A letter from Z

[zebulen]

In an effort to save money, the USPS is looking to trim service from many rural post office locations.  The list of potential closures includes many small towns in Minnesota, including our current location, and the location where I first received letters from my penpal-turned-wife.

Separating nostalgia from practicality seems almost impossible.  It'

Comments

[zebulen]

There's something to be said for tradition (says a progressive liberal). Frankly, I don't think we know for sure if some of these newer technologies and carriers are reliable in the long-term. We know the USPS works, flawed though it may be. With all the facile pronouncements about founding fathers, revolutions, tea parties, blah, blah, blah -- here is our chance to maintain a truly American service.

*cue the national anthem*

[collectonian]

Is it just me, or does the guy from Talk to Nation seem to be deliberately being an ass to his "guest"? I hate that

[zebulen]

Tony Cox is just a substitute host. :) I listened to that program on the radio and few of the callers were friendly either. Age sounded to be a significant factor in how they felt about the USPS.

I agree with you about the need to change. The USPS needs to prove that it can adapt, and many of the changes seem pretty obvious to the outside observer. Fewer days of delivery, higher rates for bulk mail, etc. I think one plan under consideration is to make some of these rural post offices "village outposts" that offer fewer services and limited operating hours. Ironically, I think it's the rural people served by these locations who have the highest opinion of their local post offices. :)

[zebulen]

I think the plan is to consolidate more post office locations, and also contract out some of their services to retailers (something that has already been done to some degree).

Do you have a lot of third-party delivery services like UPS, DHL, and FedEx in Canada?

As a postal aficionado, what can you tell me about Canada Post that stands out in your mind?

[zebulen]

You're making me rather disillusioned about Canada, Ange! Through whom can we live vicariously if not our sensible neighbors to the North?

[sarahk_xoxo]

I think if they actually do that, people will realize what they're missing. When we had the postal strike on there were tons of people saying that the postal service is outdated, they don't need it because they can get all their bills emailed to them etc. etc., but by the end of it I think a lot of those people really started to miss it quite a bit because suddenly things like online shopping weren't as convenient.

[zebulen]

I think I remember hearing about that strike. Are there many alternatives to the Canada Post for on the ground delivery?

[sarahk_xoxo]

Just UPS/Fed Ex really. Neither of which I want to pay extra for with all my various packages I send out to people.

I'm surprised that they don't just raise prices on you, that's Canada Post's favourite game...our postage is quite a bit higher than yours already.