Has there ever been a more incompetent business organization than the USPS?

[JGalt]

My wife got a new phone and ordered a protective case for it back in the latter part of July. It was one of those mass-produced phone cases you find on Ebay, probably made in China, and cost her about $9.98 with free shipping.

So the Ebay seller shipped it the next day from Las Vegas, NV on July 28. From there it arrived at a Los Angeles distribution center on July 29, departed there on July 30, and arrived at a USPS regional facility in Des Moines, Iowa on the same day.

Now here's where it started getting weird: From Des Moines, Iowa, it arrived at a West Fargo, ND regional facility on August 1 and then showed up at a Jersey City, NJ facility on August 6. It departed the Jersey City facility on August 7, made it to an Oak Creek, WI facility on August 8, then on to Madison, WI on the same day. The package still has another 65 miles to go before it arrives here, which hopefully will be tomorrow.

Is this any way to run a business? Especially a business that has a 2025 projected total operating revenue of $82.9 billion, a $2.4 billion increase from 2024. A business that has a total Q3 operating expense of $22.0 billion, a 2.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year.

I might have to write a letter to President Trump. You know, that "fascist" guy sitting in the White House. To hell with making the trains run on time, nobody rides trains anyway. I'd be happier if he kicked the USPS in the rear end and made them get the mail running on time.

 

[The Duke]

My wife got a new phone and ordered a protective case for it back in the latter part of July. It was one of those mass-produced phone cases you find on Ebay, probably made in China, and cost her about $9.98 with free shipping.

So the Ebay sell shipped it the next day from Las Vegas, NV on July 28. From there it arrived at a Los Angeles distribution center on July 29, departed there on July 30, and arrived at a USPS regional facility in Des Moines, Iowa on the same day.

Now here's where it started getting weird: From Des Moines, Iowa, it arrived at a West Fargo, ND regional facility on August 1 and then showed up at a Jersey City, NJ facility on August 6. It departed the Jersey City facility on August 7, made it to an Oak Creek, WI facility on August 8, then on to Madison, WI on the same day. The package still has another 65 miles to go before it arrives here, which hopefully will be tomorrow.

Is this any way to run a business? Especially a business that has a 2025 projected total operating revenue of $82.9 billion, a $2.4 billion increase from 2024. A business that has a total Q3 operating expense of $22.0 billion, a 2.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year.

I might have to write a letter to President Trump. You know, that "fascist" guy sitting in the White House. To hell with making the trains run on time, nobody rides trains anyway. I'd be happier if he kicked the USPS in the rear end and made them get the mail running on time.


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Solyndra and Enron, probably.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

My wife got a new phone and ordered a protective case for it back in the latter part of July. It was one of those mass-produced phone cases you find on Ebay, probably made in China, and cost her about $9.98 with free shipping.

So the Ebay sell shipped it the next day from Las Vegas, NV on July 28. From there it arrived at a Los Angeles distribution center on July 29, departed there on July 30, and arrived at a USPS regional facility in Des Moines, Iowa on the same day.

Now here's where it started getting weird: From Des Moines, Iowa, it arrived at a West Fargo, ND regional facility on August 1 and then showed up at a Jersey City, NJ facility on August 6. It departed the Jersey City facility on August 7, made it to an Oak Creek, WI facility on August 8, then on to Madison, WI on the same day. The package still has another 65 miles to go before it arrives here, which hopefully will be tomorrow.

Is this any way to run a business? Especially a business that has a 2025 projected total operating revenue of $82.9 billion, a $2.4 billion increase from 2024. A business that has a total Q3 operating expense of $22.0 billion, a 2.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year.

I might have to write a letter to President Trump. You know, that "fascist" guy sitting in the White House. To hell with making the trains run on time, nobody rides trains anyway. I'd be happier if he kicked the USPS in the rear end and made them get the mail running on time.


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Why do you think the shipping was free? Duh!

You want it faster, pay for it!

