Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 08:42:43 AM
Really?  Your experience with the postal service is so different from mine that I wonder if we live in two separate countries.  You really have that much negative experience with the postal service?  I really doubt it.

What I stated is accurate of the Postal Service. Surely you are not implying I am stretching the truth, right?

A True Story of Our Postal Service....

My daughter, Rachel had entered 11th grade and there was a big meeting on what was being planned for the year so that we could raise money to provide a fun prom for all the kids. The 11th graders in her high school always hosts the prom for the Seniors. (keep in mind she has graduated now and in college and registered to this forum approx 30 minutes ago. She will support my story for you bc she is involved in this. She probably knows more than I do about this event.)

Any way, at the end of the big pow wow meeting, the lady stated that all information plus more detailed information would be mailed to each and everyone of us shortly.

I never got that letter... A year later, when Rachel entered 12th grade, the letter arrived. I looked at the letter very well and noticed it was mailed August of the previous year and it showed my proper addresss. The last stop it made was to Scottsdale Arizona before arriving at my house!

What a trip that letter took!!

And what a bad year I had in 11th grade. I thought the lady simply didnt do a very good job, but had I had the detailed letter, I am sure I would have had a different opinion. It is a good thing I didnt speak negatively of the lady's incompetence! Turns out, the USPS played a large part on this one.

Of course this story is not typical, but if I mail something to New Orleans, it shouldnt take a whole entire week to arrive there! That is ridiculous! That just happened.



Part of the postal service problem is congressional oversight.  Every time the post office tries to close a non-profitable post office, congress steps in.  Closing a post office won't mean the mail won't get delivered, it just streamlines.  Congress also controls rates.  Unions might have something to do with it, but UPS is a union operation.  At least it was when I worked for them.  Teamsters.  Don't know about FedEx. 

Quote from: walkstall on May 03, 2011, 08:55:22 AM

Well now I side with U_Kay on this.  The Pony Express had it's problems also and it only operated for 17 months.

So your experience with the post office is mostly bad, too?  Come on.  I simply don't believe you. 

UKay mentioned a $20 fee to replace a lost social security card.  Sounds stiff to me, too, but this is what is called a "user fee."  Nobody likes to pay taxes, right?  So why should all of us who have not lost our social security card pay anything for those that do.  Why shouldn't the fair cost of replacing a lost card be assessed to the poor guy that lost it.  Maybe $20 is too much, I don't know.  But I do know, now that I know it costs $20 to replace it (I've had mine for 45 years, BTW) I'll be more careful about it. 

And I have been to the very federal building she mentioned.  It's worth $20 not to have to visit it for ANYTHING, in my opinion. 

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 08:56:46 AM

What I stated is accurate of the Postal Service. Surely you are not implying I am stretching the truth, right?

A True Story of Our Postal Service....

My daughter, Rachel had entered 11th grade and there was a big meeting on what was being planned for the year so that we could raise money to provide a fun prom for all the kids. The 11th graders in her high school always hosts the prom for the Seniors. (keep in mind she has graduated now and in college and registered to this forum approx 30 minutes ago. She will support my story for you bc she is involved in this. She probably knows more than I do about this event.)

Any way, at the end of the big pow wow meeting, the lady stated that all information plus more detailed information would be mailed to each and everyone of us shortly.

I never got that letter... A year later, when Rachel entered 12th grade, the letter arrived. I looked at the letter very well and noticed it was mailed August of the previous year and it showed my proper addresss. The last stop it made was to Scottsdale Arizona before arriving at my house!

What a trip that letter took!!

And what a bad year I had in 11th grade. I thought the lady simply didnt do a very good job, but had I had the detailed letter, I am sure I would have had a different opinion. It is a good thing I didnt speak negatively of the lady's incompetence! Turns out, the USPS played a large part on this one.

Of course this story is not typical, but if I mail something to New Orleans, it shouldnt take a whole entire week to arrive there! That is ridiculous! That just happened.



Part of the postal service problem is congressional oversight.  Every time the post office tries to close a non-profitable post office, congress steps in.  Closing a post office won't mean the mail won't get delivered, it just streamlines.  Congress also controls rates.  Unions might have something to do with it, but UPS is a union operation.  At least it was when I worked for them.  Teamsters.  Don't know about FedEx.

Yes, they do screw up.  As you say, not typical.  UPS loses stuff, too.  And the post office volume is many many times that of UPS.  People screw up some times. I bet you do, too, sometimes.  To the credit of the post office, they didn't just throw it away, did they?  It's a big man than can admit a mistake. 

