Opinion Talk

By yankee

June 19, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this

Why can’t we opt out of junk mail?

By Assinine ideas spring from government employees

June 19, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

My post office has already taken out the stamp vending machine. The lines that were too long before are ridiculous now, about 20 feet long. While there is still the scale machine that prints the “barcode stamp” after you negotiate a dozen screens of questions, it is usually tied up with some moron who is trying to figure out how to get a package mailed with it. The ability to drop a couple coins, get a stamp, affix it and drop the envelope are over. Never mind canceling saturday delivery, it is time to remove the monopoly that the USPS has on delivering mail and open it up to competition. Do you think that UPS mail or FedX mail would allow the innefficiencies and long lines that the dullards at the USPS seem all too happy to tolerate and encourage?

By Sally

June 19, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

No mail on Saturday is fine with me. There are fewer folks now who get “real” mail anyway because of email, texting, etc. Stamp machines: every grocery store sells stamps - usually the cashier sells them at the register - can’t get more convenient than that!

By Copyleft

June 19, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

Yankee: Now, that’s a good idea! We have a Do Not Call registry; we could surely save a lot of wasted paper and fuel with a Do Not Mail registry too.

By dismayed

June 19, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Our post office has removed the currency operated machine and replaced it with one that only takes credit cards. The lines are twice as long and while there are five help desk areas only one or two are staffed. I do like the do not mail to registry idea.

By lovelyliz

June 19, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

I order my stamps from the post office online. Shipping $ handling is $1.00. I would spend more than that driving to the post office.

By lovelyliz

June 19, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Now I am not the world’s biggest US Post fan, but have you tried to ship something out via FedEx or UPS. Sure they do a good job, with you’ll certainly pay a whole lot more for it.

By freidenker

June 19, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

sally is right. the machines don’t work half the time, you can buy stamps at most publix or krogers. quit crying about crap that doesn’t matter. try thinking on a grander scale. it can be fun and more productive.

By Henry Gibson

June 19, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Lets just think beyond no Saturday delivery. How about 3 day a week mail delivery. Some would get Mon, Wed, Fri other neighborhoods would get Tue, Thurs, Sat delivery.

Think about the huge fleet capital cost savings, not only the labor savings.

By freddie

June 19, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

To lovelyliz: The UPS mail & FedX mail mentioned above does not exist. The USPS has a monopoly on mail delivery. UPS & FedX have package delivery. Even the flat cardboard envelope is considered a package. That is why it costs more that a 42 cent stamp. The comparison was to illustrate what efficiencies could be realized by private companies if allowed to compete in the letter delivery business. If customers got poor service with one carrier (like we get with the USPS now) they would avoid it in the future and use another carrier. Competition is nonexistant now. The post office does not care that the lines are longer after taking out the vending machines because you have no place else to take your mailing business, you are stuck.

By lovelyliz

June 19, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

freddie I am stil maitaining that you cansend anything via FedEx/UPS and the US Post can generally do it cheaper and they deliver to everybody.

By Angelo

June 19, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Most Post offices have an automated machine where you can get stamps and other services. These machines are located in the lobby where customers will have access to them 24/7. Sorry for the long lines. We do care about you and the employees are constantly complaining about why they want hire more clerks. Personally many employees think that the Bush administration is purposely trying to sabotage,privatize, the Postal Service. One thing you have to consider is universal coverage. You can mail a letter for 42 cents anywhere in this country no matter how remote. Private industry will charge you much more. The employees at the Postal Service GREATLY care about those lines and we are constantly complaining about them to management.

By freddie

June 19, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

To lovelyliz: You can NOT mail a letter via anybody except the USPS. While the package delivery market has been opened up, the USPS has a monopoly on the letter delivery market.

By jack

June 19, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

What you have to remember is you are dealing with union members and usually their brain is dead from their leaders thinking for them

By Danny O

June 19, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

Yankee: You can stop delivery of pre-approved credit offers to your mail box with the FTC (similar to do not call registry). Simply dial 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688). You’ll get less mail and help protect yourself from identity theft.