 

[The Duke]

Okay, I'm throwing my 2c in here about this:
The USPS should be subsidized by our government to maintain American shipping hegemony, which has gone downhill since around 2011. I used to could ship a medium sized "box" for $26 to anywhere in the world and it would get there within 3 days.
I made money just by buying things and shipping them to places.
They couldn't get those things and I could. It opens up markets to Americans more.
There, I've said my piece.
P.S. Everything in the country got around faster in those days, twice as fast.
In and out of country, too. With exceptions.

 

[1srelluc]

Meh, all things considered I think they do a good job. Best deal on shipping going.

I had a customer ask me to ship something he bought by UPS so I looked up what it would cost to ship and it was almost four times what the USPS wanted to ship the same package.

I contacted the customer and he got off that UPS horse in a hot hurry.....He got the package in three days by USPS Ground Advantage.

I ordered an AK stock set yesterday and according to the USPS tracking I should get it Monday....Can't complain about that.

 

[Manonthestreet]

Big part of their problem is forced diversity at managerial level. Dad spent the last yrs of his career trying to retrain female managers how to do it right to no avail

 

[JGalt]

Meh, all things considered I think they do a good job. Best deal on shipping going.

I had a customer ask me to ship something he bought by UPS so I looked up what it would cost to ship and it was almost four times what the USPS wanted to ship the same package.

I contacted the customer and he got off that UPS horse in a hot hurry.....He got the package in three days by USPS Ground Advantage.

I ordered an AK stock set yesterday and according to the USPS tracking I should get it Monday....Can't complain about that.

Better hope it doesn't end up in West Fargo, ND.

 

[Blaster]

I only receive junk mail.

 

[toobfreak]

Now here's where it started getting weird:

OK. Sure. Saying so implies there are ever any "normal" days dealing with the government.

Is this any way to run a business?

Nope. But then, businesses are run for-profit. The Post Office sees itself as necessary and entitled. I once had my PO threaten to stop delivering mail because I moved my mailbox 10 feet due to medical needs, requiring the mailman to now walk about 6-8 feet out of his way. Before that, I had the PO cram a package through my mail slot which was made of brass instead of just leaning it against the house, catching and bending the hinge mechanism inside. When I called the PO about it, they made the process for replacing the mail slot so complicated, I just said **** it and took it off and beat it back into shape with a hammer.

I might have to write a letter to President Trump.

That would be great. I bet it gets to him and he reads it too.

You know, that "fascist" guy sitting in the White House.

I thought Joe Biden was now in a rest home sucking cream of wheat through a straw.

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Wow, that is a lot of stops. Where do you live, in Nanook, British Columbia? Sad to say, I have the PO deliver packages for me twice/monthly, I think the package originates in Kentucky or thereabouts, and arrives at my home many hundreds of miles away usually ahead of time, 2-3 days later--- Bing, Bang, Bong.

 

[toobfreak]

I only receive junk mail.

So, in effect, the PO uses your mailbox for profit to make money for themselves at your expense. They get paid for mailing that shit and you end up paying to bag up all the crap and haul it out to be taken away with your garbage collection.

IMO, the PO ought to cut you a 10% annual check for all the money you've helped them make at your expense.

 

[JGalt]

Why do you think the shipping was free? Duh!

You want it faster, pay for it!

Even if you pay for a more expedient service, there are still routing issues. For example, if I wanted to mail a letter to my neighbor across the highway from me, the letter would first make a 140 mile trip to Milwaukee, and then 140 miles back to my neighbor across the street.

What kind of a business could possibly expect to survive like that? I would suspect that the USPS's mail routing methodology probably has something to do with keeping the postal unions rolling in the bucks. The USPS has nine collective bargaining agreements with eight individual labor unions being represented.

 

[JGalt]

OK. Sure. Saying so implies there are ever any "normal" days dealing with the government.


