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Is the USPS worth saving?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Tampa Properties

Is the USPS worth saving? 

I just read an article titled "Postal service reports record $15.9 Billion loss" and I have to ask, "Is the USPS worth saving"?

Looking at the mail I have received in the past week, my answer would be "No", nothing in recent days was anything that had to be printed and mailed.  If I had a relationship with any of the senders, each item could have been emailed to me or available on a website that I could access at my leisure!

Mail box

 

The printed catalogs (another post for later in the month), the junk "Postal Customer or Resident" is not something I want or read and never makes it past my recycle bin in the garage and into my house!

I know, I know!  What about the birthday, Christmas, Farming a multitude of other cards and a few letters I receive? What about people with out computer access, what about........!

Then the USPS needs to revisit their pricing structure and do just what the airlines have done over the past few years.  Charge what it costs them to mail a letter or card, charge the mass marketers and "junk mail" marketers higher costs to allow them (the USPS) to become profitable and stop looking for a government bailout.

I feel for all of the men and woman employees and retires of the USPS, but many business models are dead or dying and the Postal service is one of them.  Propping them up now, only prolongs the inevitable!

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Real Estate Vet - Curing Tampa Bay's Mortgage Meltdown One Home At A Time.  Will your Home Be next?

Captain Wayne - Rowlett Real Estate School
Rowlett Real Estate School - Panama City, FL
Rowlett Real Estate School / Owner and Instructor

Personally, I would rejoice if they could just get rid of all the junk mail that comes to my box.

Nov 15, 2012 02:31 PM
Rob D. Shepherd
RETIRED - Florence, OR
RETIRED

Most of the mail I pickup at the post office box gets recycled there. No need to even bring it home.

Nov 15, 2012 02:35 PM
Christina Sanchez Hood
Palo Alto, CA
#SiliconValleyHOODS | Inspired Living

Steven, you post an interesting question.  I am leaning towards no although I would miss getting the holiday and birthday cards delivered.

Nov 15, 2012 02:41 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I would say, no it is not worth saving, far too inefficient as most government run corporations are, when it is finally allowed to fall, the private marketplace will quickly replace it with something much better.

Nov 15, 2012 03:50 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

USPS is not going anywhere...It is SPECIFICALLY authorized in the US Constitution AND the sooner it is removed to SEMI-government control so it can MODERNIZE and actually serve it's customer base without the drain of the legacy costs of older/double dipper retirees, the better....

Nov 15, 2012 07:07 PM
Courtney Cooper
Cooper Jacobs - Seattle, WA
206-850-8841

we were just talking about this yesterday and our jaws were on the floor over the losses - pretty incredible!

Nov 16, 2012 01:59 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Hi Steven,

Whenever a governmental agency is talked about selling off....the initial sale would bring in much needed funds today.....yet some long term effects have to be considered......reduced wages, lost jobs and the like.

They talk about the privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Liquor stores.....yet nothing comes of it.

Nov 16, 2012 02:01 AM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Thank you all for your comments, the purpose of the USPS is a much needed service, but in it's present state it cannot continue without developing better efficiency's and revenue streams.

Nov 16, 2012 01:05 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly with Wallace.  If the Postal Service wouldn't have to fund retiree's health benefits up to 75 years into the future, it would have the funds to operate, modernize and expand services.  Many towns NEED the post office as do the small businesses who advertise.  I am absolutely opposed to talk of privatization of something so vital to rural America and small business.

Nov 17, 2012 02:24 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

This question has rolled around in my head for years now.  I never use the post office if something is critical.  It makes me think there must be a better way, and I'm sure if the USPS went down, we'd see one immediately.  If this was business, they would have been out of business a long time ago.  Think Twinkies.

Nov 18, 2012 03:53 AM