You Might Not Get Mail On Tuesdays Anymore - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Family Ties Forever! · 01-29-2009, 03:17 AM

I hope they don't cut a day of mail delivery.

Quote:

link

Postmaster Gen'l: Mail Delivery Could Be Cut
Agency Could Cut One Day Of Delivery

Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Stock Xchng
Washington -- Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery per week, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday.

Postmaster General John E. Potter asked lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.

Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year and, "if current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.

Total mail volume was 202 billion items last year, more than 9 billion less than the year before, the largest single volume drop in history.

And, despite annual rate increases, Potter said 2009 could be the first year since 1946 that the actual amount of money collected by the post office declines.

"It is possible that the cost of six-day delivery may simply prove to be unaffordable," Potter said. "I reluctantly request that Congress remove the annual appropriation bill rider, first added in 1983, that requires the Postal Service to deliver mail six days each week."

If the change is made, that doesn't necessarily mean an end to Saturday mail delivery. Previous studies have looked at the possibility of skipping some other day, such as Tuesday.

"The ability to suspend delivery on the lightest delivery days, for example, could save dollars in both our delivery and our processing and distribution networks. I do not make this request lightly, but I am forced to consider every option given the severity of our challenge," Potter said.

That doesn't mean it would happen right away, he noted, adding that the agency is working to cut costs and any final decision on changing delivery would have to be made by the postal governing board.

If it did become necessary to go to five-day delivery, Potter said, "we would do this by suspending delivery on the lightest volume days."

The Postal Service raised the issue of cutting back on days of service last fall in a study it issued. At that time the agency said the six-day rule should be eliminated, giving the post office, "the flexibility to meet future needs for delivery frequency.

A study done by George Mason University last year for the independent Postal Regulatory Commission estimated that going from six-day to five-day delivery would save the post office more than $1.9 billion annually, while a Postal Service study estimated the saving at $3.5 billion.

The next postal rate increase is scheduled for May, with the amount to be announced next month. Under current rules that would be limited to the amount of the increase in last year's consumer price index, 3.8 percent. That would round to a 2-cent increase in the current 42-cent first class rate.

The agency could request a larger increase because of the special circumstances, but Potter believes that would be counterproductive by causing mail volume to fall even more.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Mikado · 01-29-2009, 07:01 AM

My whole life, I can't remember a time when we didnt have just 5 days of delivery .... here in Ontario (and presumably the rest of Canada) our mail has always been Mon-Fri. , so, you'll get used to it

tv star collector · 01-29-2009, 09:10 AM

If they have to cut a day, I'd prefer it was Saturday. My unemployment
check arrives on Tuesday (unless it's a day late, like it was this week).

Jude The Obscure · 01-29-2009, 12:20 PM

Tuesday makes no sense......make it Saturday.......and how about the fact the Post office takes a freaking paid holiday every time you look. cut down on the bonuses and those high labor wages!!

MonarC · 01-29-2009, 01:14 PM

It won't bother me any. Everyone seems to be cutting down cost here and there. It is strange that they are doing it on Tuesday and not Saturday like Jude said.

Maybe they figure they will get too behind if they take two days off in a row.

robyrob · 01-29-2009, 02:20 PM

i like it - they need to save money somehow, and Saturdays are important for when you have to reschedule deliveries that someone has to be there to sign for (thanks AMAZON!).

besides, all I ever get on Tuesdays is junk mail and bills!

catlover79 · 01-29-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Tuesday makes no sense......make it Saturday.......and how about the fact the Post office takes a freaking paid holiday every time you look. cut down on the bonuses and those high labor wages!!

Waterston_Fan · 01-29-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

If they have to cut a day, I'd prefer it was Saturday. My unemployment
check arrives on Tuesday (unless it's a day late, like it was this week).

