Postal ‘service?’

How come when postal rates go up it seems the service goes down? I’ve seen several times at the 87th and Monrovia location people standing in line back to the front door while one clerk is taking care of them.

Other clerks are doing different duties instead of waiting on the people. A stamp costs 44 cents if you can find someone to sell it to you.

John Phillips

Lenexa

Comments

[Zesto]

I think the fact that I can put a stamp that I bought for 44 cents on a letter bound for California arrives in 3 to 5 days is pretty amazing.

Quit complaining, John.

[EL]

Service as the letter writer wants would require $2 to mail a letter.

[Marctnts]

Let's see here...

1. $0.44 to send a letter thousands of miles seems like a decent bargain.

2. Though a government agency, the USPS operates quazi-independantly, and currently completely funds itself through service charges WITHOUT additional stipend from the government.

3. There are plenty of other options out there is you don't like USPS's level of customer service, including FedEx, UPS, DHL, the fax machine, the internet, etc.

Why complain? If you don't like the fact that you don't get a freindly-enough "Hello" or have to wait too long in line, exercise your options and make a different choice of service provider.

[Roger Lambert]

I think they do a pretty good job. You can buy stamps at the kiosks or at any grocery store in the city. Delivery is good. The only time I have to deal with them is when I mail a package, and, as others have pointed out, we can all use UPS or FedEx if we don't like it.

[KC Joe]

No whining allowed. Stop complaining.

My dad worked for the postal service for almost 40 years. He retired just before ecommerce pretty much took over - think about it:online bill pay, online purchase, etc taken 'from' the postal service. They are obviously challenged to provide their services with fewer and fewer workers. Makes the adage of 'over worked and underpaid' the rule of the land!

Think about the bigger picture, will ya?

[Kee]

You are absolutely correct pmcw about the medical coverage. Those who tout an "alternative" with government insurance forget that the government does not have to make a profit, that makes it tough for private companies to survive.

And whats new about the PO, their "service" has been lousy for at least 50 years!

[JoCo]

THIS NEW FONT SKEWERS MY EYEBALLS

[solomon]

.....a lazy post office employee letter.....

we live in a "have it now" society....

[JoCo]

I think the substitute (e.g. machine, drop box, internet) services that USPS has initiated over the last 8-10 years were intended to alleviate service at the personal PO level as well as eliminate some POs altogether. When I visit my nearby PO, the clerks are indeed fewer, but MORE intense and ,as I've observed, generally mirror the mailer's attitude. Public SERVANT may be a misnomer.
pmcw, as far as competition and comparing mailing services to health insurance delivery, I think the insurance industry is more entrenched and more likely to either compete or partner.

[pmcw]

I think there are two issues here. Even at $0.44, sending a letter to anywhere in the country and having it delivered in a pretty short period of time is still a good deal. However, the attitude of customer service is an entirely different question.

Since the post office has no viable competition it nor its employees have no motive to prioritize customer service at a personal level - they are way too busy to stop other duties to help you.

Hmm, might this be a lesson to consider as we look to the government to take over medical care rather than look for ways to drive down its frictional costs on the private sector?