Postal Rates Going Up Again in April

[duane1969]

They were but I honestly think they will NEVER do it until the economy gets better. Obama needs people getting hired and not fired. It would save a ton of money but all of those job losses would hurt the economy and the government isn't going to do that right now.

But it wouldn't really involve layoffs, just less hours of overtime. My local delivery person delivers mail 6 days a week. So on Saturdays she is actually getting overtime for 8 hours. She wouldn't be out a job, just 8 hours of OT.

[pwaldo]

But it wouldn't really involve layoffs, just less hours of overtime. My local delivery person delivers mail 6 days a week. So on Saturdays she is actually getting overtime for 8 hours. She wouldn't be out a job, just 8 hours of OT.

They wouldn't need as many people. They already have too many locations and are shutting down something like 2000+ over the next couple of years. If you combine post offices and shorten the week then you are going to not need as many people. Not so much the people delivering mail but the people who wait on customers and whatnot.

Almost 10 years ago I would wait to mail stuff at the post office and it would be like a zoo in there.....now if there are 3 people ahead of me in the line it is a busy day for them.

[abeabe]

With all my trades on the different boards and sales on ebay. Im at the P.O. almost everyday. Sometimes Im waiting on line, other times I just walk right up. Think it's about timing.

[Star_Cards]

I don't know if the no saturday delivery would mean layoffs... just less OT. I'm not sure exactly but I think mail carriers work a ton of OT. I don't know if they work full 8 hours a day, but I'd guess they get close and I'm pretty sure they work 6 days. I also think a lot of the clerks get decent OT as well.

The post office is always busy when I go in there. I know fuel is expensive these days but seems like they'd be able to operate to break even.

[SteakNchop]

When I step into a post office, I feel like I'm in the 1960's. The line creeps around the corner, the stamp machines don't work and the place is a muddy mess. I ask for a IRC and they shout like lunatics at eachother searching the whole darn place for one. They lock me in when they close, they charge me for priority when I state I want regular. Maybe if the post office wasn't such a joke they'd be doing better.

[Star_Cards]

I usually never have issues when I go to the USPS. Most of the issues I run into are people that obviously have no idea what they need to do to mail a package. The amount of people that come in with an item and no idea how to prep it to ship is baffling. Those people hold up the line big time. I'm just glad I know the times to go in when those people don't tend to be around.

[bouncer]

When I step into a post office, I feel like I'm in the 1960's. The line creeps around the corner, the stamp machines don't work and the place is a muddy mess. I ask for a IRC and they shout like lunatics at eachother searching the whole darn place for one. They lock me in when they close, they charge me for priority when I state I want regular. Maybe if the post office wasn't such a joke they'd be doing better.

I'm surprised at how out dated the PO is. At my PO it's routinely busy, but I do live in the Baltimore/Washington area. Out of the 3 PO employees two are always willing to help me and give me the cheapest shipping possible on bubble mailers. If it looks like it will fit the the shipping template for the .44 postage they won't even measure the size of the envelope. The 3rd employee always tries to charge me the highest rates for everything.

[WilyWestbrook0]

They wouldn't need as many people. They already have too many locations and are shutting down something like 2000+ over the next couple of years. If you combine post offices and shorten the week then you are going to not need as many people. Not so much the people delivering mail but the people who wait on customers and whatnot.

Almost 10 years ago I would wait to mail stuff at the post office and it would be like a zoo in there.....now if there are 3 people ahead of me in the line it is a busy day for them.

Wow...that is NOTHING like the two post offices here (I live in a town of 50k). The lines are typically about 10-20 people long, stretching all the way back to the glass door.

[pwaldo]

Wow...that is NOTHING like the two post offices here (I live in a town of 50k). The lines are typically about 10-20 people long, stretching all the way back to the glass door.

Well you must be in the vast minority since the post office is closing more locations after shutting even more before:

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?se...rld&id=7917199

The U.S. Postal Service is searching for ways to save money, and the plan could translate into thousands of post offices closing.

Post offices across the country are struggling. Last year, the Postal Service lost $8.5 billion.

Last year, 500 post offices were closed down, and as many as 2,000 more could be shut down this year. The Wall Street Journal now reports the Postal Service is reviewing 1,600 other post offices as well. All are losing money and many are in small towns and rural areas.

With all of these closings you will get job losses as more people aren't needed.

[WilyWestbrook0]

The offices aren't closing since we just have two - they are just very busy, which was my point, rare situation or not. The only time I ever see only around three or so people is that time in between breakfast and lunch when most people are at work or have the kids off at school.