[Markus]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

Odd story, thank you.

A quick search showed that Denmark has embraced digital mail more than any other country, so much so, that the mail service can no longer be supported. They are actually removing mailboxes and giving refunds on stamps.

I suppose the Danes found a way to make it work for them, but the downside was the loss of thousands of jobs. Of course it is a small country, so restarting the service wouldn't take that long.

Imagine the US trying to restart the postal service. I guy would have to find a uniform in an abandoned truck, meet Ford Lincoln Mercury who can convince some kids to help him deliver the mail around the country as a barter service, maybe meet a famous singer operating a dam. Almost sounds like a good movie.

so how do they get packages for items they order on the Internet?

[Markus]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

If mail "delivery" were cut back to twice a week, we could also cut back trash pickup to once a week. Seemingly 90% of what is placed in my mailbox is junk mail.

The junk mail is revenue for the USPS without it they would have way higher losses.

Trash pickup twice a week is to keep flies and bugs from getting out of control in trash in the very high temperature months.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

SafeShip in Magnolia Plaza handles USPS, UPS, and FedEx. Maybe DHL also, not sure.

There is also a SafeShip in the Colony Plaza and a UPS store in Pinellas Plaza. I have never seen a USPS drop box. Where are they? You can mail a letter at the postal station, but I don't think they will accept USPS packages.

[MrFlorida]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Why can't you use a local pharmacy and have them deliver the prescriptions to your house?

Because it's half the cost if you mail order long term prescriptions....

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

Because it's half the cost if you mail order long term prescriptions....

Have you compared mail order to the Amazon prescription drug service?

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

The Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) encourages deployment to rural areas though doesn't require it. That program has been in the news lately.

Unless the encouragement includes financial subsidies the program is worthless. No company is going to run cable in a low density population area unless the cost recovery meets their return on investment hurdle rate. The program needs to require it, not encourage it. The cost would be very small if it’s spread across all subscribers. The people living in the rural areas pay a lot of taxes that go to mass public transportation in urban areas that gives them absolutely no benefit.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

There is also a SafeShip in the Colony Plaza and a UPS store in Pinellas Plaza. I have never seen a USPS drop box. Where are they? You can mail a letter at the postal station, but I don't think they will accept USPS packages.

You have never seen a blue USPS mailbox sitting at a street corner? To be honest, I haven't seen one lately, but I've used them quite a bit. The USPS box at the end of my driveway accepted (and received) packages. Packages may not be accepted at the postal stations but this would be a limitation of the postal station and not the USPS in general. Plus, I wouldn't use the USPS for packages anyway.

Since there seems to be some confusion, let me try to use more words.

This thread is about reducing mail to 2x per week or even doing away with the USPS entirely. I suggested that dropping a letter in the slot at a postal station was easier than driving to a UPS store and waiting in line to have the letter shipped. You challenged me over my claim that USPS was more convenient and offered that I could use a UPS drop box rather than waiting in line.

This thread is about mail, not packages. Mailing a letter requires putting it in an envelope and attaching a stamp, both of which can be purchased at the grocery store, then dropping it in a USPS box whether that be a home mailbox, USPS mailbox, or postal station slot. Sending a letter through UPS requires putting it in an approved box (perhaps UPS-purchased envelope?), purchasing a shipping label, then printing and attaching that label (requires a printer) and finally, locating a UPS drop box (or waiting in line).

Apparently, there are UPS drop boxes at several of the nearby shopping centers. It would not be difficult at all to drive to one of those centers and put my boxed/enveloped and labeled letter into the UPS system. Perhaps the next time I head to the shopping center I will count the number of postal stations I pass on my way.

Walking/driving 1/4 mile to my postal station seems far more convenient than driving three miles to a shopping center. Spending $0.60 to mail a letter makes a lot more sense to me than spending $8. I haven't looked into delivery times yet, does UPS deliver in 1-5 business days?

[Velvet]

I don’t think I would notice. I only check mail once a week unless I get a notice of delivery.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

You have never seen a blue USPS mailbox sitting at a street corner? To be honest, I haven't seen one lately, but I've used them quite a bit. The USPS box at the end of my driveway accepted (and received) packages. Packages may not be accepted at the postal stations but this would be a limitation of the postal station and not the USPS in general. Plus, I wouldn't use the USPS for packages anyway.

Since there seems to be some confusion, let me try to use more words.

This thread is about reducing mail to 2x per week or even doing away with the USPS entirely. I suggested that dropping a letter in the slot at a postal station was easier than driving to a UPS store and waiting in line to have the letter shipped. You challenged me over my claim that USPS was more convenient and offered that I could use a UPS drop box rather than waiting in line.