Yeah, I think they should make it Saturday too.

phoebe7165 · 01-29-2009, 04:28 PM

I get mostly junk mail anyway. It'll just be 1 less day of getting junk mail!! But it'll probably delay getting my Netflix.

catlover79 · 01-29-2009, 05:18 PM

Tuesday must be Universal Junk Mail Day. That's when I get most of mine, too.

treky · 01-29-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

i like it - they need to save money somehow, and Saturdays are important for when you have to reschedule deliveries that someone has to be there to sign for (thanks AMAZON!).

besides, all I ever get on Tuesdays is junk mail and bills!

I never have to sign for a delivery. UPS or USPS always just leaves it at the front door.

robyrob · 01-29-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I never have to sign for a delivery. UPS or USPS always just leaves it at the front door.

they are becoming real jerks about it around here - they won't even knock on the door - if you aren't waiting there to sign for it they leave you the dreaded yellow "please call us to reschedule delivery or pick up at the post office" sticky

they have said that there have been too many packages stolen in my neighborhood and USPS will NOT leave any packages, UPS has no problems though.

I'm gonna build a drop box so they can cram them in there

dawsongirl · 01-29-2009, 05:54 PM

If anyone smart ran the postal service, they could take a look around at all the money they're wasting and probably save a fortune. Now, I don't give a crap one way or the other when I get my mail, but I can't tell you how many money-wasting things my father has seen or heard about.

Firing dead-weight labor is always helpful. You don't work, you don't get paid.

dawsongirl · 01-29-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Tuesday makes no sense......make it Saturday.......and how about the fact the Post office takes a freaking paid holiday every time you look. cut down on the bonuses and those high labor wages!!

Those high-labor wages put a roof over my family's head. Some people actually deserve those wages.

MickeyMac · 01-29-2009, 06:16 PM

Saturday seems to be the day to do this. Also I read that they were talking about Saturday being the day they would cut back if this went through.

Wow with the postal service cutting back, that means it may not be so easy to get a job with them.

01-29-2009, 02:20 PM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	i like it - they need to save money somehow, and Saturdays are important for when you have to reschedule deliveries that someone has to be there to sign for (thanks AMAZON!). besides, all I ever get on Tuesdays is junk mail and bills!
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01-29-2009, 04:28 PM	#9
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	I get mostly junk mail anyway. It'll just be 1 less day of getting junk mail!! But it'll probably delay getting my Netflix.
	__________________ Rest in Peace to my Penny-pie. You really were a GREAT dog. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Penny 9/1/97-12/9/09 Rescued animals make the best pets. Opt to Adopt!!

01-29-2009, 07:01 AM	#2
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	My whole life, I can't remember a time when we didnt have just 5 days of delivery .... here in Ontario (and presumably the rest of Canada) our mail has always been Mon-Fri. , so, you'll get used to it

01-29-2009, 09:10 AM	#3
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	If they have to cut a day, I'd prefer it was Saturday. My unemployment check arrives on Tuesday (unless it's a day late, like it was this week).

01-29-2009, 12:20 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Tuesday makes no sense......make it Saturday.......and how about the fact the Post office takes a freaking paid holiday every time you look. cut down on the bonuses and those high labor wages!!

01-29-2009, 01:14 PM	#5
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	It won't bother me any. Everyone seems to be cutting down cost here and there. It is strange that they are doing it on Tuesday and not Saturday like Jude said. Maybe they figure they will get too behind if they take two days off in a row.

01-29-2009, 05:18 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Tuesday must be Universal Junk Mail Day. That's when I get most of mine, too.

01-29-2009, 05:54 PM	#13
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	If anyone smart ran the postal service, they could take a look around at all the money they're wasting and probably save a fortune. Now, I don't give a crap one way or the other when I get my mail, but I can't tell you how many money-wasting things my father has seen or heard about. Firing dead-weight labor is always helpful. You don't work, you don't get paid.

01-29-2009, 06:16 PM	#15
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Saturday seems to be the day to do this. Also I read that they were talking about Saturday being the day they would cut back if this went through. Wow with the postal service cutting back, that means it may not be so easy to get a job with them.