Is the postal slowdown affecting you?

[Mat4644]

Letter types of mail that the USPS handled have seen a drastic reduction because of the internet. Look at the junk and personal mail volume now vs 10 to 15 years years ago. The problem isn't letter mail automatic sorting machines because with the huge reduction they are over capacity. The problem is efficiently handling packages, transportation and competent staffing.

All the equipment removed was for a place in time that has passed because of the internet.

 

[rswyan]

If it isn’t needed anymore why are they claiming they are going to replace it with “new state-of-the-art equipment” ?

Photos appear to show mail sorting machines in parts in US postal facility - ABC News

 

[Mat4644]

Equipment is both being upgraded and eliminated at the same time. Newer equipment is faster and takes up less space. They are trying to modernize to fit todays world.

 

[sd455dan]

If it isn稚 needed anymore why are they claiming they are going to replace it with 渡ew state-of-the-art equipment ?

Photos appear to show mail sorting machines in parts in US postal facility - ABC News

It would certainly help to know what the utilization was on those machines before they were removed.

Big difference if running 24/7 or a couple hours out of a day.

Or running a couple hours a day and spending the rest of the hours fixing problems with the machines.

 

[Tinhack]

They should let Amazon deliver mail. They're already better at parcel delivery than anyone on the Planet. For most items, I can order today before 7pm and have it tomorrow. And I live out in the sticks! (That's Texan for "a rural area".) It takes the Postal Service three days for Priority Mail even if it comes from the same town. :confused3:

 

[dragoneggs]

98% delivery people are still USPS employees with full benefits. They get paid an equipment allowance for using a private car for deliveries plus wages. More of a training, setting expectations and supervision issue.

Do all USPS employees (delivery folk) still wear a uniform?

 

[deserteagle71]

Do all USPS employees (delivery folk) still wear a uniform?

In northern Nevada the ones that deliver in town do. The ones that deliver out to the rural area do not. They are contract employees that drive their own vehicles and wear whatever clothes they choose. I've spoken to several of the ladies who deliver to my mailbox complex and they don't seem very happy with their jobs.

 

[Ford850]

Do all USPS employees (delivery folk) still wear a uniform?

Ours do not. Ours has been a great delivery person, but occasionally her car (personal car and it's a pos) breaks down so she waits for her husband to come swap out another of their cars for her to continue (after transferring all the mail to the replacement car). She's retiring soon and we'll miss her, but we won't miss the stank of cigarette smoke on our mail every day from her heavy smoking habit. We can tell when she's off for the day when we pull the mail from the box and there's no cloud of smoke coming off of it.

 

[Mat4644]

Do all USPS employees (delivery folk) still wear a uniform?

No - our rural USPS employees have never worn uniforms. No uniforms in the small post offices either. Larger towns and cities they wear the uniforms. Don't know about other regions. Several small post offices have closed window service and only offer boxes and others have closed completely.

In our region and others they have full time rural carriers and RCAs. Rural Carrier Associates are part time and fill in as needed and are typically looking for a full time job to open up somewhere in the system. They are still considered USPS and not outside contract labor. All use their own cars and get paid a vechicle allowance in addition to wages.

Maybe other regions have went to contract labor but not here.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Local mail seems to be working well, with perhaps a day or two of delay. I just got my renewed CCP from the county sheriff. The postmark says August 14, it arrived on the 17th, which is over a weekend. That seems like reasonable service to me.

Long distance shipments are taking more time, and international mail is a total disaster, with parcels weeks late or not arriving at all.