Mail days may be cut

[Cassandra]

Mail days may need to be cut

Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday, in asking lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.

[disneysteve]

I saw that on CNN tonight. I have mixed feelings. The post office has record volume year after year, though it is more and more junk mail, they still make money processing and delivering it. And all the internet commerce gives them millions of packages to deliver.

On the flip side, I've said many times that I think first class postage is way too low. Think about it. For just 42 cents, I can have a letter picked up from my house and delivered to any address anywhere in the entire US, usually within a couple of days. When you really focus on that fact, it is unbelievable that they are able to provide that service for such a low price.

I'd hate to lose Saturday mail. I can see it causing problems with bill payments and due dates for many folks. Maybe it will encourage more people to do things online.

[creditcardfree]

Postage for letters is going up in May...amount still to be determined. Package prices went up recently. Sounds like they could save a significant amount of money by cutting out a day of delivery. I'd be okay with it.

[FrugalFish]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I'd hate to lose Saturday mail. I can see it causing problems with bill payments and due dates for many folks.

There was talk that they might cut Tuesday delivery since Tuesday is generally a light day for the USPS. I think that would be much better than losing Saturday and having two consecutive days without delivery.

[PrincessPerky]

It wouldn't bother me any, most all my mail is junk anyway, and Saturday I am generally to busy to get it till late at night. Plus many businesses do not count Saturday as a mail day.

Personally I would rather they raised the bulk junk mail rates, those folk need to stop sending crap, not grandma and her many birthday cards.

[minnie1928]

Personally I think this idea is LONG overdue! Just about the only mail I receive any more is junk (oh, and my Blockbuster movies :-)). When we were paying sky high prices over the summer for gas, this seemed to be an easy way to cut the amount of gas that we (as a country) were using. Online statements & online bill paying add an option that simply wasn't there years ago. I honestly don't see why we need 6 days of mail.