Nope. But then, businesses are run for-profit. The Post Office sees itself as necessary and entitled. I once had my PO threaten to stop delivering mail because I moved my mailbox 10 feet due to medical needs, requiring the mailman to now walk about 6-8 feet out of his way. Before that, I had the PO cram a package through my mail shot which was made of brass instead of just leaning it against the house, catching and bending the hinge mechanism inside. When I called the PO about it, they made the process for replacing the mail slot so complicated, I just said **** it and took it off and beat it back into shape with a hammer.


That would be great. I bet it gets to him and he reads it too.


I thought Joe Biden was now in a rest home sucking cream of wheat through a straw.



Wow, that is a lot of stops. Where do you live, in Nanook, British Columbia? Sad to say, I have the PO deliver packages for me twice/monthly, I think the package originates in Kentucky or thereabouts, and arrives at my home many hundreds of miles away usually ahead of time, 2-3 days later--- Bing, Bang, Bong.

I was under the impression that the USPS was not taxpayer-funded, but was instead Instead self-funded through the sale of postage, products, and services. This is not entirely the case. Congress does provide some funding to cover specific costs, such as free mailing privileges for the blind and overseas voters. For example, in FY2023, Congress provided around $50 million for these costs. The USPS also receives some compensation for past services provided to non-profit organizations at below-cost rates.

I only receive junk mail.

Many people used to get their junk mailed to them almost for free, as well as their fentanyl. That's because the USPS subsidized international mail, including that from China, under rules set by the Universal Postal Union. That meant the USPS charged China (and other countries) less to deliver packages than it cost to deliver similar packages within the US, effectively subsidizing international shipping.

Thankfully President Trump threatened to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union back in 2018, and the Union hammered out a deal with Trump to start charging higher rates from China and other countries..

 

[toobfreak]

Even if you pay for a more expedient service, there are still routing issues. For example, if I wanted to mail a letter to my neighbor across the highway from me, the letter would first make a 140 mile trip to Milwaukee, and then 140 miles back to my neighbor across the street.

Wow, that is F'ed up, JG. By every measure, that is local mail and should all be handled within your local PO.

But let's say the house across the highway is just over the border into another township handled by a different PO--- then the local PO should hand it off directly to the other PO.

Sounds like another example of the same numbnuttery that brought us the $1250.00 ball peen hammer.

 

[toobfreak]

I was under the impression that the USPS was not taxpayer-funded, but was instead Instead self-funded through the sale of postage, products, and services. This is not entirely the case. Congress does provide some funding to cover specific costs, such as free mailing privileges for the blind and overseas voters. For example, in FY2023, Congress provided around $50 million for these costs. The USPS also receives some compensation for past services provided to non-profit organizations at below-cost rates.

I think that is essentially right. My understanding is that the PO funds itself through stamps and packages, etc., then congress gives them more money so they can compete with UPS, FedEx, etc., and not totally lose their shirts. Very similar to Amtrak. BTW, I rode Amtrak once and it was great. I really enjoyed it. I wish I had more call to ride on it.

Many people used to get their junk mailed to them almost for free, as well as their fentanyl. That's because the USPS subsidized international mail, including that from China, under rules set by the Universal Postal Union. That meant the USPS charged China (and other countries) less to deliver packages than it cost to deliver similar packages within the US, effectively subsidizing international shipping.

Thankfully President Trump threatened to withdraw from the Universal Postal Union back in 2018, and the Union hammered out a deal with Trump to start charging higher rates from China and other countries..

 

[Harry Dresden]

Wow, that is F'ed up, JG. By every measure, that is local mail and should all be handled within your local PO.

But let's say the house across the highway is just over the border into another township handled by a different PO--- then the local PO should hand it off directly to the other PO.

Sounds like another example of the same numbnuttery that brought us the $1250.00 ball peen hammer.

your local po probably doesnt have sorting machines....

 

[whitehall]

I've never had a problem with the postal service but you have to be reminded that it is not motivated by profit like the private sector.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Even if you pay for a more expedient service, there are still routing issues. For example, if I wanted to mail a letter to my neighbor across the highway from me, the letter would first make a 140 mile trip to Milwaukee, and then 140 miles back to my neighbor across the street.

