The stunning thought process of the USPS

Alex · 05-23-2007, 09:34 AM

Letter delivery is declining for the post office but package and business delivery continues to rise (that is why some rates targetting those actually went down).

And over the last decade while I no longer ever send mail I have directly increased the amount of mail caused to be send over what would have been sent otherwise (so on top of the junk mail I'd say that the Netflix, Amazon, etc. deliveries far outpace the loss of several outgoing bills per month).

Most of the pressure for price increases has little to do with total demand but with increased cost of doing business (how much do you think a 40% increase in the price of gas affects them with all their delivery vehicles, for example). And the size thing is related to automation. If mail comes through in predefined sizes and addressing formats it can be handled with near zero human intervention. If it doesn't more expensive handling is required.

The post office will deliver an unwrapped bowling ball if you attach stamps and an address but it'll cost them a lot more to do it.

Snowflake · 05-23-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

The post office will deliver an unwrapped bowling ball if you attach stamps and an address but it'll cost them a lot more to do it.

Has anyone actually put this to the test?

Alex · 05-23-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Has anyone actually put this to the test?

Yes, though I don't know if since 9/11 when certain things were tightened. If the correct money is paid the post office will go to great lengths to successfully make the delivery. Of course, as with anything that requires extra work a lot will come down to the individual people who end up involved.

I believe it was the Journal of Irreproducible Results than ran an about 10+ years ago where they mailed various things in various ways and tracked to see if they were delivered. Most were if I recall correctly.

Alex · 05-23-2007, 10:19 AM

Ah, found the old article. It was the Annals of Improbable Research, not JIR. Here is a link to a copy.

I misremembered and many of the unwrapped items were blocked by a counter clerk noting that deliveries must be wrapped.

But a $20 bill in a clear envelope was delivered in 4 days.
An unwrapped snow ski with postage and mailing label attached was delivered in 11 days. (Though recipient was warned that packaged must be wrapped)

Closest to a bowling ball: a fresh coconut. Received from Hawaii in 10 days.

An unwrapped street sign - 9 days.

An unwrapped deer tibia - 9 days.

Ponine · 05-23-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Has anyone actually put this to the test?

before and since 9/11
I have shipped/mailed with postage on them directly, an inflatble ball, inflated; and a stuffed Mickey Mouse.

And used paint cans, milk cartons, and plastic fish as outside packaging.

I'm wierd, I know.

Snowflake · 05-23-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponine

before and since 9/11
I have shipped/mailed with postage on them directly, an inflatble ball, inflated; and a stuffed Mickey Mouse.

And used paint cans, milk cartons, and plastic fish as outside packaging.

I'm wierd, I know.

Ay photos to back this up, inquiring minds want to see!

to you Ponine!

Ponine · 05-23-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Ay photos to back this up, inquiring minds want to see!

to you Ponine!

I'll ask the recipient. Last I heard she still had them.

Kevy Baby · 05-23-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

...junk mail...

Hey buddy, that's a four letter word where I come from. It Direct Mail Marketing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Most of the pressure for price increases has little to do with total demand but with increased cost of doing business (how much do you think a 40% increase in the price of gas affects them with all their delivery vehicles, for example).

Interesting that you bring up fuel costs and usage. Even with as large of a fleet of vehicles that the USPS has, they do not do any consumption/usage tracking and are unable to forecast needs. In this current fuel market, strategic planning is a tremendous money saver on this significant cost factor. Southwest Airlines for example uses this to their benefit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponine

before and since 9/11
I have shipped/mailed with postage on them directly, an inflatable ball, inflated; and a stuffed Mickey Mouse.

And used paint cans, milk cartons, and plastic fish as outside packaging.

I'm weird, I know.

That is just randomly odd. So naturally, I love it!

Alex · 05-23-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Hey buddy, that's a four letter word where I come from. It Direct Mail Marketing.

Let's compromise. I'll grant that what you send out is Direct Mail Marketing if you'll grant that what I receive is junk mail.

We'll just start thinking of the postal service as a magical alchemical process that turns gold into ****.

Moonliner · 05-23-2007, 12:43 PM

Humm perhaps we should launch a drive to create a "National do not mail list" to match the do not call one....

05-23-2007, 09:34 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Letter delivery is declining for the post office but package and business delivery continues to rise (that is why some rates targetting those actually went down). And over the last decade while I no longer ever send mail I have directly increased the amount of mail caused to be send over what would have been sent otherwise (so on top of the junk mail I'd say that the Netflix, Amazon, etc. deliveries far outpace the loss of several outgoing bills per month). Most of the pressure for price increases has little to do with total demand but with increased cost of doing business (how much do you think a 40% increase in the price of gas affects them with all their delivery vehicles, for example). And the size thing is related to automation. If mail comes through in predefined sizes and addressing formats it can be handled with near zero human intervention. If it doesn't more expensive handling is required. The post office will deliver an unwrapped bowling ball if you attach stamps and an address but it'll cost them a lot more to do it.
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05-23-2007, 10:19 AM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Ah, found the old article. It was the Annals of Improbable Research, not JIR. Here is a link to a copy. I misremembered and many of the unwrapped items were blocked by a counter clerk noting that deliveries must be wrapped. But a $20 bill in a clear envelope was delivered in 4 days. An unwrapped snow ski with postage and mailing label attached was delivered in 11 days. (Though recipient was warned that packaged must be wrapped) Closest to a bowling ball: a fresh coconut. Received from Hawaii in 10 days. An unwrapped street sign - 9 days. An unwrapped deer tibia - 9 days.
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05-23-2007, 12:43 PM	#10
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Humm perhaps we should launch a drive to create a "National do not mail list" to match the do not call one....
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