This thread is about mail, not packages. Mailing a letter requires putting it in an envelope and attaching a stamp, both of which can be purchased at the grocery store, then dropping it in a USPS box whether that be a home mailbox, USPS mailbox, or postal station slot. Sending a letter through UPS requires putting it in an approved box (perhaps UPS-purchased envelope?), purchasing a shipping label, then printing and attaching that label (requires a printer) and finally, locating a UPS drop box (or waiting in line).

Apparently, there are UPS drop boxes at several of the nearby shopping centers. It would not be difficult at all to drive to one of those centers and put my boxed/enveloped and labeled letter into the UPS system. Perhaps the next time I head to the shopping center I will count the number of postal stations I pass on my way.

Walking/driving 1/4 mile to my postal station seems far more convenient than driving three miles to a shopping center. Spending $0.60 to mail a letter makes a lot more sense to me than spending $8. I haven't looked into delivery times yet, does UPS deliver in 1-5 business days?

I am very familiar with the blue mailboxes on the street. But, I have not seen one in years. I thought they did away with them.

[Aces4]

Maybe the answer would be to allow people to opt out of the postal system and those that want it can pay for it, just like telephone service.

I would love to end junk mail and move online or to other systems for performing the services we need.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Aces4

Maybe the answer would be to allow people to opt out of the postal system and those that want it can pay for it, just like telephone service.

I would love to end junk mail and move online or to other systems for performing the services we need.

I agree. I would love to cancel my USPS account. Then, if someone sends something to me, it would returned to the sender with a message that the recipient does not have an account. Forcing everyone in the country to have an account where any company can fill up your mailbox with trash is absurd. And then, you need to empty the box just in case the IRS or another legal entity decides to send you a letter, which serves as a legal notice.

[GoldenBoy]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Wrong. According to AI:

"The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) lost $9.5 billion in the fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2024."

The Post Office uses fuzzy math which does not include money that is spent to pay retirement and other benefits to people who no longer work there. When they hire a fulltime employee, it is for life, even though they retire after working 25 years or so. Then they collect a pension, Social Security, health benefits, and other benefits for the rest of their life. But the Post Office doesn't want to include these costs in their budget. The only people who claim that the USPS is self-funded is the USPS itself.

A recent GAO audit of the USPS concluded that:

"Unsustainable Deficits:
USPS continues to incur deficits that are unsustainable, with net losses totaling over $62 billion over a decade."

This is from an independent audit, not self-serving propaganda.

IMO the post office could fix, most if not all of their issues, by eliminating the business/bulk postal rate. This would accomplishnthe following:
1. Eliminate most if not all of the junk mail we receive.
2. Eliminated junk mail would reduce the bulk mail that gets handled the same way as 1st class mail but provides a fraction of the revenue of 1st class mail.
3. Reduce trash, we would have less waste paper flooding landfills.
4. Reduce weight in mail trucks providing better fuel economy, either electric or fossil fuel.
5. There would be no additional expenditure by USPS to make this change.
6. There would be zero impact on home delivery or business delivery of 1st class mail.
7. More efficient processing at sorting centers. Save wear/tear on sorting machines.
8. Possibly impact the sharing/buying/selling of address lists. Safer for citizens.
9. Possible staff reductions due to fewer items that need to be handled. Fewer staff = less medical ins, few pensions, fewer expensive supervisors, managers, etc. overall personnel savings.
Then we could think about reducing the number of days mail is delivered, e.g. Delivery only on M-W-F.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by GoldenBoy

IMO the post office could fix, most if not all of their issues, by eliminating the business/bulk postal rate. This would accomplishnthe following:
1. Eliminate most if not all of the junk mail we receive.
2. Eliminated junk mail would reduce the bulk mail that gets handled the same way as 1st class mail but provides a fraction of the revenue of 1st class mail.
3. Reduce trash, we would have less waste paper flooding landfills.
4. Reduce weight in mail trucks providing better fuel economy, either electric or fossil fuel.
5. There would be no additional expenditure by USPS to make this change.
6. There would be zero impact on home delivery or business delivery of 1st class mail.
7. More efficient processing at sorting centers. Save wear/tear on sorting machines.
8. Possibly impact the sharing/buying/selling of address lists. Safer for citizens.
9. Possible staff reductions due to fewer items that need to be handled. Fewer staff = less medical ins, few pensions, fewer expensive supervisors, managers, etc. overall personnel savings.
Then we could think about reducing the number of days mail is delivered, e.g. Delivery only on M-W-F.

I agree, but apparently, there are lobbyists who want to keep the junk mail rate low so the advertising companies can rip off the taxpayers by forcing them to fund junk mail delivery. Some people will actually argue that we need low cost junk mail to keep the USPS in business. What a bunch of hogwash.

[bioman419]

Or small apartments!

[Ponygirl]

Thank you. No way a federal employee makes more in retirement than while working

There is a computation looking at the last three years and time served which could never equal more than earned while working

And the new social security law that was passed allows previous federal employees to collect ss on wages earned prior to time working for feds