Doing the right thing.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Subsidized by the gubment and loses money every year.... USPS


Use Fedex or UPS

Fedex preferably

Just for the record, the subsidy thing is false, for the most part:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...Postal_Service

Since its reorganization into an independent organization, the USPS has become self-sufficient and has not directly received taxpayer-dollars since the early 1980s with the minor exception of subsidies for costs associated with the disabled and overseas voters. However, it is currently borrowing money from the U.S. Treasury to pay its deficits.

That said, if I want something to get there on time and intact, I use UPS or FedEx.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Just for the record, the subsidy thing is false, for the most part:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...Postal_Service


That said, if I want something to get there on time and intact, I use UPS or FedEx.

Our local post office is evidence they are trying to make a profit, as the building is for sale. They then plan to lease it back. Too bad it is such crap market for industrial buildings.

But if they were truly serious about making a profit, they would Merge with the extremely large Carol Stream post office, about a mile and a half away. It just makes no sense to me to have both, and I am about 3/4 of a mile away from each.

I wonder how many times this situation is duplicated around the country? Even the U.S. Military has eliminated a lot of this kind of duplication.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Our local post office is evidence they are trying to make a profit, as the building is for sale. They then plan to lease it back. Too bad it is such crap market for industrial buildings.

But if they were truly serious about making a profit, they would Merge with the extremely large Carol Stream post office, about a mile and a half away. It just makes no sense to me to have both, and I am about 3/4 of a mile away from each.

I wonder how many times this situation is duplicated around the country? Even the U.S. Military has eliminated a lot of this kind of duplication.

...............

According to the laws under which it now operates, the U.S. Postal Service is a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be revenue-neutral. That is, it is supposed to break even, not make a profit.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by R8ers

...............

Just maybe if they TRIED to make a profit, they could approach breaking even.

It is what has made our free enterprise system great, trying to make a profit.

This thread is a glaring example, we are all in agreement, that the two "for profit" companies in this business, FedEx and UPS, are reliable.

It is the "Government" entity, that is the reason this very thread exists. They need to stick to junk mail and birthday cards.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Just maybe if they TRIED to make a profit, they could approach breaking even.

It is what has made our free enterprise system great, trying to make a profit.

This thread is a glaring example, we are all in agreement, that the two "for profit" companies in this business, FedEx and UPS, are reliable.

It is the "Government" entity, that is the reason this very thread exists. They need to stick to junk mail and birthday cards.

Not from my point of view. Yesterday (because I misread the OP) I posted the experience that continues to sour me on UPS to this day. On the contrary, the USPS has never lost, temporarily misplaced, unreasonably delayed or destroyed anything that was important to me, and when I take into account the marvel that they can deliver mail to virtually anywhere at a very affordable rate, I'm actually quite impressed.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Not from my point of view. Yesterday (because I misread the OP) I posted the experience that continues to sour me on UPS to this day. On the contrary, the USPS has never lost, temporarily misplaced, unreasonably delayed or destroyed anything that was important to me, and when I take into account the marvel that they can deliver mail to virtually anywhere at a very affordable rate, I'm actually quite impressed.

Mail to me is the USPS' job, packages should not be .I do not think it is fair for UPS and Fedex to have to compete with someone who does not have to make a profit nor will they ever run out of checks...

If it's something cheap, I use USPS if it's something worth more I use Fedex or UPS.....

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Mail to me is the USPS' job, packages should not be .I do not think it is fair for UPS and Fedex to have to compete with someone who does not have to make a profit nor will they ever run out of checks...

If it's something cheap, I use USPS if it's something worth more I use Fedex or UPS.....

UPS and FedEx don't even compete on the same basic groundrules....what's the difference?

FedEx operates under airline labor rules, and UPS under railway labor rules. The airline labor rules give FedEx certain advantages that UPS cannot take advantage of.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Not from my point of view. Yesterday (because I misread the OP) I posted the experience that continues to sour me on UPS to this day. On the contrary, the USPS has never lost, temporarily misplaced, unreasonably delayed or destroyed anything that was important to me, and when I take into account the marvel that they can deliver mail to virtually anywhere at a very affordable rate, I'm actually quite impressed.

If your experience was the norm, UPS would be out of business, not so with the post office.


We ship about 22,000 packages UPS a year, and I can't recall one getting lost. That is what they do, and have to do, to make a profit.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Just for the record, the subsidy thing is false, for the most part:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...Postal_Service


That said, if I want something to get there on time and intact, I use UPS or FedEx.

Just for the record, you are wrong again...

No, the USPS is a Business!
the Postal Service takes on some several very non-governmental attributes via the powers granted to it under Title 39, Section 401, which include:

• power to sue (and be sued) under its own name;

• power to adopt, amend and repeal its own regulations;

• power to "enter into and perform contracts, execute instruments, and determine the character of, and necessity for, its expenditures";

• power to buy, sell and lease private property; and,

• power to build, operate, lease and maintain buildings and facilities.

All of which are typical functions and powers of a private business. However, unlike other private businesses, the Postal Service is exempt from paying federal taxes. USPS can borrow money at discounted rates, and can condemn and acquire private property under governmental rights of eminent domain.

which means it's subsidized ... they compete with UPS AND FedEx and those two are not exempt from federal taxes.

How many businesses you know of that can lose money every year in their existence and still survive?

The USPS does get some taxpayer support. Around $96 million is budgeted annually by Congress for the "Postal Service Fund." These funds are used to compensate USPS for postage-free mailing for all legally blind persons and for mail-in election ballots sent from US citizens living overseas. A portion of the funds also pays USPS for providing address information to state and local child support enforcement agencies, and for keeping some rural posts offices in operation.
Under federal law, only the Postal Service can handle or charge postage for handling letters. Despite this virtual monopoly worth some $45 billion a year, the law does not require that the Postal Service make a profit -- only break even. Still, the US Postal Service has averaged a profit of over $1 billion per year in each of the last five years. Yet, Postal Service officials argue that they must continue to raise postage at regular intervals in order make up for the increased use of email.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Just for the record, you are wrong again...



which means it's subsidized ... they compete with UPS AND FedEx and those two are not exempt from federal taxes.

How many businesses you know of that can lose money every year in their existence and still survive?

While true, USPS effectively (though not formally) operates as a nonprofit organization. Because of that, they don't pay federal taxes, just like other nonprofits. Yes, they're technically an exemption. But as you said, they "lose money every year," so they wouldn't be paying taxes anyway.

(The reality is that they are supposed to have excess revenues in some years to make up for the money they lose in others. But in the end, they're supposed to have a net zero profit in the long term, which would negate any taxes they would pay over time.)

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by DaFace

While true, USPS effectively (though not formally) operates as a nonprofit organization. Because of that, they don't pay federal taxes, just like other nonprofits. Yes, they're technically an exemption. But as you said, they "lose money every year," so they wouldn't be paying taxes anyway.

(The reality is that they are supposed to have excess revenues in some years to make up for the money they lose in others. But in the end, they're supposed to have a net zero profit in the long term, which would negate any taxes they would pay over time.)

Just like amtrack though, they never break even or come close....

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by R8ers

...the law does not require that the Postal Service make a profit...

That's handy.