I have been picking up lately that some serious increases on postage of parcels is in the wind. One of Americas secrets to having a strong economy was the very reasonable postage costs. It is a real crime that the signifignce of that seems to have been forgotten.

First economy posting to Canada got dropped. Usps small parcels is getting hit by a 58 percent increase I understand later this year.Usps Priority to Canada is really high already.

Up here in Canada parcel mailing is so expensive we send money or gift certificates long distance in Canada instead of boxes now. This of course refuces the post office volume so the costs must rise to compensate.

A true viscious circle is formed with the true needs of the country taking a back seat. Our postal workers are way overpaid I believe for the required knowledge level. During their last wage negotiations their current wage level was hidden from public view. To do that it has to be way out of line already. As I see it just more coffin nails in a system that used to work really well on both sides of the border.

No, there is no increase in postage costs.

No increase in food costs.

No increase in energy costs.

Inflation is non-existent as told to me by the government.

...and as reflected in Social Security adjustments and CD and other safe investment rates. We'll get this economy running again no matter how many seniors have to eat cat food.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Read in the AARP monthly rag this morning that the average person going on Medicare at 65 will incur $240,000 in future out of pocket medical expenses. Yet the average baby boomer retirement account balance is $30,000. That's ugly. And frightening.
Time to prime the pump and shovel on a little more coal.
Boxcar Willie - The Wreck of old 97 - YouTube

I say that the USPS does a damn good job. Their hands are tied by congress and they can't raise rates high enough to be profitable or break even.
I don't blame the postal workers for making the salary's that congress authorized due to the strong union they have. Blame the union or the congress.
If you look at postal rates in other parts of the world, we are getting a bargain.
I say raise the postal rates and stop whining about losing money. Carry on with the good work that you do.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Every December we get a CD for our UPS WorldShip computer with the yearly rate increase effective 12/31. FedEx does (essentially) the same.

I'm just sayin'...

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Postage Rates World-Wide—Sortable Table - WSJ.com

Here is a comparison of worldwide postage rates for letters.

Don't know about package shipping rates.

Ask Greazzer how good of a job the USPS does. I sent him a steering gear box via USPS and it LITERALLY required him contacting his Senator in order to get it out of a USPS distribution point.

If the USPS is a good organization for shipping packages, then I, for sure, don't EVER want to have to deal with a bad one.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I personally have not had issues like that. I'm sure they happen.
Probably happens with other carriers also. Don't know.

I usually ship USPS Priority. Hard to beat the price and 3 day shipping times.
Plus they deliver on Saturday. That comes in handy.
I can go online and setup a shipment and it gets picked up at my house the next day. I never have to leave the house.

I'm pleased with the service I get from USPS.
Sounds like an advertisement for USPS doesn't it? LOL

Priority Mail flatrate beats the pants off the private carriers every time. I use it whenever possible. I don't care how much postal workers make. I seriously doubt it's any better than UPS full time drivers who have 10 or so years under their belts.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
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1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
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Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes can be a great deal if one is shipping something that is really dense and doesn't require much protective packaging in order to survive the trip.

For less-dense packages, regular weight-based Priority Mail can often be less expensive than Flat Rate options. One doesn't have to use specific Priority Mail boxes, but some sizes of those can be convenient, and they can be ordered from the USPS at no direct cost to the end user.

They have another thing called "Regional Rate" boxes that can be a great deal, too - all depends on what one is shipping, how it needs to be packed, and where it's going.

For light stuff - up to 13 oz. - First Class Package can be a screaming deal, too.

I'm happy for you that you are getting MUCH better service from the Post Office than myself. I'm sure there is a local element involved. I am in a remote area. The Brown Truck has NEVER failed to pick up or drop off my packages. Like you, I can simply let them know and they drive out in the boonies to pick up my packages. As a customer I've never been happier with any organization I've ever dealt with.

The Post Office on the other hand, drives by my mail box EVERY single day. I get the wrong mail in the box from time to time and have to take it to a neighbor. With the nearest neighbor living over a half mile away, this is a hassle, but my neighbors do the same for me. My neighbors and myself probably deserve a paycheck from the Post Office.

I have NOT received several items from the post office over the last several years plus the problem with the steering gear box I mentioned.

Additionally my Post Office is no longer open on Saturday's. They deliver the mail to the box on Saturdays and sometimes they even get MY mail in MY box when they do it. They close at 3:30PM weekdays, so if I need to go to the counter, being a person who works for a living I'm screwed.

Again, I'm glad the Post Office works for you, but they consistently come up short for me.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Your USPS service will only get worse as they consolidate rural PO's.
Due to funding cuts they are cutting and closing where they can. And putting more work on remaining PO's.
All because congress will not allow a proper rate increase.

my usps counter clerk told me flat out one day.unless you are shipping something that weighs 50 lbs or so the flat rate boxes are a waste of money.he also mentioned that here in my rural area of n.w. iowa.last year the local sorting facility in sioux city closed.so the "sorters" could either transfer to sioux falls OR to other offices.AND beings they were sorters and HAD a union unlike the clerks they could go into any post office and get their 40 hrs a week.so the 2 clerks here had their hours cut down to 20 each so the UNION man could get his hours.and he said the guy don't do $#it.