What kind of a business could possibly expect to survive like that? I would suspect that the USPS's mail routing methodology probably has something to do with keeping the postal unions rolling in the bucks. The USPS has nine collective bargaining agreements with eight individual labor unions being represented.

Why don't you apply for the Postmaster General position and fix all the problems then?

My mail goes through Nashville 45 miles away. When I lived in central Kentucky, my mail went through Louisville a distance of 45 miles again. Like you said, that is in case I wanted to mail something to my son who lives 6 miles from me.

I am no fan of the USPS except for one thing. They deliver my non-perishable medications regularly with no problem. Even the VA relies of FedEx to deliver my meds that are refrigerated. Their regular mail service is sketchy at best. On some days I get mail at 1030am, but that usually because they neglected to deliver it the day their email update said they would. Other days, my wife can check the mail at 630am and find mail that had obviously been delivered long after dark the night before, even in the summer, because she checked at sunset. Last weekend, I received an email showing I would get 10 pieces of mail on Friday and Saturday. We got nothing either day. They arrived on Monday. Fortunately, it was all junk mail.

 

[JGalt]

Why don't you apply for the Postmaster General position and fix all the problems then?

My mail goes through Nashville 45 miles away. When I lived in central Kentucky, my mail went through Louisville a distance of 45 miles again. Like you said, that is in case I wanted to mail something to my son who lives 6 miles from me.

I am no fan of the USPS except for one thing. They deliver my non-perishable medications regularly with no problem. Even the VA relies of FedEx to deliver my meds that are refrigerated. Their regular mail service is sketchy at best. On some days I get mail at 1030am, but that usually because they neglected to deliver it the day their email update said they would. Other days, my wife can check the mail at 630am and find mail that had obviously been delivered long after dark the night before, even in the summer, because she checked at sunset. Last weekend, I received an email showing I would get 10 pieces of mail on Friday and Saturday. We got nothing either day. They arrived on Monday. Fortunately, it was all junk mail.

Postmaster General? Nawww, me and the Army didn't see eye to eye.

I went in as a Pfc First Class and came out four years later as a Pfc First Class.

Long story, but I got to meet Lt. William Calley of the My Lai massacre when I was in the stockade.

Well actually not "meet him" per se, but we could peek through a keyhole and see him in the next room.

True story, bro. If I'm lyin', may my Uncle Bosie be eaten by cannibals.

 

[Invisibleflash]

My wife got a new phone and ordered a protective case for it back in the latter part of July. It was one of those mass-produced phone cases you find on Ebay, probably made in China, and cost her about $9.98 with free shipping.

So the Ebay seller shipped it the next day from Las Vegas, NV on July 28. From there it arrived at a Los Angeles distribution center on July 29, departed there on July 30, and arrived at a USPS regional facility in Des Moines, Iowa on the same day.

Now here's where it started getting weird: From Des Moines, Iowa, it arrived at a West Fargo, ND regional facility on August 1 and then showed up at a Jersey City, NJ facility on August 6. It departed the Jersey City facility on August 7, made it to an Oak Creek, WI facility on August 8, then on to Madison, WI on the same day. The package still has another 65 miles to go before it arrives here, which hopefully will be tomorrow.

Is this any way to run a business? Especially a business that has a 2025 projected total operating revenue of $82.9 billion, a $2.4 billion increase from 2024. A business that has a total Q3 operating expense of $22.0 billion, a 2.9% increase compared to the same quarter last year.

I might have to write a letter to President Trump. You know, that "fascist" guy sitting in the White House. To hell with making the trains run on time, nobody rides trains anyway. I'd be happier if he kicked the USPS in the rear end and made them get the mail running on time.


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I have to go to the po box same day I get a notice email. Many, many times they put it in someone else's locker. They have to track it down.

Frontier internet is another terrible company.

 

[1srelluc]

Better hope it doesn't end up in West Fargo, ND.

All that matters is if get it. I could care less when.

I guess you have forgotten how shipping used to be back in the day when your ordered something and it said allow six to eight weeks for delivery.