"US Postal Rate Increase Alert" Topic

Just heard on the news today that the US Postal Service only has funds to operate for the first five days in October, unless they get an emergency rate increase, which they have apparently requested.

I have no idea whether that will be approved, or not, and what the impact will be percentage wise, but it appears that the handwriting is on the wall for higher shipping fees at some point in the near future.

The US public is getting raped by Congress. They had many chances to fix the post office but, failed to act. Why is the post office the only agency to pre-pay its benefits et al? I would love to see a healthy post office! Sal Sr out!!

Well, assuring the retirement benefits are adequately funded, is much better than the alternative, at least for retirees, and I imagine, the public as well, given recent events in the country.

As if it wasn't bad enough. I am really tired of this.

On average, I am paying +25% of the item worth in shipping.
When that happens, I count myself relatively lucky.

But those cases are becoming rare. The significant rises are putting a serious crimp in my purchasing budget.

An actual news story:

link

Nothing there about running out of funds in October. Filing for an exigent rate hike is Bad News, but it's also a way to put pressure on Congress to actually do something for a change. Even if the USPS does file, it's probably going to be a month and a half before anything gets done, possibly much longer.

Wish they'd just end Saturday delivery already, and restructure the retirement funding payments to something less crippling.

So anyone know any good freight forwarders? Cause I don't really like the idea of another 25% from in my international sales due to shipping costs.

They get much higher and it might end up being cheaper to use Fed-Ex.

"They get much higher and it might end up being cheaper to use Fed-Ex."

I think that's exactly what congress is trying to accomplish. Brib… I mean lobbying at work.

but what about the US Gov't 'running out of money'…..(again?)

too bad we can't 'sequester' the paychecks of congress, the Oval Office and 'no-mo-vacationsidente''

of course…IF C'thullu just simply ATE Washington DC, (well, sucking all the bureaucrats and lobbyists etc out, like lobster-meat from a buttered claw), leaving the buildings intact but EMPTY…..think of how quickly the budget would balance!!!!….

Would that count as a WMS????? (Weapon of Mass Slishation?)

Kuhn and Nagel, at least on the West Coast, were decent some time back.

The name of the other one escapes me, but I suspect a quick search should bring up some decent sources.

Yea, I could do without Saturday deliveries, though I suspect working people would like to have access to the mail then. Perhaps cancel Monday deliveries instead.

I mentioned that once to them, but they said they can't do that, since people are moving checks through the mail. Personally, it doesn't seem much different to me than non-delivery on Sunday – businesses and people can adapt.

Heck, even a four-day work week would work for me as well.

"IF C'thullu just simply ATE Washington DC, (well, sucking all the bureaucrats and lobbyists etc out, like lobster-meat from a buttered claw), leaving the buildings intact but EMPTY…..think of how quickly the budget would balance!!!!…."

That just might happen, since one of the largest, deepest earthquakes ever has been confirmed off of Russia, so be careful what you wish for. They are stirring, in the deeps……

Keep your eyes on Antarctica!

The real question is how it affects the other postal rates – Priority and International Mail. International had increases in late Feb or March.

Here in Germany, the USPS on base is only staffed to be open 2 days a week on each of the 3 installations! If I want to buy stamps or mail a package I have only wednesdays and fridays to do it in. When we were under sequestration, we only had one day a week service (wednesday for me). We can get our mail monday thru friday, but that is provided for by the Army.

I am lucky as I have both a US and German address. When I order from Europe, it comes to my German apartment. I have used the German post office to mail within Europe and it's about the same as if I was sending on order within the states for GFI.

I have been told that the US Post office is now a private entity and is no longer a government agency. Is that true? CNN aired an article over here where there were 5 post offices within a 5 square mile radius. Three of them cost more to pay THE employee than what the branch took in. Seems like in the real world, if a business costs more to operate than it takes in, it soon closes. Why should these folks be any different? When the managers are getting paid the big bucks to manage, why can't they? Would it be too much to ask for us gamers to go just a couple of miles farther and wait a few minutes longer if it kept rates lower? Seems like they didn't seem to lack the volume of business when I was back home!

In my part of Australia we have mail deliveries 3 days a week. This is a real improvement on the place where I lived prior to this where there were no mail deliveries.

Technically, I guess, it is a separate entity, but still appears to me to be quasi-governmental, given all the attention and financial support it gets.

Of course, the same could be said of GM, and others too.

The difference is due to the long history the post office has here, and that many people, especially elderly ones, might be left without some sort of mailing service, if it closed. Some get their medicines through the mail.

Fed Ex and UPS don't deliver to everyone, and if the USPS goes, no doubt they will raise their rates considerably, since they will have the market, and consumers cornered.

One thing many people don't understand is that USPO has been limited in some of their services by law (congress) such as prohibited from shipping lithium batteries, guns, all kind so stuff) which thus MUST be shipped by UPS/FedEx. Guess who lobbied for those rules?

Plus, they now have to pay for all the signage changes from 'express mail' to 'priority mail express'

They semi-privatized the USPS, but every change, reorganization, or rate increase still has to be approved by Congress. It is the worst of both--government bureaucracy without government backing. I have listened to numerous interviews explaining how every time the USPS proposes closing offices, or doing this or that, individual members of Congress block them.

Tired of the hypocrasy. Congress is a huge disappointment. Post office needs to run itself like all other businesses.

Unfortunately, the USPS is bloated with too many employees and middle managers from a model that has passed them by. They bulked up for all of the junk mail quite a while back, and now all of their revenue is dropping due to changes from innovation etc. The downfall is that they are now saddled with all of the legacy costs and a horrible union contract that prevents real change. If they cannot get the latter changed in the future, they will not survive without a major influx of taxpayer funds.

US retailers, if you're shipping to New Zealand, you should suggest your customer considers using NZ Post "You Shop", which has a physical address in Portland, Oregon you can ship the miniatures to for on-shipping to NZ.

nzpost.co.nz/tools/youshop