Recently, Mrs. Tbone and I embarked on a reorganization project. The "stuff" we had stored in the attic over the years was a jumbled-up mess. We couldn't find anything. Stacks of the usual "grocery store" boxes full of our "stuff" would fall over. "Wouldn't it be nice," she asked, "if all this stuff was in boxes the same size and shape? We could stack 'em like bricks!" "Great idea!" I said. "But where are we gonna get the money to go out and buy a bazillion boxes all the same size and shape?"


Then along came my hero, Mr. Zip!



Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service will provide you with shipping boxes for free? Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service will deliver those shipping boxes -- in handy cartons of 25 -- to your door for free? Did you know that there's no limit on how many you can get, and no obligation whatsoever to use them for anything related to the post office?

Does this strike you as stupid?

Now our attic is full of our "stuff" all packed neatly in labeled USPS boxes, and stacked in neat, ordered rows. Life is good. God bless the USA.  :P :P :P

If first class postage -- three cents until 1958 -- had gone up with the Consumer Price Index, we'd be paying 23 cents for a stamp today. The post office isn't efficient and never will be, simply because it doesn't have to be.

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
So your experience with the post office is mostly bad, too?  Come on.  I simply don't believe you. 

UKay mentioned a $20 fee to replace a lost social security card.  Sounds stiff to me, too, but this is what is called a "user fee."  Nobody likes to pay taxes, right?  So why should all of us who have not lost our social security card pay anything for those that do.  Why shouldn't the fair cost of replacing a lost card be assessed to the poor guy that lost it.  Maybe $20 is too much, I don't know.  But I do know, now that I know it costs $20 to replace it (I've had mine for 45 years, BTW) I'll be more careful about it. 

And I have been to the very federal building she mentioned.  It's worth $20 not to have to visit it for ANYTHING, in my opinion.

Young man, I have lived way way longer then you.  What you believe is your problem. I have lived it.  I now drive 60 miles for my mail. Yet my neighbors a mile a way get there mail delivered.  I just don't live in there county.   By the way did I say they have to drive by my place to deliver there mail.  But that ok I only get my mail once a month or so, and they have to us 3 or 4 mail boxs at the post office for all my junk mail. LOL

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 08:56:46 AM

What I stated is accurate of the Postal Service. Surely you are not implying I am stretching the truth, right?

A True Story of Our Postal Service....

My daughter, Rachel had entered 11th grade and there was a big meeting on what was being planned for the year so that we could raise money to provide a fun prom for all the kids. The 11th graders in her high school always hosts the prom for the Seniors. (keep in mind she has graduated now and in college and registered to this forum approx 30 minutes ago. She will support my story for you bc she is involved in this. She probably knows more than I do about this event.)

Any way, at the end of the big pow wow meeting, the lady stated that all information plus more detailed information would be mailed to each and everyone of us shortly.

I never got that letter... A year later, when Rachel entered 12th grade, the letter arrived. I looked at the letter very well and noticed it was mailed August of the previous year and it showed my proper addresss. The last stop it made was to Scottsdale Arizona before arriving at my house!

What a trip that letter took!!

And what a bad year I had in 11th grade. I thought the lady simply didnt do a very good job, but had I had the detailed letter, I am sure I would have had a different opinion. It is a good thing I didnt speak negatively of the lady's incompetence! Turns out, the USPS played a large part on this one.

Of course this story is not typical, but if I mail something to New Orleans, it shouldnt take a whole entire week to arrive there! That is ridiculous! That just happened.



Part of the postal service problem is congressional oversight.  Every time the post office tries to close a non-profitable post office, congress steps in.  Closing a post office won't mean the mail won't get delivered, it just streamlines.  Congress also controls rates.  Unions might have something to do with it, but UPS is a union operation.  At least it was when I worked for them.  Teamsters.  Don't know about FedEx.

I am unsure how or where that last paragraph came from, but I am not the author of it.

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
So your experience with the post office is mostly bad, too?  Come on.  I simply don't believe you.

No, D'boy. It is not mostly bad. It is just not the great service I grew up accustomed to for it has indeed declined. Up until the early to mid 80's, if someone stated: "I mailed the $100.00 check to you a day ago."  I could then add up when it should arrive. Like clock work, it arrived when I thought it would arrive. Today, forget this! I never know when something will arrive. This doesnt mean I consider USPS as completely incompetent, but it isnt at all what it used to be. No wonder it has $ woes!   

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
UKay mentioned a $20 fee to replace a lost social security card.  Sounds stiff to me, too, but this is what is called a "user fee."

This is not what the federal SS website called it. You can go see for yourself what their website states pertaining to replacing the card.

 

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
Nobody likes to pay taxes, right?  So why should all of us who have not lost our social security card pay anything for those that do.

