I found an interesting and sobering article while searching through the news this morning. It appears that the U.S. Postal Service may close up to 1,000 local offices thanks to snowballing financial issues. There are other options, including: reducing post office hours, consolidating processing centers, and doing away with Saturday delivery. Last Thursday, the Postal Service presented a list of 681 post offices that it will study for possible closure, with most of them in urban areas - located close to other offices. Such a move would not impact delivery at homes and businesses. Ending Saturday delivery is expected to save $2 billion to $3 billion a year, as current mail volumes can't support Saturday (six-day) delivery. According to the article, the volume of regular mail dropped 5% last year and is expected to drop 15% in 2009 --- this would result in a $7billion loss.The government and media will want to blame the Post Office's problems on the current economic crisis, but I believe it is a bit more than that. The real culprit rests right in front of you folks, it is the computer. When is the last time that you received something other than bills or a catalog/magazine in the mail? In fact, you can now sign up to receive your bills in your e-mail box, so you may not need "snail mail" for this service.
Yes, cutting delivery days and raising postage will help - there are still people that use regular mail, grandparents and the like. However, as technology continues to encroach into the realm of the old guard we will lose even the cornerstones of "snail mail." I guess there will always be a need for the Post Office though, where will reporters wait at midnight on April 15? How will brides and grooms send out there unnecessarily big and gaudy wedding invites? How will your great-aunt in Syracuse send you $5 on your birthday? Of course, by the time you need these services the mail may only be delivered on the second Tuesday of every other month.
That said, there is no truth to the rumor that the Post Office is changing its motto to, "Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night nor rising bills stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-04-2009 @ 4:53PM
jjmcfay said...
Cut the damn bonus packages for the mgmt staff. No bonus while operating in the RED. Don't like it....go find another job. There are a lot of laid off people that will fill your slot in a heart beat.