Off-Topic Forum

I'm concerned about apparent efforts to hamstring the postal service. Services have slowed because of the pandemic, but seems that executive decisions are adding to delays and inefficiencies. Our hobby depends on the efficiency, affordability, and dependability of the the postal service. Seems a shame to sabotage what we should uphold as a national treasure, like our parks, highways, and public education. 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/politics/usps-removes-letter-collection-boxes-reduces-post-office-operating-hours/index.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/postal-service-inspector-general-to-probe-changes-to-usps-made-by-trumps-postmaster-general/

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/13/donald-trump-usps-post-office-election-funding

Even with the occasional hiccups,  we have the best postal system in the world.     I know I complain about my local clerks on occasion but overall, the system works extremely well.

I'm going to second what NJD said...best in the world, and the most economical BY FAR AND AWAY.  To send a letter, card, note, etc. to any other part of this great nation for basically half-a-buck is just astounding when you look at how quickly and repeatably they get to the correct destination.  It's a couple of buck for the same service in Canada, a bit less in Europe (smaller region geographically, though) and even in (relatively tiny) Japan it's about $0.85.  

I hate to say it, but I wish standard (non-package) postage were more expensive so that the USPS would be a bit more profitable.  And that goes for bulk-mail rates, too.  But nowadays that would likely drive more people to online communications and I'm not sure if the drop in business would really make it profitable or not.

Either way--thanks to all who do what needs to be done to make those deliveries happen.  It is greatly appreciated.

--Kent

I agree with kent and NJD---best in the world.  Yes it gets frustrating at times (like I am now---mailed a package on July 28 to PA from Missouri and it still isn't there).

50 cents is pretty cheap to send something across the country and it usually gets there in less than a week.

All 3 links are from fake news. You can't believe what they say. I see no slow down. I'm getting my trade within a week or so. Some a little longer because of the weekends. I'm getting my ebay orders days ahead of when it shows what the delivery date is. The only slowdown is mail crossing into Canada. That can take a month or longer. Coming out of Canada is fine. I got a trade from Canada within a week, he is still waiting for his.

Anyone can shout fire and start a stampede. But if there are no flames there is no fire. The fake news shouts fire all the time and there are no flames.  

Yea, we have a great and better post system than most countries, but I don't think that's what EddieLeon was trying to bring up. 

We have an election coming up in which Trump wants to limit the ability of mail-in voting because it's more accessible to more voters, and those could be votes against him. Also, he has the belief that voter fraud would be a huge ordeal, when there's not a lot of evidence to support that, and that it would be prombelmatic. 

The current postmaster general also has a relationship with Trump by being a donor. That's what's bothering people when there are reports of mail collection boxes disappearing, sorting systems being removed, no overtime, and straight up denial of funding to help with mail-in voting. There are possible reasons for some of this, as the collection boxes and sorting systems are being moved to more traffic areas, but an investigation would need to be done to ensure that is accurate. 

The begining of the pandemic slowed mail down, this may make it even worse if it hasn't already.

If you truly haven't noticed any delay in your mail consider yourself lucky. Tracked packages used to hit my regional facility and be turned around to the next destination within 12 hours. Now they sit there for days without movement. And this wasn't gradual, it was like someone flipped a switch. But sure, let's just ignorantly dismiss what we don't like as fake news because they don't pander to your guy. 

Just a note of warning, and I realize a lot of the discussion around what is happening with the USPS might be politics, but please stick to facts, and no unnecessary "politicking" (or bashing of anyone). It goes against TCDB forum rules and could cause the thread to vanish.

Totally agree with vrooomed Dan. Funny though that when I looked at your post, there was a Trump/Pence ad right below it. LOL...

I think the usps service challenges generally follow the population density, and covid hot spots

may be smooth out west, but to/from northeast and midwest I see delays on some but not all letters and packages

mark