News

Recent comments on some US web pages about the postal service brought this response from a customer on how to make the US Postal Service better



Fred Giuffrida

Paladin Software

June 26, 2009 11:24 pm



As someone who ships with USPS every day, I know them pretty well. Here's my take.



1. Price isn't the issue. They're still the cheapest game in town.



2. Priority Mail is a bargain, not a joke. Packaging is free and it DOES get there faster if your mailing any distance, though it is the same as 1st class if you mail to nearby.



3. No diminished service! It's one thing if you don't get your bills on time, but what about those packages your expecting? Many businesses are also 6 day a week operations now. How about charging a premium for Saturday delivery much like UPS?



Suggestion 1: Computerize! Idiotic Click&Ship doesn't do anything less than priority mail. Allow people to buy first class postage online and skip half the people at the counter if you promote it on TV. People should not be waiting in line to buy freaking stamps!



Suggestion 2: Put in real tracking and charge for it. Delivery confirmation is not tracking.



Suggestion 3: Variable bulk pricing. Study the competition. There's a reason most mail order goes UPS. If you mail a lot it's cheaper.



Suggestion 4: Fuel cost has got to be huge. Become an innovator in this area. Maybe a fleet of electric delivery vehicles.



Suggestion 5: Two biggest USPS times. Christmas and Tax Day. Tax Day can be made much more efficient by creating a special fixed price mailer with certified mail and delivery confirmation. Discount both Christmas and Tax mailing on a sliding scale charging more the closer you get to the day.



As for newspapers, it's gotta be cheaper right now to do their own delivery, and certainly papers aren't going to spend more money. On the flip side if USPS institutes a special newspaper rate they'd be delivering thousands of heavy bulky items for next to no money.



Cheers,



~Fred