I am also frustrated by the removal of the vending machines. Makes no sense.

By frankie

June 19, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

The automated machine is a lot bette than the vending machine style. The vending machine style would not accept the same dollar bills yu just got from the bank..crip and clean. Glad to see them go, but to not have an alternative to replace is the government way especially when they have the automated machine that excepts credit and debit cards.

I am so sick of the post office. They run their own scam of having the forever stamp and now will continually raise the cost of stamps every 3-6 months watch. Simply because of our buyin habits we only buy stamps when we need them we don’t stock up…which with the foever stamp you can now stock up and when the rate changes again and it will the stamps you purchased at 41 cents can now be used as the new 42 cent stamp and so on…With all the ID theft and internet fraud, unfortunatly the post office will never die….

By gttim

June 19, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

“Never mind canceling saturday delivery, it is time to remove the monopoly that the USPS has on delivering mail and open it up to competition.”

Sure, as long as any business that gets into the mail delivery system has to agree to universal delivery! That means they have to agree to deliver mail to any mailbox in the US for the same price. Any rural house, igloo in Alaska or secluded farm in North Dakota. Private companies want to run mail delivery in the cities and areas with good density where money can be made. The US Postal Service has to provide delivery everywhere! If somebody thinks they can do the same and make a profit, they should be allowed. However, nobody will do that if they have to guarantee universal delivery. They all want to cherry pick.

By lovelyliz

June 19, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

By gttim

Exactly

And before anyone asks, neither I nor any of my friends and family work for the U.S. Post Office

By itsme

June 19, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

The Chamblee post office has removed the vending machines AND cut back on counter staff. The lines are ridiculously long. Seems to me fixing the machines or buying new ones would be cost effective. You don’t have to pay them wages or benefits.

By Pauline Dailey

June 19, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

One man’s junk mail is another man’s income. Look’s like the day I predicted to my sister is coming true—the Post Office will not deliver every day. With the internet, high fuel costs, and the “slowness” of “snailmail” more and more we only receive what we call junk mail. I feel sorry for the postman who have to deliver it.But even junk mail is moving to the internet so I say, 5 days a week mail delivery is fine with me.

By Pauline Dailey

June 19, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

With the exiting of the stamp machine, will it be replaced by the very nice computerized customer service rep I used at a Post Office of of 78 East near Target? If so, I will miss all those wonderful counter people.

By Chess

June 19, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Wow and topic without race!!

By BeerOnTheBeach

June 23, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

What’s a “stamp”?

I just click “SEND”.

By usmcmom

July 19, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

It always surprises me to hear the whole ‘monopoloy’ comments. I am a postal worker, just as concerned with the the saturday delivery but, not for the reasons you may think. I have worked six days a week for five years and very ready to give that up. I still open the doors and get your packages, allow you to sign for your certified and dispense all of your first class letters. Sorry, no junk mail on saturday for this rural office.! The post office delivers mail to the blind -free of charge. Has a reduced rate for all our military in our new larger flat rate box and gives you free of charge all of your priority boxes. I spent eight weeks all across america teaching people how to list and sell on ebay- compliments of usps. The postal work force is filled in by flex workers with a union backing, some of them are working 10 hours a week and some 70. Your 70 hour a week people are not as likely to be as cordial. The vending machines were taken out as they are disfunctional…. our machine was stealing money from people and there was no one left in the postal system who knew how to fix it. They are wretched antiques with more complaints than compliments. As more postal services are available on line, we have less call for the vending machines and were sorry to see them go. The forever stamp takes you through any rate change unscathed IF you save it for that you are wise, if you put those stamps away for ten years, you would be wiser. Still, we see most people buy and use immediately. We can’t possibly educate everyone as most people just don’t care. Hope that helps answer some things. Save a mailman, buy a stamp!

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