Stamp prices are going down shortly for the first time in a gazillion years. There are lots of reasons the USPS should be privatized, but I don't know that the cost of mailing to our farms will be a determining factor.

What?  Stamps are going down?  

Susan, I just saw where the USPS is going to REDUCE the price of a first class stamp from 49 cents to 47 cents!!!!!

I recently mailed a five pound package to a client in Australia for $96 and the two big private shippers wanted over twice as much to deliver the package, and it would have been a day later than the USPS.  I think they are doing a good job!

It costs me $1.20 plus tax to mail a letter in Canada!  I want to know why a Paper Boy and a Mailman have such a different salary for doing the same job?

Privatize or shutdown USPS and see what it'll cost then. And yes, the price of a stamp is going down. :)

Should have been closed down years ago.

With the extremely high costs in the Post Office, it would have gone bankrupt long ago if it was a private business.  The fact that the service exists is a benefit I don't think the private sector would be able to provide at the same price to the consumer.

Here's to all the Postal Workers that perform their duties every day to make sure our mailings get delivered.   Thank you. 

A private company can choose to discontinue service that is not profitable.

Privatization could be what you don't want to happen. 

Post office has no accountability. We routinely send EDDM flyers to our farm. last May they sent them to the other side of town. 10 calls to the post master got us nothing. Their answer was that they were delivered, they make an effort to to get them to the target routes but its not guaranteed. Yes, it needs to be run as a business and not as a bureauocratic monopoly.

parked and reading

 If the USPS was privatized and could probably make some money. It has been set up so that every dollar that comes into it must be spent. I learned that from a top official in the USPS.

Susan Laxson USPS has EDDM which is an inexpensive solution.

They are privatized.  Haven't been a government entity for many, many years.  Only exception is the price of the postage stamp is government regulated and mail theft is still a federal crime.

It's such a huge bureaucracy now, something needs to be done. Once I looked into signing up for bulk mail rates - the instructions were so convoluted, it was nearly impossible to figure them out. There are "specialists" at the PO to walk you through it! What a waste! and... the services didn't even seem cost-effective. 

Have you checked out Every Door Direct?  The Postal Serivce has greatly reduced mailing costs.

i dont use the post office for farm mailouts, i find that there are community groups who will do regional delivery such as flyers for less money and they appreciate the job.  i use an associate that does it with handicapped kids, the kids get paid and i get my flyers delivered.  its win win.

The only tax revenue the post office has been given since the 1980s is for ballots to be sent to overseas soldiers.  It's still a division of the federal government, but it's not the same as most government agencies with more waste

Only if you want to destroy it.

I doubt it would be any less expensive if it was.

Fine provided the service and cost does not negatively chsnge

I don't care about that but as for more efficiency it could help. I was talking with friends about the grumpy people at our post office and how they seem to hate their jobs. 

YES YES and YES... The government has proven they can not handle any aspect of it and do it well. Privatize it and watch it thrive bringing a profit

that's not going to happen.... 

When I consider the time and expense of me perosnally  delivering mail to what the post office charges, no.

Absolutely!  Virtually every Government - controlled entity would be more productive, efficient, and profitable, if it was privatized.

That is a decision for the American people and their elected officials to determine.

Yes, it's failing costing the goverment billions.

That would be nice but if it was private and things went south we as a country would be devistated

Not sure. Just happy to hear about prices going down - what a shock that is. WIll the service also deteriorate further?

No

There are more important reasons for changing the antiquated practices.

That will not likely to happen. Union objection.

Absolutely...The first thing to change would be customer service then service

A lesson from Ben Franklin is wise here Susan. When you watch the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves. A discussion with the postmaster will help you bring those costs down. Not sure if privatizing can provide much benefit in the long run. It could become one of those scenarios where you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

wish, but will never happen.

Susan,

They also have program where you can have delivery to a certain zip quite reasonably priced.  Check with them or their website.  A

Susan Laxson I didn't hear that the price reduction will affect bulk mail. The post office is a losing profit center. It it were privatized, it would cost much more for the same service.

With all the laws being passed on how to run, pay and how much one serves it probably will not happen; unless there are fees going to the government.

Well, well, well this is news to me,  2 cents downward...  What will they come up with next???