WASHINGTON -- Apparently trying an end-run around an unaccommodating Congress, the financially struggling U.S. Postal Service says it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays but continue to disburse packages six days a week.
In an announcement scheduled for later Wednesday, the service is expected to say the Saturday mail cutback would begin in August and could save $2 billion annually.
The move accentuates one of the agency's strong points – package delivery has increased by 14 percent since 2010, officials say, while the delivery of letters and other mail has declined with the increasing use of email and other Internet services.
Under the new plan, mail would be delivered to homes and businesses only from Monday through Friday, but would still be delivered to post office boxes on Saturdays. Post offices now open on Saturdays would remain open on Saturdays.
Over the past several years, the Postal Service has advocated shifting to a five-day delivery schedule for mail and packages – and it repeatedly but unsuccessfully appealed to Congress to approve the move. Though an independent agency, the service gets no tax dollars for its day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control.
It was not immediately clear how the service could eliminate Saturday mail without congressional approval.
But the agency clearly thinks it has a majority of the American public on its side regarding the change.
Material prepared for the Wednesday press conference by Patrick R. Donahoe, postmaster general and CEO, says Postal Service market research and other research has indicated that nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the switch to five-day delivery as a way for the Postal Service to reduce costs.
"The Postal Service is advancing an important new approach to delivery that reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America's changing mailing habits," Donahoe said in a statement prepared for the announcement. "We developed this approach by working with our customers to understand their delivery needs and by identifying creative ways to generate significant cost savings."
1|1|This was expected...|inthesticks|jbsimon@ymail.com|12:31:47|02/06/2013|
...so nobody should be shocked by this news. 2|2|also no DC with standard mail anymore|crenchen|crenchen@aol.com|14:35:11|02/07/2013|
you have to send your packages priority or express to get delivery confirmation and that cost an arm and a leg. 3|1|can get DC still with package/thick envelope - 1/2" thick|padrifter|candles@nb.net|16:23:36|02/07/2013|
http://www.refundsweepers.com/dcforum/feedback/127.html 5|2|Nancy...no..can't do that anymore at least in...|Skaytes|skaytez@gmail.com|07:26:57|02/08/2013|
this area anywhere so guessing it is 'standard' PO for everywhere now. You have to get USPS tracking and confirm..printed right from their puter and it's soo much more expensive. Ugghh. I had a bunch of the DC labels here to use and each time was returned to me even though I put all the stamps on it to cover the DC and postage (have a scale here) but each was returned and wanted a LOT more postage on it now. Went to PO with another envie for that the other day and again..different now so be prepared to get your envies back if you don't schlep down to the PO and have them weigh it and print out the tracking sticker now. :( 4|1|Such a shame......|maraj|maraj64@hotmail.com|18:53:10|02/07/2013|
that the political bigwigs seem to be trying to run the PO into the ground by not only dipping their grubby fingers into the PO's money but also, making the Postal System supply millions/billions in funding for future pensions for workers that don't even exist yet. Why? So the government can keep taking money out of it, just like they keep taking money out of the Soc. Security funds? Who's next?
It's not the PO's fault nor is it the fault of the internet. The PO was doing just fine til Congress mandated that blasted law in 2006 requiring the PO to ridiculously fund those future pensions. The internet was alive & well in 2005 & 2006 yet the PO was still going strong.... til that dang law was enacted, & the Congressional fingers got greedier. :(
Smile... it makes people wonder what you're up to!
Please identify yourself in 1st email w/name/username. Due to recent problem trades, if I haven't traded w/you before, I will probably require you send your end 1st or I'll need LEGIT trade references/feedback. I will be happy to provide the same. IF you plan to hold your end til you've received mine, I will need to know that IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE trade is finalized.
6|1|You can get DC still....they just changed it to be called USPS Tracking....it works the same, but there is no seperate sticker, the tracking number is on the receipt and the info is in the bar code of the postage label that goes on the package.....|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|07:46:24|02/08/2013|
" You'll get what's coming to you ... Unless it was mailed."
7|2|Also, the cost isnt that much more than DC....I just mailed several pkgs with Tracking on it, the difference was 95cents average on each of them.|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|07:47:59|02/08/2013|
" You'll get what's coming to you ... Unless it was mailed."