D'boy, wait a minute please. I look at this entirely different from you. You know what ran through my mind when my boy lost his SS card? Hell! That number is so Uncle Sam can take him to the cleaners yearly! Bet they will furnish him a free card when they want him to pay taxes! What is wrong with my thinking? 

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
Why shouldn't the fair cost of replacing a lost card be assessed to the poor guy that lost it.  Maybe $20 is too much, I don't know.  But I do know, now that I know it costs $20 to replace it (I've had mine for 45 years, BTW) I'll be more careful about it. 

D'boy, there is no picture on this plain card nor are there finger prints. It is a simple card with the person's SS#. 20 dollars is absurd when the entire point of the card is to shaft my kid every April 15th?

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 09:04:03 AM
And I have been to the very federal building she mentioned.  It's worth $20 not to have to visit it for ANYTHING, in my opinion. 

Thank you! They are totally 100% incompetent downtown Jackson at the fed bldg! Frankly, I viewed it as the govt should pay me 20 dollars not to go downtown to that 3rd world backwards building! Geez!

Btw, my boy found his SS card days later after so we were spared.

Quote from: tbone0106 on May 03, 2011, 09:12:14 AM

Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service will provide you with shipping boxes for free? Did you know that the U.S. Postal Service will deliver those shipping boxes -- in handy cartons of 25 -- to your door for free? Did you know that there's no limit on how many you can get, and no obligation whatsoever to use them for anything related to the post office?

Yes, I know due to the fact I am an Ebayer person.

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 09:58:16 AM

No, D'boy. It is not mostly bad. It is just not the great service I grew up accustomed to for it has indeed declined. Up until the early to mid 80's, if someone stated: "I mailed the $100.00 check to you a day ago."  I could then add up when it should arrive. Like clock work, it arrived when I thought it would arrive. Today, forget this! I never know when something will arrive. This doesnt mean I consider USPS as completely incompetent, but it isnt at all what it used to be. No wonder it has $ woes!   

This is not what the federal SS website called it. You can go see for yourself what their website states pertaining to replacing the card.

   
D'boy, wait a minute please. I look at this entirely different from you. You know what ran through my mind when my boy lost his SS card? Hell! That number is so Uncle Sam can take him to the cleaners yearly! Bet they will furnish him a free card when they want him to pay taxes! What is wrong with my thinking? 
 
D'boy, there is no picture on this plain card nor are there finger prints. It is a simple card with the person's SS#. 20 dollars is absurd when the entire point of the card is to shaft my kid every April 15th?



Thank you! They are totally 100% incompetent downtown Jackson at the fed bldg! Frankly, I viewed it as the govt should pay me 20 dollars not to go downtown to that 3rd world backwards building! Geez!

Btw, my boy found his SS card days later after so we were spared.

10-4.  The thing is, sometimes when people say they mailed a check, they really didn't.  But have it your way. 

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 10:03:22 AM

Yes, I know due to the fact I am an Ebayer person.

Being an Ebayer, I guess you could use UPS or FedEx, too, right?  Do you use USPS, too?

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 10:21:04 AM
Being an Ebayer, I guess you could use UPS or FedEx, too, right?  Do you use USPS, too?

I use both UPS and USPS. It just depends.

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 10:25:13 AM

I use both UPS and USPS. It just depends.

Apparently USPS isn't so bad you've gone to UPS exclusively then.  Would that be a fair statement?

USPS is down the road from my house. 3 minutes away.  ;)

Btw, did you have an answer about the fact they are poorly managed? T gave the example of the fact they brought him a bunch of free boxes to store goods in his attic.  :))

Quote from: U_Kay on May 03, 2011, 10:37:50 AM
USPS is down the road from my house. 3 minutes away.  ;)

Btw, did you have an answer about the fact they are poorly managed? T gave the example of the fact they brought him a bunch of free boxes to store goods in his attic.  :))

Don't have an answer for the boxes.  I believe him if he says it's so.  All I can say is they must think they generate enough revenue from those that actually use the boxes to send stuff by USPS to more than pay for those few who basically rip them off.  Kind of like when grocery stores sell stuff below cost.  Is that poor management? Or is it smart business? 

Quote from: doughboy on May 03, 2011, 11:07:31 AM
Don't have an answer for the boxes.  I believe him if he says it's so.  All I can say is they must think they generate enough revenue from those that actually use the boxes to send stuff by USPS to more than pay for those few who basically rip them off.  Kind of like when grocery stores sell stuff below cost.  Is that poor management? Or is it smart business?

Well now I use UPS as they come right to my house as needed.
FedX will only come out when they feel like it.  Then I have to go down to the main road when they call.