! Good point. n/t

[malaise]

207. Government works better than many corporations

when dealing with very large numbers. When the social good is more important than profit decent systems can be established - check SS and Medicare.

[loudsue]

197. I'm sick of privatization of things that should be GOVERNMENT run for the benefit of all.

Plus, it costs too much to privatize shit....we're just paying high CEO salaries and "parachutes" that have no business in our business.

[malaise]

205. What's very important here is that the Post Office is in the Constitution

so the corporate posse don't mind violating said constitution when it suits their agenda.

Go Postal Service workers!! We love you!!

[mopinko]

198. the print at home is AWESOME!!!!!!!

i should do my own thread about how the usps saved my sons first xmas away from home, even tho i had mis-addressed the packages.

i will never use brown again. the way they rip off retail customers is a crime.

[malaise]

206. Here's another good thread on the subject

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024235318

[One_Life_To_Give]

200. Or place your online order before the 22nd

This is more about our collective laziness than any postal service. This only happened because too many people waited to the 11th hour and then ordered rush shipping 2 days before. The postal service does an outstanding job. But they couldn't have done anything with what happened either.

[WillyT]

209. K & R !!!

[Starry Messenger]

210. I dropped off a package on Thurs. at our local PO

It was due to be delivered on Monday, actually arrived on Saturday. I got a free tracking # and free $50 insurance. I'm a happy camper.

[Borchkins]

213. My son's christmas present

was delivered on Thursday, after it rode around in the Fed Ex truck on Christmas eve for a few hours. If they hadn't delivered it to the wrong state on Saturday, it might have had a chance!
B

[suffragette]

216. Yes and USPS delivers it correctly to me (something FedEx can't seem to do)

And if I need to pick something up from them, it's an easy bus ride away.

Happy Holidays, sis!

[malaise]

220. Back at you sis!

Enjoy the holidays

Post Office forever!!

[malthaussen]

217. It's "glom of nit." Don't you read Terry Pratchett? :)

[malaise]

224. DUzy

Most excellent.
I often wonder when Pratchett finds time to read because he seems to write non-stop and his writings suggest that he reads widely.

[Not Me]

226. AND, when Amazon decided to launch Sunday delivery, who did they pick?

USPS baby!

[meadowlark5]

228. I read an article this morning placing a the blame on the online retailers

Though UPS and Fedex should have anticipated that might happen, a lot of last minute online orders were placed.

I know I was getting emails offering upgrades to 2nd day and overnight shipping as late as Monday afternoon before Christmas. I even used my Amazon Prime Sunday night to get a gift delivered on Christmas Eve.

I could see how that could have happened, but I am glad it wasn't the USPS that had this problem. Fox News would have had their new topic for next month or two. Now that they are done "reporting" on the war on christmas, they need something else. Glad it's not going to be 24/7 post office attacking.