04-27-2013, 10:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by steve1
As far as the post office going broke: If I recall correctly there was a postmaster general back in maybe the 70's who decided to subsidize junk mail by increasing the costs of first class mail by real people. Since then the post office has become the largest hard-copy junk mail delivery service in the US. Have you ever seen the pallets of junk mail stacked on the loading docks behind Keaau Post Office prior to delivery?
Great story, but you have it backwards. Junk mail actually makes a profit and subsidizes the cost of First Class Mail. According to one analysis I've seen, a First Class stamp would cost nearly $1 today if there were no bulk mail revenues.
I feel your pain, all who are being affected by the potential changes... Here in Volcano, which I think the oldest community in the area... there is no delivery service, and so every street address is entitled to one free small mailbox. Access to the boxes is 24/7 but the counter closes at 3 during the week and is only open for an hour on Saturdays if you need to pick up something too large for your box. So it isn't the most convenient deal.
But on the other hand, mail volume has dropped precipitously. I only pick mine up about once a week now. Almost all my bills are electronic, I make my payments electronically, and there's very little else that is time sensitive left in my life, at least. I'm surprised that so many people are still dealing with daily mail runs.